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Title: The 2003 CIA World Factbook
Author: United States. Central Intelligence Agency
Release date: December 18, 2008 [eBook #27558]
Most recently updated: October 21, 2025
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Al Haines
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 2003 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK ***
THE CIA WORLD FACTBOOK 2003
CONTENTS
Countries and Locations
Field Listings
Rank Orders
Appendixes
Notes and Definitions
History of The World Factbook
Contributors and Copyright Information
Purchasing Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
=====================================================================
What's New
- Country information has been updated as of 18 December 2003.
- For Rank Order pages and downloadable, tab-delimited rank-order
files, a Rank Order page for Highways has been added.
- Entries for Natural Gas - production, Natural Gas - consumption,
Natural Gas - exports, and Natural Gas - imports have been added
to the Economy category of each country.
The World Factbook 2003 printed version provides a "snapshot" of
the world as of 1 January 2003.
=====================================================================
Country Listing
[Transcriber's note: To search on a country name in this file, prefix
the name with "@", e.g. "@Afghanistan". "Afghanistan" will find all
occurrences; prefixing it with "@" will find the correct location.]
A
Afghanistan
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
Baker Island
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bassas da India
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
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
E
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Europa Island
F
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
G
Gabon
Gambia, The
Gaza Strip
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Glorioso Islands
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
H
Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Holy See (Vatican City)
Honduras
Hong Kong
Howland Island
Hungary
I
Iceland
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
J
Jamaica
Jan Mayen
Japan
Jarvis Island
Jersey
Johnston Atoll
Jordan
Juan de Nova Island
K
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kingman Reef
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
L
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
M
Macau
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Man, Isle of
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
Midway Islands
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
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
Palmyra Atoll
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Q
Qatar
R
Reunion
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
S
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia and Montenegro
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Southern Ocean
Spain
Spratly Islands
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
T
Taiwan entry follows Zimbabwe
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tromelin Island
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
U
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
V
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands
W
Wake Island
Wallis and Futuna
West Bank
Western Sahara
World
Y
Yemen
Z
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Taiwan
=====================================================================
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
2002 Population growth rate (%)
2003 GDP - real growth rate (%)
2004 GDP - per capita
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
2015 Television broadcast stations
2018 Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
2019 Heliports
2020 Elevation extremes (m)
2021 Natural hazards
2022 People - note
2023 Area - comparative
2024 Military manpower - military age (years of age)
2025 Military manpower - fit for military service
2026 Military manpower - reaching military age annually
2028 Background
2030 Airports - with paved runways
2031 Airports - with unpaved runways
2032 Environment - current issues
2033 Environment - international agreements
2034 Military expenditures - percent of GDP (%)
2038 Electricity - production (kWh)
2042 Electricity - consumption (kWh)
2043 Electricity - imports (kWh)
2044 Electricity - exports (kWh)
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 (births/1,000 population)
2055 Military branches
2056 Budget
2057 Capital
2058 Imports - commodities
2059 Climate
2060 Coastline (km)
2061 Imports - partners (%)
2062 Economic aid - donor
2063 Constitution
2064 Economic aid - recipient
2065 Currency
2066 Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
2067 Military expenditures - dollar figure
2068 Dependent areas
2070 Disputes - international
2075 Ethnic groups (%)
2076 Exchange rates
2077 Executive branch
2078 Exports
2079 Debt - external
2080 Fiscal year
2081 Flag description
2085 Highways (km)
2086 Illicit drugs
2087 Imports
2088 Independence
2089 Industrial production growth rate (%)
2090 Industries
2091 Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
2092 Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
2093 Waterways (km)
2094 Judicial branch
2095 Labor force
2096 Land boundaries (km)
2097 Land use (%)
2098 Languages (%)
2100 Legal system
2101 Legislative branch
2102 Life expectancy at birth (years)
2103 Literacy (%)
2105 Military manpower - availability
2106 Maritime claims
2107 International organization participation
2108 Merchant marine
2109 National holiday
2110 Nationality
2111 Natural resources
2112 Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
2113 Geography - note
2115 Political pressure groups and leaders
2116 Economy - overview
2117 Pipelines (km)
2118 Political parties and leaders
2119 Population
2120 Ports and harbors
2121 Railways (km)
2122 Religions (%)
2123 Suffrage
2124 Telephone system
2125 Terrain
2127 Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
2128 Government type
2129 Unemployment rate (%)
2137 Military - note
2138 Communications - note
2140 Government - note
2142 Country name
2144 Location
2145 Map references
2146 Irrigated land (sq km)
2147 Area (sq km)
2149 Diplomatic representation in the US
2150 Telephones - main lines in use
2151 Telephones - mobile cellular
2152 Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
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 Currency code
2172 Distribution of family income - Gini index
2173 Oil - production (bbl/day)
2174 Oil - consumption (bbl/day)
2175 Oil - imports (bbl/day)
2176 Oil - exports (bbl/day)
2177 Median age (years)
2178 Oil - proved reserves (bbl)
2179 Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
2180 Natural gas - production (cu m)
2181 Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
2182 Natural gas - imports (cu m)
2183 Natural gas - exports (cu m)
======================================================================
Rank Orders
[Transcriber's note: To search on a rank order in this file, prefix
the rank's name with "@", e.g. "@Population". "Population" will find
all occurrences; prefixing it with "@" will find the correct location.]
Guide to Rank Order Pages
Rank Order pages are presorted lists of data from selected Factbook
data fields. Rank Order 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. Rank Order pages are available for the following 34
fields in six of the nine Factbook categories.
Geography
Area - total
People
Population
Birth rate
Death rate
Infant mortality rate
Life expectancy at birth - total
Total fertility rate
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS - deaths
Economy
GDP
GDP - real growth rate
GDP - per capita
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Labor force
Unemployment rate
Industrial production growth rate
Electricity - production
Electricity - consumption
Oil - production
Oil - consumption
Oil - exports
Oil - imports
Oil - proved reserves
Natural Gas - proved reserves
Exports
Imports
Debt - external
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
Telephones - mobile cellular
Internet users
Transportation
Railways - total
Highways - total
Military
Military expenditures - dollar figure
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
Factbook fields with Rank Order pages are easily identified with a
small bar chart icon to the right of the data field title.
Not all Rank Order pages 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 Rank
Order pages, 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. The other icon next to the data
field title provides the definition of the field.
All of the ‘Rank Order’ pages can be downloaded as tab-delimited data
files and can be opened in other applications such as spreadsheets and
databases. To save a Rank Order page in a spreadsheet, first click on
the ‘Download Datafile’ choice above the Rank Order 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.
Additional Rank Order pages being considered for future updates of the
Factbook Web site include:
Median age
Literacy
Population below the poverty line
Highways
Waterways
Airports
This page was last updated on 21 October, 2003
=====================================================================
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
======================================================================
Notes and Definitions
In addition to the updated information, The World Factbook printed
version features seven new entries. In the People category, an entry
has been added for Median age. In the Economy category, entries have
been added for Oil - production, Oil - consumption, Oil - exports, Oil
- imports, Oil - proved reserves, and Natural gas - proved reserves.
The web site version features four additional entries: Natural gas -
production, Natural gas - consumption, Natural gas - exports, and
Natural gas - imports. Revision of some individual country maps, first
introduced in the 2001 edition, is continued in this edition. The
revised maps include elevation extremes and a partial geographic grid.
Several regional maps have also been updated to reflect boundary
changes and place name spelling changes.
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 (WTO: WTrO for World Trade Organization and WToO for
World Tourism Organization).
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 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 a rank ordering of major crops and products starting with
the most important.
Airports
This entry gives the total number of airports. The runway(s) may be
paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, dirt, sand, or
gravel surfaces), but must be usable. Not all airports have facilities
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). For airports with more than one runway,
only the longest runway is included according to the following five
groups - (1) over 3,047 m, (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m, (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m,
(4) 914 to 1,523 m, and (5) under 914 m. Only airports with usable
runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities
for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.
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, (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m, (3)
1,524 to 2,437 m, (4) 914 to 1,523 m, and (5) under 914 m. Only
airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all
airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic
control
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 all water
surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines,
including inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers).
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).
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.
Budget
This entry includes revenues, total expenditures, and capital
expenditures. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis,
i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms
Capital
This entry gives the location of the seat of government.
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.
Communications
This category deals with the means of exchanging information and
includes the telephone, radio, television, and Internet service
provider 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.
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.
Currency
This entry identifies the national medium of exchange and its basic
subunit.
Crude oil
See "Oil" entries
Currency code
This entry gives the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code for each country.
Data codes
This information is presented in Appendix D: Cross-Reference List of
Country Data Codes and Appendix E: Cross-Reference List of
Hydrographic Data Codes. This appendix includes the US Government
approved Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes, the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) codes, and
Internet codes for land entities. The appendix also includes the
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) codes, Aeronautical Chart
and Information Center (ACIC; now a part of the National Imagery and
Mapping Agency or NIMA) codes, and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
codes for hydrographic entities. The US Government has not yet approved
a standard for hydrographic data codes similar to the FIPS 10-4
standard for country data codes.
Date of information
In general, information available as of 1 January 2003 was used in the
preparation of this edition.
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 foreign currency, goods, or services.
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 185 independent states,
including 183 of the 189 UN members (excluded UN members are Bhutan,
Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and the US itself). In addition, the US
has diplomatic relations with 1 independent state that is not in the UN
- Holy See.
Diplomatic representation in the US
This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX,
consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
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.
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.
Economic aid - donor
This entry refers to net official development assistance (ODA) from
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations to
developing countries and multilateral organizations. ODA is defined as
financial assistance that is concessional in character, has the main
objective to promote economic development and welfare of the less
developed countries (LDCs), and contains a grant element of at least
25%. The entry does not cover other official flows (OOF) or private
flows.
Economic aid - recipient
This entry, which is subject to major problems of definition and
statistical coverage, refers to the net inflow of Official Development
Finance (ODF) to recipient countries. The figure includes assistance
from the World Bank, the IMF, and other international organizations and
from individual nation donors. Formal commitments of aid are included
in the data. Omitted from the data are grants by private organizations.
Aid comes in various forms including outright grants and loans. The
entry thus is the difference between new inflows and repayments.
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.
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.
Electricity - production by source
This entry states the percentage share of electricity generated from
each energy source. These are fossil fuel, hydro, nuclear, and other
(solar, geothermal, and wind).
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 268 separate geographic entities in The
World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:
INDEPENDENT STATES
192 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, East Timor,
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, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, 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, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
OTHER
1 Taiwan
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
16 France - Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,
French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands,
Glorioso Islands, Guadeloupe, Juan de Nova Island, Martinique, Mayotte,
New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tromelin Island,
Wallis and Futuna
2 Netherlands - Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
3 New Zealand - Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
3 Norway - Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
15 UK - Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British
Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, 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
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
268 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 125,000 Inuits
of Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland in international environmental
issues; a panel 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.
water-born diseases - those in which the bacteria survive in, and
is 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 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 a rank ordering 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.
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 exports on an f.o.b.
(free on board) basis.
Exports - commodities
This entry provides a rank ordering of exported products starting with
the most important; 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.
Fiscal year
This entry identifies the beginning and ending months for a country's
accounting period of 12 months, which often is the calendar year but
which may begin in any month. All yearly references are for the
calendar year (CY) unless indicated as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).
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.
GDP
This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final
goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. GDP dollar
estimates in the Factbook are derived from purchasing power parity
(PPP) calculations. See the note on GDP methodology for more
information.
GDP methodology
In the Economy section, GDP dollar estimates for all countries are
derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations rather than
from conversions at official currency exchange rates. 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
provide the best available starting point for comparisons of economic
strength and well-being between countries. The division of a GDP
estimate in domestic currency by the corresponding PPP estimate in
dollars gives the PPP conversion rate. Whereas PPP estimates for OECD
countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing countries
are often rough approximations. Most of the GDP estimates 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. In
contrast, the currency exchange rate method involves a variety of
international and domestic financial forces that often have little
relation to domestic output. In developing countries with weak
currencies the exchange rate estimate of GDP in dollars is typically
one-fourth to one-half the PPP estimate. Furthermore, exchange rates
may suddenly go up or down by 10% or more because of market forces or
official fiat whereas real output has remained unchanged. On 12 January
1994, for example, the 14 countries of the African Financial Community
(whose currencies are tied to the French franc) devalued their
currencies by 50%. This move, of course, did not cut the real output of
these countries by half. One important caution: the proportion of, say,
defense expenditures as a percentage of GDP in local currency accounts
may differ substantially from the proportion when GDP accounts are
expressed in PPP terms, as, for example, when an observer tries to
estimate the dollar level of Russian or Japanese military expenditures.
Note: the numbers for GDP and other economic data can 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.
GDP - composition by sector
This entry gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry,
and services to total GDP.
GDP - per capita
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.
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 Gazetteer of Conventional Names, Third Edition, August
1988, US Board on Geographic Names and on other sources.
Geographic names
This information is presented in 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.
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 type
This entry gives the basic form of government (e.g., republic,
constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy,
military dictatorship).
Government - note
This entry includes miscellaneous government information of
significance not included elsewhere.
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.
Heliports
This entry gives the total number of established helicopter takeoff and
landing sites (which may or may not have fuel or other services).
Highways
This entry states the total length of the highway system and the length
of the paved and unpaved parts.
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
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,
Robitussan 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 concentrate is the
alkaloid derived from the mature, dried opium poppy.
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 imports on a c.i.f.
(cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis.
Imports - commodities
This entry provides a rank ordering of imported products starting with
the most important; 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. 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. 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.
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 Service Providers (ISPs)
This entry supplies the number of Internet Service Providers within a
country. An ISP is defined as a company that provides access to the
Internet.
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.
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 Appendix B: International
Organizations and Groups which includes the name, abbreviation, date
established, aim, and members by category.
Introduction
This category includes one entry, Background.
Irrigated land
This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that is
artificially supplied with water.
Judicial branch
This entry contains the name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief
description of the selection process for members.
Labor force
This entry contains the total labor force figure.
Labor force - by occupation
This entry contains a rank ordering of component parts of the labor
force by occupation.
Land boundaries
This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the
individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries.
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
that are replanted after each harvest like wheat, maize, and rice;
permanent crops - land cultivated for crops that are not replanted
after each harvest like citrus, coffee, and rubber; 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 contains a brief description of the legal system's
historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International
Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.
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 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.
Map references
This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which a
country may be found. 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 Law of the Sea (LOS) Convention, which alone
contains the full and definitive descriptions:
contiguous zone - according to the LOS Convention (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-mile contiguous zone in
addition to its 12-mile territorial sea)
continental shelf - the LOS Convention (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; it does not
include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil
thereof
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - the LOS Convention (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
exclusive fishing zone - while this term is not used in the LOS
Convention, 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
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 LOS Convention (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
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 younger versus an older age structure and, by
implication, a lower 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.; or a
grouping of merchant ships by nationality or register. This entry
contains information in two subfields - total and ships by type. Total
includes the total 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 the 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.
A captive register is a register of ships maintained by a
territory, possession, or colony primarily or exclusively for the use
of ships owned in the parent country; it is also referred to as an
offshore register, the offshore equivalent of an internal register.
Ships on a captive register will fly the same flag as the parent
country, or a local variant of it, but will be subject to the maritime
laws and taxation rules of the offshore territory. Although the nature
of a captive register makes it especially desirable for ships owned in
the parent country, just as in the internal register, the ships may
also be owned abroad. The captive register then acts as a flag of
convenience register, except that it is not the register of an
independent state.
A flag of convenience register is a national register offering
registration to a merchant ship not owned in the flag state. The major
flags of convenience (FOC) attract ships to their registers by virtue
of low fees, low or nonexistent taxation of profits, and liberal
manning requirements. True FOC registers are characterized by having
relatively few of the registered ships actually owned in the flag
state. Thus, while virtually any flag can be used for ships under a
given set of circumstances, an FOC register is one where the majority
of the merchant fleet is owned abroad. It is also referred to as an
open register.
A flag state is the nation in which a ship is registered and which
holds legal jurisdiction over operation of the ship, whether at home or
abroad. Maritime legislation of the flag state determines how a ship is
crewed and taxed and whether a foreign-owned ship may be placed on the
register.
An internal register is a register of ships maintained as a subset
of a national register. Ships on the internal register fly the national
flag and have that nationality but are subject to a separate set of
maritime rules from those on the main national register. These
differences usually include lower taxation of profits, use of foreign
nationals as crewmembers, and, usually, ownership outside the flag
state (when it functions as an FOC register). The Norwegian
International Ship Register and Danish International Ship Register are
the most notable examples of an internal register. Both have been
instrumental in stemming flight from the national flag to flags of
convenience and in attracting foreign-owned ships to the Norwegian and
Danish flags.
A merchant ship is a vessel that carries goods against payment of
freight; it is commonly used to denote any nonmilitary ship but
accurately restricted to commercial vessels only.
A register is the record of a ship's ownership and nationality as
listed with the maritime authorities of a country; also, it is the
compendium of such individual ships' registrations. Registration of a
ship provides it with a nationality and makes it subject to the laws of
the country in which registered (the flag state) regardless of the
nationality of the ship's ultimate owner.
Military
This category includes the entries dealing with a country's military
structure, manpower, and expenditures.
Military branches
This entry lists the names of the ground, naval, air, marine, and other
defense or security forces.
Military expenditures - dollar figure
This entry gives current military expenditures in US dollars; the
figure is calculated by multiplying the estimated defense spending in
percentage terms by the gross domestic product (GDP) calculated on an
exchange rate basis not purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. Dollar
figures for military expenditures should be treated with caution
because of different price patterns and accounting methods among
nations, as well as wide variations in the strength of their
currencies.
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
This entry gives current military expenditures as an estimated percent
of gross domestic product (GDP).
Military manpower - availability
This entry gives the total numbers of males and females age 15-49 and
assumes that every individual is fit to serve.
Military manpower - fit for military service
This entry gives the number of males and females age 15-49 fit for
military service. This is a more refined measure of potential military
manpower availability which tries to correct for the health situation
in the country and reduces the maximum potential number to a more
realistic estimate of the actual number fit to serve.
Military manpower - military age
This entry gives the minimum age at which an individual may volunteer
for military service or be subject to conscription.
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
This entry gives the number of draft-age males and females entering the
military manpower pool in any given year and is a measure of the
availability of draft-age young adults.
Military - note
This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance
not included elsewhere.
Money figures
All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars unless
otherwise indicated.
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 quantity of natural gas consumed in cubic
meters. The discrepancy between the quantity of natural gas produced
and/or imported and the quantity consumed and/or exported is due to the
omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
Natural Gas - exports
This entry is the total quantity of natural gas exported in cubic
meters.
Natural Gas - imports
This entry is the total quantity of natural gas imported in cubic
meters.
Natural Gas - production
This entry is the total quantity of natural gas produced in cubic
meters. The discrepancy between the quantity of natural gas produced
and/or imported and the quantity 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.
Natural resources
This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other
resources of commercial importance.
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. High levels of migration can cause problems
such as increasing unemployment and potential ethnic strife (if people
are coming in) or a reduction in the labor force, perhaps in certain
key sectors (if people are leaving).
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.
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 uses all uppercase letters for personal names by which the
subject is usually referred to in various media. An example is
President Vicente FOX Quesada of Mexico. Members of royal families are
usually referred by other than their family name (King and Prime
Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Queen BEATRIX of
the Netherlands, or King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet of Thailand). Some Asians
are referred to by the first element of their name - also their
surname, such as President NO Muh-hyun of South Korea.
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
lowercased. 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 "Oil" entries
Petroleum products
See "Oil" entries
Pipelines
This entry gives the lengths and types of pipelines for transporting
products like natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.
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 organizations with leaders involved in
politics, but not standing for legislative election.
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 lying 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 harbors
This entry lists the major ports and harbors selected on the basis of
overall importance to each country. This is determined by evaluating a
number of factors (e.g., dollar value of goods handled, gross tonnage,
facilities, military significance).
Radio broadcast stations
This entry includes the total number of AM, FM, and shortwave broadcast
stations.
Railways
This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of
its component parts by gauge: broad, dual, narrow, standard, and other.
Reference maps
This section includes world and regional maps.
Religions
This entry includes a rank ordering of religions by adherents starting
with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total
population.
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.
Suffrage
This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to
vote is universal or restricted.
Telephone numbers
All telephone numbers in the 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 characterization of the system with details
on the domestic and international components. The following terms and
abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
Africa ONE - a fiber-optic submarine cable link encircling the
continent of Africa.
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 Mobile 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).
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 telephones in use.
Television - broadcast stations
This entry gives the total number of separate broadcast stations plus
any repeater stations.
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.
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 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 growth in the
country. High rates will also place some limits on the labor force
participation rates for women. Large numbers of children born to women
indicate large family sizes that might limit the ability of the
families to feed and educate their children.
Transnational Issues
This category includes only two entries at the present time - Disputes
- international 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.
Unemployment rate
This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without
jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
Waterways
This entry gives the total length and individual names of navigable
rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water.
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 compiled from
material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence
Community estimates.
This page was last updated on 23 October, 2003
=====================================================================
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 2003 marks the 56th anniversary of the
establishment of the Central Intelligence Agency and the 60th year of
continuous basic intelligence support to the US Government by The World
Factbook and its two predecessor programs.
This page was last updated on 23 October, 2003
=====================================================================
Contributors and Copyright Information
In general, information available as of 1 January 2003 was used in the
preparation of this edition.
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), 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 State, Fish
and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), Maritime
Administration (Department of Transportation), National Imagery and
Mapping 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), 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.
Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:
Central Intelligence Agency
Attn.: Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20505
Telephone: [1] (703) 482-0623
FAX: [1] (703) 482-1739
This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003
=====================================================================
Purchasing Information
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The World Factbook can be accessed on the Internet at:
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This page was last updated on 11 August, 2003
=====================================================================
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The World Factbook staff thanks you for your comments, suggestions,
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This page was last updated on 21 October, 2003
=====================================================================
@Afghanistan
Introduction Afghanistan
Background:
Afghanistan's recent history is characterized by war and civil
unrest. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979, but was forced to withdraw
10 years later by anti-Communist mujahidin forces supplied and
trained by the US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting
subsequently continued among the various mujahidin factions, giving
rise to a state of warlordism that eventually spawned the Taliban.
Backed by foreign sponsors, the Taliban developed as a political
force and eventually seized power. The Taliban were able to capture
most of the country, aside from Northern Alliance strongholds
primarily in the northeast, until US and allied military action in
support of the opposition following the 11 September 2001 terrorist
attacks forced the group's downfall. In late 2001, major leaders
from the Afghan opposition groups and diaspora met in Bonn, Germany,
and agreed on a plan for the formulation of a new government
structure that resulted in the inauguration of Hamid KARZAI as
Chairman of the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) on 22 December 2001.
The AIA held a nationwide Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) in June 2002,
and KARZAI was elected President by secret ballot of the
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA). The Transitional
Authority has an 18-month mandate to hold a nationwide Loya Jirga to
adopt a constitution and a 24-month mandate to hold nationwide
elections. In December 2002, the TISA marked the one-year
anniversary of the fall of the Taliban. In addition to occasionally
violent political jockeying and ongoing military action to root out
remaining terrorists and Taliban elements, the country suffers from
enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure, and widespread land
mines.
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: 647,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 647,500 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: Nowshak 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: 0.22%
other: 87.65% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
23,860 sq km (1998 est.)
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: Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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:
28,717,213 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.8% (male 6,123,971; female 5,868,013)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 8,240,743; female 7,671,242)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 427,710; female 385,534) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 19.1 years
female: 18.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.38%
note: this rate does not take into consideration the recent war and
its continuing impact (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
40.63 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
17.15 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
10.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 1.11 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 142.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 138.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 145.99 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.97 years
male: 47.67 years
female: 46.23 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.64 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups:
Pashtun 44%, Tajik 25%, Hazara 10%, minor ethnic groups (Aimaks,
Turkmen, Baloch, and others) 13%, Uzbek 8%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%
Languages:
Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, 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
female: 21% (1999 est.)
total population: 36%
male: 51%
People - note:
large numbers of Afghan refugees create burdens on neighboring
states
Government Afghanistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan
local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan
Government type:
transitional
Capital:
Kabul
Administrative divisions:
32 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis,
Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand,
Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar, Kondoz,
Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan, Paktia,
Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, and Zabol
Independence:
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Constitution:
the Bonn Agreement called for a Loya Jirga (Grand Council) to be
convened within 18 months of the establishment of the Transitional
Authority to draft a new constitution for the country; the basis for
the next constitution is the 1964 Constitution, according to the
Bonn Agreement
Legal system:
the Bonn Agreement calls for a judicial commission to rebuild the
justice system in accordance with Islamic principles, international
standards, the rule of law, and Afghan legal traditions
Suffrage:
NA; previously males 15-50 years of age
Executive branch:
note: following the Taliban's refusal to hand over Usama bin LADIN
to the US for his suspected involvement in the 11 September 2001
terrorist attacks in the US, a US-led international coalition was
formed; after several weeks of aerial bombardment by coalition
forces and military action on the ground, including Afghan
opposition forces, the Taliban was ousted from power on 17 November
2001; in December 2001, a number of prominent Afghans met under UN
auspices in Bonn, Germany, to decide on a plan for governing the
country; as a result, the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) - made up
of 30 members, headed by a chairman - was inaugurated on 22 December
2001 with a six-month mandate to be followed by a two-year
Transitional Authority (TA), after which elections are to be held;
the structure of the follow-on TA was announced on 10 June 2002,
when the Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) convened establishing the
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA), which has 18
months to hold a Loya Jirga to adopt a constitution and 24 months to
hold nationwide elections
chief of state: President of the TISA, Hamid KARZAI (since 10 June
2002); note - presently the president and head of government
head of government: President of the TISA, Hamid KARZAI (since 10
June 2002); note - presently the president and head of government
cabinet: the 30-member TISA
elections: nationwide elections are to be held by June 2004,
according to the Bonn Agreement
Legislative branch:
nonfunctioning as of June 1993
Judicial branch:
the Bonn Agreement called for the establishment of a Supreme Court;
there is also a Minister of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
NA; note - political parties in Afghanistan are in flux and many
prominent players have plans to create new parties; the Transitional
Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) is headed by President Hamid
KARZAI; the TISA is a coalition government formed of leaders from
across the Afghan political spectrum; there are also several
political factions not holding positions in the Transitional
government that are forming new groups and parties in the hopes of
participating in 2004 elections
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA; note - ministries formed under the Transitional Islamic State
of Afghanistan (TISA) include former influential Afghans, diaspora
members, and former political leaders
International organization participation:
AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: ambassador Seyyed Tayeb JAWAD
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: 202-483-6487
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: 202-483-6410
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Patrick John FINN; note -
embassy in Kabul reopened 16 December 2001, following closure in
January 1989
embassy: Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6180
telephone: [93] (2) 290002, 290005, 290154
FAX: 00932290153
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with a
gold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features a
temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and right
and by a bold Islamic inscription above
Economy Afghanistan
Economy - overview:
Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly
dependent on foreign aid, farming and livestock raising (sheep and
goats), and trade with neighboring countries. Economic
considerations have played second fiddle to political and military
upheavals during more than two decades of war, including the nearly
10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989).
During that conflict, one-third of the population fled the country,
with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak of 4 to 6 million
refugees. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the
past 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the
disruption of trade and transport; severe drought added to the
nation's difficulties in 1998-2002. The majority of the population
continues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and
medical care, and a dearth of jobs, problems exacerbated by
political uncertainties and the general level of lawlessness.
International efforts to rebuild Afghanistan were addressed at the
Tokyo Donors Conference for Afghan Reconstruction in January 2002,
when $4.5 billion was pledged, $1.7 billion for 2002. Of that
approximately $900 million was directed to humanitarian aid - food,
clothing, and shelter - and another $90 million for the Afghan
Transitional Authority. Further World Bank and other aid came in
2003. Priority areas for reconstruction include upgrading education,
health, and sanitation facilities; providing income generating
opportunities; enhancing administrative and security arrangements,
especially in regional areas; developing the agricultural sector;
rebuilding transportation, energy, and telecommunication
infrastructure; and reabsorbing 2 million returning refugees. The
replacement of the opium trade - which may account for one-third of
GDP - and the search for oil and gas resources in the northern
region are two major long-term issues.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $19 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 60%
industry: 20%
services: 20% (1990 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
10 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $200 million
expenditures: $550 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2003 plan est.)
Industries:
small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes,
fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
334.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 36.3%
hydro: 63.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
511.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
220 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
220 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
49.98 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
opium, wheat, fruits, nuts, wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins
Exports:
$1.2 billion (not including illicit exports) (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and
pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
Exports - partners:
Pakistan 26.8%, India 26.5%, Finland 5.8%, Germany 5.1%, UAE 4.4%,
Belgium 4.3%, Russia 4.2%, US 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$1.3 billion (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Pakistan 25.1%, South Korea 14.4%, Japan 9.4%, US 9%, Kenya 5.8%,
Germany 5.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
NA (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
international pledges made by more than 60 countries and
international financial institutions at the Tokyo Donors Conference
for Afghan reconstruction in January 2002 reached $4.5 billion
through 2006, with $1.8 billion allocated for 2002; another $1.7
billion was pledged for 2003.
Currency:
afghani (AFA)
Currency code:
AFA
Exchange rates:
afghanis per US dollar - 3,000 (October-December 2002), 3,000
(2001), 3,000 (2000), 3,000 (1999), 3,000 (1998), note: before 2002
the market rate varied widely from the official rate; in 2002 the
afghani was revalued and the currency stabilized
Fiscal year:
21 March - 20 March
Communications Afghanistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
29,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service
domestic: in 1997, telecommunications links were established between
Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through
satellite and microwave systems
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7 (6 are inactive; the active station is in Kabul), FM 1,
shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian (Dari), Urdu, and
English) (1999)
Radios:
167,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
at least 10 (one government-run central television station in Kabul
and regional stations in nine of the 32 provinces; the regional
stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there was a
station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan
provinces) (1998)
Televisions:
100,000 (1999)
Internet country code:
.af
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Afghanistan
Railways:
total: 24.6 km
broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to
Towraghondi; 15 km 1.524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to
Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya (2001)
Highways:
total: 21,000 km
paved: 2,793 km
unpaved: 18,207 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,200 km
note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT (2001)
Pipelines:
gas 651 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Airports:
47 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 37
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Heliports:
5 (2002)
Military Afghanistan
Military branches:
NA; note - the December 2001 Bonn Agreement called for all militia
forces to come under the authority of the central government, but
regional leaders have continued to retain their militias and the
formation of a nation army will be a gradual process; Afghanistan's
forces continue to be factionalized, largely along ethnic lines
Military manpower - military age:
22 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 7,160,603 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,837,646 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 275,223 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$525.2 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
7.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Afghanistan
Disputes - international:
thousands of Afghan refugees still reside in Iran and Pakistan;
isolating terrain and close ties among Pashtuns in Pakistan make
cross-border activities difficult to control; prolonged regional
drought strains water-sharing arrangements for Amu Darya and Helmand
River states
Illicit drugs:
world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium poppy -
used to make heroin - expanded to 30,750 hectares in 2002, despite
eradication; potential opium production of 1,278 metric tons; source
of hashish; many narcotics-processing labs throughout the country;
drug trade source of instability and some government groups profit
from the trade; 80-90% of the heroin consumed in Europe comes from
Afghan opium; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the
hawala system
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Albania
Introduction Albania
Background:
Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic
Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The
transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to
deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure,
widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents.
International observers judged legislative elections in 2001 to be
acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified
serious deficiencies that should be addressed through reforms in the
Albanian electoral code.
Geography Albania
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea,
between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 28,748 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km
land: 27,398 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 720 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km
Coastline:
362 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
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) 2,753 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 21.09%
permanent crops: 4.45%
other: 74.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
3,400 sq km (1998 est.)
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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, 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:
3,582,205 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 520,714; female 486,911)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 1,115,887; female 1,196,477)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 115,754; female 146,462) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.5 years
male: 24.8 years
female: 28.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 37.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 39.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.37 years
male: 69.53 years
female: 75.42 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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, Gypsy, Serb, and
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: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious
observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing
private religious practice
Languages:
Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Literacy:
definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 93.3%
female: 79.5% (2003 est.)
Government Albania
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Albania
conventional short form: Albania
local short form: Shqiperia
former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
Government type:
emerging democracy
Capital:
Tirana
Administrative divisions:
12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i
Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i
Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku
i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores
Independence:
28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution:
a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November
1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote
Legal system:
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24
July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Fatos NANO (since 31 July 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
approved by the president
elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held NA
June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly
vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100
are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for
four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 June 2001 with subsequent rounds on 8 July,
22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD and
coalition allies 36.8%, NDP 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH 2.6%,
PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, NDP 6,
PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH 3, PAD 3, independents 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a
four-year term)
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Party of Albania or PASH [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian
Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Communist Party of Albania or
PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Nerltan CEKA];
Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or
PLL [Guri DUROLLARI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK
[Abaz ERMENJI]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI];
Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy or DS
[Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI];
Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor) [Fatos
NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Omonia [Vangjel DULES]
International organization participation:
ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Fatos TARIFA
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. JEFFREY
embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place,
Washington, DC 20521-9510
telephone: [355] (4) 247285
FAX: [355] (4) 232222
Flag description:
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
Economy Albania
Economy - overview:
Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making the
difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The
government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur
economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances
from abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and
Italy; this helps offset the sizable trade deficit. Agriculture,
which accounts for half of GDP, is held back because of frequent
drought and the need to modernize equipment and consolidate small
plots of land. Severe energy shortages are forcing small firms out
of business, increasing unemployment, scaring off foreign investors,
and spurring inflation. The government plans to boost energy imports
to relieve the shortages. In addition, the government is moving to
improve the poor national road network, a long-standing barrier to
sustained economic growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $15.69 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 27%
services: 24% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.283 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000
domestically unemployed) (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%
Unemployment rate:
17% officially; may be as high as 30% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $697 million
expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $368
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement,
chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate:
9% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
5.289 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.9%
hydro: 97.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
5.898 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
221 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
5,952 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
22,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
185.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
30 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
30 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.316 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes;
meat, dairy products
Exports:
$340 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude
oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - partners:
Italy 76.6%, Germany 5.6%, Greece 2.7% (2002)
Imports:
$1.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Italy 39.4%, Greece 24.5%, Turkey 6%, Germany 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$784 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA: $315 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2000 est.)
Currency:
lek (ALL)
Currency code:
ALL
Exchange rates:
leke per US dollar - NA (2002), 143.49 (2001), 143.71 (2000),
137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Albania
Telephones - main lines in use:
120,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
250,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: Albania has the poorest telephone service in
Europe with fewer than two telephones per 100 inhabitants; it is
doubtful that every village has telephone service
domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for
every village; in 1992, following the fall of the Communist
government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used
it to build fences
international: inadequate; international traffic carried by
microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
1 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
700,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.al
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
10 (2001)
Internet users:
12,000 (2001)
Transportation Albania
Railways:
total: 447 km
standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 18,000 km
paved: 5,400 km
unpaved: 12,600 km (2000)
Waterways:
43 km
note: includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and
Lake Prespa (1990)
Pipelines:
gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Merchant marine:
total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 21,954 GRT/34,412 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 11, roll on/roll off 1, includes some
foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:
Croatia 1, Honduras 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
12 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
over 3,047 m: 1
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Albania
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops,
Border Guards
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 906,168 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 742,837 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 36,985 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$56.5 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.49% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Albania
Disputes - international:
the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of
ethnic Albanians outside its borders in the Kosovo region of Serbia
and Montenegro, and in the northern Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, while continuing to seek regional cooperation; some
outside ethnic Albanian groups voice union with Albania
Illicit drugs:
increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian
opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to
a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for
Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production;
ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly
expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with
regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal
aliens
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Algeria
Introduction Algeria
Background:
After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in
1962. The surprising first round success of the fundamentalist FIS
(Islamic Salvation Front) party in the December 1991 balloting
caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and postpone
the subsequent elections. The fundamentalist response has resulted
in a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular state
apparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections featuring
pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. The FIS's armed
wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000 and many
armed militants of other groups surrendered under an amnesty program
designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, small
numbers of armed militants persist in confronting government forces
and carrying out isolated attacks on villages and other types of
terrorist attacks. Other concerns include Berber unrest, large-scale
unemployment, a shortage of housing, and the need to diversify the
petroleum-based economy.
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: 2,381,740 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2,381,740 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:
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 3.21%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 96.58% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
5,600 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:
second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
People Algeria
Population:
32,818,500 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.8% (male 5,485,197; female 5,285,434)
15-64 years: 63% (male 10,460,475; female 10,224,389)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 624,839; female 738,166) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 22.3 years
female: 22.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.65% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
21.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 37.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 40.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.54 years
male: 69.14 years
female: 72.01 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.55 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian
Ethnic groups:
Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
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: 70%
male: 78.8%
female: 61% (2003 est.)
Government Algeria
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
conventional short form: Algeria
local short form: Al Jaza'ir
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash
Sha'biyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Algiers
Administrative divisions:
48 provinces (wilayas, 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:
19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November
1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996
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)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 9 May 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 April 1999 (next to be held NA April 2004);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA elected president; percent of
vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA over 70%; note - his six opposing
candidates withdrew on the eve of the election citing electoral fraud
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly or
Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (389 seats - changed from 380 seats
in the 2002 elections; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) and the Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third of
the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by
indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; the constitution
requires half the council to be renewed every three years)
elections: National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (next
to be held NA 2007); Council of Nations - last held 30 December 2000
(next to be held NA 2003)
election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 48, MRN 43, MSP 38, PT
21, FNA 8, Nahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 29; Council of
Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 79,
FLN 12, FFS 4, MSP 1 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president,
party breakdown NA)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Democratic National
Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front or
FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh
KEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP
[Boujerra SOLTANI]; National Entente Movement or MEN [Ali
BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Ali BENFLIS, secretary
general]; National Reform Movement or MRN [Abdellah DJABALLAH];
National Renewal Party or PRA [leader NA]; Progressive Republican
Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said
SAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement
[Lahbib ADAMI]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL];
Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general
(self-exile in Switzerland)]; Union for Democracy and Liberty
[Mouley BOUKHALAFA]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]
note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted
in March 1997
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY
chancery: 2137 Wyoming Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. ERDMAN (as of 10 July 2003)
embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
telephone: [213] (21) 691-425/255/186
FAX: [213] (21) 69-39-79
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 crescent, star, and color green are traditional
symbols of Islam (the state religion)
Economy Algeria
Economy - overview:
The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting
for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of
export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural
gas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks
14th in oil reserves. Algeria's financial and economic indicators
improved during the mid-1990s, in part because of policy reforms
supported by the IMF and debt rescheduling from the Paris Club.
Algeria's finances in 2000-03 benefited from substantial trade
surpluses, record foreign exchange reserves, and reductions in
foreign debt. Real GDP has risen due to higher oil output and
increased government spending. The government's continued efforts to
diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment
outside the energy sector, however, has had little success in
reducing high unemployment and improving living standards.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $173.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 60%
services: 32% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23% (1999 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)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
9.4 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
government 29%, agriculture 25%, construction and public works 15%,
industry 11%, other 20% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
31% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $20.3 billion
expenditures: $18.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.8
billion (2001 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical,
petrochemical, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
24.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.7%
hydro: 0.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
22.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
340 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
275 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1.52 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
209,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
13.1 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
80.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
22.32 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
57.98 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.739 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle
Exports:
$19.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
Exports - partners:
Italy 18.9%, Spain 13.1%, France 13%, US 12.1%, Netherlands 6%,
Brazil 5.9%, Canada 5.7%, Turkey 5.3%, Belgium 5.1% (2002)
Imports:
$10.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 31%, Italy 10%, US 8.3%, Germany 6.6%, Spain 5.9%, Turkey
4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$21.6 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$162 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
Algerian dinar (DZD)
Currency code:
DZD
Exchange rates:
Algerian dinars per US dollar - 79.68 (2002), 77.22 (2001), 75.26
(2000), 66.57 (1999), 58.74 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Algeria
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.3 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
33,500 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone density in Algeria is very low, not
exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main
lines increased in the last few years to a little more than
2,000,000, but only about two-thirds of these have subscribers; much
of the infrastructure is outdated and inefficient
domestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic
earth stations are planned)
international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy,
France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and
Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and
1 Arabsat (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)
Radios:
7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.dz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
180,000 (2001)
Transportation Algeria
Railways:
total: 3,973 km
standard gauge: 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 104,000 km
paved: 71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,344 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 1,344 km; gas 87,347 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km;
oil 6,496 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene,
Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes
Merchant marine:
total: 69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 884,032 GRT/1,010,777 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas
10, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 12, short-sea passenger 4,
specialized tanker 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered
here as a flag of convenience: United Arab Emirates 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
136 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 54
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 82
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
under 914 m: 19 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 38
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Algeria
Military branches:
People's National Army (ANP), Algerian National Navy (ANN), Air
Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 9,243,884 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,646,418 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 412,545 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.87 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.1% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Algeria
Disputes - international:
Libya claims about 32,000 sq km in a dormant dispute still
reflected on its maps in southeastern Algeria; armed bandits based
in Mali attack southern Algerian towns; border with Morocco remains
closed over mutual claims of harboring militants, arms smuggling;
Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejects
Moroccan administration of Western Sahara
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@American Samoa
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
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 199 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
116 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual
rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April,
dry season from 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 966 m
Natural resources:
pumice, pumicite
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 10%
other: 85% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons common from December to March
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:
70,260 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.5% (male 13,557; female 12,818)
15-64 years: 57% (male 19,712; female 20,346)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 2,081; female 1,746) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.6 years
male: 21.1 years
female: 22.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.22% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 11.61 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.75 years
male: 71.35 years
female: 80.41 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups:
Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Religions:
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and
other 30%
Languages:
Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian
languages), English
note: most people are bilingual
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
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:
Pago Pago
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 1966, in effect 1967
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
election results: Tauese P. SUNIA reelected governor; percent of
vote - Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 50.7%, Lealaifuaneva Peter REID
(independent) 47.8%
note: Togiola TULAFONO became acting governor 26 March 2003 upon the
death of Governor Tauese P. SUNIA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
following the death of Governor Tauese P. SUNIA on 26 March 2003;
TULAFONO had been the Lieutenant Governor
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of
Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote
and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island;
members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are
elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)
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 7 November 2002 (next
to be held NA November 2004); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA
(Democrat) reelected as delegate
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2002
(next to be held NA November 2004); Senate - last held 7 November
2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by
the US Secretary of the Interior)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [leader NA]; Republican Party [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC
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 outer
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 staff and a war club
Economy American Samoa
Economy - overview:
This is 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 foreign
trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of
the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. 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, a
developing sector, has been held back by the recurring financial
difficulties in East Asia.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $500 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
14,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
6% (2000)
Budget:
revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)
expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97)
Industries:
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels),
handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
130 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
120.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra,
pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Exports:
$345 million (1999)
Exports - commodities:
canned tuna 93%
Exports - partners:
Indonesia 71.1%, Japan 7.7%, Samoa 7.7%, Australia 6.7% (2002)
Imports:
$452 million (1999)
Imports - commodities:
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%,
machinery and parts 6%
Imports - partners:
Australia 41%, New Zealand 23%, South Korea 18% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in
1994
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications American Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
13,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,550 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone
services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
14,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.as
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation American Samoa
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 350 km
paved: 150 km
unpaved: 200 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military American Samoa
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues American Samoa
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Andorra
Introduction Andorra
Background:
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique
co-principality, ruled by the French chief of state and the Spanish
bishop of Urgel. In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the
titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into
a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished,
mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War
II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal)
are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 468 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: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use:
arable land: 2.22%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.78% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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: Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the
Pyrenees
People Andorra
Population:
69,150 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 5,473; female 4,974)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 26,063; female 23,542)
65 years and over: 13.2% (male 4,543; female 4,555) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.1 years
male: 39.4 years
female: 38.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.06% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.65 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 83.49 years
male: 80.58 years
female: 86.58 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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: NA%
female: NA%
Government Andorra
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
Government type:
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its
heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president
of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented
locally by coprinces' representatives
Capital:
Andorra la Vella
Administrative divisions:
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella,
Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia
de Loria
Independence:
1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of
Foix and the Spanish bishop of 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; came into force 4 May 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 Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995),
represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002); Spanish
Coprince Episcopal Monsignor Joan Enric VIVES SICILIA (since 12 May
2003), represented by Nemesi MARQUES OSTE (since NA)
elections: Executive Council president elected by the General
Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year
term; election last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council
president; percent of General Council vote - NA%
cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive
Council president
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE MOLNE
(since 21 December 1994)
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 7
parishes; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 46.1%, PSD 30%, PD
23.8%, other 0.1%; seats by party - PLA 15, PSD 6, PD 5,
independents 2
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; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri
Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or PD (formerly part of National Democratic Group
or AND) [Ladislau BARO SOLO]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA [Marc
FORNE MOLNE] (used to be Liberal Union or UL); Liberal Union or UL
[Francesc CERQUEDA]; National Democratic Group or AND [Ladislau BARO
SOLO]; National Democratic Initiative or IDN [Vicenc MATEU ZAMORA];
New Democracy or ND [Jaume BARTOMEU CASSANY]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD (formerly part of National Democratic Group of AND)
[leader NA]; Union of the People of Ordino (Unio Parroquial
d'Ordino) or UPO [Simo DURO COMA]
note: there are two other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, ECE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN,
UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jelena V.
PIA-COMELLA
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630
telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
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 Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain);
mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain;
telephone: (3493) 280-2227; FAX: (3493) 205-7705
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red
with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat
of arms features a quartered shield; 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
Economy Andorra
Economy - overview:
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy,
accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists
visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its
summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has
recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain
have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and
lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "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 - $1.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2000)
Labor force:
33,000 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
0%
Budget:
revenues: $385 million
expenditures: $342 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries:
tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France;
Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower
Agriculture - products:
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep
Exports:
$58 million f.o.b. (1998)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco products, furniture
Exports - partners:
Spain 58%, France 34% (2000)
Imports:
$1.077 billion (1998)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, food, electricity
Imports - partners:
Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (2000)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
none
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Andorra
Telephones - main lines in use:
32,946 (December 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14,117 (December 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections
between exchanges
international: landline circuits to France and Spain
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
16,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)
Televisions:
27,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ad
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
24,500 (2001)
Transportation Andorra
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 269 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved: 71 km (1994)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
none (2002)
Military Andorra
Military branches:
no regular military forces, but there is a police force
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Transnational Issues Andorra
Disputes - international:
none; border is undemarcated in sections but is not in dispute (a
few French farmers still remain upset about the transfer of 35
hectares of land to Andorra)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Angola
Introduction Angola
Background:
Civil war has been the norm in Angola since independence from
Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace accord between the government and the
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) provided
for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the government
and armed forces. A national unity government was installed in April
of 1997, but serious fighting resumed in late 1998, rendering
hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives
may have been lost in fighting over the past quarter century. The
death of insurgent leader Jonas SAVIMBI in 2002 and a subsequent
cease-fire with UNITA may bode well for the country.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,246,700 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 2.41%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 97.19% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
750 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, 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:
10,766,471 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 2,363,829; female 2,317,610)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,941,999; female 2,842,923)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 134,330; female 165,780) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.2 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 18.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.97% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
45.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
25.83 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 193.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 180.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 206.26 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 36.96 years
male: 36.13 years
female: 37.83 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.38 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
350,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
24,000 (2001 est.)
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: 42%
male: 56%
female: 28% (1998 est.)
Government Angola
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People's Republic of Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola
Government type:
republic, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong
presidential system
Capital:
Luanda
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:
11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March
1991, and 26 August 1992
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently
modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of
free markets
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); note - the president is both chief of state and
head of government; Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was
appointed Prime Minister on 6 December 2002, but this is not a
position of real power
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by universal ballot for a NA-year term;
President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition
under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first
multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results: DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a
run-off election necessary; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats;
members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%,
others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD
3, others 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao (judges are appointed by the
president)
Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed
leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [interim leader: PAULO Lukamba
"Gato"], largest opposition party has engaged in years of armed
resistance; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA
[Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], ruling party in power since 1975; Social
Renewal Party or PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio
MUACHICUNGO]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections
but only won a few seats and have little influence in the National
Assembly
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 is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed
struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer),
OAU, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKIDI
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general: Houston and New York
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher William DELL
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of
Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda;
pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC
20521-2550
telephone: [244] (2) 445-481, 447-028, 446-224
FAX: [244] (2) 446-924
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)
Economy Angola
Economy - overview:
Angola has been an economy in disarray because of a quarter century
of nearly continuous warfare. An apparently durable peace was
established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI on
February 22, 2002, but consequences from the conflict continue
including the impact of wide-spread land mines. Subsistence
agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population.
Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the
economy, contributing about 45% to GDP and more than half of
exports. Much of the country's food must still be imported. To fully
take advantage of its rich natural resources - gold, diamonds,
extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits -
Angola will need to continue reforming government policies. While
Angola made progress in bringing inflation down further, from 325%
in 2000 to about 106% in 2002, the government has failed to make
sufficient progress on reforms recommended by the IMF such as
increasing foreign exchange reserves and promoting greater
transparency in government spending. Increased oil production should
bring about 6% GDP growth in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $18.36 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 67%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
106% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
5 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half
the population (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $928 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963
million (1992 est.)
Industries:
petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite,
uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing;
food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
1%
Electricity - production:
1.45 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 36.4%
hydro: 63.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.348 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
742,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
5.691 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
530 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
530 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
79.57 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca),
tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Exports:
$8.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee,
sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Exports - partners:
US 41.2%, China 13.7%, France 8%, Belgium 6.3%, Taiwan 6.3%, Japan
4.9%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$4.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts;
medicines, food, textiles, military goods
Imports - partners:
Portugal 20.2%, US 13.9%, South Africa 12.4%, France 6.7%, Brazil
5.8%, Belgium 5.3%, Netherlands 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$9.9 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$383.5 million (1999)
Currency:
kwanza (AOA)
Currency code:
AOA
Exchange rates:
kwanza per US dollar - 43.53 (2002), 22.06 (2001), 10.04 (2000),
2.79 (1999), 0.39 (1998); note - in December 1999 the kwanza was
revalued with six zeroes dropped off the old value
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Angola
Telephones - main lines in use:
72,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
25,800 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone service limited mostly to government
and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military
links
domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and
tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000)
Radios:
815,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2000)
Televisions:
196,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.ao
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
60,000 (2002)
Transportation Angola
Railways:
total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 51,429 km
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (1999)
Waterways:
1,295 km
Pipelines:
gas 214 km; liquid natural gas 14 km; liquid petroleum gas 30 km;
oil 845 km; refined products 56 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo, Mocamedes, Namibe, Porto
Amboim, Soyo
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,311 GRT/48,924 DWT
ships by type: cargo 7, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
243 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 211
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 80 (2002)
Military Angola
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,568,082 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,290,884 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 109,752 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$222.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Angola
Disputes - international:
gives shelter to thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic
of the Congo while thousands of Angolan refugees still remain in
neighboring states as a consequence of the protracted civil wars in
both states
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western
Europe and other African states
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Anguilla
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: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 102 sq km
Area - comparative:
about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
61 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 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) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
12,738 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.3% (male 1,575; female 1,526)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 4,504; female 4,262)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 387; female 484) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 30 years
male: 30 years
female: 29.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.21% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.42 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
12.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 29.84 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.7 years
male: 73.79 years
female: 79.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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), mulatto, white
Religions:
Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%,
Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
Government Anguilla
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
The Valley
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Anguilla Day, 30 May
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 Peter JOHNSTONE (since NA February 2000)
elections: none; the monarch 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
head of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March
2000)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the
elected members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct
popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 March 2000 (next to be held NA June 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
ANA 3, AUP 2, ADP 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Anguilla United Party or AUP [Hubert HUGHES]; The United Front or
UF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS], a coalition of the Anguilla
Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate),
ECLAC (associate)
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 blue wavy water below
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, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector,
has contributed 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 - $104 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3%
Labor force:
6,049 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%, transportation and
utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining
4% (2000 est,)
Unemployment rate:
6.7% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
NA (2000)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
other: NA%
nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption:
42.6 million kWh
Agriculture - products:
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Exports:
$2.6 million (1999)
Exports - commodities:
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Exports - partners:
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2000)
Imports:
$80.9 million (1999)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Imports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico, UK (2000)
Debt - external:
$8.8 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient:
$3.5 million (1995)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since
1976)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Anguilla
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,974 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,629 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin
(Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
3,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ai
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
919 (2000)
Transportation Anguilla
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 105 km
paved: 65 km
unpaved: 40 km (1997)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Blowing Point, Road Bay
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Anguilla
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@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.
Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th
century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific
research on the continent. A number of countries have set up
year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made
territorial claims, but no other country recognizes 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
note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North
America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the
subcontinent of Europe
land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km
ice-covered) (est.)
Area - comparative:
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
0 km
note: see entry on International disputes
Coastline:
17,968 km
Maritime claims:
none; 20 of 27 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 -2,555 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%) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
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 coming
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 seasonally staffed
research stations
note: approximately 27 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic
Treaty, send personnel to perform seasonal (summer) and year-round
research on the continent and in its surrounding oceans; the
population of persons doing and supporting science on the continent
and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the
region covered by the Antarctic Treaty) varies from approximately
4,000 in summer to 1,000 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; summer
(January) population - 3,687 total; Argentina 302, Australia 201,
Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16, Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11,
France 100, Germany 51, India 60, Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea
14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway 40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia
254, South Africa 80, Spain 43, Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378
(1998-99); winter (July) population - 964 total; Argentina 165,
Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China 33, France 33, Germany 9,
India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10, Poland 20, Russia 102,
South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99); year-round stations - 42
total; Argentina 6, Australia 4, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, Finland
1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ
1, Norway 1, Poland 1, Russia 6, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Ukraine 1,
UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (1998-99); summer-only stations - 32 total;
Argentina 3, Australia 4, Bulgaria 1, Chile 7, Germany 1, India 1,
Japan 3, NZ 1, Peru 1, Russia 3, Sweden 2, UK 5 (1998-99); 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 (July 2003
est.)
Government Antarctica
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antarctica
Government type:
Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1
December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes
the legal framework for the management of Antarctica. The 24th
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Russia in July
2001. At the end of 2001, there were 45 treaty member nations: 27
consultative and 18 non-consultative. Consultative (voting) members
include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as
national territory (some claims overlap) and 20 nonclaimant 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 (within their
areas) in accordance with their own national laws. The year in
parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was voted to full
consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates the country
was an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are -
Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the
UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1983),
Bulgaria (1998) China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989),
Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea
(1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), Russia,
South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), and the
US. Non-consultative (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in
parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989),
Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001),
Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987),
Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993),
Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), Ukraine (1992), and Venezuela
(1999). 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
include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were
later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for
the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); 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 five specific annexes: 1) marine pollution, 2) fauna and
flora, 3) environmental impact assessments, 4) waste management, and
5) protected area management; it prohibits all activities relating
to mineral resources except scientific research.
Legal system:
Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative
member nations. Decisions from these meetings are carried out by
these member nations (within their areas) in accordance with their
own national laws. US law, including certain criminal offenses by or
against US nationals, such as murder, may apply extra-territorially.
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 their website at www.nsf.gov.
Economy Antarctica
Economy - overview:
Fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad, account for
the limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in 2000-01 (1
July-30 June) reported landing 112,934 metric tons. Unregulated
fishing, particularly of tooth fish, is a serious problem. Allegedly
illegal fishing in antarctic waters in 1998 resulted in the seizure
(by France and Australia) of at least eight fishing ships. The
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
determines the recommended catch limits for marine species. A total
of 12,248 tourists visited in the 2000-01 antarctic summer, down
from the 14,762 who visited the previous year. Nearly all of them
were passengers on 21 commercial (nongovernmental) ships and several
yachts that made trips during the summer. Most tourist trips lasted
approximately two weeks.
Communications Antarctica
Telephones - main lines in use:
0
note: information for US bases only (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA; Iridium system in use
Telephone system:
general assessment: local systems at some research stations
domestic: NA
international: via satellite from some research stations
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1
note: information for US bases only (2002)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
1 (cable system with six channels; American Forces Antarctic
Network-McMurdo)
note: information for US bases only (2002)
Televisions:
several hundred at McMurdo Station (US)
note: information for US bases only (2001)
Internet country code:
.aq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Transportation Antarctica
Ports and harbors:
there are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica; most
coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies are
transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and
helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility; US coastal
stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), 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; offshore anchorage is
sparse and intermittent
Airports:
30
note: 30 stations, operated by 16 national governments party to the
Antarctic Treaty, have aircraft landing facilities for either
helicopters and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises
operate two additional aircraft landing facilities; helicopter pads
are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel,
sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled,
fixed-wing aircraft; of these, 1 is greater than 3 km in length, 6
are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 3 are between 1 km and 2 km in
length, 3 are less than 1 km in length, and 2 are of unknown length;
snow surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing
aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of these, 4 are
greater than 3 km in length, 3 are between 2 km and 3 km in length,
2 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 2 are less than 1 km in
length, and 4 are of unknown length; aircraft landing facilities
generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting
from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; aircraft landing
facilities do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the
respective governmental or nongovernmental operating organization
required for landing; landed aircraft are subject to inspection in
accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Heliports:
27 stations have helicopter landing facilities (helipads) (2002)
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:
Antarctic Treaty freezes claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in
Government type entry); sections (some overlapping) claimed by
Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK; the US and
most other states do not recognize the territorial claims of other
states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reserve
the right to do so); no claims have been made in the sector between
90 degrees west and 150 degrees west; several states with land
claims in Antarctica have expressed their intention to submit data
to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to
extend their continental shelf claims to adjoining undersea ridges
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Antigua and Barbuda
Introduction Antigua and Barbuda
Background:
The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and
Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and Carib 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: 443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
land: 443 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
153 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical marine; 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: 0%
other: 81.82% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, 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 very large western harbor
People Antigua and Barbuda
Population:
67,897 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 9,706; female 9,371)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 22,929; female 22,845)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,218; female 1,828) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.1 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 29.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.64% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.64 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 25.14 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.31 years
male: 68.99 years
female: 73.75 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religions:
Christian, (predominantly Anglican with other Protestant, and some
Roman Catholic)
Languages:
English (official), local dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88% (1960 est.)
Government Antigua and Barbuda
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with UK-style parliament
Capital:
Saint John's
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 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 James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)
elections: none; the monarch 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 is usually appointed prime minister
by the governor general
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on
the advice of the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March
1994); Deputy Prime Minister Robin YEARWOOD
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17-member body
appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives
(17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to
serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - ALP 53.2%, UPP 45.5%,
independent 1.3%; seats by party - ALP 12, UPP 4, independent 1
elections: House of Representatives - last held 9 March 1999 (next
to be held prior to March 2004)
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
Court of Summary Jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders:
Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbuda People's
Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; United Progressive Party or UPP
[Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three opposition parties - United
National Democratic Party or UNDP, Antigua Caribbean Liberation
Movement or ACLM, and Progressive Labor Movement or PLM)
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, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 362-5211
FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225
consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy
closed 30 June 1994); 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
Economy Antigua and Barbuda
Economy - overview:
Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more than
half of GDP. Weak tourist arrival numbers since early 2000 have
slowed the economy, however, and pressed the government into a tight
fiscal corner. 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 income growth in the
industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for
slightly more than one-third of tourist arrivals.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $750 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 19.2%
services: 76.8% (2002)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.4% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
30,000
Labor force - by occupation:
commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)
Unemployment rate:
11% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $123.7 million
expenditures: $145.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol,
household appliances)
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
105.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
97.89 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes,
sugarcane; livestock
Exports:
$40 million
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport
equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8%
Exports - partners:
France 68.5%, Germany 26.4%, Italy 1.2% (2002)
Imports:
$357 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures, chemicals, oil
Imports - partners:
France 23.4%, Germany 14.2%, US 13.2%, Poland 9.8%, South Korea
8.3%, Singapore 5%, UK 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$231 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.3 million (1995)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998) (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Antigua and Barbuda
Telephones - main lines in use:
28,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,300 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: good automatic telephone system
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba
(Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
36,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
31,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ag
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
5,000 (2001)
Transportation Antigua and Barbuda
Railways:
total: 77 km
narrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost
exclusively for handling sugarcane) (2001 est.)
Highways:
total: 250 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Saint John's
Merchant marine:
total: 816 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,135,866 GRT/6,648,143 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 3, Colombia 1, Cuba
1, Estonia 1, Germany 747, Greece 1, Iceland 8, Latvia 1, Lebanon 2,
Lithuania 1, Netherlands 22, New Zealand 2, Portugal 1, Slovenia 6,
South Africa 1, Sweden 2, United Kingdom 1, United States 7 (2002
est.)
ships by type: bulk 16, cargo 474, chemical tanker 8, combination
bulk 3, container 255, liquefied gas 10, multi-functional large-load
carrier 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll
off 35
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Antigua and Barbuda
Military branches:
Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda
Police Force (including the Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Arctic Ocean
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. A sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes
circumscribes 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 Region
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
averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may
be three times that size; 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 harbors:
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:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Argentina
Introduction Argentina
Background:
Following independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experienced
periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and
liberals and between civilian and military factions. After World War
II, a long period of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in
subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took
power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and numerous elections
since then have underscored Argentina's progress in democratic
consolidation.
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: 2,766,890 sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 30,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 9,665 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km,
Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
Coastline:
4,989 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula Valdes)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m
Natural resources:
fertile plains of the Pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore,
manganese, petroleum, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 9.14%
permanent crops: 0.8%
other: 90.06% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
15,610 sq km (1998 est.)
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
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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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); Cerro Aconcagua is South America's tallest mountain, while
the Valdes Peninsula is the lowest point on the continent
People Argentina
Population:
38,740,807 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.2% (male 5,185,548; female 4,955,551)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 12,274,625; female 12,282,772)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 1,659,641; female 2,382,670) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 29 years
male: 28 years
female: 29.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.05% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.58 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 18.14 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.48 years
male: 71.72 years
female: 79.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,800 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine
Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo, Amerindian, or
other nonwhite groups 3%
Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant
2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.1% (2003 est.)
Government Argentina
Country name:
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Buenos Aires
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,
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; revised August 1994
Legal system:
mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and mandatory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); note
- declared winner of a runoff election by default after Carlos Saul
MENEM withdrew his candidacy on the eve of the election; Vice
President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003);
note - declared winner of a runoff election by default after Carlos
Saul MENEM withdrew his candidacy on the eve of the election; Vice
President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election results: results of the presidential primary of 27 April
2003: Carlos Saul MENEM 24.3%, Nestor KIRCHNER 22%, Ricardo Lopez
MURPHY 16.4%, Adolfo Rodriguez SAA 14.4%, Elisa CARRIO 14.2%, other
8.7%; the subsequent runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 was
awarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy on
the eve of the election
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; the last election held was the
presidential primary election of 27 April 2003 (next election to be
held NA 2007); a runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 between the
two candidates receiving the highest votes in the primary was
awarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy on
the eve of the election
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 being elected every two years to a six-year
term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected by
direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to a
four-year term)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%;
seats by bloc or party - PJ 40, UCR 24, provincial parties 6,
Frepaso 1, ARI 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or
party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - PJ 113, UCR 74, provincial
parties 27, Frepaso 17, ARI 17, AR 9
elections: Senate - last held 14 October 2001 (next to be held
intermittently by province before December 2003); Chamber of
Deputies - last held 14 October 2001 (next to be held intermittently
by province before December 2003)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are
appointed by the president with approval by the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO]; Alternative for a
Republic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; Front for a Country in
Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Dario Pedro
ALESSANDRO]; Justicialist Party or PJ [Carlos Saul MENEM] (Peronist
umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Angel
ROZAS]; Federal Recreate Movement [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY]; several
provincial parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine
Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural
Society (large landowners' association); business organizations;
General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella
labor organization); Peronist-dominated labor movement; Roman
Catholic Church; students
International organization participation:
AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, ECLAC, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-19,
G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, MTCR, NSG, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Octavio BORDON
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. WALSH; note - Lino GUTIERREZ
is designated to replace Ambassador WALSH
embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO
address: 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
Economy Argentina
Economy - overview:
Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate
population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a
diversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, the
country has suffered recurring economic problems of inflation,
external debt, capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000
was a negative 0.8%, as both domestic and foreign investors remained
skeptical of the government's ability to pay debts and maintain the
peso's fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. The economic
situation worsened in 2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine
bonds, massive withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in
consumer and investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a
"zero deficit," to stabilize the banking system, and to restore
economic growth proved inadequate in the face of the mounting
economic problems. The peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in
January 2002, and the peso was floated in February; the exchange
rate plunged and inflation picked up rapidly, but by mid-2002 the
economy had stabilized, albeit at a lower level. Strong demand for
the peso compelled the Central Bank to intervene in foreign exchange
markets to curb its appreciation in early 2003. Led by record
exports, the economy began to recover with output up 5.5% in 2003,
unemployment falling, and inflation sliced to 4.2% at year-end.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $403.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-10.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 28%
services: 66% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
37% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
41% (2002, yearend)
Labor force:
15 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
21.5% (37377)
Budget:
revenues: $44 billion
expenditures: $48 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles,
chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
97.17 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 52.2%
hydro: 40.8%
other: 0.2% (2001)
nuclear: 6.7%
Electricity - consumption:
92.12 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
5.662 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
7.417 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
828,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
486,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
2.927 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
37.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
31.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
6.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
768 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts,
tea, wheat; livestock
Exports:
$25.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles
Exports - partners:
Brazil 23.6%, US 10.9%, Chile 9.7%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal
manufactures, plastics
Imports - partners:
Brazil 42%, US 12.8%, Germany 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$155 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$10 billion (2001 est.)
Currency:
Argentine peso (ARS)
Currency code:
ARS
Exchange rates:
Argentine pesos per US dollar - 3.06 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1
(1999), 1 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Argentina
Telephones - main lines in use:
7.5 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3 million (December 1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: by opening the telecommunications market to
competition and foreign investment with the "Telecommunications
Liberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina encouraged the growth of
modern telecommunication technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines
are being installed between all major cities; the major networks are
entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is being
improved; however, telephone density is presently minimal, and
making telephone service universally available will take time
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic
satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network;
more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephone
use is rapidly expanding
international: satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two international
gateways near Buenos Aires (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than
1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:
24.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
7.95 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ar
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
33 (2000)
Internet users:
3.88 million (2001)
Transportation Argentina
Railways:
total: 34,463 km (168 km electrified)
broad gauge: 20,736 km 1.676-m gauge (142 km electrified)
standard gauge: 3,115 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 10,375 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 215,471 km
paved: 63,348 km (including 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 152,123 km (1999)
Waterways:
10,950 km
Pipelines:
gas 26,797 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km; refined
products 2,945 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del
Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario,
Santa Fe, Ushuaia
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 141,851 GRT/208,821 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, petroleum tanker 8, railcar carrier 1,
refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1,
specialized tanker 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered
here as a flag of convenience: United Arab Emirates 1, Uruguay 1
(2002 est.)
Airports:
1,342 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 145
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 62
914 to 1,523 m: 44
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,197
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 572
under 914 m: 571 (2002)
Military Argentina
Military branches:
Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes naval
aviation and Marines), Coast Guard, Argentine Air Force, National
Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 9,780,063 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,942,837 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 331,011 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Argentina
Disputes - international:
claims UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South
Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution, but in
1995 ceded the right to settle the dispute by force; Beagle Channel
islands dispute resolved through Papal mediation in 1984, but armed
incidents persist since 1992 oil discovery; territorial claim in
Antarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean claims (see Antarctic
disputes); unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay
borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug
trafficking, and harbors Islamist militants; uncontested dispute
between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera Island in the
Quarai/Cuareim leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and
the US; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border
Area; domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Armenia
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. It was
incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian
leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim
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,
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.
Geography Armenia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 29,800 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
land: 28,400 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, alumina
Land use:
arable land: 17.52%
permanent crops: 2.3%
other: 80.18% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,870 sq km (1998 est.)
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,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
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:
3,326,448
note: Armenia's first census since independence was conducted in
October 2001; official results are not expected until late 2003
(July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.1% (male 356,587; female 346,648)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 1,113,241; female 1,158,245)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 147,156; female 204,571) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.3 years
male: 30.6 years
female: 34.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.07% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.16 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 40.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 36.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 45.27 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.68 years
male: 62.41 years
female: 71.17 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.56 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 2,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups:
Armenian 93%, Azeri 1%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 4%
(2002)
note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from
Armenia
Religions:
Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi
(Zoroastrian/animist) 2%
Languages:
Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.4%
female: 98% (2003 est.)
Government Armenia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Yerevan
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 Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Constitution:
adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA
2008); prime minister appointed by the president; the prime minister
and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly
refuses to accept their program
election results: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent of
vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 75
members selected by direct vote, 56 by party list)
elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%,
Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National
Unity Party 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by party -
Republican Party 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak)
11, National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party change
frequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselves
independent
note: electoral law was changed in 2002 so ratio in next elections
will be 75 deputies elected by party list, 56 by direct election
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALIAN]; Armenia Party [Myasnik
MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN,
chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Ruben
MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation
("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party
[Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party,
National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, and the
People's Party); National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN];
National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Unity
Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; People's Party of Armenia
[Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Albert BAZEYAN and Aram
SARKISYAN, chairmen]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN];
Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Union of
Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party
[Gurgen ARSENIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CIS, COE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSSIAN
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John M. ORDWAY
embassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020
Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-177, 542-132, 524-661,
527-001, 524-840
FAX: [374](1) 520-800
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange
Economy Armenia
Economy - overview:
Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed
a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and
other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw
materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December
1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the
large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural
sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated
technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace,
but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration.
Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold,
bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the
ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup
of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union
contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By
1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious
IMF-sponsored economic program that has resulted in positive growth
rates in 1995-2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation,
stabilize the local currency (the dram), and privatize most small-
and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia
suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy
supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is
now a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient
generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under
international pressure to close. The electricity distribution system
was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been
offset somewhat by international aid, domestic restructuring of the
economy, and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia
remain close, especially in the energy sector.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $12.13 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
12.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 26%
services: 44% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 46.2% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 45%, services 30%, industry 25% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $402 million
expenditures: $482 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric
motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals,
trucks, instruments, microelectronics, gem cutting, jewelry
manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy
Industrial production growth rate:
15% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.479 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 42.3%
hydro: 27%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 30.7%
Electricity - consumption:
5.784 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
704 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia;
includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2001)
Electricity - imports:
463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
Exports:
$525 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
Exports - partners:
Belgium 21.5%, Russia 14.6%, Israel 10.3%, Iran 9.4%, US 8.2%,
Switzerland 6.8%, Germany 6.2% (2002)
Imports:
$991 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
Imports - partners:
US 15.3%, Russia 12.9%, Belgium 12.3%, Iran 10.3%, UAE 6.3%,
Germany 5.5%, Italy 4.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$905 million (June 2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $170 million (2000)
Currency:
dram (AMD)
Currency code:
AMD
Exchange rates:
drams per US dollar - NA (2002), 555.08 (2001), 539.53 (2000),
535.06 (1999), 504.92 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Armenia
Telephones - main lines in use:
600,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
50,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and
undergoing modernization and expansion
domestic: the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment
are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)
international: 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 and
through the Moscow international switch and by satellite to the rest
of the world; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
850,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998)
Televisions:
825,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.am
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2001)
Internet users:
30,000 (2001)
Transportation Armenia
Railways:
total: 852 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 852 km 1.520-m gauge (779 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 15,918 km
paved: 15,329 km (includes 7,527 km of expressways)
unpaved: 589 km (2000)
Waterways:
NA km
Pipelines:
gas 2,031 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
15 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Armenia
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guards
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 919,582 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 727,770 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 37,209 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$135 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
6.5% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Armenia
Disputes - international:
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh
and militarily occupies 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate
dispute; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands in
Turkey have subsided; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of
Georgia seek greater autonomy, closer ties with Armenia
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic
consumption; used as a transit point for illicit drugs - mostly
opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a
lesser extent the rest of Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Aruba
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: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 193 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: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources:
NEGL; white sandy beaches
Land use:
arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0.01 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
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:
70,844 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 7,540; female 7,121)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 23,427; female 24,955)
65 years and over: 11% (male 3,215; female 4,586) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.1 years
male: 35.3 years
female: 38.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.55% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.86 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.83 years
male: 75.48 years
female: 82.34 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Languages:
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English
dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy:
definition:
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Aruba
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
Dependency status:
part 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:
Oranjestad
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
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 Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1
January 1992)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent
of legislative vote - NA%
elections: the monarch 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 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30
October 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Fredis REFUNJOL
cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by
direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 September 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 52.4%, AVP 26.7%,
PPA 9.6%, OLA 5.7%, Aliansa 3.5%, other 2.1%; seats by party - MEP
12, AVP 6, PPA 2, OLA 1
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic
Alliance or Aliansa [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo
BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban
Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP
[Jan (Henny) H. EMAN]; Concentration for the Liberation of Aruba or
CLA [leader NA]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O.
ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [Urbana LOPEZ];
National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO
(associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
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 Aruba; the Consul General to
Netherlands Antilles 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
Economy Aruba
Economy - overview:
Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with
offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The
rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted
in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has
boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition,
the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source
of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred
growth. Aruba's small labor force and low unemployment rate have led
to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in
wage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals have declined in the
aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The
government now must deal with a budget deficit and a negative trade
balance.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.94 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
41,501 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair,
followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Unemployment rate:
0.6%
Budget:
revenues: $135.81 million
expenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000)
Industries:
tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
531.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
494.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
aloes; livestock; fish
Exports:
$1.88 billion f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery
and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 28.6%, Colombia 21.7%, Panama 16.8%, US 12.1%,
Netherlands Antilles 8.3%, Venezuela 7.6% (2002)
Imports:
$2.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and
reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
US 54.7%, Netherlands 12.7%, UK 5.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$285 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:
$26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million
aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Currency:
Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Currency code:
AWG
Exchange rates:
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001),
1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999), 1.79 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Aruba
Telephones - main lines in use:
33,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,402 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: more than adequate
international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands
Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
50,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
20,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.aw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
24,000 (2002)
Transportation Aruba
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 800 km
paved: 513 km
note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large
tracts of the interior (1995)
unpaved: 287 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine:
total: 3
note: there is one foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Monaco 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Aruba
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and
Marines, Coast Guard
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands
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, is
now a marine reserve.
Geography Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Location:
Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of
Australia, south of the Indonesian half of Timor island
Geographic coordinates:
12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 5 sq km
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and
Cartier Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 5 sq km
Area - comparative:
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
74.1 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
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) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
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 (July 2003 est.)
People - note:
the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has
become an ongoing problem
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 Department
of Transport and Regional Services
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
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
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:
nationalist group in Indonesia reportedly seeks to populate reefs
to assert claims; Australia has moved to close reefs to Indonesian
traditional fishing and to create a national park while prospecting
for hydrocarbons in the vicinity
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Atlantic Ocean
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.
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, the 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 harbors:
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
Transnational Issues Atlantic Ocean
Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Australia
Introduction Australia
Background:
Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It
was able to take advantage of its natural resources to rapidly
develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a
major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II.
Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the
ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas,
especially the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to change
Australia's status, from a commonwealth headed by the British
monarch to a republic, was defeated in 1999.
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: 7,686,850 sq km
water: 68,920 sq km
note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
land: 7,617,930 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
25,760 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas,
petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 6.88%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 93.09% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
24,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population
concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular,
tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs
along the west coast in the summer
People Australia
Population:
19,731,984 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.2% (male 2,045,783; female 1,949,864)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 6,680,531; female 6,553,141)
65 years and over: 12.7% (male 1,099,275; female 1,403,390) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 36 years
male: 35.2 years
female: 36.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.93% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.13 years
male: 77.27 years
female: 83.13 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
12,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups:
Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions:
Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%,
non-Christian 11%, other 12.6%
Languages:
English, native languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.)
Government Australia
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia
Government type:
democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as
sovereign
Capital:
Canberra
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,
Norfolk Island
Independence:
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday:
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:
9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system:
based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
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 Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael
JEFFREY (since 11 August 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11
March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON Deputy Prime
Minister John ANDERSON (since 20 July 1999)
cabinet: Parliament nominates and selects, from among its members, a
list of candidates to serve as government ministers; from this list,
the governor general swears in the final selections for the Cabinet
elections: none; the monarch 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
note: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12
from each of the six states and two from each of the two mainland
territories; one-half of the members elected every three years by
popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (150 seats - this is up from 148 seats in 2001
election; members elected by popular vote on the basis of
preferential representation to serve three-year terms; no state can
have fewer than five representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 10 November 2001 (next to be held by
February 2005); House of Representatives - last held 10 November
2001 (next to be held by February 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 35, Australian Labor
Party 28, Australian Democrats 8, Green Party 2, One Nation Party 1,
Country Labor Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal
Party-National Party coalition 82, Australian Labor Party 65,
independent and other 3
Judicial branch:
High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed
by the governor general)
Political parties and leaders:
Australian Democrats [Andrew BARTLETT]; Australian Labor Party
[Mark LATHAM]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES]; Country
Labor Party [leader NA]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Liberal
Party [John Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [John ANDERSON]; One
Nation Party [Len HARRIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Australian Monarchist League [leader NA]; Australian Republican
Movement [leader NA]
International organization participation:
ANZUS, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD,
OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. THAWLEY
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New
York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
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 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; the remaining half is a representation of the
Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed
star and four larger, seven-pointed stars
Economy Australia
Economy - overview:
Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a
per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European
economies. Rising output in the domestic economy has been offsetting
the global slump, and business and consumer confidence remains
robust. Australia's emphasis on reforms is another key factor behind
the economy's strength. The stagnant economic conditions in major
export partners and the impact of the worst drought in 100 years
cast a shadow over prospects for 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $525.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $26,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (2001 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:
35.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
9.2 million (37256)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $86.8 billion
expenditures: $84.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,
chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
4.3% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
198.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.8%
hydro: 8.3%
other: 0.9% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
184.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
731,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
796,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
523,400 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
530,800 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
3.664 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
33.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
23.33 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
9.744 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.407 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
Exports:
$66.3 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and
transport equipment
Exports - partners:
Japan 18.5%, US 9.6%, South Korea 8.3%, China 6.9%, New Zealand
6.5%, UK 4.7%, Singapore 4.1%, Taiwan 4% (2002)
Imports:
$68 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,
telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
US 18.3%, Japan 12.3%, China 10.1%, Germany 5.7%, UK 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$176.8 billion (yearend 2002 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $894 million (FY 99/00)
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.84 (2002), 1.93 (2001), 1.72
(2000), 1.55 (1999), 1.59 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Australia
Telephones - main lines in use:
10.05 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.6 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in
areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular
telephones
international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian
Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean
regions) (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
25.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
104 (1997)
Televisions:
10.15 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.au
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
571 (2002)
Internet users:
10.63 million (2002)
Transportation Australia
Railways:
total: 41,588 km (4,612 km electrified)
broad gauge: 2,193 km 1.600-m gauge
narrow gauge: 15,456 km 1.067-m gauge
dual gauge: 291 km dual gauge (2002)
standard gauge: 23,648 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 811,603 km
paved: 314,090 km (including 18,619 km of expressways)
unpaved: 497,513 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
8,368 km (mainly used by small, shallow-draft craft)
Pipelines:
condensate 36 km; condensate/gas 243 km; gas 27,321 km; liquid
petroleum gas 240 km; oil 4,779 km; oil/gas/water 104 km; water 40
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport (Tasmania),
Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston (Tasmania),
Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:
total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,415,810 GRT/1,806,554 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: France 2, UK 2, US 14 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 20, cargo 6, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk
1, container 2, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 7,
roll on/roll off 6
Airports:
444 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 294
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 126
914 to 1,523 m: 134
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 150
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 116
under 914 m: 14 (2002)
Military Australia
Military branches:
Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 5,037,538 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,339,011 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 142,377 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$11.39 billion (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.9% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Australia
Disputes - international:
maritime delimitation and resource sharing agreements signed with
East Timor resolve dispute over "Timor Gap" hydrocarbon reserves; no
agreement reached on dividing Timor Sea with Indonesia (see Ashmore
and Cartier Islands disputes); Australia asserts a territorial claim
to Antarctica and to its continental shelf (see Antarctica)
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Austria
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. This neutrality, once ingrained as part
of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question
since the Soviet collapse of 1991 and Austria's entry into the
European Union in 1995. A prosperous country, Austria entered the
European 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: 83,858 sq km
water: 1,120 sq km
land: 82,738 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 in
lowlands and snow in mountains; cool 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:
iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite, copper,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 16.89%
permanent crops: 0.99%
other: 82.12% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
457 sq km (2000 est.)
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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
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:
8,188,207 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.2% (male 678,944; female 646,390)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 2,827,736; female 2,768,480)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 490,979; female 775,678) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.4 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 40.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.22% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.43 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.17 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 81.48 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.41 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups:
German 88%, non-nationals 9.3% (includes Croatians, Slovenes,
Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma), naturalized 2% (includes those
who have lived in Austria at least three generations)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, Muslim and other 17%
Languages:
German
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Austria
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local short form: Oesterreich
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
Vienna
Administrative divisions:
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,
Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark,
Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence:
1156 (from Bavaria)
National holiday:
National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the State
Treaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation and
the passage of the law on permanent neutrality
Constitution:
1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
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:
18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)
head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4
February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October
2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice
of the chancellor
elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year
term; presidential election last held 19 April 1998 (next to be held
in the spring of 2004); chancellor traditionally chosen by the
president from the plurality party in the National Council; vice
chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
note: government coalition - OeVP and FPOe
election results: Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent of
vote - Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%,
Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal
Council or Bundesrat (64 members; members represent each of the
states on the basis of population, but with each state having at
least three representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term)
and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected
by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP
42.3%, SPOe 36.9%, FPOe 10.2%, Greens 9%; seats by party - OeVP 79,
SPOe 69, FPOe 19, Greens 16
elections: National Council - last held 24 November 2002 (next to be
held in the fall of 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative
Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or
Verfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders:
Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party
of Austria or FPOe [Herbert HAUPT]; Social Democratic Party of
Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens Alternative or GA
[Alexander VAN DER BELLEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or OeGB;
Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian
Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief
lay organization, Catholic Action; three composite leagues of the
Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and
farmers
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU
(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eva NOWOTNY
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr.
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339, 31375, 31335
FAX: [43] (1) 5125835
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
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. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign
investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European
market and proximity to EU aspirant economies. Slowing growth in
Germany and elsewhere in the world held the economy to only 1.2%
growth in 2001, 0.6% in 2002, and 0.8% in 2003.. To meet increased
competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria
will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy,
continue to deregulate the service sector, and lower its tax burden.
A key issue is the encouragement of much greater participation in
the labor market by its ageing population.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $227.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $27,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 33%
services: 65% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.5% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.3 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 67%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry 4%
(2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.8% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $53 billion
expenditures: $54 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals,
lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications
equipment, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3.8% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
58.75 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.3%
hydro: 67.2%
other: 3.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
54.85 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
14.25 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
14.47 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
20,670 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
262,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
35,470 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
262,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
85.69 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
1.731 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
7.81 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
403 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
6.033 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
24.9 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle,
pigs, poultry; lumber
Exports:
$70 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and
paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles,
foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 31.5%, Italy 9.3%, Switzerland 5.4%, US 4.9%, UK 4.9%,
France 4.7%, Hungary 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$74 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods,
oil and oil products; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 42.6%, Italy 6.6%, Hungary 5.1%, Switzerland 4.8%,
Netherlands 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$12.1 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $410 million (2000)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions
of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999), 12.38 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Austria
Telephones - main lines in use:
4 million (consisting of 3,600,000 analog main lines plus 400,000
Integrated Services Digital Network connections); in addition, there
are 100,000 Asymmetric Digital Services lines (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6 million (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: there are 48 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiber
optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet
services are available
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat; in addition, there are
about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 160 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
6.08 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
45 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
4.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.at
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
37 (2000)
Internet users:
3.7 million (2002)
Transportation Austria
Railways:
total: 6,024 km (3,641 km electrified)
standard gauge: 5,566 km 1.435-m gauge (3,524 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 424 km
0.760-m gauge (89 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 200,000 km
paved: 200,000 km (including 1,633 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
358 km (1999)
Pipelines:
gas 2,722 km; oil 687 km; refined products 149 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 27,551 GRT/34,225 DWT
ships by type: cargo 4, container 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
55 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 14 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Austria
Military branches:
Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,093,821 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,725,123 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 49,090 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.497 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (FY01/02)
Transnational Issues Austria
Disputes - international:
minor disputes with Czech Republic and Slovenia continue over
nuclear power plants and post-World War II treatment of
German-speaking minorities
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American
cocaine destined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Azerbaijan
Introduction Azerbaijan
Background:
Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population
- 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 the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its
territory and must support some 800,000 refugees and internally
displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption is
ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's
undeveloped petroleum resources 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:
Asia
Area:
total: 86,600 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
water: 500 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
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 (800
km, est.)
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, alumina
Land use:
arable land: 19.31%
permanent crops: 3.04%
other: 77.65% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
14,550 sq km (1998 est.)
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 as a pesticide, and from toxic
defoliants used in the production of cotton
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, 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:
7,830,764 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 1,101,320; female 1,064,214)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,468,772; female 2,601,312)
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 236,683; female 358,463) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.1 years
male: 25.7 years
female: 28.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 82.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 84.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.16 years
male: 58.95 years
female: 67.58 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.34 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups:
Azeri 90%, Dagestani 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2%, other 2.3%
(1998 est.)
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) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995
est.)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government Azerbaijan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local short form: none
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions:
59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar
- singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika); Abseron
Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu,
Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*,
Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu,
Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu,
Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu,
Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu,
Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu,
Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*,
Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu,
Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan
Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu,
Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi
Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit
Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu,
Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi
Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax
Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab
Rayonu
Independence:
30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaidzhan, 28 May (1918)
Constitution:
adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law system
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 Abbas ABBASOV (since 10 November
2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and
confirmed by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term;
election last held 15 October 2003 (next to be held NA October
2008); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by
the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
election results: Ilham ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote -
Ilham ALIYEV 76.8%, Isa GAMBAROV 14%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 November 2000 (next to be held NA November
2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NAP and allies 108, APF "Reform" 6, CSP 3, PNIA 2, Musavat Party 2,
CPA 2, APF "Classic" 1, Compatriot Party 1
note: PNIA, Musavat, and APF "Classic" parties refused to take their
seats
note: 100 members of the current parliament were elected on the
basis of single mandate constituencies, while 25 were elected based
on proportional balloting; as a result of a 24 August 2002 national
referendum on changes to the constitution, all 125 members of the
next parliament will be elected from single mandate constituencies
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform"
faction; Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" faction]; Civic
Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party
[Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [Ramiz
AHMADOV]; Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party for
Azerbaijan or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice Party [Ilyas
ISMAILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shvkat HACIYEVA];
Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP [Heydar
ALIYEV, chairman]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or
PNIA [Etibar MAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of
Azerbaijan or SDP [Zardust ALIZADE]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic; Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-Azerbaijani
Forces (UPAF)
International organization participation:
AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEV
FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ross L. WILSON
embassy: 83 Azadliq Prospekt, Baku 370007
mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State, 7050
Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
telephone: [9] (9412) 98-03-35, 36, 37
FAX: [9] (9412) 90-66-71
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a
crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
Economy Azerbaijan
Economy - overview:
Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil production
declined through 1997 but has registered an increase every year
since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with
foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to
long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to
spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first
of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company,
began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable
problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition
from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy
resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently
begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and
structures are slowly being replaced. One obstacle to economic
progress is the need for stepped up foreign investment in the
non-energy sector. A second obstacle is 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
pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oil
wealth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $28.61 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 33%
services: 47% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
49% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 27.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3.7 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and forestry 41%, industry 7%, services 52% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
16% (official rate is 1.2%) (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $786 million
expenditures: $807 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment;
steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
18.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.7%
hydro: 10.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
16.65 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
700 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
400 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
307,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
140,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
589 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
5.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
6.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
62.3 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco;
cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Exports:
$2 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Italy 28.7%, Germany 17.7%, Israel 10.6%, France 8.4%, Georgia
6.7%, Russia 4.7% (2002)
Imports:
$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Russia 17.8%, Turkey 11.9%, Germany 10.7%, France 7%, Kazakhstan
6.3%, China 6%, UK 5.5%, US 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $140 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
Azerbaijani manat (AZM)
Currency code:
AZM
Exchange rates:
Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 4,860.82 (2002), 4,656.58
(2001), 4,474.15 (2000), 4,120.17 (1999), 3,869 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Azerbaijan
Telephones - main lines in use:
865,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
800,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion and
modernization; teledensity of 10 main lines per 100 persons is low
(2002)
domestic: the majority of telephones are in Baku and other
industrial centers - about 700 villages still without public
telephone service; satellite service connects Baku to a modern
switch in its exclave of Naxcivan
international: the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still
serviceable; a satellite connection to Turkey enables Baku to reach
about 200 additional countries, some of which are directly connected
to Baku by satellite providers other than Turkey (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
175,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
170,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.az
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
25,000 (2002)
Transportation Azerbaijan
Railways:
total: 2,122 km
broad gauge: 2,122 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 24,981 km
paved: 23,057 km
unpaved: 1,924 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 5,001 km; oil 1,631 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Baku (Baki)
Merchant marine:
total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 251,004 GRT/313,193 DWT
ships by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 40, roll on/roll off 2
(2002 est.)
Airports:
71 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3.047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 44
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Military Azerbaijan
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,159,450 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,727,340 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 82,925 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$121 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Azerbaijan
Disputes - international:
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh
and militarily occupies about one-sixth of Azerbaijan - Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate
dispute; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratify 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; ICJ decision expected to
resolve dispute with Turkmenistan over sovereignty of certain
Caspian oilfields
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bahamas, The
Introduction Bahamas, The
Background:
Arawak 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 have 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 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: 13,940 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
land: 10,070 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,542 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 0.6%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 99% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
297,477
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.8% (male 42,799; female 42,730)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 95,718; female 98,875)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 7,092; female 10,263) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27 years
male: 26.2 years
female: 27.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.77% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 32.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.71 years
male: 62.3 years
female: 69.18 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
610 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups:
black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Religions:
Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church
of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
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.)
Government Bahamas, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Nassau
Administrative divisions:
21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island,
Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay,
Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh
Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands,
Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence:
10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution:
10 July 1973
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 Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002)
and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime
minister's recommendation
elections: none; the monarch 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-member body
appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime
minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the
House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%,
independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts
Political parties and leaders:
Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; Progressive
Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Robert M.
WITAJEWSKI
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197,
Nassau; Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC
20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and
aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
Economy Bahamas, The
Economy - overview:
The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily
dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts
for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of
the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and
a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had
led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the slowdown in the US
economy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held back growth in
these sectors in 2002. Manufacturing and agriculture together
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, which depends on growth in the US, the source of
most of the visitors.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.59 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $15,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 7%
services: 90% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
156,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
tourism 50%, other services 40%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1999
est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.9% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $918.5 million
expenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of
$106.7 million (FY 99/00)
Industries:
tourism, banking, e-commerce, cement, oil refining and
transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded
steel pipe
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.56 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.451 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables; poultry
Exports:
$560.7 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and vegetables
Exports - partners:
US 39.1%, Germany 15.4%, Spain 10.8%, France 7.4%, Poland 4.6%,
Switzerland 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$1.86 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral
fuels; food and live animals
Imports - partners:
US 20.3%, South Korea 20.1%, Germany 11.5%, Norway 11.5%, Japan
10%, Italy 7.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$371.6 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$9.8 million (1995)
Currency:
Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Currency code:
BSD
Exchange rates:
Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1
(1999), 1 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Bahamas, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
96,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6,152 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed
international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida;
3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
215,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
67,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bs
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
19 (2000)
Internet users:
16,900 (2002)
Transportation Bahamas, The
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 2,693 km
paved: 1,546 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
Merchant marine:
total: 1,090 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 33,065,778 GRT/46,202,085 DWT
ships by type: bulk 150, cargo 223, chemical tanker 45, combination
bulk 12, combination ore/oil 18, container 108, liquefied gas 26,
livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 8,
passenger 102, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 178, refrigerated
cargo 135, roll on/roll off 40, short-sea passenger 17, specialized
tanker 2, vehicle carrier 23
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 4, Belgium 18, Bermuda
1, Canada 5, Chile 1, China 3, Croatia 2, Cuba 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark
27, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Finland 9, France 15, Germany 26, Greece
173, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy
9, Jamaica 1, Japan 32, Kenya 3, Malaysia 10, Malta 2, Monaco 67,
Netherlands 32, New Zealand 2, Norway 237, Panama 2, Philippines 3,
Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13,
Slovenia 1, South Korea 2, Spain 7, Sweden 12, Switzerland 8,
Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Turkey 2, Ukraine 2, United Arab
Emirates 10, United Kingdom 107, United States 159, Uruguay 1 (2002
est.)
Airports:
64 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Bahamas, The
Military branches:
Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas
Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$20 million (FY95/96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.7% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Bahamas, The
Disputes - international:
have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary with the US
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and
Europe; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bahrain
Introduction Bahrain
Background:
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. The new
amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms
and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In
February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National
Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political
liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al
Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected
members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral
legislature, the National Assembly.
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: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 665 sq km
Area - comparative:
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 4.35%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 91.3% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
50 sq km (1998 est.)
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, 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, which much of Western world's petroleum
must transit to reach open ocean
People Bahrain
Population:
667,238
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.8% (male 97,294; female 94,930)
15-64 years: 68% (male 266,351; female 187,473)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 10,807; female 10,383) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.7 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 25.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.61% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
3.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.42 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.72 years
male: 71.28 years
female: 76.24 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,000
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups:
Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Religions:
Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Languages:
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.9%
female: 85% (2003 est.)
Government Bahrain
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
Government type:
constitutional hereditary monarchy
Capital:
Manama
Administrative divisions:
12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al
Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah
ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah,
Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
note: all municipalities administered from Manama
Independence:
15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date
of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of
independence from British protection
Constitution:
adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14
February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised
constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a
constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage:
18 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 (son of the monarch,
born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa
(since NA 1971)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister
appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members
appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly
elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next
election to be held NA 2006)
note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National
Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created
bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14
February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25
December 2002
election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10
Judicial branch:
High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are
allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97, demanding
the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to
unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic
fundamentalist groups are active
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid AL KHALIFA
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club),
Block 321, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE
09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 273-300
FAX: [973] 272-594
Flag description:
red with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist
side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam
Economy Bahrain
Economy - overview:
In Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about 60%
of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. With
its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain
is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf.
Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil granted as aid. A large
share of exports consists of petroleum products made from refining
imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial
projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the
depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term
economic problems.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $9.91 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 35%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
295,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1%
(1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.8 billion
expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore
banking, ship repairing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.257 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
5.819 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
62.28 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
46 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Exports:
$5.8 billion (2002)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners:
US 4.5%, India 3.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.1% (2002)
Imports:
$4.2 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 30.1%, US 11.7%, Japan 7.1%, Germany 6.5%, UK 5.6%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$3.7 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of
Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)
Currency:
Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Currency code:
BHD
Exchange rates:
Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38
(2000), 0.38 (1999), 0.38 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bahrain
Telephones - main lines in use:
152,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
58,543 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system
domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network
with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones
international: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave
radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and
Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
338,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (1997)
Televisions:
275,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
140,200 (2002)
Transportation Bahrain
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 3,261 km
paved: 2,531 km
unpaved: 730 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 234,599 GRT/336,528 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 1,
includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Kuwait 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Bahrain
Military branches:
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) comprising Ground Force (includes Air
Defense), Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force, Amiri Guards,
National Guard
Military manpower - military age:
15 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 222,242 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 121,739 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 6,126 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$526.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
6.7% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Bahrain
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Baker Island
Introduction Baker Island
Background:
The US took possession of the island in 1857, and 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 was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland
Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned.
Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US
Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle
of the west coast.
Geography Baker Island
Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
0 13 N, 176 31 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 1.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4.8 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime
hazard
Environment - current issues:
no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses,
prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,
roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine
wildlife
People Baker Island
Population:
uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during
World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by
special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and
generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and
remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the
middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife
Service (July 2003 est.)
Government Baker Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory 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
Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Baker Island
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Transportation Baker Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat
landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports:
1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with
vegetation and unusable (2002)
Transportation - note:
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Military Baker Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US
Coast Guard
Transnational Issues Baker Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bangladesh
Introduction Bangladesh
Background:
Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan
seceded from its union with West Pakistan. 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: 144,000 sq km
land: 133,910 sq km
water: 10,090 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:
contiguous zone: 18 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: 60.7%
permanent crops: 2.61%
other: 36.69% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
38,440 sq km (1998 est.)
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; water-borne 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, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, 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:
138,448,210 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.1% (male 24,255,300; female 23,007,632)
15-64 years: 62.5% (male 44,261,739; female 42,281,331)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,506,606; female 2,135,602) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 21.2 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 21.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.06% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
29.9 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 66.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 67.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.33 years
male: 61.46 years
female: 61.2 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.17 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
650 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups:
Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)
Religions:
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages:
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.)
Government Bangladesh
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
former: East Pakistan
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Dhaka
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi; note -
there may be one additional division named 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002);
note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the
13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government
Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when
Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at
presidential direction - to supervise the elections
head of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October
2001)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the
president
elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year
term; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since
Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in
on 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); following
legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most
seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission
elected 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 (the
constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and above
the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members serve
five-year terms
elections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance
partners 46%, AL 42%; seats by party - BNP 191, AL 62, JI 18, JP
(Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Naziur) 4, other 9; note - the
election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned
with three other smaller parties - Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami Oikya
Jote, and Jatiya Party (Naziur)
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 [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP
[Khaleda ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul
Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya
Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party
(Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Syed Hasan AHMAD
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5366
telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann PETERS
embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
telephone: [880] (2) 8824700 through 8824722
FAX: [880] (2) 8823744
Flag description:
green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center;
the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve
independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and
secondarily, the traditional color of Islam
Economy Bangladesh
Economy - overview:
Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve
economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor,
overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDP is
generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of
Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as
the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth
include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned
enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor
force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting
energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and
slow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalled
in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all
levels of government. Progress also has been blocked by opposition
from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested
interest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda
ZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms,
but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in key
areas.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $238.2 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 19%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
35.6% (FY 95/96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 28.6% (1995-96 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.6 (FY 95/96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
64.1 million
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman,
Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion
in 1998-99 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY 95/96)
Unemployment rate:
40% (includes underemployment) (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.9 billion
expenditures: $6.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY99/00 est.)
Industries:
cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint,
cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
15.33 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 93.7%
hydro: 6.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
14.25 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
3,581 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
71,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
28.45 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
150.3 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses,
oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry
Exports:
$6.2 billion (2002)
Exports - commodities:
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
(2001)
Exports - partners:
US 27.6%, Germany 10.4%, UK 9.8%, France 5.7%, Italy 4% (2002)
Imports:
$8.5 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,
foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000)
Imports - partners:
India 14.6%, China 11.6%, Singapore 11.5%, Japan 7.6%, Hong Kong
5.4%, South Korea 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$16.5 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.575 billion (2000 est.)
Currency:
taka (BDT)
Currency code:
BDT
Exchange rates:
taka per US dollar - 57.89 (2002), 55.81 (2001), 52.14 (2000),
49.09 (1999), 46.91 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Bangladesh
Telephones - main lines in use:
500,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
283,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern country
domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems
include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some
fiber-optic cable in cities
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:
6.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
15 (1999)
Televisions:
770,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bd
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
10 (2000)
Internet users:
150,000 (2002)
Transportation Bangladesh
Railways:
total: 2,706 km
broad gauge: 884 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 207,486 km
paved: 19,773 km
unpaved: 187,713 km (1999)
Waterways:
up to 8,046 km depending on season
note: includes 3,058 km main cargo routes
Pipelines:
gas 2,016 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj
Merchant marine:
total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 314,437 GRT/436,465 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 23, container 11, passenger 1,
petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
18 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Bangladesh
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, paramilitary forces (includes
Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, Armed
Police Battalions, National Cadet Corps)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 38,436,912 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 22,807,339 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$559 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY96)
Transnational Issues Bangladesh
Disputes - international:
discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of
river boundary, demarcate and fence the porous land boundary,
exchange 162 miniscule enclaves, allocate divided villages, and stop
illegal cross-border trade and violence; Bangladesh protests India's
attempts to fence off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary;
dispute with India over New Moore/South Talpatty Island in the Bay
of Bengal prevents maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslim
refugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources
Illicit drugs:
transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Barbados
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: 431 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 431 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
97 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
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: 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: Biodiversity
Geography - note:
easternmost Caribbean island
People Barbados
Population:
277,264 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.2% (male 29,621; female 29,207)
15-64 years: 70% (male 94,840; female 99,230)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,355; female 15,011) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.3 years
male: 32.2 years
female: 34.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.38% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
13.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 14.39 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.84 years
male: 69.56 years
female: 74.14 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
250 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups:
black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
Religions:
Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other
12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8% (1995 est.)
Government Barbados
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
Government type:
parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the
Commonwealth
Capital:
Bridgetown
Administrative divisions:
11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint
James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint
Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown may
be given parish status
Independence:
30 November 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution:
30 November 1966
Legal system:
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
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 Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 26 May
2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch 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-member body
appointed by the governor general) 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 21 May 2003 (next to be
held by May 2008)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service
Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)
Political parties and leaders:
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party
or DLP [Clyde Mascoll]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union
[David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY];
Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KING
consulate(s): Los Angeles
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
telephone: [1] (202) 339-9201
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Earl N. PHILLIPS, Jr.
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (246) 429-5246, 429-3379
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
trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the
colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
Economy Barbados
Economy - overview:
Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane
cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years
has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. Offshore finance and
information services are important foreign exchange earners, and
there is also a light-manufacturing sector. The government continues
its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign
investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The
economy contracted in 2002 mainly due to a 3% decline in tourism.
Growth should be positive in 2003, the precise level largely
dependent on economic conditions in the US and Europe.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.153 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
128,500 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $847 million (including grants)
expenditures: $886 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate:
-3.2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
780 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
725.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1,271 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
10,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.254 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
70.79 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Exports:
$227 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals,
electrical components
Exports - partners:
US 14.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 12%, UK 10.6%, Jamaica 6.2%, Saint
Lucia 4.7% (2002)
Imports:
$987 million (2002)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials,
chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners:
US 41.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, UK 7.3%, Japan 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$692 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$9.1 million (1995)
Currency:
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Currency code:
BBD
Exchange rates:
Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2
(1999), 2 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Barbados
Telephones - main lines in use:
108,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8,013 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system
international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
237,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus two cable channels) (1997)
Televisions:
76,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bb
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
19 (2000)
Internet users:
6,000 (2000)
Transportation Barbados
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,793 km
paved: 1,719 km
unpaved: 74 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)
Merchant marine:
total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 284,222 GRT/439,810 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, The Bahamas 1, Canada 4, Germany 1, Greece
2, Hong Kong 7, Norway 7, UK 18 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 22, combination bulk 1, container 1,
petroleum tanker 2
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Barbados
Military branches:
Royal Barbados Defense Force (including Ground Forces and Coast
Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 77,862 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 53,282 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Barbados
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for
Europe and the US; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bassas da India
Introduction Bassas da India
Background:
This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at
high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the
administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968.
Geography Bassas da India
Location:
Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about
one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 S, 39 50 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 0.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 0.2 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
35.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
volcanic rock
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all rock) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide
and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a
long-extinct, submerged volcano
People Bassas da India
Population:
uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
Government Bassas da India
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the
Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Bassas da India
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Transportation Bassas da India
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bassas da India
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Bassas da India
Disputes - international:
claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Belarus
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.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 207,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,900 km
border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 407 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:
forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas,
granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Land use:
arable land: 29.76%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 69.55% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,150 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of
Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes; the country is
geologically well endowed with extensive deposits of granite,
dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay
People Belarus
Population:
10,322,151 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 885,265; female 848,516)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 3,456,769; female 3,652,766)
65 years and over: 14.3% (male 490,529; female 988,306) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.7 years
male: 34.1 years
female: 39.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.12% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.18 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
14.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 15.13 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.43 years
male: 62.54 years
female: 74.6 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.34 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belarusian(s)
adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic groups:
Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish, Ukrainian, and other 7.4%
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant,
Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Belarusian, Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
Government Belarus
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
conventional short form: Belarus
local short form: none
former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Respublika Byelarus'
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Minsk
Administrative divisions:
6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts') and one municipality* (harady,
singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), Horad
Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya,
Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk); note - when using a place name with the
adjectival ending 'skaya,' the word voblasts' should be added to the
place name
note: voblasti have the administrative center name following in
parentheses
Independence:
25 August 1991 (from 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:
30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996
giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective
27 November 1996
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergei SIDORSKY (acting; since 10
July 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Andrei KOBYAKOV (since 13 March
2000), Sergei SIDORSKY (since 24 September 2001), Vladimir DRAZHIN
(since 24 September 2001), Roman VNUCHKO (since 10 July 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent
of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 75.6%, Vladimir GONCHARIK 15.4%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the
1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999,
however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996
referendum; new election held 9 September 2001 (next election to be
held by September 2006); prime minister and deputy prime ministers
appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the
Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members
elected by regional councils and 8 members appointed by the
president, all for 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives
or Palata Pretsaviteley (110 seats; members elected by universal
adult suffrage to serve 4-year terms)
election results: party affiliation data unavailable; under present
political conditions party designations are meaningless
elections: last held October 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)
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:
Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail SHIMANSKY]; Belarusian Communist
Party or KPB [Viktor CHIKIN, chairman]; Belarusian Ecological Green
Party (merger of Belarusian Ecological Party and Green Party of
Belarus) [leader NA]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian
Patriotic Party) or BPR [Anatoliy BARANKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian
Popular Front or BNF [Vintsuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democrat
Party or SDBP [Nikolay STATKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian
Social-Democratic Party or Hromada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH,
chairman]; Belarusian Socialist Party [Vyacheslav KUZNETSOV]; Civic
Accord Bloc (United Civic Party) or CAB [Anatol LIABEDZKA]; Liberal
Democratic Party or LDPB [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH, chairman]; Party of
Communists Belarusian or PKB [Sergei KALYAKIN, chairman]; Republican
Party of Labor and Justice or RPPS [Anatoliy NETYLKIN, chairman];
Social-Democrat Party of Popular Accord or PPA [Leanid SECHKA];
Women's Party or "Nadezhda" [Valentina POLEVIKOVA, chairperson]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, NAM (observer),
NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOV
chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805
telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael G. KOZAK
embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002
mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723
telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83
FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853
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 a Belarusian national ornament in red
Economy Belarus
Economy - overview:
Belarus has seen little 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
enterprise. In addition to the burdens imposed by high inflation and
persistent trade deficits, businesses have been subject to pressure
on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary
changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive
application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive"
businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive
policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder. Close
relations with Russia, possibly leading to reunion, color the
pattern of economic developments. For the time being, Belarus
remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $90.19 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 40%
services: 45% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
22% (1995 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 20% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
21.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
42.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.8 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry and construction NA%, agriculture and forestry NA%,
services NA%
Unemployment rate:
2.1% officially registered unemployed (December 2000); large number
of underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $180
million (1997 est.)
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers,
motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles,
radios, refrigerators
Industrial production growth rate:
2.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
24.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.5%
hydro: 0.1%
other: 0.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
26.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
300 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
4.3 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
230,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
200 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
18 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
17.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Exports:
$7.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals;
textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Russia 50.8%, Latvia 7.3%, Ukraine 6.3%, Lithuania 4.1%, Germany
4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$8.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs,
metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 68.2%, Germany 9.4%, Ukraine 3.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$851 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$194.3 million (1995)
Currency:
Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)
Currency code:
BYB/BYR
Exchange rates:
Belarusian rubles per US dollar - NA (2002), 1,390 (2001), 876.75
(2000), 248.8 (1999), 46.13 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Belarus
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.313 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8,167 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all
telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company)
Beltelcom which is a monopoly
domestic: local - Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a
cellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long;
local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity -
Belarus has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently
serving at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus's fiber optics form
synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries'
systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational
international: 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); three 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios:
3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
2.52 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.by
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
23 (2002)
Internet users:
422,000 (2002)
Transportation Belarus
Railways:
total: 5,523 km
broad gauge: 5,523 km 1.520-m gauge (875 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 74,385 km
paved: 66,203 km
unpaved: 8,182 km (2000)
Waterways:
NA km; note - Belarus has extensive and widely used canal and river
systems
Pipelines:
gas 4,519 km; oil 1,811 km; refined products 1,686 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Mazyr
Airports:
124 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 67 (2002)
Military Belarus
Military branches:
Army, Air Force (including air defense), Interior Ministry Troops,
Border Guards
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,756,572 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,158,875 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 86,654 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$176.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Belarus
Disputes - international:
1997 boundary treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over
unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and encouraging
illegal border crossing; boundaries with Latvia and Lithuania remain
undemarcated despite European Union financial support
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; lax money-laundering
and banking regulations
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Belgium
Introduction Belgium
Background:
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was
occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has 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: 30,510 sq km
land: 30,230 sq km
water: 280 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 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: median line with neighbors (extends about
68 km from coast)
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: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural resources:
coal, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
other: 75%
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding is a threat 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) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals
within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and
NATO
People Belgium
Population:
10,289,088 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.2% (male 905,856; female 865,589)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,400,419; female 3,346,182)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 725,162; female 1,045,880) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 40 years
male: 38.7 years
female: 41.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.29 years
male: 74.97 years
female: 81.78 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.62 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups:
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 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: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Belgium
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local short form: Belgique/Belgie
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
Government type:
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch
Capital:
Brussels
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch:
provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions;
Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles),
Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur,
Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen
Independence:
4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence from
the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to the
throne
National holiday:
21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
Constitution:
7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a
constitutional package creating a federal state
Legal system:
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 Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved
by Parliament
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch and then approved by Parliament
note: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat
in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular
vote, 31 are 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 are directly
elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation
to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 June 2003
(next to be held in NA May 2007)
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; for other
acronyms of the listed parties see the Political parties and leaders
entry
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit
15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH
5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5,
VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected
senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD
15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR
11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit
23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2
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 monarch,
although selected by the Government)
Political parties and leaders:
AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Dirk HOLEMANS]; Christian Democrats and
Flemish or CD & V [Yves LETERME]; note - used to be the Flemish
Christian Democrats or CVP; Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel
JAVAUK, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Flemish Liberal
Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT]; Francophone Humanist and
Democratic Center of CDH (used to be Social Christian Party or PSC)
[Joelle MILQUET]; Francophone Reformist Movement or MR (used to be
Liberal Reformation Party or PRL) [Antoine DUQUESNE]; Francophone
Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; National Front or FN [Daniel
FERET]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note - new
party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU;
Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Steve STEVAERT]; note
- was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT]; note -
new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU;
Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian
Industries; 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:
ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL,
WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER
embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, 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 design was based on the flag of France
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 must import substantial quantities of raw
materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its
economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly
three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt
is about 100% of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancing
its budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began
circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in
2001-03 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown.
Prospects for 2004 again depend largely on recovery in the EU and
the US.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $299.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $29,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 24.4%
services: 74.3% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
4%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 23% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.7 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.44 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $113.4 billion
expenditures: $106 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.17
billion (2000)
Industries:
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed
food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass,
petroleum, coal
Industrial production growth rate:
4.5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
74.28 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 38.4%
hydro: 0.6%
other: 1.8% (2001)
nuclear: 59.3%
Electricity - consumption:
78.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
6.712 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
15.82 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
595,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
450,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
1.042 million bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
15.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
15.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal,
pork, milk
Exports:
$162 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal
products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 18.6%, France 16.3%, Netherlands 11.6%, UK 9.6%, US 7.9%,
Italy 5.4% (2002)
Imports:
$152 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products,
foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 15.6%, France 12.8%, UK 7.3%, Ireland
7%, US 6.4%, Italy 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $764 million (1997)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999), 36.3 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Belgium
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.769 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
974,494 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and
completely automated domestic and international telephone and
telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable
network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
8.075 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
4.72 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.be
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
61 (2000)
Internet users:
3.76 million (2002)
Transportation Belgium
Railways:
total: 3,471 km
standard gauge: 3,471 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 148,216 km
paved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways)
unpaved: 31,529 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001)
Pipelines:
gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt,
Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 32,215 GRT/55,725 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, petroleum tanker 4,
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)
Airports:
42 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 15 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Belgium
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Components, Federal Police
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,497,423 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,059,131 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 60,921 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.077 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY01/02)
Transnational Issues Belgium
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
growing producer of synthetic drugs; 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; money laundering related to
trafficking of drugs, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Belize
Introduction Belize
Background:
Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the
independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.
Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism
has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued
by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug
trade, and increased urban crime.
Geography Belize
Location:
Middle 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
water: 160 sq km
land: 22,806 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:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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
the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences
with Guatemala
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: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Natural resources:
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 2.81%
permanent crops: 1.1%
other: 96.09% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
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, 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:
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North
Pacific Ocean
People Belize
Population:
266,440 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.1% (male 55,880; female 53,706)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 74,612; female 72,813)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,571; female 4,858) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 19 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
30.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 27.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 30.56 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.36 years
male: 65.19 years
female: 69.63 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist
3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000)
Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Government Belize
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Belmopan
Administrative divisions:
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:
21 September 1981 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution:
21 September 1981
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 General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17
November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28
August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch 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; prime
minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members
appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime
minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and
one 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;
members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next
to be held NA March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PUP 21, UDP 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:
People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party
or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele
CATZIM]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 30802
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
Economy Belize
Economy - overview:
In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism
industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by cane
sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. The
government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in
September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000,
4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. Major concerns continue to be the
sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective
remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international
donors.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
33% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.1% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $224 million
expenditures: $209 million, including capital expenditures of $70
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
4.6% (1999)
Electricity - production:
199.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
185.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber;
garments
Exports:
$290 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners:
US 40.5%, UK 23.2%, Peru 8.3% (2002)
Imports:
$430 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:
US 35.7%, Mexico 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 6.1%, Japan 5.9%, Cuba
5.7%, UK 5.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$475 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code:
BZD
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2
(1999), 2 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,023 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
133,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
41,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
18,000 (2002)
Transportation Belize
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 2,872 km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally
navigable)
Ports and harbors:
Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Merchant marine:
total: 292 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,030,141 GRT/1,499,777 DWT
ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 200, chemical tanker 7, combination
ore/oil 1, container 12, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 18,
roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 2, Belgium 3, British Virgin Islands 6,
Cambodia 1, China 38, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 1, Equatorial
Guinea 1, Eritrea 1, Estonia 7, Germany 3, Greece 4, Grenada 1,
Honduras 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 6, Italy 2, Japan 4, Jordan 1,
Lebanon 1, Liberia 5, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall
Islands 13, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 12,
Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Romania 1, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 22, South Korea 10,
Spain 4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 1,
Ukraine 3, United Arab Emirates 9, United Kingdom 2, United States
4, Virgin Islands (UK) 6, Yemen 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
42 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Military Belize
Military branches:
Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and
Volunteer Guard)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 66,332 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 39,337 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 3,046 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$7.7 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.87% (FY00/01)
Transnational Issues Belize
Disputes - international:
Guatemala has claimed half of southern Belize; Guatemalan squatters
continue to settle along the border despite a 2000 agreement; OAS
brokered a Differendum in 2002 that created a small adjustment to
land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in the
Caribbean, a joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and
a substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought
to a popular referendum
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer
of cannabis for the international drug trade; some money-laundering
activity related to offshore sector
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Benin
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.
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: 112,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
land: 110,620 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: 15.28%
permanent crops: 1.36%
other: 83.36% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
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:
7,041,490
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,668,817; female 1,638,291)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,739,517; female 1,834,231)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 67,504; female 93,130) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.4 years
male: 15.9 years
female: 16.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.95% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 86.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 81.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 91.79 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.08 years
male: 50.35 years
female: 51.84 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
120,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
8,100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja,
Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
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: 40.9%
male: 56.2%
female: 26.5% (2000)
Government Benin
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
local long form: Republique du Benin
Government type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism
December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition
to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
Capital:
Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the 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:
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 Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)
note: the four top-ranking contenders following the first-round
presidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%,
Nicephore SOGOLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI
(National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of
State) 8.6%; the second-round balloting, originally scheduled for 18
March 2001, was postponed four days because both SOGOLO and
HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to
run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed
a "friendly match"
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of
vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other
small parties) 31
elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African
Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN];
Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU];
Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; Democratic
Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and
Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress
and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA];
Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and 4 other small
parties); Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The
Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's
Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 30-06-50
FAX: [229] 30-06-70
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical
green band on the hoist side
Economy Benin
Economy - overview:
The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on
subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.
Growth in real output has averaged a stable 5% in the past six
years, but rapid population rise has offset much of this increase.
Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to
raise growth still further, 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. The 2001 privatization policy should continue in
telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of
initial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral
creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing for
speeded-up structural reforms.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 38%
industry: 15%
services: 47% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
37% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $377.4 million
expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction
materials (2001)
Industrial production growth rate:
8.3% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
274.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.2%
hydro: 85.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
631.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
376 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
4.105 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
608.8 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts,
livestock (2001)
Exports:
$207 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners:
India 25%, Italy 11.1%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.2%, Thailand 6.7%,
Brazil 6.1%, UK 4.4%, Niger 4% (2002)
Imports:
$479 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.6 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$342.6 million (2000)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Benin
Telephones - main lines in use:
51,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
55,500 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and
cellular connections
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios:
660,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
1;; (2001)
Televisions:
66,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.bj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2002)
Internet users:
25,000 (2002)
Transportation Benin
Railways:
total: 578 km
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
Ports and harbors:
Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
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 (2002)
Military Benin
Military branches:
Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
note: both sexes are liable for military service
females age 15-49: 1,536,036 (2003 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,597,562
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 805,603
females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 75,021
females: 78,998 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$80.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Benin
Disputes - international:
two villages are in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso;
much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria,
remains undemarcated, but states accept 2001 arbitration over
disputed Niger River islands; several villages along the Okpara
River are in dispute with Nigeria; in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved
the boundary stones - joint commission presently resurveying the
boundary
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian
trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western
Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly
regulated financial infrastructure
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bermuda
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. A referendum on
independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
Geography Bermuda
Location:
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east
of North Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates:
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 53.3 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
103 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 94% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues:
asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space;
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 US
Government from 1941 to 1995
People Bermuda
Population:
64,482 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.2% (male 6,195; female 6,205)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 22,110; female 22,574)
65 years and over: 11.5% (male 3,215; female 4,183) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.7 years
male: 37.8 years
female: 39.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.72% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.13 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 10.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.41 years
male: 75.38 years
female: 79.49 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups:
black 58%, white 36%, other 6%
Religions:
non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%,
other 19%
Languages:
English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)
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 British overseas territory with internal
self-government
Capital:
Hamilton
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
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 John VEREKER (since NA April 2002)
head of government: Premier Alex SCOTT (since 24 July 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch 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 premier by the governor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body
appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the
House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held
NA July 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%;
seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
National Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive
Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; United Bermuda Party or UBP
[Chairman Wayne FURBERT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union
or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association or
BPSA [leader NA]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Denis Patrick COLEMAN, Jr.
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place,
Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
Flag description:
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion
holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea
Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy Bermuda
Economy - overview:
Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world,
with its economy primarily based on providing financial services for
international business and luxury facilities for tourists. The
effects of 11 September 2001 have had both positive and negative
ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive side, a number of new
reinsurance companies have located on the island, contributing to
the expansion of an already robust international business sector. On
the negative side, Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over
80% of its visitors from the US - has been severely hit as American
tourists have chosen not to travel. Tourism rebounded somewhat in
2002, but remains below the pre-11 September level. Most capital
equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is
small, although construction continues to be important. Agriculture
is limited, only 6% of the land being arable.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $35,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (July 2002)
Labor force:
37,472 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
clerical 22%, services 20%, laborers 17%, professional and
technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%,
agriculture and fishing 3% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.5% (1993)
Budget:
revenues: $609.5 million
expenditures: $574.6 million, including capital expenditures of
$54.8 million (FY 00/01)
Industries:
tourism, international business, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
643.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
598.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Exports:
$51 million (2000)
Exports - commodities:
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:
France 77.4%, UK 2.8%, US 2.4% (2002)
Imports:
$719 million (2000)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,
chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners:
Kazakhstan 30.9%, France 24.7%, Italy 10.5%, US 9.7%, South Korea
8.4%, Mexico 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$145 million (FY 99/00)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code:
BMD
Exchange rates:
Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the
US dollar)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use:
52,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7,980 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (1997)
Televisions:
66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
20 (2000)
Internet users:
25,000 (2000)
Transportation Bermuda
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 450 km
paved: 450 km
note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)
unpaved: 0 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard
Merchant marine:
total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,993,227 GRT/7,089,760 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Croatia 5, Denmark 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 9,
Indonesia 1, Norway 2, Sweden 11, United Kingdom 52, United States
13 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 25, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, container 14,
liquefied gas 9, passenger 5, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated
cargo 13, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 4
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Bermuda
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda
Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.028 million (January 2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.11% (FY00/01)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Bermuda
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bhutan
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. 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 some 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. Maoist Assamese
separatists from India, who have established themselves in the
southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border
incursions.
Geography Bhutan
Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:
27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 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: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use:
arable land: 2.98%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.59% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear Test Ban
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:
2,139,549
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.6% (male 438,784; female 407,919)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 621,666; female 585,550)
65 years and over: 4% (male 43,262; female 42,368) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.1 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 20.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
34.82 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13.47 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 104.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 106.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 102.49 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.58 years
male: 53.9 years
female: 53.25 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
Government Bhutan
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
Government type:
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital:
Thimphu
Administrative divisions:
18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,
Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel,
Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu,
Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse
Independence:
8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday:
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17
December (1907)
Constitution:
no written constitution or bill of rights; note - the King
commissioned a committee to draft a constitution in 2001, but has
yet to be approved
Legal system:
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
each family has one vote in village-level elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms
in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the
monarch with two-thirds vote
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo
Jigme Y. THINLEY (since 30 August 2003)
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 nominated by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected
from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35
are designated by the monarch to represent government and other
secular interests; members serve three-year terms)
elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held
NA 2005)
election results: NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed
by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
no legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant
antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for
Democracy (exiled)
International organization participation:
AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2
United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1]
(212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular
jurisdiction in the US
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
Economy Bhutan
Economy - overview:
The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is
based on agriculture and forestry, providing the main livelihood for
more than 90% 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. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for
tourists are key resources. The government has made some progress in
expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare.
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. Detailed controls and
uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor,
and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 10%
services: 45% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
note: massive lack of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $146 million
expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of NA
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.)
Industries:
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,
calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate:
9.3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.896 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.1%
hydro: 99.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
379.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
16 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,020 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Exports:
$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts,
cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - partners:
US 24.1%, UK 23.9%, Pakistan 23.1%, France 13.9% (2002)
Imports:
$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics,
rice
Imports - partners:
Japan 44.5%, Germany 12.2%, UK 8.5%, Singapore 6%, South Korea 5%,
US 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$245 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
substantial aid from India and other nations
Currency:
ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code:
BTN; INR
Exchange rates:
ngultrum per US dollar - 48.61 (2002), 47.19 (2001), 44.94 (2000),
43.06 (1999), 41.26 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Bhutan
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with few
telephones in use
international: international telephone and telegraph service is by
landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)
Televisions:
11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
2,500 (2002)
Transportation Bhutan
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 3,690 km
paved: 2,240 km
unpaved: 1,450 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Bhutan
Military branches:
Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguard, National Militia, Royal Bhutan
Police, Forest Guards
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 530,860 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 283,493 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 22,755 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Bhutan
Disputes - international:
approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal, 90% of
whom reside in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees
camps, place decades-long strains on Nepal
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bolivia
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 counter-coups.
Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s,
but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty,
social unrest, and drug production. Current goals include attracting
foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, resolving
disputes with coca growers over Bolivia's counterdrug efforts,
continuing the privatization program, and waging an anticorruption
campaign.
Geography Bolivia
Location:
Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates:
17 00 S, 65 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 1,098,580 sq km
water: 14,190 sq km
land: 1,084,390 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 6,743 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km,
Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 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: 1.73%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 98.06% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,280 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding in the northeast (March-April)
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
Geography - note:
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
People Bolivia
Population:
8,586,443 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.1% (male 1,624,366; female 1,562,501)
15-64 years: 58.4% (male 2,452,892; female 2,561,873)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 172,292; female 212,519) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.8 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 21.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.63% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
25.53 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.91 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 59.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.78 years
male: 62.2 years
female: 67.48 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.23 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,600 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
290 (2001 est.)
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)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.2%
male: 93.1%
female: 81.6% (2003 est.)
Government Bolivia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia
local long form: Republica de Bolivia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of
judiciary)
Administrative divisions:
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca,
Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence:
6 August 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Constitution:
2 February 1967; revised in August 1994
Legal system:
based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of
age, universal and compulsory (single)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (since 17
October 2003); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (since 17
October 2003); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 30 June 2002
(next to be held NA June 2007)
election results: as a result of no candidate winning a majority in
the 30 June 2002 election, Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamante was
chosen president by Congress; Congressional votes - Gonzalo SANCHEZ
DE LOZADA Bustamante 84, Evo MORALES 43; note - following the
resignation of the elected president on 17 October 2003, Vice
President Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert assumed the presidency
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are
directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; members are
directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note -
some members are drawn from party lists, thus not directly elected)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held
30 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - MNR 11, MAS 8, MIR 5, NFR 2, other 1; Chamber
of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MNR
36, MAS 27, MIR 26, NFR 25, others 16
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year terms
by National Congress); District Courts (one in each department);
provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)
Political parties and leaders:
Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB [Romel PANTOJA]; Civic Solidarity
Union or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [Franz
BARRIOS]; Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or VIMA [Freddy
ZABALA]; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR [Jaime PAZ
Zamora]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Evo MORALES]; Movement
Without Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; Nationalist Democratic
Action or ADN [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]; Nationalist
Revolutionary Movement or MNR [Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA]; New
Republican Force or NFR [Manfred REYES-VILLA]; Pachakuti Indigenous
Movement or MIP [Felipe QUISPE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jeres
JUSTINIANO]
note: the MNR, MIR, and UCS comprise the ruling coalition
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Cocalero Groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions; Sole
Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [Felipe
QUISPE]
International organization participation:
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime APARICIO Otero
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Washington, DC
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David N. GREENLEE
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone: [591] (2) 2430120, 2430251
FAX: [591] (2) 2433900
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with
the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of
Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the
yellow band
Economy Bolivia
Economy - overview:
Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American
countries, made considerable progress in the 1990s toward the
development of a market-oriented economy. Successes under President
SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993-97) included the signing of a free trade
agreement with Mexico and becoming an associate member of the
Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur), as well as the privatization
of the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power
company, and oil company. Growth slowed in 1999, in part due to
tight government budget policies, which limited needed
appropriations for anti-poverty programs, and the fallout from the
Asian financial crisis. In 2000, major civil disturbances held down
growth to 2.5%. Bolivia's GDP failed to grow in 2001 due to the
global slowdown and laggard domestic activity. Growth picked up
slightly in 2002, but the first quarter of 2003 saw extensive civil
riots and looting and loss of confidence in the government. Bolivia
will remain highly dependent on foreign aid unless and until it can
develop its substantial natural resources.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $21.15 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 32% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
58.9 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
2.5 million
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
7.6%
note: widespread underemployment (2000)
Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco,
handicrafts, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
3.9% (1998)
Electricity - production:
3.901 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 44.4%
hydro: 54%
other: 1.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
3.634 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
9 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
44,340 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
458.8 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
4.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
2.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
727.2 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes;
timber
Exports:
$1.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soybeans, natural gas, zinc, gold, wood (2000)
Exports - partners:
Brazil 24.3%, Switzerland 15.7%, US 14.1%, Venezuela 12.8%,
Colombia 10.2%, Peru 5.4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, raw materials and semi-manufactures, chemicals,
petroleum, food
Imports - partners:
Brazil 22%, Argentina 17.4%, US 15.6%, Chile 7%, Japan 5.5%, Peru
5.4%, China 4.8% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.9 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$588 million (1997)
Currency:
boliviano (BOB)
Currency code:
BOB
Exchange rates:
bolivianos per US dollar - 7.17 (2002), 6.61 (2001), 6.18 (2000),
5.81 (1999), 5.51 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bolivia
Telephones - main lines in use:
327,600 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
116,000 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties;
most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities; mobile
cellular telephone use expanding rapidly
domestic: primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employs
digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic
cable; mobile cellular systems are being expanded
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)
Radios:
5.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
48 (1997)
Televisions:
900,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)
Internet users:
78,000 (2000)
Transportation Bolivia
Railways:
total: 3,519 km
narrow gauge: 3,519 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 53,790 km
paved: 3,496 km (including 13 km of expressways)
unpaved: 50,294 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:
10,000 km (commercially navigable)
Pipelines:
gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,460 km; refined
products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Puerto Aguirre (on the Paraguay/Parana waterway, at the
Bolivia/Brazil border); also, Bolivia has free port privileges in
maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay
Merchant marine:
total: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 347,535 GRT/591,113 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 25, chemical tanker 4, container 4,
livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 1,
short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
Belize 2, China 2, Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Honduras 1, Latvia 2,
Liberia 2, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Saudi
Arabia 1, Singapore 1, South Korea 3, Switzerland 1, Ukraine 1, UAE
5, US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
1,081 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,069
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 64
914 to 1,523 m: 225
under 914 m: 776 (2002)
Military Bolivia
Military branches:
Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval, includes Marines),
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), National Police Force (Policia
Nacional de Bolivia)
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,118,908 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,380,883 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 96,003 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$147 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Bolivia
Disputes - international:
continues to press Chile and Peru to restore the Atacama corridor
ceded to Chile in 1884; Chile demands water rights to Bolivia's Rio
Lauca and Silala Spring
Illicit drugs:
world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru)
with an estimated 24,400 hectares under cultivation in June 2002, a
23% increase from June 2001; intermediate coca products and cocaine
exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the
US and other international drug markets; eradication and alternative
crop programs under the SANCHEZ DE LOZADA administration have been
unable to keep pace with farmers' attempts to increase cultivation
after significant reductions in 1998 and 1999; money-laundering
activity related to narcotics trade, especially along the borders
with Brazil and Paraguay
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bosnia and Herzegovina
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 Agreement retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's
international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and
democratic government. This national government was charged with
conducting foreign, economic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was
a second tier of government comprised 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 internal functions. 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 is to deter renewed
hostilities. SFOR remains in place although troop levels were
reduced to approximately 12,000 by the close of 2002.
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: 51,129 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 51,129 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,459 km
border countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km
Coastline:
20 km
Maritime claims:
NA
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, bauxite, manganese, forests, copper, chromium, lead,
zinc, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 9.8%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 87.26% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
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
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, 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 Serbia and Montenegro (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:
3,989,018 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 397,810; female 377,005)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 1,439,383; female 1,372,891)
65 years and over: 10.1% (male 171,643; female 230,286) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.5 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 35.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.48% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.65 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.21 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 25.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.29 years
male: 69.56 years
female: 75.22 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bosnian(s)
adjective: Bosnian
Ethnic groups:
Serb 37.1%, Bosniak 48%, 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%, Protestant 4%, other
10%
Languages:
Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: 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
Government type:
emerging federal democratic republic
Capital:
Sarajevo
Administrative divisions:
there are two first-order administrative divisions and one
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 an
administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
the district remains under international supervision
Independence:
1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence was
completed 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992)
National holiday:
National Day, 25 November (1943)
Constitution:
the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a new
constitution now in force; note - each of the entities also has its
own constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Dragan COVIC (chairman
since 27 June 2003; presidency member since 5 October 2002 - Croat)
other members of the three-member rotating (every eight months)
presidency: Sulejman TIHIC (since 5 October 2002 - Bosniak) and
Borislav PARAVAC (since 10 April 2003 - Serb); note - Mirko SAROVIC
resigned 2 April 2003
elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one
Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
the member with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he or she
was the incumbent chairman at the time of the election, but the
chairmanship rotates every eight months; election last held 5
October 2002 (next to be held NA 2006); the chairman of the Council
of Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the
National House of Representatives
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan
TERZIC (since 20 December 2002),
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman;
approved by the National House of Representatives
election results: percent of vote - Mirko SAROVIC with 35.5% of the
Serb vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the
first eight months; Dragan COVIC received 61.5% of the Croat vote;
Sulejman TIHIC received 37% of the Bosniak vote
note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Niko
LOZANCIC (since 27 January 2003); Vice Presidents Sahbaz DZIHANOVIC
(since NA 2003) and Desnica RADIVOJEVIC (since NA 2003); President
of the Republika Srpska: Dragan COVIC (since 28 November 2002)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the
National House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats -
elected by proportional representation, 28 seats allocated from the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seats from the Republika
Srpska; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
and 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 Representatives and the Republika Srpska's National
Assembly to serve four-year terms); note - Bosnia's election law
specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order
administrative division entity legislatures
election results: National House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party/coalition - SDA 21.9%, SDS 14.0%, SBiH 10.5%, SDP
10.4%, SNSD 9.8%, HDZ 9.5%, PDP 4.6%, others 19.3%; seats by
party/coalition - SDA 10, SDS 5, SBiH 6, SDP 4, SNSD 3, HDZ 5, PDP
2, others 7; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition -
NA%; seats by party/coalition - NA
elections: National House of Representatives - elections last held 5
October 2002 (next to be held in NA 2006); House of Peoples - last
constituted NA January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007)
note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that
consists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 5
October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006); percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 32, HDZ-BiH 16, SDP 15,
SBiH 15, other 20; and a House of Peoples (60 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30
Croat); last constituted December 2002; the Republika Srpska has a
National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms); elections last held 5 October 2002 (next to
be held in the fall of 2006); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party/coalition - SDS 26, SNSD 19, PDP 9, SDA 6, SRS 4, SPRS 3,
DNZ 3, SBiH 4, SDP 3, others 6; 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; each constituent nation and "others" will have eight
delegates
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 nine
judges and three divisions - Administrative, Appellate and Criminal
- having jurisdiction over cases related to state-level law and
appellate jurisdiction over cases initiated in the entities; note -
a War Crimes Chamber may be added at a future date)
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 municipal courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK];
Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party or
GDS [Ilija SIMIC]; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and
Herzegovina or HDZ [Barisa COLAK (acting)]; Croat Christian
Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Mijo
IVANIC-LONIC]; Croat Party of Rights or HSP [Zdravko HRISTIC]; Croat
Peasants Party or HSS [Ilija SIMIC]; Democratic National Union or
DNZ [Fikret ABDIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC];
New Croat Initiative or NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and
Herzegovina or SBiH [Safet HALILOVIC]; Party of Democratic Action or
SDA [Sulejman TIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen
IVANIC]; Pro-European People's Party or PROENS [Jadranko PRLIC];
Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Dragan KALINIC]; Serb Radical Party of
the Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Radislav KANJERIC]; Social
Democratic Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; Socialist Party
of Republika Srpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Igor DAVIDOVIC
chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford G. BOND
embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo
mailing address: use 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
Government - note:
The Dayton Agreement, signed in Paris on 14 December 1995, retained
Bosnia and Herzegovina's exterior border and created a joint
multi-ethnic and democratic government. This national government -
based on proportional representation similar to that which existed
in the former socialist regime - is charged with conducting foreign,
economic, and fiscal policy. The Dayton Agreement also recognized a
second tier of government, comprised of two entities - a joint
Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian
Serb Republika Srpska (RS) - each presiding over roughly one-half
the territory. The Federation and RS governments are charged with
overseeing internal functions. The Bosniak/Croat Federation is
further divided into 10 cantons. The Dayton Agreement established
the Office of the High Representative (OHR) to oversee the
implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement.
Economy Bosnia and Herzegovina
Economy - overview:
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation.
Although agriculture is almost all in private hands, farms are small
and inefficient, and the republic traditionally is a net importer of
food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the
socialist economic structure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the
development of military industries in the republic with the result
that Bosnia hosted a number of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The
bitter interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by
80% from 1990 to 1995, unemployment to soar, and human misery to
multiply. 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. GDP remains far below the 1990 level. Economic data are
of limited use because, although both entities issue figures,
national-level statistics are limited. Moreover, official data do
not capture the large share of black market activity. The marka -
the national currency introduced in 1998 - is now pegged to the
euro, and the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina has
dramatically increased its reserve holdings. Implementation of
privatization, however, has been slow, and local entities only
reluctantly support national-level institutions. Banking reform
accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus were
shut down. The country receives substantial amounts of
reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the
international community but will have to prepare for an era of
declining assistance.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 40.9%
services: 46.1% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.026 million
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
40% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle
assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and
aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining (2001)
Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
9.979 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 53.5%
hydro: 46.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
8.116 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
2.569 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.405 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
300 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
300 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports:
$1.15 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
metals, clothing, wood products
Exports - partners:
Italy 31.6%, Croatia 18%, Germany 12.9%, Austria 10.1%, Slovenia
6.9%, Greece 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Croatia 23.7%, Slovenia 14.8%, Germany 14%, Italy 13.1%, Hungary
8%, Austria 7.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$650 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
marka (BAM)
Currency code:
BAM
Exchange rates:
marka per US dollar - NA (2002), 2.19 (2001), 2.12 (2000), 1.84
(1999), 1.76 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephones - main lines in use:
303,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9,000 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone and telegraph network needs
modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average as
contrasted with services in other former Yugoslav republics
domestic: NA
international: no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.ba
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
45,000 (2002)
Transportation Bosnia and Herzegovina
Railways:
total: 1,021 km (795 km electrified)
standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 21,846 km
paved: 11,424 km
unpaved: 10,422 km (1999 est)
Waterways:
NA km; large sections of the Sava blocked by downed bridges, silt,
and debris
Pipelines:
gas 170 km; oil 9 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all
inland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
32 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
914 to 1523 m: 1
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Heliports:
5 (2002)
Military Bosnia and Herzegovina
Military branches:
VF Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commands
within the Army), VRS Army (the air and air defense forces are
subordinate commands within the Army)
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,132,476 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 897,856 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 29,861 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$234.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Bosnia and Herzegovina
Disputes - international:
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro have delimited
about half of their boundary, but sections along the Drina River
remain in dispute; discussions continue with Croatia on problem
sections of the Una River and villages at the base of Mount
Pljesevica
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes to
Western Europe; organized crime launders money, but the lack of a
well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility
as a money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Botswana
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 the world's highest known rate 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: 600,370 sq km
water: 15,000 sq km
land: 585,370 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: 0.61%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.38% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
1,573,267
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.5% (male 314,764; female 307,024)
15-64 years: 56% (male 424,726; female 455,967)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 30,599; female 40,187) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.1 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 19.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.55% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
25.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 68.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 32.26 years
male: 32.2 years
female: 32.32 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
38.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
330,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
26,000 (2001 est.)
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:
indigenous beliefs 85%, Christian 15%
Languages:
English (official), Setswana
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.8%
male: 76.9%
female: 82.4% (2003 est.)
Government Botswana
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Gaborone
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and four town councils*; Central, Francistown*,
Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*,
Northwest, Northeast, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern
Independence:
30 September 1966 (from 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; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and
Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and
Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held
NA October 2004); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Festus MOGAE elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 54.3%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely
advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eight
principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selected
by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (44 seats, 40
members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 are appointed by
the majority party; members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly elections last held 16 October 1999
(next to be held NA October 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 54.3%, BNF 24.7%,
other 21%; seats by party - BDP 33, BNF 6, other 1
Judicial branch:
High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each
district)
Political parties and leaders:
Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus MOGAE]; Botswana National
Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP
[Mokgweetsi KGOSIPULA]; Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim
Lepetu SETSHWAELO]
note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the
BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM parties
are: the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO], the
Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO], and the Botswana
Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph HUGGINS
embassy: address NA, Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 353982
FAX: [267] 312782
Flag description:
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
Economy Botswana
Economy - overview:
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest growth rates
since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and sound
management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest
countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita
GDP of $9,500 in 2002. 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
and for nine-tenths of export earnings. Tourism, subsistence
farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside,
the government must deal with high rates of unemployment and
poverty. Unemployment officially is 21%, but unofficial estimates
place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the highest in
the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains.
Long-term prospects are overshadowed by the prospects of a leveling
off in diamond mining production.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $13.48 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 44% (including 36% mining)
services: 52% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
47%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
264,000 formal sector employees (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
40% (official rate is 21%) (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.3 billion
expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 01/02)
Industries:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock
processing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
409.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.564 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.183 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Exports:
$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds 90%, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Exports - partners:
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African
Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)
Imports:
$1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment,
textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products,
metal and metal products
Imports - partners:
Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4%
(2000)
Debt - external:
$360 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$73 million (1995)
Currency:
pula (BWP)
Currency code:
BWP
Exchange rates:
pulas per US dollar - 6.33 (2002), 5.84 (2001), 5.1 (2000), 4.62
(1999), 4.23 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Botswana
Telephones - main lines in use:
131,000 (September 2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
270,000 (September 2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of
mobile cellular service and participation in regional development
domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile
cellular service is growing fast
international: two international exchanges; digital microwave radio
relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:
252,720 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
31,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2001)
Internet users:
33,000 (2001)
Transportation Botswana
Railways:
total: 888 km
narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 10,217 km
paved: 5,619 km
unpaved: 4,598 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
86 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 76
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 55
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Military Botswana
Military branches:
Botswana Defense Force (including Army and Air Wing), Botswana
National Police
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 381,056 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 201,402 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 20,476 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$207.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Botswana
Disputes - international:
established a commission with Namibia to resolve small residual
disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands
along the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residents protest
Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on
Popa Falls; dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia,
and Zimbabwe boundaries converge
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bouvet Island
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, Bouvet Island and the adjacent
territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977,
Norway 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: 58.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 58.5 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) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
People Bouvet Island
Population:
uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
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 Police from Oslo
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
Communications - note:
automatic meteorological station
Transportation Bouvet Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bouvet Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Bouvet Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Brazil
Introduction Brazil
Background:
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became
an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous
country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a
century of military intervention in the governance of the country to
pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of the
interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool,
Brazil is today South America's leading economic power and a
regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a
pressing problem.
Geography Brazil
Location:
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 8,511,965 sq km
land: 8,456,510 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
water: 55,455 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 14,691 km
border countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia
1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km,
Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Coastline:
7,491 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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 3,014 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum,
tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use:
arable land: 6.3%
permanent crops: 1.42%
other: 92.28% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
26,560 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
182,032,604
note: Brazil took a count in August 2000, which reported a
population of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower than
projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied
underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.1% (male 25,151,855; female 24,196,506)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 60,667,014; female 61,683,580)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 4,232,784; female 6,100,865) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 27 years
male: 26.2 years
female: 27.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.15% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.67 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 35.61 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.13 years
male: 67.16 years
female: 75.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.01 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
610,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
8,400 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups:
white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%,
mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab,
Amerindian) 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 86.1%
female: 86.6% (2003 est.)
Government Brazil
Country name:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local short form: Brasil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
Government type:
federative republic
Capital:
Brasilia
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
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1
January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
election results: in runoff election 27 October 2002, Luiz Inacio
LULA DA SILVA (PT) was elected with 61.3% of the vote; Jose SERRA
(PSDB) 38.7%
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 6 October
2002 (next to be held NA October 2006); runoff election held 27
October 2002
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
head of government: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1
January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the
Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from each
state or federal district elected according to the principle of
majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a
four-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year
period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513
seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party PMBD 19, PFL 19, PT 14, PSDB 11, PDT 5, PSB 4, PL 3,
PTB 3, PPS 1, PSD 1, PPB 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - PT 91, PFL 84, PMDB 74, PSDB 71, PPB
49, PL 26, PTB 26, PSB 22, PDT 21, PPS 15, PCdoB 12, PRONA 6, PV 5,
other 11
elections: Federal Senate - last held 6 October 2002 for two-thirds
of the Senate (next to be held NA October 2006 for one-third of the
Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 October 2002 (next to be
held NA October 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed by the
president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of Justice;
Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life)
Political parties and leaders:
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER];
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Jose Carlos MARTINEZ]; Brazilian
Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Jose ANIBAL]; Brazilian
Socialist Party or PSB [Miguel ARRAES]; Brazilian Progressive Party
or PPB [Paulo Salim MALUF]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB
[Renato RABELLO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Leonel BRIZOLA];
Green Party or PV [leader NA]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Jorge
BORNHAUSEN]; Liberal Party or PL [Deputy Valdemar COSTA Neto];
National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Dr. Eneas CARNEIRO];
Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Senator Roberto FREIRE]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [leader NA]; Worker's Party or PT [Jose
GENOINO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
left wing of the Catholic Church; Landless Worker's Movement; labor
unions allied to leftist Worker's Party
International organization participation:
AfDB, BIS, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur,
NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA; note -
Ambassador-Designate Roberto ABDENUR expected to arrive March 2004
FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York, and San Francisco
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donna J. HRINAK
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal
Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136
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 (one for each state
and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night
sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the
motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
Economy Brazil
Economy - overview:
Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining,
manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that
of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence
in world markets. The maintenance of large current account deficits
via capital account surpluses became problematic as investors became
more risk averse to emerging markets as a consequence of the Asian
financial crisis in 1997 and the Russian bond default in August
1998. After crafting a fiscal adjustment program and pledging
progress on structural reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billion
IMF-led international support program in November 1998. In January
1999, the Brazilian Central Bank announced that the real would no
longer be pegged to the US dollar. The consequent devaluation helped
moderate the downturn in economic growth in 1999, and the country
posted moderate GDP growth in 2000. Economic growth slowed
considerably in 2001-03 - to less than 2% - because of a slowdown in
major markets and the hiking of interest rates by the Central Bank
to combat inflationary pressures. New president DA SILVA, who took
office 1 January 2003, has given priority to reforming the complex
tax code, trimming the overblown civil service pension system, and
continuing the fight against inflation.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.376 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 36%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
22% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 48% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
60.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.3% (2002)
Labor force:
79 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 53%, agriculture 23%, industry 24%
Unemployment rate:
6.4% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $100.6 billion
expenditures: $91.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000)
Industries:
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel,
aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
321.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 8.3%
hydro: 82.7%
other: 4.6% (2001)
nuclear: 4.4%
Electricity - consumption:
335.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
37.19 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2001)
Oil - production:
1.561 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.199 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
8.507 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
5.95 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.59 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
3.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
221.7 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Exports:
$59.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners:
US 23.8%, Argentina 8.5%, Germany 5%, China 4.3%, Netherlands 4.2%
(2002)
Imports:
$46.2 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical, and transport equipment, chemical products,
oil
Imports - partners:
US 23.3%, Argentina 12.6%, Germany 8.7%, France 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$222.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$30 billion IMF disbursement (2002)
Currency:
real (BRL)
Currency code:
BRL
Exchange rates:
reals per US dollar - 2.92 (2002), 2.36 (2001), 1.83 (2000), 1.81
(1999), 1.16 (1998)
note: from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official rate
was determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, the
official rate floats independently with respect to the US dollar
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Brazil
Telephones - main lines in use:
17.039 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.4 million (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good working system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 64 earth stations
international: 3 coaxial submarine cables; 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM
stations) (1999)
Radios:
71 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
138 (1997)
Televisions:
36.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.br
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2000)
Internet users:
13.98 million (2002)
Transportation Brazil
Railways:
total: 31,543 km (1,981 km electrified)
broad gauge: 4,961 km 1.600-m gauge (692 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 25,992 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)
dual gauge: 396 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km
electrified) (2002)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge (630 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 1,724,929 km
paved: 94,871 km
unpaved: 1,630,058 km (2000)
Waterways:
50,000 km
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 243 km; gas 10,984 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km;
oil 5,113 km; refined products 4,800 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto
Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos, Vitoria
Merchant marine:
total: 159 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,257,186 GRT/5,101,578 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Chile 2, Germany 6, Greece 1, Monaco 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 29, cargo 23, chemical tanker 7, combination
ore/oil 7, container 12, liquefied gas 11, multi-functional
large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 53, roll
on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
3,590 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 665
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 155
914 to 1,523 m: 435
under 914 m: 45 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2,925
1,524 to 2,437 m: 70
914 to 1,523 m: 1,384
under 914 m: 1,471 (2002)
Military Brazil
Military branches:
Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval air and marines),
Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 51,381,048 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 34,347,078 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,744,148 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$13.408 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Brazil
Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders
is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking,
and harbors Islamist militants; uncontested dispute with Uruguay
over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundary
streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation in the Amazon
region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale
eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment
country for Colombian and Peruvian cocaine headed for the US and
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 earned in
Brazil are often laundered through the financial system; significant
illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@British Indian Ocean Territory
Introduction British Indian Ocean Territory
Background:
Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the
British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were 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. Former agricultural workers,
earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to
Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In
2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration
order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the
special military status of Diego Garcia.
Geography British Indian Ocean Territory
Location:
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the
way from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 71 30 E
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 60 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
water: 0 sq km
land: 60 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
698 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
flat and low (most areas do not exceed four 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: NEGL
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
archipelago of 2,300 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 1960's and
1970's, in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a
British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in
2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personnel
and 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia
(July 2003 est.)
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 Alan HUCKLE (since 2001);
Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UK
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and
administrator appointed by the monarch
cabinet: NA
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 centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy British Indian Ocean Territory
Economy - overview:
All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of
Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located.
Construction projects and various services needed to support the
military installations are done by military and contract employees
from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no
industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois
return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
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: international telephone service is carried by
satellite (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.io
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Transportation British Indian Ocean Territory
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on
Diego Garcia
unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Diego Garcia
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military British Indian Ocean Territory
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 and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and its
former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001
were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since
eviction in 1965; repatriation is complicated by the US military
lease of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@British Virgin Islands
Introduction British Virgin Islands
Background:
First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in
1672 by the English. 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: 153 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited
islands; includes the island of Anegada
water: 0 sq km
land: 153 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
21,730 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 2,401; female 2,358)
15-64 years: 73.1% (male 8,181; female 7,709)
65 years and over: 5% (male 578; female 503) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.7 years
male: 31 years
female: 30.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.1% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
10.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.06 years
male: 75.07 years
female: 77.1 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
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%, none 2%, other 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%
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:
Road Town
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution:
1 June 1977
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 Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)
elections: none; the monarch 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
head of government: Chief Minister Orlando SMITH (since 17 June 2003)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of
the Legislative Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by
direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts,
four at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NDP 8, VIP 5
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:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau),
IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
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)
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. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly
from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002
because of the lackluster US economy. 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,
is expected to make 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
dollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $320 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 6.2%
services: 92% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2002)
Labor force:
4,911 (1980)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
3% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $121.5 million
expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries:
tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block,
offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
38.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
35.43 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
420 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Exports:
$25.3 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports:
$187 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Debt - external:
$36.1 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:
NA%
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications British Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: worldwide telephone service
domestic: NA
international: submarine cable to Bermuda
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
9,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Televisions:
4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.vg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation British Virgin Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 177 km
paved: 177 km
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Road Town
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 19,203 GRT/28,864 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military British Virgin Islands
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Brunei
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 the
developing world.
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: 5,770 sq km
water: 500 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 381 km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM or to median line
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: 0.57%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 98.67% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
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: Endangered Species, 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 of Malaysia
People Brunei
Population:
358,098 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.6% (male 54,118; female 51,902)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 128,421; female 113,480)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 4,804; female 5,373) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 27 years
female: 25.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
3.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 17.09 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.3 years
male: 71.9 years
female: 76.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Religions:
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous
beliefs and other 10%
Languages:
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.8%
male: 94.8%
female: 88.5% (2003 est.)
Government Brunei
Country name:
conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
Government type:
constitutional sultanate
Capital:
Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions:
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and
Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:
1 January 1984 (from 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 Shari'a law
supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage:
none
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); note - the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
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
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy
council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats;
members appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held in March 1962
note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by
decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being
considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are
unlikely for several years
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch
for three-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA
bin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; note - the PPKB is the only
legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985 but
became largely inactive after 1988; it was revived in 1995 and again
in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other
parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and
Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965,
deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anak Dato Haji PUTEH
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTY
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
Begawan
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507
telephone: [673] (2) 229670
FAX: [673] (2) 225293
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; the emblem includes a
swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned
crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
Economy Brunei
Economy - overview:
This small, wealthy economy encompasses a mixture of foreign and
domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures,
and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account
for nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third
World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment
supplements income from domestic production. The government provides
for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's
leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the
world economy will undermine internal social cohesion, although it
became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000
APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the
future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment,
strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general,
further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $6.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $18,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 45%
services: 50% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
143,400
note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary
residents make up about 40% of labor force (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and
construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35
billion (1997 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.497 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.322 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
217,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.255 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
10.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
315 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo
Exports:
$3 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners:
Japan 40.3%, South Korea 12.3%, Thailand 12.1%, Australia 9.2%, US
8.1%, China 6.4%, Singapore 5.7% (2002)
Imports:
$1.4 billion c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 30.6%, Japan 21.5%, Malaysia 17.4%, UK 6.1%, Hong Kong 4%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$0
Economic aid - recipient:
$4.3 million (1995)
Currency:
Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code:
BND
Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.72
(2000), 1.69 (1999), 1.67 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:
79,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
43,524 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent;
international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, the
Philippines, and Singapore (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
329,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
201,900 (1998)
Internet country code:
.bn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
35,000 (2002)
Transportation Brunei
Railways:
total: 13 km (private line)
narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge (2001 est.)
Highways:
total: 2,525 km
paved: 2,525 km
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
Pipelines:
gas 665 km; oil 439 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
ships by type: liquefied gas 8
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: UK 7 (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:
3 (2002)
Military Brunei
Military branches:
Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 110,888 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 63,966 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 3,277 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$329.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Brunei
Disputes - international:
Involved in dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia,
Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; Brunei established an exclusive
economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly
Islands in 1984 but makes no public territorial claim to the
offshore reefs; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration
on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to
ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of
conduct"
Illicit drugs:
drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are
serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bulgaria
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. Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878, but having fought
on the losing side in both World Wars, it 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.
Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward
eventual integration into NATO and the EU - with which it began
accession negotiations in 2000.
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: 110,910 sq km
water: 360 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,808 km
border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km,
Turkey 240 km
Coastline:
354 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 39%
permanent crops: 1.8%
other: 59.2% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
8,000 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes
from Europe to Middle East and Asia
People Bulgaria
Population:
7,537,929 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 549,142; female 520,057)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 2,551,548; female 2,632,978)
65 years and over: 17% (male 535,165; female 749,039) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.5 years
male: 38.4 years
female: 42.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-1.09% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
8.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
14.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 15.43 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.8 years
male: 68.26 years
female: 75.56 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.13 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001
est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
346 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups:
Bulgarian 83.6%, Turk 9.5%, Roma 4.6%, other 2.3% (including
Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (1998)
Religions:
Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish
0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 2.3% (1998)
Languages:
Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic
breakdown
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
Government Bulgaria
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Sofia
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, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,
Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Independence:
3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution:
adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system:
civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January 2002);
Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime
Minister) Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA (since 24 July 2001); Deputy
Prime Ministers Nikolay VASILEV (since 24 July 2001), and Lidiya
SHULEVA (since 24 July 2001), Plamen PANAYOTOV (since 17 July 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 11 November
and 18 November 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); chairman of the
Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president;
deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister
election results: Georgi PURVANOV elected president; percent of vote
- Georgi PURVANOV 54.13%, Petar STOYANOV 45.87%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NMS2 42.74%, UtdDF
18.18%, CfB 17.15%, MRF 7.45%; seats by party - NMS2 120, UtdDF 51,
CfB 48, MRF 21; note - seating as of March 2003 - NMS2 110, UtdDF
50, CfB 48, MRF 20, independents 12
Judicial branch:
Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation;
Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year
terms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the
two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members;
responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, and
investigating magistrates in the justice system; members of the
Supreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected by
the National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:
Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Coalition for
Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei
STANISHEV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or VMRO
[Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF
[Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [Simeon
SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Nadezhda
MIKHAYLOVA]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI];
United Democratic Forces or UtdDF (a coalition between the UDF and
other center-right parties)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
agrarian movement; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of
Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional,
ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation:
ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNMOP, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA
consulate(s): New York
FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174
chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James William PARDEW
embassy: 1 Suborna Street, Sofia 1000
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, 5740
Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
FAX: [359] (2) 981-89-77
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the
national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has
been removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat
ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the
dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation
from Nazi control)
Economy Bulgaria
Economy - overview:
Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the European
Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth
since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then
socialist government. As a result, the government became committed
to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. A $300 million
stand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at the end of 2001 has
supported government efforts to overcome high rates of poverty and
unemployment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $49.23 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13.7%
industry: 28.5%
services: 57.9% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
12.6% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.5%
highest 10%: 22.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26.4 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3.83 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
18% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.57 billion
expenditures: $5.68 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery
and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined
petroleum, nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
41.38 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 47.8%
hydro: 8.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 44.1%
Electricity - consumption:
32.52 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
6.79 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
830 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
603 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
94,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
8.1 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
4 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
5.804 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
5.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.724 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley,
sunflowers, sugar beets
Exports:
$5.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners:
Italy 15.5%, Germany 9.6%, Turkey 9.4%, Greece 9.2%, France 5.3%,
US 4.8% (2002)
Imports:
$6.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metals
and ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles
Imports - partners:
Russia 14.6%, Germany 14.4%, Italy 11.4%, Greece 6.1%, France 5.7%,
Turkey 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$10.3 billion (yearend 2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$300 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
lev (BGL)
Currency code:
BGN
Exchange rates:
leva per US dollar - 2.08 (2002), 2.18 (2001), 2.12 (2000), 1.84
(1999), 1.76 (1998)
note: on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5 July
1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 lev
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bulgaria
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,186,731 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.054 million (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: extensive but antiquated
domestic: more than two-thirds of the lines are residential;
telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly modern
digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of
the regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radio
relay
international: direct dialing to 58 countries; satellite earth
stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
4.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.bg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
200 (2001)
Internet users:
585,000 (2001)
Transportation Bulgaria
Railways:
total: 4,294 km
standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 37,286 km
paved: 35,049 km (including 324 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,237 km (2000)
Waterways:
470 km (1987)
Pipelines:
gas 2,425 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
Merchant marine:
total: 69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 829,421 GRT/1,252,496 DWT
ships by type: bulk 42, cargo 10, chemical tanker 4, container 2,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, railcar carrier 2, roll
on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (2002
est.)
Airports:
216 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 128
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 92 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 88
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 74 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Bulgaria
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (subordinate to Ministry of
Defense), Internal Forces (subordinate to Ministry of Interior),
Civil Defense Forces (subordinate to the president)
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,854,049 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,551,485 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 54,107 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$356 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Bulgaria
Disputes - international:
joint boundary commission is rectifying boundary with Romania based
on shifts in Danube since last delimitation in 1920
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; some money laundering of
drug-related proceeds through financial institutions
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Burkina Faso
Introduction Burkina Faso
Background:
Independence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly Upper
Volta) in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s
were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Burkina
Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result
in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Every
year, several hundred thousand seasonal farm workers seek employment
in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana and are adversely affected by instability
in those regions.
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
water: 400 sq km
land: 273,800 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, antimony,
copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver
Land use:
arable land: 12.43%
permanent crops: 0.18%
other: 87.39% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black,
Red, and White Voltas
People Burkina Faso
Population:
13,228,460
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.1% (male 3,057,855; female 3,036,705)
15-64 years: 51% (male 3,296,726; female 3,455,817)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 161,914; female 219,443) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 17.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.6% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
44.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
18.76 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 99.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 91.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 107.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 44.46 years
male: 43.02 years
female: 45.94 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.34 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
440,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
44,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:
Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, 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: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
Government Burkina Faso
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Ouagadougou
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, Namentenga, Nahouri, 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)
Constitution:
2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6
November 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); in
April 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidential
term from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005, and allowing
the president to be reelected only once; it is unclear whether this
amendment will be applied retroactively or not; prime minister
appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature
note: President COMPAORE faces an increasingly well-coordinated
opposition; recent charges against a former member of his
Presidential Guard in the 1998 assassination of a newspaper editor
signify an attempt to defuse chronic areas of dissatisfaction
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5%
percent of the vote
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17
elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next to
be held NA May 2007)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or
RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracy
or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress
or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and
Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African
Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and
Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens for the
Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe
Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; National
Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of
Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the
country in both organizations and communities
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGO
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony HOLMES
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S.
Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC
20521-2440
telephone: [226] 306723
FAX: [226] 303890
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow
five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors
of Ethiopia
Economy Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:
One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso
has few natural resources, a fragile soil, and a highly unequal
distribution of income. About 90% of the population is engaged in
(mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is vulnerable to variations
in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable
government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc
currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its
development program in conjunction with international agencies, and
exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of
macroeconomic progress depends on continued low inflation, reduction
in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private
investment. The internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire
continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens the
need for international assistance.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $14.51 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 17%
services: 48% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
45% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
5 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to
neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2002)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 90% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $316 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Industries:
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,
textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:
14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
279.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 69.9%
hydro: 30.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
259.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
8,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice;
livestock
Exports:
$250 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:
Singapore 14.7%, Italy 11.3%, Colombia 8.6%, France 7.7%, India
6.9%, Ghana 6%, Japan 4.4%, Thailand 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$525 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:
France 27.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 23%, Togo 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.3 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$484.1 million (1995)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:
53,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
25,200 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: all services only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone
communication stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
394,020 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
131,340 (2002)
Internet country code:
.bf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
25,000 (2002)
Transportation Burkina Faso
Railways:
total: 622 km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire
(2002)
Highways:
total: 12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
33 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Military Burkina Faso
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's
Militia
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,957,710 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,506,944 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$45.83 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:
two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; Burkina
Faso border regions have become a staging area for Liberia and Cote
d'Ivoire rebels and an asylum for refugees caught in regional
fighting; the Ivorian Government accuses Burkina Faso of supporting
Ivorian rebels
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Burma
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 outside of the Commonwealth was
attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to
1988, first as military ruler, then as president, and later as
political kingmaker. Despite multiparty elections in 1990 that
resulted in the main opposition party winning a decisive victory,
the ruling military junta refused to hand over power. Key opposition
leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, under house
arrest from 1989 to 1995, was again placed under house detention
from September 2000 to May 2002 and again in May 2003; her
supporters are routinely harassed or jailed.
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: 678,500 sq km
land: 657,740 sq km
water: 20,760 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 14.53%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 84.57% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
15,920 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
42,510,537
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 6,091,220; female 5,840,968)
15-64 years: 67% (male 14,162,190; female 14,347,751)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 916,702; female 1,151,706) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 24.8 years
female: 25.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.52% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 70.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.48 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.79 years
male: 54.12 years
female: 57.56 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.15 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.99% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
530,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
65,000 (2001 est.)
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, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.1%
male: 88.7%
female: 77.7% (1995 est.)
note: these are official statistics; estimates of functional
literacy are likely closer to 30% (1999 est.)
Government Burma
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form: Burma
local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the
US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of
Myanmar)
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; this decision
was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and 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:
Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)
Administrative divisions:
7 divisions* (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi
ne-myar, singular - pyi ne); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*, Kachin
State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State,
Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*
Independence:
4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Constitution:
3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); national
convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution;
progress has since been stalled
Legal system:
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
Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)
head of government: Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the
appointed Prime Minister, Gen. KNIN NYUNT (since 25 August 2003), is
not the head of government
cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta,
so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18
September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration
Council; the SPDC oversees the cabinet
elections: none
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NLD 392, SNLD 23, NUP 10, other 60
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:
National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN
SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (proregime)
[THA KYAW]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [KHUN
TUN OO]; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA
(proregime, a social and political organization) [THAN AUNG, general
secretary]; and other smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Burma Student Democratic Front or ABSDF; Kachin Independence
Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; National Coalition
Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB [Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of
individuals legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not
recognized by the military regime (the group fled to a border area
and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel
government); several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA
International organization participation:
ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW
(signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador LINN MYAING
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Permanent Charge d'Affaires Carmen M. MARTINEZ
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 379 880, 379 881
FAX: [95] (1) 256 018
Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing,
all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing
a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative
divisions
Economy Burma
Economy - overview:
Burma is a resource-rich country that suffers from abject rural
poverty. The military regime took steps in the early 1990s to
liberalize the economy after decades of failure under the "Burmese
Way to Socialism", but those efforts have since stalled. Burma has
been unable to achieve monetary or fiscal stability, resulting in an
economy that suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances -
including a steep inflation rate and an official exchange rate that
overvalues the Burmese kyat by more than 100 times the market rate.
In addition, most overseas development assistance ceased after the
junta suppressed the democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently
ignored the results of the 1990 election. Burma is data poor, and
official statistics are often dated and inaccurate. Published
estimates of Burma's foreign trade are greatly understated because
of the size of the black market and border trade - often estimated
to be one to two times the official economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $73.69 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 60%
industry: 9%
services: 31% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
53.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
23.7 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 70%, industry 7%, services 23% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.1% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $7.9 billion
expenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7
billion (FY96/97)
Industries:
agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and wood
products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials;
pharmaceuticals; fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
6.139 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 44.4%
hydro: 55.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
5.709 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
14,170 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
38,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
142.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
7.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
5.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
314.4 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish
and fish products
Exports:
$2.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice
Exports - partners:
Thailand 31.4%, US 13%, India 7.4%, China 4.7% (2002)
Imports:
$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, crude oil;
food products
Imports - partners:
China 27%, Singapore 19.5%, Thailand 12%, Malaysia 9.1%, Taiwan
6.3%, South Korea 5.3%, Japan 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$6.1 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$99 million (FY98/99)
Currency:
kyat (MMK)
Currency code:
MMK
Exchange rates:
kyats per US dollar - 6.64 (2002), 6.75 (2001), 6.52 (2000), 6.29
(1999), 6.34 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Burma
Telephones - main lines in use:
250,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8,492 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: meets minimum requirements for local and
intercity service for business and government; international service
is good
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
4.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1998)
Televisions:
320,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.mm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1
note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only for
the government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)
Internet users:
10,000 (2002)
Transportation Burma
Railways:
total: 3,955 km
narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 28,200 km
paved: 3,440 km
unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.)
Waterways:
12,800 km
note: 3,200 km navigable by large commercial vessels
Pipelines:
gas 2,056 km; oil 558 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina, Rangoon,
Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy
Merchant marine:
total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 352,765 GRT/536,396 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 5, Japan 4 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 21, container 1, passenger/cargo 3,
petroleum tanker 1
Airports:
80 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 72
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 20
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Burma
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 12,349,921
note: both sexes liable for military service (2003 est.)
females age 15-49: 12,358,507
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,566,122
females age 15-49: 6,553,458 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 453,420
females: 455,422 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$39 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.1% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Burma
Disputes - international:
despite continuing border committee talks, significant differences
remain with Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling of
ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities
Illicit drugs:
world's second largest producer of illicit opium (potential
production in 2002 - 630 metric tons, down 27% due to drought and,
to a lesser extent, eradication; cultivation in 2002 - 77,000
hectares, a 27% decline from 2001); surrender of drug warlord KHUN
SA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by Rangoon as a major
counternarcotics success, but lack of government will and ability 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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Burundi
Introduction Burundi
Background:
Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated
in October 1993 after only four months in office. Since then, some
200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnic
violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands have
been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring
countries. Burundi troops, seeking to secure their borders,
intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
in 1998. More recently, many of these troops have been redeployed
back to Burundi to deal with periodic upsurges in rebel activity. A
new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, was to
be the first step toward holding national elections in three years.
While the Government of Burundi signed a cease-fire agreement in
December 2002 with three of Burundi's four Hutu rebel groups,
implementation of the agreement has been problematic and one rebel
group refuses to sign on, clouding prospects for a sustainable peace.
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
water: 2,180 sq km
land: 25,650 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; wet seasons from February to May and
September to November, and dry seasons from 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: Mount Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources:
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum
(not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 29.98%
permanent crops: 12.85%
other: 57.17% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
740 sq km (1998 est.)
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
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
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:
6,096,156
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.7% (male 1,438,759; female 1,409,567)
15-64 years: 50.6% (male 1,516,833; female 1,564,513)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 66,355; female 100,129) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.3 years
male: 15.9 years
female: 16.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.18% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
39.72 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
17.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 71.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 78.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.2 years
male: 42.54 years
female: 43.88 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
8.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
390,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
40,000 (2001 est.)
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: 51.6%
male: 58.5%
female: 45.2% (2003 est.)
Government Burundi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local short form: Burundi
local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
former: Urundi
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Bujumbura
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, 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:
13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political
system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution
which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents
Legal system:
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003);
note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the second
half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1
November 2001; Vice President Alphonse KADEGE (since 30 April 2003);
note - from the Tutsi minority
head of government: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April
2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the
second half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on
1 November 2001; Vice President Alphonse KADEGE (since 30 April
2003); note - from the Tutsi minority
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: NA; current president assumed power on 30 April 2003 as
part of the transitional government established by the 2000 Arusha
Accord
Legislative branch:
bicameral, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
(expanded from 121 to approximately 140 seats under the transitional
government inaugurated 1 November 2001; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; term
length is undefined, the current senators will likely serve out the
three-year transition period)
elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in
1998, but was suspended by presidential decree in 1996; elections
are planned to follow the completion of the three-year transitional
government)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA
21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16,
civilians 27, other parties 13
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of
Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First
Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)
Political parties and leaders:
the two national, mainstream, governing parties are: Unity for
National Progress or UPRONA [Alphonse KADEGE, president]; Burundi
Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are:
Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA [Terrence
NSANZE]; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or
RADDES [Joseph NZEYIMANA]; Party for National Redress or PARENA
[Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP
[Mathias HITIMANA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated with
Hutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to government
security forces
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine NTAMOBWA
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Howard YELLIN
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 outer 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)
Economy Burundi
Economy - overview:
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an
underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly
agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on
subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea
exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The
ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather
conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi
minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the
coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the
population. Since October 1993 an ethnic-based war has resulted in
the death of over 200,000 persons, sent 800,000 refugees into
Tanzania, and displaced 525,000 others internally. Doubts about the
prospects for sustainable peace continue to impede development. Only
one in two children go to school, and approximately one in ten
adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short
supply.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.146 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 19%
services: 31% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42.5 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $125 million
expenditures: $176 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of
imported components; public works construction; food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
18% (2001)
Electricity - production:
155.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.6%
hydro: 99.4%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
177.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
33 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc
(tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Exports:
$26 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 28.8%, Germany 20.2%, Belgium 9.4%, Kenya 7.8%, Rwanda
6.5%, Netherlands 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$135 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Belgium 12.4%, Saudi Arabia 12.3%, Tanzania 9.3%, Kenya 7.7%,
France 7.4%, India 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.14 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$92.7 million (2000)
Currency:
Burundi franc (BIF)
Currency code:
BIF
Exchange rates:
Burundi francs per US dollar - NA (2002), 830.35 (2001), 720.67
(2000), 563.56 (1999), 447.77 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Burundi
Telephones - main lines in use:
18,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
30,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: primitive system
domestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications,
and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
440,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
6,000 (2002)
Transportation Burundi
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 14,480 km
paved: 1,028 km
unpaved: 13,452 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
Lake Tanganyika
Ports and harbors:
Bujumbura
Airports:
7 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Burundi
Military branches:
Army (including naval and air units), Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:
16 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,375,900 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 723,516 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 79,462 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$42.13 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Burundi
Disputes - international:
Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associated
political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces
continue fighting in the Great Lakes region, transcending the
boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and
Uganda to gain control over populated and natural resource areas;
government heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence
continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Cambodia
Introduction Cambodia
Background:
Following a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces
captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities
and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from execution or
enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge
into the countryside and touched off almost 20 years of fighting.
UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of
normalcy as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in the
mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national elections
in 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender of
remaining Khmer Rouge forces in 1998.
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: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 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:
timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower
potential
Land use:
arable land: 20.96%
permanent crops: 0.61%
other: 78.43% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,700 sq km (1998 est.)
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, a majority of the population does not have
access to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked
unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note:
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and
Tonle Sap
People Cambodia
Population:
13,124,764
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.3% (male 2,606,568; female 2,557,736)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 3,599,216; female 3,962,520)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 148,287; female 250,437) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.2 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 20 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.8% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
27.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 75.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 84.96 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.92 years
male: 55.49 years
female: 60.47 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.58 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
170,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
12,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups:
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Languages:
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 80.5%
female: 60.3% (2003 est.)
Government Cambodia
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local short form: Kampuchea
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
former: Khmer Republic, Kampuchea Republic
Government type:
multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in
September 1993
Capital:
Phnom Penh
Administrative divisions:
20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities*
(krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang,
Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot,
Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay,
Pailin*, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu*, Preah Vihear, Prey
Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
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 in recent years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998)
and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 1993) and TOL LAH (since
1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council;
following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or
majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the
National Assembly and appointed by the king
Legislative branch:
bicameral consists of the National Assembly (122 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61
seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by the
National Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies";
members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to be
held in July 2007); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held
in 2004)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP
47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by party - CPP 73,
FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 2 (2003)
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:
Buddhist Liberal Party or BLP [IENG MOULY]; Cambodian Pracheachon
Party or Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; Khmer Citizen
Party or KCP [NGUON SOEUR]; National United Front for an
Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or
FUNCINPEC [Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP
(formerly Khmer Nation Party or KNP) [SAM RANGSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ROLAND ENG
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles Aaron RAY
embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 216-436/438
FAX: [855] (23) 216-437/811
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
Economy Cambodia
Economy - overview:
Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-1998 due to the
regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting.
Foreign investment and tourism fell off. In 1999, the first full
year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms and
growth resumed at 5.0%. Despite severe flooding, GDP grew at 5.0% in
2000, 6.3% in 2001, and 5.2% in 2002. Tourism was Cambodia's fastest
growing industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000 and up another 40% in
2001 before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. Even
given these stout growth estimates, the long-term development of the
economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The
population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in
the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total
lack of basic infrastructure. Fear of renewed political instability
and corruption within the government discourage foreign investment
and delay foreign aid. The government is addressing these issues
with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $20.42 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 20%
services: 40% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
36% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.4 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
6 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.8% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $396 million
expenditures: $607 million, including capital expenditures of $254
million (2001 est.)
Industries:
tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,
rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
16% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
119 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 65%
hydro: 35%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
110.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables
Exports:
$1.38 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
timber, garments, rubber, rice, fish
Exports - partners:
US 60.2%, Germany 9.1%, UK 7.1%, Singapore 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.73 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
machinery, motor vehicles
Imports - partners:
Thailand 24.8%, Singapore 16.9%, China 12.1%, Hong Kong 10.9%,
South Korea 5.5%, Vietnam 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$829 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$548 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2001 by
international donors
Currency:
riel (KHR)
Currency code:
KHR
Exchange rates:
riels per US dollar - 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001), 3,840.75
(2000), 3,807.83 (1999), 3,744.42 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cambodia
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,800 (mid-1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
80,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate landline and/or cellular service in
Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have little
telephone service
domestic: NA
international: 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios:
1.34 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2003)
Televisions:
94,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
10,000 (2002)
Transportation Cambodia
Railways:
total: 602 km
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 12,323 km
paved: 1,996 km
unpaved: 10,327 km (2000 est)
Waterways:
3,700 km
note: navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km
navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m
Ports and harbors:
Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh
Merchant marine:
total: 527 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,328,371 GRT/3,294,028 DWT
ships by type: bulk 49, cargo 412, chemical tanker 2, combination
bulk 4, container 17, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 2,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea
passenger 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Aruba 1, Belize 11, Bulgaria 3, Cambodia 194, Canada 4,
China 25, Cyprus 14, Egypt 10, Estonia 2, France 1, Georgia 1,
Germany 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 13, Honduras 8, Hong Kong 12, Iceland
1, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Italy 2, Japan 2, Jordan 1, North
Korea, 1, South Korea, 25, Latvia 3, Lebanon 6, Liberia 7, Malaysia
1, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Panama 10,
Romania 2, Russia 75, Saint Kitts and Nevis 4, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 5, Singapore 17, Syria 20, Turkey 18, Ukraine 16, United
Arab Emirates 3, United Kingdom 1, United States 5, Vietnam 3 (2002
est.)
Airports:
21 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 13
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Cambodia
Military branches:
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,275,533 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,829,535 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 165,395 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$112 million (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3% (FY01 est.)
Transnational Issues Cambodia
Disputes - international:
completed boundary demarcation with Thailand; accuses Vietnam of
moving and destroying boundary markers and encroachments, initiating
border incidents; accuses Thailand of preventing access to Preah
Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962;
maritime boundary with Vietnam hampered by dispute over offshore
islands
Illicit drugs:
narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the
government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium,
heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for
the international market; vulnerable to money laundering due to its
cash-based economy and porous borders
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Cameroon
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
movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in
the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
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
water: 6,000 sq km
land: 469,440 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: 50 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 (on Cameroon Mountain) 4,095 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 12.81%
permanent crops: 2.58%
other: 84.61% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
330 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from
Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing;
desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
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:
15,746,179
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 3,372,129; female 3,291,295)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 4,315,672; female 4,265,286)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 227,444; female 274,353) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.4 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 18.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.02% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
35.49 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
15.3 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 70.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 74.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.05 years
male: 47.15 years
female: 48.97 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.63 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
11.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
920,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
53,000 (2001 est.)
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: 79%
male: 84.7%
female: 73.4% (2003 est.)
Government Cameroon
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
former: French Cameroon
Government type:
unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition
parties legalized in 1990)
note: preponderance of power remains with the president
Capital:
Yaounde
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord,
Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence:
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:
20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted;
revised January 1996
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October
2004); prime minister appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19
September 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted
by the prime minister
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote -
Paul BIYA 92.6%; note - supporters of the opposition candidates
boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares
relatively meaningless
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 23 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21
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 9 judges and 6 substitute judges, elected by
the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Democratic
Rally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the
Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the
Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [leader Marcel
YONDO]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA];
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO
BOUBA]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of
Cameroonian Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Southern Cameroon National Council [Frederick Ebong ALOBWEDE];
Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George McDade STAPLES
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 223-05-12, 222-25-89, 222-17-94, 223-40-14
FAX: [237] 223-07-53
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; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Cameroon
Economy - overview:
Because of its 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 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. In June 2000, the government completed an
IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however,
the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget
transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs.
International oil and cocoa prices have considerable impact on the
economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $26.84 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 46%
industry: 21%
services: 33% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
48% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.7 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%
Unemployment rate:
30% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.2 billion
expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer
goods, textiles, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
4.2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.613 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.7%
hydro: 97.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
3.36 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
76,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
22,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
200 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
55.22 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root
starches; livestock; timber
Exports:
$1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,
coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
Italy 16.7%, Spain 16%, France 12.8%, US 8.3%, Netherlands 8.2%,
Taiwan 7.7%, China 5.2%, UK 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:
France 28.2%, Nigeria 12.8%, US 8%, Belgium 5.7%, Germany 5.3%,
Italy 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$8.6 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
on 23 January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt
of $1.3 billion by $900 million; total debt relief now amounts to
$1.26 billion
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Cameroon
Telephones - main lines in use:
95,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
300,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: available only to business and government
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
2.27 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
450,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
45,000
note: Cameroon also had more than 100 cyber-cafes in 2001 (December
2001)
Transportation Cameroon
Railways:
total: 1,008 km
narrow gauge: 1,008 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 34,300 km
paved: 4,288 km
unpaved: 30,012 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
2,090 km (of decreasing importance) (2002)
Pipelines:
gas 90 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,124 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko
Airports:
49 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Military Cameroon
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force, National
Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,799,841 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,928,285 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 179,586 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$118.6 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Cameroon
Disputes - international:
ICJ ruled in 2002 on the Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime
boundary by awarding the potentially petroleum-rich Bakassi
Peninsula and offshore region to Cameroon; Nigeria rejected cession
of the peninsula, but the parties have formed a Joint Border
Commission to resolve differences bilaterally and have commenced
with demarcation in less-contested sections of the boundary; Lake
Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger,
and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over the lake region,
which remains the site of armed clashes among local populations and
militias; Nigeria agreed to ratify the treaty and relinquish
sovereignty of disputed lands to Cameroon by December 2003
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Canada
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. Its paramount political problem continues to
be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its
French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of
the country.
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
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km
Area - comparative:
somewhat 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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, molybdenum, potash,
diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural
gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 4.94%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 95.04% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
7,200 sq km (1998 est.)
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
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-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location
between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 85% of
the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US border
People Canada
Population:
32,207,113 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 3,052,005; female 2,903,007)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 11,099,907; female 10,984,903)
65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,774,262; female 2,393,029) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 37.8 years
male: 36.9 years
female: 38.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.94% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.99 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.83 years
male: 76.44 years
female: 83.38 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.61 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
55,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2001 est.)
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 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18%
note: based on the 1991 census
Languages:
English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Canada
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
Government type:
confederation with parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Ottawa
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 (from UK)
National holiday:
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution:
17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of the
government was set up in the British North America Act of 1867;
charter of rights and unwritten customs
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:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October
1999)
elections: none; 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 is automatically designated prime minister by the
governor general
head of government: Prime Minister Paul MARTIN (since 12 December
2003); Deputy Prime Minister Anne MCLELLAN (since 12 December 2003)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among
the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat
(members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the
prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal
limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des
Communes (301 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to
serve for up to five-year terms)
elections: House of Commons - last held 27 November 2000 (next to be
held by 2005)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Liberal Party 41%, Canadian Alliance 26%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New
Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 12%; seats by
party - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38,
New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12; note -
percent of vote by party as of January 2002 - Liberal Party 51%,
Canadian Alliance 10%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, New Democratic Party 9%,
Progressive Conservative Party 18%; seats by party - Liberal Party
172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party
13, Progressive Conservative Party 12
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 Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and
Court of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:
Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Canadian Alliance [Stephen
HARPER]; Liberal Party [Paul MARTIN]; New Democratic Party [Jack
LAYTON]; Progressive Conservative Party [Peter MACKAY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA,
MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMEE,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael F. KERGIN
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CELLUCCI
embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430
telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 688-3097
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
and Vancouver
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 official colors of Canada are red and white
Economy Canada
Economy - overview:
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely
resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of
production, and high 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. As a result of the close
cross-border relationship, the economic sluggishness in the United
States in 2001-02 had a negative impact on the Canadian economy.
Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined in
2001, with moderate recovery in 2002. Unemployment is up, with
contraction in the manufacturing and natural resource sectors.
Nevertheless, given its great natural resources, skilled labor
force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic
prospects. Two shadows loom, the first being the continuing
constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas,
which has been raising the specter of a split in the federation.
Another long-term concern is the flow south to the US of
professionals lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense
high-tech infrastructure. A key strength in the economy is the
substantial trade surplus.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $934.1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $29,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 26.5%
services: 71.2% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
16.4 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 74%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%,
other 3% (2000)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $178.6 billion
expenditures: $161.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed
minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products,
petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
2.2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
566.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 28%
hydro: 57.9%
other: 1.3% (2001)
nuclear: 12.9%
Electricity - consumption:
504.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
38.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
16.11 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2.738 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.703 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
2.008 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
1.145 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
5.112 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
186.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
82.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
109 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
4.46 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.691 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy
products; forest products; fish
Exports:
$260.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 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 87.7%, Japan 2%, UK 1.1% (2002)
Imports:
$229 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 62.6%, China 4.6%, Japan 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.9 billion $NA (2000)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.3 billion (1999)
Currency:
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Currency code:
CAD
Exchange rates:
Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.57 (2002), 1.55 (2001), 1.49
(2000), 1.49 (1999), 1.48 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Canada
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,802,900 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8,751,300 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations
- 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:
32.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
21.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ca
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
760 (2000 est.)
Internet users:
16.84 million (2002)
Transportation Canada
Railways:
total: 49,422 km
standard gauge: 49,422 km 1.435-m gauge (129 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 1.408 million km
paved: 497,306 km (including 16,900 km of expressways)
unpaved: 911,494 km (2002)
Waterways:
3,000 km (including Saint Lawrence Seaway)
Pipelines:
crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
Ports and harbors:
Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New
Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), St.
John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, Thunder
Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Merchant marine:
total: 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,840,272 GRT/2,740,864 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 64, cargo 11, chemical tanker
6, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, passenger
2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, railcar carrier 2, roll
on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 3, Monaco 16, United Kingdom 1, United States 1
(2002 est.)
Airports:
1,389 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 507
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 245
under 914 m: 80 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 149
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 882
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 363
under 914 m: 446 (2002)
Heliports:
12 (2002)
Military Canada
Military branches:
Canadian Armed Forces (comprising Land Forces Command, Maritime
Command, Air Command, Communications Command, Training Command)
Military manpower - military age:
16 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 8,391,120 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,158,016 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 216,488 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$7.861 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (FY01/02)
Transnational Issues Canada
Disputes - international:
managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance,
Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed
Machias Seal Island and North Rock; uncontested dispute with Denmark
over Hans Island sovereignty in the Kennedy Channel between
Ellesmere Island and Greenland
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of
hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of
high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point for heroin and cocaine
entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering
because of its mature financial services sector
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Cape Verde
Introduction Cape Verde
Background:
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the
Portuguese in the 15th century; they 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:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4,033 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
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very 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
Land use:
arable land: 9.68%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 89.82% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring
dust; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in
deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened
several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand
extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
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:
412,137 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 85,254; female 83,716)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 103,690; female 111,992)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,498; female 16,987) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.7 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 19.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.79% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
26.95 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-12.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 50.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 55.83 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.83 years
male: 66.53 years
female: 73.23 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.77 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.04% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
775 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
225 (as of 2001)
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, 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.)
Government Cape Verde
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Praia
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:
new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a
major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the
powers of the president, and a further revision in 1999, to create
the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system:
derived from the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pedro 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
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 11 and 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA
February 2006); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly
and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES elected president; percent of vote -
Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 49.43%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 49.42%; note - the
election was won by only twelve votes
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA December
2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 47.3%, MPD 39.8%,
ADM 6%, other 6.9%; seats by party - PAICV 40, MPD 30, ADM 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 Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr.
Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic
Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; Democratic
Renovation Party or PRD [Jacinto SANTOS, president]; Movement for
Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for Democratic
Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work
and Solidarity or PTS [Anibal MEDINA, president]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
consulate(s) general: Boston
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
embassy: Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 61 56 16, 61 56 17
FAX: [238] 61 13 55
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white
(with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue;
a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist
end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands
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. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport,
tourism, and public services accounting for 72% of GDP. Although
nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of
agriculture in GDP in 2001 was only 11%, of which fishing accounts
for 1.5%. 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 emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%.
Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and
attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects
for 2003 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, tourism,
remittances, and the momentum of the government's development
program.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $600 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 17%
services: 72% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
30% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
21% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $112 million
expenditures: $198 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000)
Industries:
food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt
mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
42.03 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
39.08 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts;
fish
Exports:
$30 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners:
Portugal 38.5%, UK 26.4%, France 23.1%, US 8.2% (2002)
Imports:
$220 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Portugal 49.1%, Netherlands 7.2%, Germany 5.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$325 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$136 million (1999)
Currency:
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Currency code:
CVE
Exchange rates:
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - NA (2002), 123.21
(2001), 115.88 (2000), 102.7 (1999), 98.16 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cape Verde
Telephones - main lines in use:
60,935 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
28,119 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: effective system, being improved
domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog
and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine
fiber-optic cable system which is scheduled for completion in 2003
international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to
Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 15 (and 17 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:
100,000 (2002 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)
Televisions:
15,000 (2002 est.)
Internet country code:
.cv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
12,000 (2002)
Transportation Cape Verde
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,100 km
paved: 858 km
unpaved: 242 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,395 GRT/6,614 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
9
note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Military Cape Verde
Military branches:
Army, Coast Guard
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 95,450 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 53,842 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.6% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Cape Verde
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin
America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Cayman Islands
Introduction Cayman Islands
Background:
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British
during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica since
1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former
became independent.
Geography Cayman Islands
Location:
Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the
way from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates:
19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 262 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 262 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
160 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 43 m
Natural resources:
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
41,934 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.6% (male 4,525; female 4,541)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 14,463; female 15,157)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 1,515; female 1,733) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.1 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 36.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.79% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
13.33 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
19.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2003
est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.67 years
male: 77.08 years
female: 82.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist,
Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government Cayman Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
British crown colony
Capital:
George Town
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:
1959, revised 1972 and 1992
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);
Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is
appointed by the monarch; the chief secretary is appointed by the
governor
head of government: Chief Secretary W. McKeeva BUSH (since NA
December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,
four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members
from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November
2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
Judicial branch:
Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
there are no formal political parties but the following loose
groupings act as political organizations; National Team [leader NA];
Democratic Alliance [leader NA]; Team Cayman [leader NA]; United
Democratic Party [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO
(associate)
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 Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag;
the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with
three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the
bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Economy Cayman Islands
Economy - overview:
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore
financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the
Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600 banks and trust
companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. 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 1.2 million in 1997, with
600,000 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 - $1.27 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $35,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2002)
Labor force:
19,820 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
4.1% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries:
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction
materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
381.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
355.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming
Exports:
$1.2 million (1999)
Exports - commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners:
mostly US
Imports:
$457.4 million (1999)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
Debt - external:
$70 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Caymanian dollar (KYD)
Currency code:
KYD
Exchange rates:
Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3
November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Cayman Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,534 (1995)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
36,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 with cable system
Televisions:
7,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ky
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Cayman Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 785 km
paved: 785 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:
total: 123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,402,058 GRT/3,792,094 DWT
ships by type: bulk 22, cargo 5, chemical tanker 31, container 2,
liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 35, roll
on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Bahrain 2, China 1, Germany 4, Greece 27, Hong Kong 3,
Italy 2, Japan 1, Norway 14, Sweden 13, United Kingdom 15, United
States 35 (2002 est.)
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Cayman Islands
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police
Force (RCIPF)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Cayman Islands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the
US and Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Central African Republic
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. In March 2003 a
military coup deposed the civilian government of President
Ange-Felix PATASSE and has since established a new government.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 622,984 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: 0.14%
other: 96.76% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are
common
Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as
one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification;
deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People Central African Republic
Population:
3,683,538
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.1% (male 799,241; female 788,370)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 969,581; female 1,000,740)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 53,322; female 72,284) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 18.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.62% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
35.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
19.73 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 93.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 86.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.71 years
male: 40.18 years
female: 43.29 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.68 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
12.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
250,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
22,000 (2001 est.)
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: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9% (2003 est.)
Government Central African Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Bangui
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:
passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995
Legal system:
based on French law
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Abel GOUMBA (since NA March 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on
15 March 2003 in which former President Ange-Felix PATASSE was
overthrown (President BOZIZE has stated that elections will be held
by NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note -
there were 85 seats in the National Assembly before the 1998
election)
elections: last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be
held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD
9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,
independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD
6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judges
appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National
Assembly, and 3 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 Assembly 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]; Movement for Democracy and Development or
MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central
African People or MLPC [the party of deposed president, Ange-Felix
PATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA];
People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY];
National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mattie R. SHARPLESS
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 02 00
FAX: [236] 61 44 94
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow
with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed
star on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy Central African Republic
Economy - overview:
Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the
backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with
more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The
agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for
about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for 54%.
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, with GDP growth
likely to be no more than 1.3% in 2003. Distribution of income is
extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international
community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.296 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
61.3 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of
bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2002)
Electricity - production:
106 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.8%
hydro: 80.2%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
98.63 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn,
bananas; timber
Exports:
$134 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners:
Belgium 66.8%, Spain 6.4%, Kazakhstan 4% (2002)
Imports:
$102 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical
equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
France 30%, US 5.2%, Cameroon 4.5%, Germany 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$881.4 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $73 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France
(2000 est.)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Central African Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
9,500 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
710 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and
low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:
283,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
2,000 (2002)
Transportation Central African Republic
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 23,810 km
paved: 643 km
unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
900 km
note: traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft
dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river, navigable all year to
craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as
much as 1.8 m
Ports and harbors:
Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga
Airports:
50 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 47
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
Military Central African Republic
Military branches:
Central African Armed Forces (FACA) (including Republican Guard,
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, and Air Force), Presidential Security
Guard, Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 858,671 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 449,466 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$13.43 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Central African Republic
Disputes - international:
internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlap
into Chad and CAR, leaving refugees and rebel groups in both
countries; violent ethnic skirmishes persist along the border with
Sudan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Chad
Introduction Chad
Background:
Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three
decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a
semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government
eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military
groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable
to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multiparty
presidential and National Assembly elections in 1996 and 1997,
respectively. In 1998, a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad,
which continued to escalate throughout 2000. A peace agreement,
signed in January 2002 between the government and the rebels,
provides for the demobilization of the rebels and their
reintegration into the political system. Despite movement toward
democratic reform, power remains in the hands of a northern ethnic
oligarchy.
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
water: 24,800 sq km
land: 1,259,200 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 Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources:
petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron,
kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land use:
arable land: 2.78%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 97.2% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
200 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
9,253,493 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,228,605; female 2,201,368)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,171,169; female 2,393,184)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 105,686; female 153,481) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16 years
male: 15.2 years
female: 16.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.07% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
47.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 95.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 86.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 105 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.51 years
male: 46.97 years
female: 50.1 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.44 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.6% 5%-7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
150,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
14,000 (confirmed AIDS cases, actual number far higher but
difficult to estimate) (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups:
200 distinct groups; in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane
(Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi,
Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are
Muslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang,
Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000
French citizens live in Chad
Religions:
Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%
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: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.)
Government Chad
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad
Government type:
republic
Capital:
N'Djamena
Administrative divisions:
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha,
Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac,
Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari,
Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative
structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department),
and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha
Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera,
Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone
Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam,
N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile
Occidental, Tibesti
Independence:
11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Constitution:
passed by referendum 31 March 1996
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 (since 4 December
1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Moussa Faki MAHAMAT (since NA
July 2003)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected president; percent
of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh
KEBZABO 7%
note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URD
elections: president elected by popular vote to serve 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 held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006);
prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral according to constitution, consists of a National
Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified,
members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewable
every two years)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, others 11
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be
held in NA April 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarlejy YORONGAR];
National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Mamadou BISSO];
National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO];
Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman]
(originally in opposition but now the party in power and the party
of the president); Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen.
Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]; Viva Rally for Development and Progress
or Viva RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANE
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher E. GOLDTHWAIT
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] (51) 70-09
FAX: [235] (51) 56-54
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
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
Economy Chad
Economy - overview:
Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted
by major oilfield and pipeline projects that began in 2000. Over 80%
of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and stock raising
for its livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk
of Chad's export earnings, but Chad will begin to export oil in
2004. 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. Oil production is
scheduled to come on stream in late 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $9.297 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 38%
industry: 13%
services: 49% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and
fishing)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $198 million
expenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146
million (1998 est.)
Industries:
oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium
carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (1995)
Electricity - production:
94.04 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
87.46 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca);
cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports:
$197 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, cattle, gum arabic
Exports - partners:
Portugal 28.3%, Germany 13.6%, US 7.8%, Czech Republic 6.5%, France
5.8%, Nigeria 5.8%, Poland 5.5%, Spain 5.2%, Morocco 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$570 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleum
products, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
France 31.5%, US 31.4%, Germany 5.5%, Nigeria 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.1 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$238.3 million; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August
1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA $150
million
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Chad
Telephones - main lines in use:
9,700 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5,500 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)
Radios:
1.67 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.td
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
4,000 (2002)
Transportation Chad
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 33,400 km
paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
2,000 km
Pipelines:
oil 205 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
50 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Chad
Military branches:
Armed Forces (including National Army, Air Force, and Gendarmerie),
Rapid Intervention Force, National and Nomadic Guard (GNNT),
Presidential Security Guard, Police
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,940,328 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,015,982 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 86,953 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$40.74 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Chad
Disputes - international:
internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlap
into Chad and Central African Republic, leaving refugees and rebel
groups in both countries; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern
Libya; Lake Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon,
Chad, Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over lake
region, which remains the site of armed clashes among local
populations and militias; Chad rejects Nigerian request to
redemarcate boundary, the site of continuing cross-border incidents
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Chile
Introduction Chile
Background:
A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a
dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until
a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic
policies, first implemented by the PINOCHET dictatorship, led to
unprecedented growth in 1991-97 and have helped secure the country's
commitment to democratic and representative government.
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: 756,950 sq km
land: 748,800 sq km
note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
water: 8,150 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 6,171 km
border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline:
6,435 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200/350 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.42%
other: 96.93% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
18,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
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:
15,665,216 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 2,112,251; female 2,018,099)
15-64 years: 66% (male 5,151,551; female 5,180,607)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 499,441; female 703,267) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.5 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 30.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.05% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.35 years
male: 73.04 years
female: 79.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.09 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
220 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups:
white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.4%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
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:
Santiago
Administrative divisions:
13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos
Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio,
Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos,
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 30 July 1989,
1993, and 1997
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: Chile is in the process of completely overhauling its criminal
justice system; a new, US-style adversarial system is being
gradually implemented throughout the country
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election results: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent
of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 12 December 1999, with runoff election held 16
January 2000 (next to be held NA December 2005)
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (49 seats, 38 elected by popular vote, 9 designated
members, and 2 former presidents who serve six-year terms and are
senators for life); elected members 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)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - CPD 20 (PDC 12, PS 5, PPD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7),
independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - CPD 62 (PDC 24, PPD 21, PS 11, PRSD 6), UDI
35, RN 22, independent 1
elections: Senate - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA
December 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 December 2001
(next to be held NA December 2005)
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 by the 21-member court); Constitutional Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC - including RN and UDI;
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Adolfo ZALDIVAR]; Coalition of
Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD - including PDC, PS,
PPD, PRSD; Communist Party or PC [Gladys MARIN]; Independent
Democratic Union or UDI [Pablo LONGUEIRA]; National Renewal or RN
[Sebastian PINERA]; Party for Democracy or PPD [Guido GIRARDI];
Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Orlando CANTUARIAS];
Socialist Party or PS [Camilo ESCALONA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
revitalized university student federations at all major
universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT
includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor
confederations
International organization participation:
APEC, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andres BIANCHI
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is 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 stands for the
blood spilled to achieve independence; design was influenced by the
US flag
Economy Chile
Economy - overview:
Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level
of foreign trade. 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 recession 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. Despite the effects
of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong
financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the
strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of
1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth
rebounded to 4.4% in 2000. Growth fell back to 2.8% in 2001 and 1.8%
in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluation
of the Argentine peso. Unemployment remains stubbornly high, putting
pressure on President LAGOS to improve living standards. One bright
spot was the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which
will take effect on 1 January 2004.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $156.1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 34%
services: 56% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
21% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 45.6% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
5.9 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 14%, industry 27%, services 59% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.2% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $17 billion
expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and
steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
-1.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
41.66 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 47%
hydro: 51.5%
other: 1.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
40.13 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.386 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
13,640 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
241,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
81.05 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
1.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
6.47 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
5.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
67.78 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef,
poultry, wool; fish; timber
Exports:
$17.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copper, fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals
Exports - partners:
US 19.1%, Japan 10.5%, China 6.7%, Mexico 5%, Italy 4.7%, UK 4.4%
(2002)
Imports:
$15.6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, chemicals, motor vehicles, fuels, electrical
machinery, heavy industrial machinery, food
Imports - partners:
Argentina 18%, US 14.9%, Brazil 9.5%, China 6.5%, Germany 4.3%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$40.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $40 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
Chilean peso (CLP)
Currency code:
CLP
Exchange rates:
Chilean pesos per US dollar - 688.95 (2002), 634.94 (2001), 535.47
(2000), 508.78 (1999), 460.29 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Chile
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.603 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
944,225 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system based on extensive microwave
radio relay facilities
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite
system with 3 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)
Radios:
5.18 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
3.15 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.cl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
7 (2000)
Internet users:
3.1 million (2002)
Transportation Chile
Railways:
total: 6,585 km
broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 79,814 km
paved: 15,484 km (including 294 km of expressways)
unpaved: 64,330 km (2000)
Waterways:
725 km
Pipelines:
gas 2,267 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 42 km; liquid petroleum gas
531 km; oil 983 km; refined products 545 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt,
Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso
Merchant marine:
total: 50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 696,202 GRT/900,317 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, container 4,
liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off
6, vehicle carrier 4
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Netherlands 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
363 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 15 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 292
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 216 (2002)
Military Chile
Military branches:
Army of the Nation, National Navy (including naval air, coast
guard, and marines), Air Force of the Nation, Chilean Carabineros
(National Police), Investigations Police
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,154,636 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,070,140 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 131,324 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.5 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.1% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Chile
Disputes - international:
Bolivia continues to press Chile and Peru to restore the Atacama
corridor ceded to Chile in 1884; dispute with Peru over the economic
zone delimited by the maritime boundary; Chile demands water rights
to Bolivia's Rio Lauca and Silala Spring; Beagle Channel islands
dispute resolved through Papal mediation in 1984, but armed
incidents persist since 1992 oil discovery; territorial claim in
Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps
Argentine and British claims
Illicit drugs:
a growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and
Europe; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile
more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits,
especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone; imported precursors
passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@China
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, China was beset by civil unrest, major
famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War
II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established a dictatorship that,
while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over
everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people.
After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping gradually introduced
market-oriented reforms and decentralized economic decision-making.
Output quadrupled by 2000. Political controls remain tight while
economic controls continue to be relaxed.
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: 9,596,960 sq km
land: 9,326,410 sq km
water: 270,550 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 22,147.34 km
border countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,
Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea
1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 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
Coastline:
14,500 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
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 (1999 est.)
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten,
antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum,
lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Land use:
arable land: 13.31%
permanent crops: 1.2%
other: 85.49% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
525,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern
coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land
subsidence
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, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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:
1,286,975,468 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.1% (male 155,473,656; female 141,737,406)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 461,223,219; female 433,154,970)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male 44,954,643; female 50,431,574) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 31.5 years
male: 31.2 years
female: 31.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.6% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.96 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 24.91 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.22 years
male: 70.33 years
female: 74.28 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
850,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
30,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu,
Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%
Religions:
Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim 1%-2%, Christian 3%-4%
note: officially atheist (2002 est.)
Languages:
Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing
dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan
(Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
(see Ethnic groups entry)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86%
male: 92.9%
female: 78.8% (2003 est.)
Government China
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of China
conventional short form: China
local short form: Zhong Guo
abbreviation: PRC
local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
Beijing
Administrative divisions:
23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions*
(zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities** (shi,
singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**, Chongqing**, Fujian, Gansu,
Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan,
Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*,
Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan,
Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang; note -
China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for
the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau
Independence:
221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or
Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912;
People's Republic established 1 October 1949)
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, 1
October (1949)
Constitution:
most recent promulgation 4 December 1982
Legal system:
a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law;
rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal
codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being
made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) and Vice
President ZENG Qinghong (since 15 March 2003)
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
People's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 15-17
March 2003 (next to be held mid-March 2008); premier nominated by
the president, confirmed by the National People's Congress
head of government: Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003); Vice
Premiers HUANG Ju (since 17 March 2003), WU Yi (17 March 2003), ZENG
Peiyan (since 17 March 2003), and HUI Liangyu (since 17 March 2003)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress
(NPC)
election results: HU Jintao elected president by the Tenth National
People's Congress with a total of 2,937 votes (4 delegates voted
against him, 4 abstained, and 38 did not vote); ZENG Qinghong
elected vice president by the Tenth National People's Congress with
a total of 2,578 votes (177 delegates voted against him, 190
abstained, and 38 did not vote); 2 seats were vacant
Legislative branch:
unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao
Dahui (2,985 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, and
provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 2002-NA February 2003 (next to be
held late 2007-NA February 2008)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's
Congress); Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate and
local courts); Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime,
and railway transport courts)
Political parties and leaders:
Chinese Communist Party or CCP [HU Jintao, General Secretary of the
Central Committee]; eight registered small parties controlled by CCP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
no substantial political opposition groups exist, although the
government has identified the Falungong sect and the China Democracy
Party as potential rivals
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS,
CDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), OPCW, PCA, SCO, UN,
UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, IFC, UNHCR, UNIDO,
AfDB, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador YANG Jiechi
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2582
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500
chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr.
embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [86] (10) 6532-3831
FAX: [86] (10) 6532-6929
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai,
Shenyang
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
Economy China
Economy - overview:
In late 1978 the Chinese leadership began moving the economy from a
sluggish, Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more
market-oriented system. Whereas the system operates within a
political framework of strict Communist control, the economic
influence of non-state organizations and individual citizens has
been steadily increasing. The authorities switched to a system of
household and village responsibility in agriculture in place of the
old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and
plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale
enterprises in services and light manufacturing, and opened the
economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has
been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. In 2003, with its 1.3 billion
people but a GDP of just $5,000 per capita, China stood as the
second-largest economy in the world after the US (measured on a
purchasing power parity basis). Agriculture and industry have posted
major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite
Taiwan, where foreign investment has helped spur output of both
domestic and export goods. The leadership, however, often has
experienced - as a result of its hybrid system - the worst results
of socialism (bureaucracy and lassitude) and of capitalism (windfall
gains and growing income disparities). China thus has periodically
backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. The
government has struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces,
businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce corruption and other
economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned
enterprises, many of which had been shielded from competition by
subsidies and had been losing the ability to pay full wages and
pensions. From 80 to 120 million surplus rural workers are adrift
between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through
part-time low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central
policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's
population control program, which is essential to maintaining
long-term growth in living standards. Another long-term threat to
growth is the deterioration in the environment, notably air
pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table
especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because
of erosion and economic development. Beijing says it will intensify
efforts to stimulate growth through spending on infrastructure -
such as water control and power grids - and poverty relief and
through rural tax reform aimed at eliminating arbitrary local levies
on farmers. Accession to the World Trade Organization helps
strengthen China's ability to maintain strong growth rates but at
the same time puts additional pressure on the hybrid system of
strong political controls and growing market influences. China has
benefited from a huge expansion in computer internet use. Foreign
investment remains a strong element in China's remarkable economic
growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $5.989 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8% (official data) (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15.2%
industry and construction: 51.2%
services: 33.6% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
10% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.4% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
744 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 50%, industry 22%, services 28% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
urban unemployment roughly 10%; substantial unemployment and
underemployment in rural areas (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $224.8 billion
expenditures: $267.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000)
Industries:
iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and
apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, footwear, toys,
food processing, automobiles, consumer electronics,
telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:
12.6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.42 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 80.2%
hydro: 18.5%
other: 0.1% (2001)
nuclear: 1.2%
Electricity - consumption:
1.312 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
10.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.55 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
3.3 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4.975 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
26.75 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
30.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
30.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.29 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley,
cotton, oilseed; pork; fish
Exports:
$325.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment; textiles and clothing, footwear, toys and
sporting goods; mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
US 21.5%, Hong Kong 18%, Japan 14.9%, South Korea 4.8% (2002)
Imports:
$295.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, plastics, iron and steel,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Japan 18.1%, Taiwan 10.5%, South Korea 9.7%, US 9.2%, Germany 5.6%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$149.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
yuan (CNY)
note:: also referred to as the Renminbi (RMB)
Currency code:
CNY
Exchange rates:
yuan per US dollar - 8.28 (2002), 8.28 (2001), 8.28 (2000), 8.28
(1999), 8.28 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications China
Telephones - main lines in use:
135 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
65 million (January 2001)
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
domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular
telephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite system
with 55 earth stations is in place
international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and
1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); several international
fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, and
Germany (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)
Radios:
417 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television, 31
are provincial TV stations and nearly 3,000 are local city stations)
(1997)
Televisions:
400 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.cn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
45.8 million (2002)
Transportation China
Railways:
total: 71,600 km
standard gauge: 68,000 km 1.435-m gauge (14,600 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 3,600 km 1.000-m and 0.750-m gauge local industrial
lines (2002)
Highways:
total: 1,402,698 km
paved: 314,204 km (with at least 16,314 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,088,494 km (2000)
Waterways:
110,000 km (1999)
Pipelines:
gas 13,845 km; oil 15,143 km; refined products 3,280 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Huangpu, Lianyungang, Nanjing,
Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shantou, Shenzhen,
Tianjin, Wenzhou, Xiamen, Xingang, Yantai, Zhanjiang (2001)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,817 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,047,962 GRT/27,035,740 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 348, cargo 824, chemical tanker
28, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 150,
liquefied gas 28, multi-functional large-load carrier 6, passenger
6, passenger/cargo 47, petroleum tanker 267, refrigerated cargo 26,
roll on/roll off 21, short-sea passenger 42, specialized tanker 8,
vehicle carrier 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Croatia 1, Germany 1, Hong Kong 16, Japan 2, Panama 2,
South Korea 1, Spain 1, Taiwan 9, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
500 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 351
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 108
1,524 to 2,437 m: 143
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 39 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 149
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 48
under 914 m: 71 (2002)
Military China
Military branches:
People's Liberation Army (PLA): comprises ground forces, Navy
(including naval infantry and naval aviation), Air Force, and II
Artillery Corps (strategic missile force), People's Armed Police
Force (internal security troops, nominally a state security body but
included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered
to be an adjunct to the PLA), militia
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 375,520,255 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 206 million (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 10,973,761 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$55.91 billion (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues China
Disputes - international:
involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with Malaysia,
Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claimants in
November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in
the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell
short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; much of the rugged,
militarized boundary with India is in dispute, but the two sides
have participated in more than 13 rounds of joint working group
sessions on this issue; India objects to Pakistan ceding lands to
China in 1965 boundary agreement that India believes are part of
disputed Kashmir; China, as well as Taiwan, claims
Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) islands;
negotiations with Tajikistan resolved the longstanding boundary
dispute; China and Kazakhstan have resolved their border dispute and
are working to delimit their large open borders to control
population migration, illegal activities, and trade; Kyrgyzstan's
constitutional court rules that 1,270 sq km ceded to China in 2000
delimitation agreement were legally transferred; certain islands in
Yalu and Tumen rivers are in uncontested dispute with North Korea
and a section of boundary around Mount Paektu is indefinite - China
objects to illegal migration of North Koreans into northern China;
China continues to seek a mutually acceptable solution to the
disputed alluvial islands with Russia at the confluence of the Amur
and Ussuri rivers and a small island on the Argun river as part of
the 2001 Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation;
boundary agreements signed in 2002 with Tajikistan cedes 1,000 sq km
of Pamir Mountain range to China in return for China's relinquishing
claims to 28,000 sq km; demarcation of land boundary with Vietnam
continues but maritime boundary and joint fishing zone agreement
remains unratified; China occupies Paracel Islands also claimed by
Vietnam and Taiwan
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden
Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country for
chemical precursors and methamphetamine
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Christmas Island
Introduction Christmas Island
Background:
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed
and settlement was begun 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:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 135 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; 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%
note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national
park (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime
hazard
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
People Christmas Island
Population:
433 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
-9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department
of Transport and Regional Services
Government type:
NA
Capital:
The Settlement
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
NA
Constitution:
NA
Legal system:
under the authority of the governor general of Australia and
Australian law
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4
February 1999)
elections: none; the monarch 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 one-year terms)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December
2003)
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:
the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas
Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag,
however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the
official flag of the territory
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. The casino closed in 1998. The
Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a
commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin
operation in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
other: NA%
nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
NA
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
phosphate
Exports - partners:
Australia, NZ
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods
Imports - partners:
principally Australia
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001),
1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available
international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station
provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
600 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Christmas Island
Railways:
24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways:
total: 240 km
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Christmas Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Christmas Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Clipperton Island
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 6 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:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains
May-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) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
reef 12 km in circumference
People Clipperton Island
Population:
uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
Government Clipperton Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island
local short form: Ile Clipperton
local long form: none
former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia
by a high commissioner of the Republic
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
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military Clipperton Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Clipperton Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
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. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they 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:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 14 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 14 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
26 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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
People Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Population:
630 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
0% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
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
Government Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the
Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Government type:
NA
Capital:
West Island
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
NA
Constitution:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system:
based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage:
NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Australian governor general
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) William Leonard
TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)
Judicial branch:
Supreme 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:
the flag of Australia is used
Economy Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Economy - overview:
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts 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
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction
workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Unemployment rate:
60% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
copra products and tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
other: NA%
nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
copra
Exports - partners:
Australia (1999)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Australia (1999)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001),
1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
287 (1992)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication
system
domestic: NA
international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with
Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of
NA type (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
Radios:
300 (1992)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.cc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 15 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (2003)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; lagoon anchorage only
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory does have
a five-person police force
Transnational Issues Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Colombia
Introduction Colombia
Background:
Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the
collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and
Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian
Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds
from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large
swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the
movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to
overthrow the government. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitaries
has grown to be several thousand strong in recent years, challenging
the insurgents for control of territory and illicit industries such
as the drug trade and the government's ability to exert its dominion
over rural areas. While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert
government control throughout the country, neighboring countries
worry about the violence spilling over their borders.
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
land: 1,038,700 sq km
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and
Serranilla Bank
water: 100,210 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 6,004 km
border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,
Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: 1.9%
other: 96.14% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 1.96%
Irrigated land:
8,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes;
periodic droughts
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note:
only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific
Ocean and Caribbean Sea
People Colombia
Population:
41,662,073 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.3% (male 6,601,581; female 6,447,679)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 12,931,093; female 13,626,333)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 913,798; female 1,141,589) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.6 years
male: 24.8 years
female: 26.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
21.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 26.46 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.14 years
male: 67.29 years
female: 75.12 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.61 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,600 (2001 est.)
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%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 92.4%
female: 92.6% (2003 est.)
Government Colombia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
Government type:
republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:
Bogota
Administrative divisions:
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca,
Atlantico, Distrito Capital de 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
Legal system:
based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US
procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002);
Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August
2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties
- the PL and PSC - and independents
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for
a four-year term; election last held 26 May 2002 (next to be held NA
May 2006)
election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez received 53% of the
vote; Vice President Francisco SANTOS was elected on the same ticket
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado
(102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes
(166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: Senate - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held NA
March 2006); House of Representatives - last held 10 March 2002
(next to be held NA March 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - PL 28, PSC 13, independents and smaller parties (many
aligned with conservatives) 61; House of Representatives - percent
of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PL 54, PSC 21, independents
and other parties 91
Judicial branch:
four coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or
Corte Suprema de Justical (highest court of criminal law; judges are
selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for
eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative
law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of
Justice 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); Higher Council of Justice (administers and
disciplines the civilian judiciary; members of the disciplinary
chamber resolve jurisdictional conflicts arising between other
courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for
eight-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Conservative Party or PSC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi]; Liberal Party or
PL [Piedad CORDOBA and Juan Manuel LOPEZ Cabrales]; Colombian
Communist Party or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO]; 19 of April Movement or M-19
[Antonio NAVARRO Wolff]
note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties,
most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress
Political pressure groups and leaders:
two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army or
ELN; largest anti-insurgent paramilitary group is United
Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC
International organization participation:
BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-3, G-24,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
Washington, DC
consulate(s): Atlanta
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and
red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the
Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
Economy Colombia
Economy - overview:
Colombia's economy suffers from weak domestic and foreign demand,
austere government budgets, and serious internal armed conflict.
Other economic problems facing the new president URIBE range from
reforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. Two of
Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain
future; new exploration is needed to offset declining oil
production, while coffee harvests and prices are depressed.
Colombian business leaders are calling for greater progress in
solving the conflict with insurgent groups. On the positive side,
several international financial institutions have praised the
economic reforms introduced by President URIBE and have pledged
enough funding to cover Colombia's debt servicing costs in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $251.6 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 30%
services: 57% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
55% (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 44% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
57.1 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
18.3 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
17.4% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $24 billion
expenditures: $25.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages,
chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
42.99 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 26%
hydro: 72.7%
other: 1.3% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
39.81 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
210 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
40 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
614,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
252,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.8 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
132 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa
beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Exports:
$12.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners:
US 44.8%, Venezuela 9.4%, Ecuador 6.8% (2002)
Imports:
$12.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,
chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 32.6%, Venezuela 7%, Mexico 5.3%, Japan 5.3%, Brazil 5.2%,
Germany 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$38.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Colombian peso (COP)
Currency code:
COP
Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,504.24 (2002), 2,299.63 (2001),
2,087.9 (2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Colombia
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,433,565 (December 1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,800,229 (December 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system in many respects
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic
satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking
50 cities
international: satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3
fully digitalized international switching centers; 8 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Radios:
21 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions:
4.59 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.co
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
18 (2000)
Internet users:
1.15 million (2002)
Transportation Colombia
Railways:
total: 3,304 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 110,000 km
paved: 26,000 km
unpaved: 84,000 km (2000)
Waterways:
18,140 km (navigable by river boats) (April 1996)
Pipelines:
gas 4,360 km; oil 6,134 km; refined products 3,140 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia,
Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo
Merchant marine:
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 51,445 GRT/55,930 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 6, container 1, petroleum tanker 3
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
1,050 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 954
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
under 914 m: 587 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 315
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Colombia
Military branches:
Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marines
and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National
Police (Policia Nacional)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 11,101,719 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,403,433 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 392,468 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.3 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Colombia
Disputes - international:
Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against
Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary
involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank;
maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela;
Colombian drug activities penetrate Peruvian border area
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's
leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2002 was 144,450
hectares, a 15% decline since 2001); potential production of opium
between 2001 and 2002 declined by 25% to 91 metric tons; potential
production of heroin declined to 11.3 metric tons; the world's
largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of
about 90% of the cocaine to the US market and the great majority of
cocaine to other international drug markets; important supplier of
heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program; a
significant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are either
laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso
exchange
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Comoros
Introduction Comoros
Background:
Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since
gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of
Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In
1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve
the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the
2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new
constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of
2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a
new union president was sworn in on May 26, 2002.
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: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
340 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 34.98%
permanent crops: 17.94%
other: 47.08% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le
Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
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, 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:
632,948 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 136,060; female 135,277)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 169,121; female 173,822)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 8,863; female 9,805) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 18.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.96% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
38.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 79.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 88.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.18 years
male: 58.92 years
female: 63.5 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.21 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
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.)
Government Comoros
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local short form: Comores
local long form: Union des Comores
Government type:
independent republic
Capital:
Moroni
Administrative divisions:
3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli
(Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni,
Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Independence:
6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:
23 December 2001
note: a Transitional National Unity Government (GUNT) was formed on
20 January 2002 following the passing of the new constitution; the
GUNT governed until the presidential elections on 14 April 2002
Legal system:
French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note
- following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January
2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002
presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was
appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May
2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and
Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and
the head of government
election results: President AZALI Assoumani elected president with
75% of the vote
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 14 April 2002 (next to
be held NA April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president;
note - AZALI has not appointed a Prime Minister since he was sworn
into office in May 2002
head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002);
note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in
January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002
presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was
appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May
2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and
Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and
the head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Union (30 seats; half the deputies are
selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the other
half by universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years) note -
elections for the former legislature, the Federal Assembly,
dissolved in 1999, where held on 1 and 8 December 1996; the next
elections for the Assembly of the Union were scheduled to be held in
April 2003 but have yet to occur
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:
Forces pour l'Action Republicaine or FAR [Col. Abdourazak
ABDULHAMID]; Forum pour la Redressement National or FRN (alliance of
12 parties); Front Democratique or FD [Moustoifa Said CHEIKH]; Front
National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed
RACHID]; Movement des Citoyens pour la Republique or MCR [Mahamoud
MRADABI]; Mouvement Populaire Anjouanais or MPA (Anjouan separatist
movement) [leader NA]; Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress
or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Movement pour le Socialisme et la
Democratie or MSD (splinter group of FD) [Abdou SOEFOU]; Parti
Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE];
Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the
government) [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO,
IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the US
and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Union of
the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York,
NY 10022
telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711
FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to
Mauritius 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, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of
France, but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and color
green are traditional symbols of Islam
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.
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 - is struggling to
upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial
and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify
exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population
growth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of
4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans
abroad help supplement GDP.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $441 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80%
Unemployment rate:
20% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries:
tourism, perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate:
-2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
21.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
19.78 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas,
cassava (tapioca)
Exports:
$16.3 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
Exports - partners:
France 32.4%, Germany 19.4%, US 17.6%, Singapore 11.5%, Netherlands
6.5% (2002)
Imports:
$39.8 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products,
cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
France 34.3%, South Africa 12%, Japan 6.1%, Kenya 5.9%, UAE 5.8%,
Mauritius 4.9%, Thailand 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$232 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$10 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
Comoran franc (KMF)
Currency code:
KMF
Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001),
533.98 (2000), 461.78 (1999), 442.46 (1998)
note: prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the
French franc at 75 Comoran francs per French franc; since 1 January
1999, the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677
Comoran francs per euro
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Comoros
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and
Reunion
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
90,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.km
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
2,500 (2002)
Transportation Comoros
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (1999 est)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Merchant marine:
total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 432,132 GRT/796,734 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker
5, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Malta 1, Pakistan 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Military Comoros
Military branches:
Comoran Security Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 150,079 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 89,090 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Comoros
Disputes - international:
claims French-administered Mayotte
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Introduction Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Background:
Since 1997, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly
called Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched
off by a massive inflow in 1994 of refugees from the fighting in
Rwanda and Burundi. The government of former president MOBUTU Sese
Seko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA in May 1997;
his regime was subsequently challenged by a Rwanda- and
Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from Zimbabwe,
Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa
regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999 by the DROC,
Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebel
groups, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was assassinated on
16 January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state
ten days later. In October 2002, the new president was successful in
getting occupying Rwandan forces to withdraw from eastern Congo; two
months later, an agreement was signed by all remaining warring
parties to end the fighting and set up a government of national
unity.
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: 2,345,410 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km
land: 2,267,600 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:
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 NM
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, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds,
gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium,
bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber
Land use:
arable land: 2.96%
permanent crops: 0.52%
other: 96.52% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
110 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the
east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
straddles equator; has very 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:
56,625,039
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48.3% (male 13,734,706; female 13,624,579)
15-64 years: 49.2% (male 13,648,155; female 14,203,077)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 583,366; female 831,156) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 15.8 years
female: 16.1 years (2002)
male: 15.4 years
Population growth rate:
2.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
45.12 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
14.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- and
Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC in
August 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese internally displaced
and caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding
countries (2003 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 96.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 87.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 105.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.93 years
male: 46.83 years
female: 51.09 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.69 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.3 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
120,000 (2001 est.)
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 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: 65.5%
male: 76.2%
female: 55.1% (2003 est.)
Government Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local short form: none
former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville,
Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
abbreviation: DROC
Government type:
dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative
government
Capital:
Kinshasa
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and one city*
(ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental,
Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale,
Sud-Kivu
Independence:
30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Constitution:
24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978,
amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April
1994; in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by former
President Laurent KABILA but it was not ratified by a national
referendum; one outcome of the ongoing inter-Congolese dialogue is
to be a new constitution
Legal system:
based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);
note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire
KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the
presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);
note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire
KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the
presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president
elections: prior to the overthrow of MOBUTU Sese Seko, the president
was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last
held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997);
formerly, there was also a prime minister who was elected by the
High Council of the Republic; note - a Transitional Government is
drafting a new constitution with free elections scheduled to be held
in NA 2005
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 scheduled to be held in
NA 2005
election results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU Sese
Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without
opposition
Legislative branch:
a 300-member Transitional Constituent Assembly established in
August 2000
elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly were
appointed by former President Laurent Desire KABILA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Forces
for Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph
OLENGHANKOY]; National Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois
LUMUMBA]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR (three factions:
MPR-Fait Prive [Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo]; MPR/Vunduawe [Felix
VUNDUAWE]; MPR/Mananga [MANANGA Dintoka Mpholo]); Unified Lumumbast
Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of
Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI (two factions:
UFERI [Lokambo OMOKOKO]; UFERI/OR [Adolph Kishwe MAYA])
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), PCA, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
FAX: [243] (88) 43467
Flag description:
light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and
a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along
the hoist side
Economy Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Economy - overview:
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation
endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since
the mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, has dramatically
reduced national output and government revenue, has increased
external debt, and has resulted in the deaths from war, famine, and
disease of perhaps 3.5 million people. Foreign businesses have
curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the
conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating
environment. The war has intensified the impact of such basic
problems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, inflation, and
lack of openness in government economic policy and financial
operations. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of
a large portion of the invading foreign troops. A number of IMF and
World Bank missions have met with the government to help it develop
a coherent economic plan, and President KABILA has begun
implementing reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP
data.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $34 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 11%
services: 34% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
16% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
14.51 million (1993 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $269 million
expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures of $24
million (1996 est.)
Industries:
mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer
products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods
and beverages), cement
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
5.243 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.8%
hydro: 98.2%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
3.839 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.097 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
60 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.538 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
104.8 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca),
palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products
Exports:
$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt
Exports - partners:
Belgium 64.4%, US 13.4%, Zimbabwe 6.7%, Finland 4.9% (2002)
Imports:
$890 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Belgium 14.6%, South Africa 14.2%, Nigeria 10.3%, France 9.5%,
Germany 7.3%, Netherlands 5.3%, Kenya 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$12.9 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$195.3 million (1995)
Currency:
Congolese franc (CDF)
Currency code:
CDF
Exchange rates:
Congolese francs per US dollar - 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001),
21.82 (2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor
domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in
and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
18.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (2001)
Televisions:
6.478 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.cd
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)
Internet users:
6,000 (2002)
Transportation Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Railways:
total: 4,772 km
narrow gauge: 3,621 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km
1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
15,000 km (including the Congo and its tributaries, and unconnected
lakes)
Pipelines:
gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,
Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
229 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 205
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 91 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Security Battalion
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 12,292,933 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,267,752 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$250 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.6% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Disputes - international:
Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that
has drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Uganda
and Rwanda supporting the rebel movements that occupy much of the
eastern portion of the state - Tutsi, Hutu, Lendu, Hema and other
conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government
forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the
boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and
Uganda - heads of the Great Lakes states pledge to end conflict, but
localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; most
of the Congo River boundary with the Republic of the Congo is
indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the
river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption;
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Congo, Republic of the
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 installed in 1992. A brief civil
war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, but
ushered in a period of ethnically based unrest. Southern-based rebel
groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of
Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with
significant potential for offshore development.
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
water: 500 sq km
land: 341,500 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); constantly 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,
natural gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 0.5%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 99.37% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or
along the railroad between them
People Congo, Republic of the
Population:
2,954,258
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 570,491; female 563,079)
15-64 years: 58% (male 844,655; female 868,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 44,166; female 63,016) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.2 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.53% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
29.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
14.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 95.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 101.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.02 years
male: 49.04 years
female: 51.02 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
7.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
110,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2001 est.)
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%
note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997
civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread
destruction of foreign businesses in 1997
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 has
the most users)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government Congo, Republic of the
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo
local long form: Republique du Congo
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Brazzaville
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,
Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux,
Pool, Sangha
Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution:
constitution approved by referendum 20 January 2002
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law
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, 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
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second seven-year term); election last held 10 March
2002 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent
of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU
2.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National
Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held NA July
2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (next
to be held by NA May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
the most important of the many parties are the Democratic and
Patriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for Alternative
Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party,
National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the
National Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal) [Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and
Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union
for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy
and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA,
president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond
Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [leader
NA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]
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:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin R. SANDERS
embassy: NA
mailing address: NA
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310
Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)
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;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Congo, Republic of the
Economy - overview:
The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an
industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a
government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. 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. The government has
mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to
a shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc
Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but
inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with
the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank
and the IMF. 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. However,
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 problems of
stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 48%
services: 42% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $870 million
expenditures: $970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries:
petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil,
soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
358.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.3%
hydro: 99.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
633 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
300 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
93.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
495.5 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee,
cocoa; forest products
Exports:
$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports - partners:
Taiwan 28.1%, South Korea 20.4%, China 9.3%, US 8.4%, Germany 6.6%,
France 5.2% (2002)
Imports:
$730 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 22.1%, Italy 8.5%, Belgium 6%, US 5.2%, India 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$159.1 million (1995)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 697
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Congo, Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:
22,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,300 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: services barely adequate for government use;
key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo;
intercity lines frequently out of order
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios:
341,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
33,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
500 (2001)
Transportation Congo, Republic of the
Railways:
total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,120 km
note: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) rivers provide 1,120 km of
commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for
local traffic only
Pipelines:
gas 53 km; oil 673 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Airports:
31 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Military Congo, Republic of the
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 754,814 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 381,556 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 31,644 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$84 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.8% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Congo, Republic of the
Disputes - international:
most of the Congo River boundary with the Democratic Republic of
the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the
division of the river or its islands, except in the Stanley
Pool/Pool Malebo area)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Cook Islands
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
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 240 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 240 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
120 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds
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: 17.39%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 69.57% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated,
coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated,
fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives
People Cook Islands
Population:
21,008 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
NA% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%,
Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Religions:
Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands
Christian Church)
Languages:
English (official), Maori
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%
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:
Avarua
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:
NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since NA); New Zealand High
Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since NA), representative of New Zealand
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is
appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is
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
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Robert WOONTON (since 12
February 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Ngamau MUNOKOA (since 5
November 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively
responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1
note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and
maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Democratic
Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP
[Norman GEORGE]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS
(associate), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, 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
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 provides the economic base
with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. 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 - $105 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 7.8%
services: 75.2% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
8,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%
note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)
Unemployment rate:
13% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $28 million
expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3
million (FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2002)
Electricity - production:
27.43 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
25.51 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
450 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams,
taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Exports:
$9.1 million (2000)
Exports - commodities:
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls
and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners:
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000)
Imports:
$50.7 million (2000)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports - partners:
NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000)
Debt - external:
$141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater
part (1995)
Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776
(2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Cook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: the 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: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
14,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ck
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Cook Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 320 km
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Avarua, Avatiu
Airports:
7 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Military Cook Islands
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Coral Sea Islands
Introduction Coral Sea Islands
Background:
Scattered over some 1 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
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
water: 0 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,095 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 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) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
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 (July 2003 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
Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Legal system:
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:
administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment,
Sport, and Territories
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
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military Coral Sea Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by
the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities
of visitors
Transnational Issues Coral Sea Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Costa Rica
Introduction Costa Rica
Background:
Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th
century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its
democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural
country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology
and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land
ownership is widespread.
Geography Costa Rica
Location:
Middle 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
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco
land: 50,660 sq km
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:
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 4.41%
permanent crops: 5.48%
other: 90.11% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,260 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent
flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active
volcanoes
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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:
3,896,092 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 600,812; female 573,375)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 1,269,667; female 1,241,097)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 98,156; female 112,985) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.4 years
male: 24.9 years
female: 25.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.4 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 11.49 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.43 years
male: 73.87 years
female: 79.11 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.38 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
890 (2001 est.)
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: 96%
male: 95.9%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Government Costa Rica
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
Government type:
democratic republic
Capital:
San Jose
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; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First
Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second Vice
President Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First
Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second Vice
President Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 February
2002; run-off election held 7 April 2002 (next to be held NA
February 2006)
election results: Abel PACHECO elected president; percent of vote -
Abel PACHECO (PUSC) 58%; Rolando ARAYA (PLN) 42%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 February 2002 (next to be held 3 February
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PUSC 19, PLN 17, PAC 14, PML 6, PRC 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for
eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Agricultural Labor Action or PALA [Carlos Alberto SOLIS Blanco];
Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation
Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Jose M.
NUNEZ]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth];
National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Alejandro MADRIGAL];
National Independent Party or PNI [Jorge GONZALEZ Marten]; National
Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National
Liberation Party or PLN [Sonia PICADO]; Social Christian Unity Party
or PUSC [Luis Manuel CHACON]
note: mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN - until the 3
February 2002 election in which the PAC captured a significant
percentage, forcing a run-off in April 2002
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); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National
Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association
of Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert
Brown]
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM Rosenstein
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Durham (North
Carolina), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampa
consulate(s): Austin
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John J. DANILOVICH
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 220-3939
FAX: [506] 220-2305
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 on
the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue
ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near
the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words,
REPUBLICA COSTA RICA
Economy Costa Rica
Economy - overview:
Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism,
agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially
reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has
been put into place. At the same time, distribution of income
remains severely unequal. Foreign investors remain attracted by the
country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism
continues to bring in foreign exchange. However, traditional export
sectors have not kept pace. Low coffee prices and an overabundance
of bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government
continues to grapple with its large deficit and massive internal
debt, with the need to modernize the state-owned electricity and
telecommunications sector, and with the problem of bringing down
inflation.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $32 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 30%
services: 61% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
20.6% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 34.6% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.9 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.9 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.91 billion
expenditures: $2.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing,
construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.839 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.5%
hydro: 81.9%
other: 16.6% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.109 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
379 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
128 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes;
beef; timber
Exports:
$5.1 billion (2002)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic
components, medical equipment
Exports - partners:
US 31.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, UK 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$6.4 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners:
US 36.7%, Japan 4.4%, Mexico 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.8 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:
Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Currency code:
CRC
Exchange rates:
Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001),
308.19 (2000), 285.69 (1999), 257.23 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Costa Rica
Telephones - main lines in use:
450,000 (1998)
note: 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about 450,000 were in use
in 1998
Telephones - mobile cellular:
143,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: very good domestic telephone service
domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave,
fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is
available
international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two
submarine cables (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998)
Radios:
980,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
525,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)
Internet users:
384,000 (2002)
Transportation Costa Rica
Railways:
total: 950 km
narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 35,892 km
paved: 7,896 km
unpaved: 27,996 km (2000)
Waterways:
730 km (seasonally navigable)
Pipelines:
refined products 421 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,716 GRT/ DWT
ships by type: passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
151 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 30
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 121
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 93 (2002)
Military Costa Rica
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Air Section, Ministry of
Public Forces (Fuerza Publica)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,080,254 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 722,043 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 41,453 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$69 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Costa Rica
Disputes - international:
legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border
with Nicaragua
Illicit drugs:
transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America;
illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic
cocaine consumption is rising, particularly crack cocaine
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Cote d'Ivoire
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 tropical African states,
but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25 December 1999,
a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history -
overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Junta
leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but excluded
prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly rigged the
polling results, and declared himself winner. Popular protest forced
GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power.
GBAGBO spent his first two years in office trying to consolidate
power to strengthen his weak mandate, but he was unable to appease
his opponents, who 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.
However, the central government has yet to exert control over the
northern regions and tension remains high between GBAGBO and rebel
leaders. Several thousand French and West African troops remain in
Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and help implement the peace accords.
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: 322,460 sq km
water: 4,460 sq km
land: 318,000 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:
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt,
bauxite, copper, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 9.28%
permanent crops: 13.84%
other: 76.88% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
730 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
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:
16,962,491
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.4% (male 3,796,393; female 3,902,210)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 4,541,997; female 4,347,531)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 179,323; female 195,037) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17 years
male: 17.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.15% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
40.01 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
18.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 98.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 115.29 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 42.65 years
male: 40.34 years
female: 45.04 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.51 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
9.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
770,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
75,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ivorian(s)
adjective: Ivorian
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
20,000 French) (1998)
Religions:
Christian 20-30%, Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40% (2001)
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: 50.9%
male: 57.9%
female: 43.6% (2003 est.)
Government Cote d'Ivoire
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
former: Ivory Coast
local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
Capital:
Yamoussoukro; 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:
58 departments (departements, singular - departement); Abengourou,
Abidjan, Aboisso, Adiake, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Alepe,
Bocanda, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle,
Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Dabou, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro,
Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Bassam,
Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Jacqueville, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota,
Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro,
Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tiebissou,
Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toulepleu, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro,
Zuenoula
Independence:
7 August (1960) (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
Constitution:
3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time 27 July
1998
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000);
note - took power following a popular overthrow of the interim
leader Gen. Robert GUEI who had claimed a dubious victory in
presidential elections; Gen. GUEI himself had assumed power on 25
December 1999, following a military coup against the government of
former President Henri Konan BEDIE
head of government: Prime Minister Seydou DIARRA (since 25 January
2003); note - appointed as transitional Prime Minister by President
GBAGBO as part of a French brokered peace plan
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote
- Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other
2.2%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats;
members are elected in single- and multi-district elections by
direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on
14 January 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full election
in 2005
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
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:
Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or
PDCI-RDA [Aime Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI
[Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE];
Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for
Democracy and Peace or UDPCI [leader NA]; over 20 smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pascal Dago KOKORA
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444
telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 20 21 09 79
FAX: [225] 20 22 32 59
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and
green; 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
Economy Cote d'Ivoire
Economy - overview:
Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters
of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is
highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these
products and to weather conditions. Despite government attempts to
diversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agriculture
and related activities, which engage roughly 68% of the population.
After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy
began a comeback in 1994, due to the 50% devaluation of the CFA
franc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in
nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber,
limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas
discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling
by multilateral lenders and France. Moreover, government adherence
to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 5% annually
during 1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000-02 because of the
difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors,
continued low prices of key exports, and severe civil war fighting.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $24.03 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 22%
services: 49% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
37% (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
68% agricultural (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13% in urban areas (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.72 billion
expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $420
million (2001 est.)
Industries:
foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus
assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity
Industrial production growth rate:
15% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.605 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.9%
hydro: 38.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.983 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
32,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
50 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
14.87 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc
(tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber
Exports:
$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm
oil, fish
Exports - partners:
France 14.5%, Netherlands 12.9%, US 7.6%, Germany 5.4%, Mali 4.6%,
Belgium 4.4%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 22.7%, Nigeria 16.6%, China 7.9%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$10.3 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cote d'Ivoire
Telephones - main lines in use:
263,700 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
450,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: well developed by African standards but
operating well below capacity
domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90% digitalized
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables (June 1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
2.26 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
14 (1999)
Televisions:
1.09 million (2000)
Internet country code:
.ci
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
70,000 (2002)
Transportation Cote d'Ivoire
Railways:
total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge
note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina
Faso (2002)
Highways:
total: 50,400 km
paved: 4,889 km
unpaved: 45,511 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)
Pipelines:
condensate 107 km; gas 223 km; oil 104 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
Airports:
36 (2002)
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 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Military Cote d'Ivoire
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard
(includes Presidential Guard)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,035,462 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,110,276 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 198,115 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$143.5 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Cote d'Ivoire
Disputes - international:
rebel fighting extended to neighboring states and has driven out
nationals and foreign workers to nearby countries; the Ivorian
Government accuses Burkina Faso and Liberia of supporting Ivorian
rebels
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption;
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to
Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine
destined for Europe and South Africa; 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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Croatia
Introduction Croatia
Background:
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.
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: 56,542 sq km
water: 128 sq km
land: 56,414 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 2,197 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
Serbia and Montenegro (north) 241 km, Serbia and Montenegro (south)
25 km, Slovenia 670 km
Coastline:
5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
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 1,830 m
Natural resources:
oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, natural
asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 23.55%
permanent crops: 2.24%
other: 74.21% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and
Turkish Straits
People Croatia
Population:
4,422,248 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 415,873; female 394,414)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,465,488; female 1,454,778)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 258,943; female 432,752) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.9 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 40.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.31% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.76 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
11.25 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.37 years
male: 70.76 years
female: 78.2 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.93 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 10 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian
Ethnic groups:
Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, Bosniak 0.5%, Hungarian 0.4%, Slovene 0.3%,
Czech 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Albanian 0.1%, Montenegrin 0.1%, others 4.1%
(2001)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%,
others and unknown 6.2% (2001)
Languages:
Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech,
Slovak, and German)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.4%
female: 97.8% (2003 est.)
Government Croatia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local short form: Hrvatska
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
Government type:
presidential/parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Zagreb
Administrative divisions:
20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad -
singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska
Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija,
Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija,
Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska
Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija,
Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija,
Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija,
Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija,
Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*,
Zagrebacka Zupanija
Independence:
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution:
adopted on 22 December 1990
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February
2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ivica RACAN (since 27 January
2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Goran GRANIC (since 27 January 2000),
Ante SIMONIC (since 30 July 2002), Zeljka ANTUNOVI (since 27 January
2000), Slavko LINIC (since 27 January 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
approved by the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 7 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister nominated by the president in line with the balance of
power in the Assembly
note: government coalition - SDP, HSLS, HSS, LP, HNS; a sixth party,
the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), withdrew in June 2001
election results: Stjepan MESIC elected president; percent of vote -
Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 56%, Drazen BUDISA (HSLS) 44%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat was added
in the November Parliamentary elections; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms); note - House of Counties was
abolished in March 2001
election results: Assembly (then referred to as the House of
Representatives) - percent of vote by party - HDZ 43.4%, SDP 23%,
HNS 7.4%, HSS 6.57%, HSP 6%; seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 34, HNS
10, HSS 9, HSP 7; note - these are preliminary results
elections: Assembly - last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in
2007)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts
appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the
Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives
Political parties and leaders:
Croatian Bloc or HB [Ivic PASALIC]; Croatian Christian Democratic
Union or HKDU [Anto KOVACEVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ
[Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Anto DJAPIC];
Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian People's
Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS
[Drazen BUDISA]; Croatian True Revival Party or HIP [Miroslav
TUDJMAN]; Democratic Centre or DC [Mate GRANIC]; Istrian Democratic
Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Liberal Party or LS [Ivo BANAC];
Party of Liberal Democrats or LIBRA [Goran GRANIC]; Social
Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]
note: the Social Democratic Party or SDP and the Croatian Social
Liberal Party or HSLS formed a coalition as did the HSS, HNS, LP,
and IDS, which together defeated the Croatian Democratic Union or
HDZ in the 2000 lower house parliamentary election; the IDS
subsequently left the governing coalition in June 2001 over its
inability to win greater autonomy for Istria
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan GRDESIC
FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK
embassy: Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373
Flag description:
red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms
(red and white checkered)
Economy Croatia
Economy - overview:
Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia,
after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area,
with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav
average. The economy emerged from its mild recession in 2000 with
tourism the main factor, but massive structural unemployment remains
a key negative element. The government's failure to press the
economic reforms needed to spur growth is largely the result of
coalition politics and public resistance, particularly from the
trade unions. Opponents fear reforms would cut jobs, wages, and
social benefits. The government has a heavy backload of civil cases,
many involving tenure land. The country is likely to experience only
moderate growth without disciplined fiscal and structural reform.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $43.12 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 33%
services: 58% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 23.3% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.7 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 13.2% NA, industry 25.4% NA, services 46.4% NA (2002)
Unemployment rate:
21.7% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $8.6 billion
expenditures: $9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
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:
2.8% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
12.12 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 33.6%
hydro: 66%
other: 0.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
14.27 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
386 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
3.386 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
89,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
93.6 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
1.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
34.36 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover,
olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Exports:
$4.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels
Exports - partners:
Italy 22.4%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14.4%, Germany 12.5%, Slovenia
8%, Austria 7.3% (2002)
Imports:
$10.7 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and
lubricants, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Italy 16.8%, Germany 16.4%, Slovenia 7.8%, Russia 6.8%, Austria
6.7%, France 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$16.5 billion (yearend 2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $66 million (2000)
Currency:
kuna (HRK)
Currency code:
HRK
Exchange rates:
kuna per US dollar - 7.87 (2002), 8.34 (2001), 8.28 (2000), 7.11
(1999), 6.36 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Croatia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,721,139 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.3 million (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analog
circuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will be
included in the plan for the main trunk
international: 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 two fiber-optic trunk
connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka
to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is also investing in ADRIA 1, a
joint fiber-optic project with Germany, Albania, and Greece (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)
Radios:
1.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.hr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)
Internet users:
480,000 (2001)
Transportation Croatia
Railways:
total: 2,296 km
standard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (983 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 28,123 km
paved: 23,792 km (including 410 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,331 km (2000)
Waterways:
785 km
note: (perennially navigable; large sections of Sava blocked by
downed bridges, silt, and debris)
Pipelines:
gas 1,374 km; oil 583 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split,
Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube), Zadar
Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 765,830 GRT/1,188,948 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Hong Kong 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 16, chemical tanker 4, combination
bulk 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 3, passenger 1,
petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 6,
short-sea passenger 3
Airports:
59 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Croatia
Military branches:
Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HV), Naval Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,081,135 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 856,946 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 30,096 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$520 million (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.39% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Croatia
Disputes - international:
discussions continue with Bosnia and Herzegovina on sections of the
Una River and villages at the base of Mount Pljesevica;
parliamentarians are far from ratifying 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; in late 2002, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro adopted an
interim agreement to settle the disputed Prevlaka Peninsula,
allowing the withdrawal of the UN monitoring mission (UNMOP), but
discussions could be complicated by the inability of Serbia and
Montenegro to come to an agreement on the economic aspects of the
new federal union; Croatia and Italy continue to debate bilateral
property and ethnic minority rights issues stemming from border
changes after the Second World War
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Cuba
Introduction Cuba
Background:
Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has
held the country together since then. Cuba's Communist revolution,
with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and
Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country is now slowly
recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the
withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6
billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of
the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US -
using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas - is a
continuing problem. Some 2,500 Cubans attempted the crossing of the
Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard apprehended about 60%
of the individuals.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 110,860 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 thus remains
part of Cuba
Coastline:
3,735 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica,
petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 33.04%
other: 59.35% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 7.61%
Irrigated land:
870 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (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,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater
Antilles
People Cuba
Population:
11,263,429 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 1,164,376; female 1,103,061)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 3,932,604; female 3,909,523)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 531,608; female 622,257) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.5 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 35.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 8.06 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.8 years
male: 74.38 years
female: 79.36 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.61 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
120 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups:
mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religions:
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 96.9% (2003 est.)
male: 97.2%
total population: 97%
People - note:
illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart
the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers,
direct flights, or falsified visas; some 2,500 Cubans took to the
Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 60%
of these migrants; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the
US; some 1,500 Cubans arrived overland via the southwest border and
direct flights to Miami in 2002
Government Cuba
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
Havana
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)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note - 10 December 1898 is
the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of
independence from US administration; Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)
Constitution:
24 February 1976, amended July 1992 and June 2002
Legal system:
based on Spanish and American law, 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 Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 6 March 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote - 100%
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly; note - there
is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National
Assembly
head of government: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional
del Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approved
by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609
Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice
president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first
secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS
(excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Principal Officer Dagoberto RODRIGUEZ Barrera (since
August 2001); address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630
16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Principal Officer James C. CASON; address: USINT, Swiss
Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone:
[53] (7) 33-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX:
[53] (7) 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating
with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears
a white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by the
US flag
Economy Cuba
Economy - overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening
against a desire for firm political control. It has undertaken
limited reforms in recent years to increase enterprise efficiency
and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and
services but is unlikely to implement extensive changes. A major
feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient
export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average
Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the
severe economic depression of the early 1990s, which was caused by
the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. High oil import
prices, recessions in key export markets, damage from Hurricanes
Isidore and Lili, and the tourist slump after 11 September 2001
hampered growth in 2002.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $30.69 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.6%
industry: 34.5%
services: 57.9% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.3 million
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $14.9 billion
expenditures: $15.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
sugar, petroleum, tobacco, chemicals, construction, services,
nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
14.38 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 93.9%
hydro: 0.6%
other: 5.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
13.38 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
50,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
532 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
600 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
600 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
42.62 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
Exports:
$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 19.1%, Russia 18.1%, Canada 14.3%, Spain 9.5%, China
7.3% (2002)
Imports:
$4.8 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Spain 17.2%, China 12%, Italy 9.1%, France 7.6%, Mexico 7.3%,
Canada 6.2%, US 5.6%, Brazil 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$12.3 billion (convertible currency); another $15 billion -$20
billion owed to Russia (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$68.2 million (1997 est.)
Currency:
Cuban peso (CUP)
Currency code:
CUP
Exchange rates:
Cuban pesos per US dollar - 1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate,
for international transactions, pegged to the US dollar);
convertible peso sold for domestic use at a rate of 1.00 US dollar
per 27 pesos by the Government of Cuba (2002)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cuba
Telephones - main lines in use:
473,031 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,994 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: principal trunk system, end to end of country, is coaxial
cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la
Juventud; 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old,
US-built; the other newer, built during the period of Soviet
support); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
3.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
58 (1997)
Televisions:
2.64 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.cu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
120,000 (2002)
Transportation Cuba
Railways:
total: 3,442 km
standard gauge: 3,442 km 1.435-m gauge (142 km electrified)
note: an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations;
about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge
(2002)
Highways:
total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
240 km
Pipelines:
gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas,
Santiago de Cuba
Merchant marine:
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 59,257 GRT/90,295 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1,
petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
161 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 70
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 63 (2002)
Military Cuba
Military branches:
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) including Revolutionary Army (ER),
Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),
Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); note -
the Border Guard Troops (TGF) are controlled by the Interior Ministry
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,120,702
note: both sexes are liable for military service (2003 est.)
females age 15-49: 3,049,927
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,923,967
females age 15-49: 1,875,412 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 81,095
females: 87,780 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
roughly 4% (FY95 est.)
Military - note:
Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of
Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
Transnational Issues Cuba
Disputes - international:
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease
Illicit drugs:
territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for
cocaine and heroin bound for the US and Europe; established the
death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Cyprus
Introduction Cyprus
Background:
Independence from the UK was approved in 1960, with constitutional
guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot
minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government
was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled
almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared
itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is
recognized only by Turkey. UN-led direct talks between the two sides
to reach a comprehensive settlement to the division of the island
began in January 2002.
Geography Cyprus
Location:
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot
area)
water: 10 sq km
land: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
648 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: Olympus 1,951 m
Natural resources:
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth
pigment
Land use:
arable land: 10.61%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.74% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and
Sardinia)
People Cyprus
Population:
771,657 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 86,446; female 82,769)
15-64 years: 67% (male 261,404; female 255,409)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 37,345; female 48,284) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.2 years
male: 33.1 years
female: 35.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.77 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.43 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.27 years
male: 74.94 years
female: 79.71 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups:
Greek 85.2%, Turkish 11.6%, other 3.2% (2000)
Religions:
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and
other 4%
Languages:
Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.)
Government Cyprus
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
Government type:
republic
note: a disaggregation 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 after a Greek junta-based coup attempt 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),
recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly support a settlement
based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation
(Turkish Cypriot position)
Capital:
Nicosia
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 Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Independence:
16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed
self-rule on 13 February 1975
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot area
celebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day
Constitution:
16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or
revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations
between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in
1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing
bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was
renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new
constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5
May 1985
Legal system:
based on common law, with civil law modifications
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003);
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 Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March
2003); 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
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held NA February
2008)
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for
a five-year term); elections last held 15 April 2000 (next to be
held NA April 2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president
after the other contender withdrew; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime
minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is
a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of
vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos
MARKIDIS 6.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: 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); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet
Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
election results: Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS
6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19,
DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the
Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP
15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party - UBP
24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6
elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be
held NA May 2006); Turkish Cypriot area: last held 6 December 1998
(next to be held NA December 2003)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and
vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area
Political parties and leaders:
Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS];
Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic
Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George
PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the
Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS];
Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union
of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or
EDE [George VASSILIOU]; Turkish Cypriot area: Communal Liberation
Party or TKP [Mustafa AKINCI]; Democratic Party or DP [Serder
DENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity
Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU];
Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Izzet IZCAN]; Republican Turkish
Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]
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, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate),
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, NSG, OAS
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Osman
ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1]
(202) 887-6198
consulate(s): New York
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia
telephone: [357] (22) 776400
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 Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the
top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a
white field
Economy Cyprus
Economy - overview:
The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to
external shocks. Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect
the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by
political instability in the region and fluctuations in economic
conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting
the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector,
water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants
are now online. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of
the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by
Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing and
investment. It remains heavily dependent on agriculture and
government service, which together employ about half of the work
force. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides
grants and loans to support economic development. Ankara provided
$200 million in 2002 and pledged $450 million for the 2003-05
period. Future events throughout the island will be highly
influenced by the outcome of negotiations on the UN-sponsored
agreement to unite the Greek and Turkish areas and by the
arrangements under which the island joins the EU.
GDP:
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (2001
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $787 million
(2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Greek Cypriot area: 1.7% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 2.6%
(2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.6%; industry 19.9%; services 19.9%
Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 75.5%; industry 20.7%; services
71% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Greek Cypriot area: 2.8% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 24.5%
(2002 est.)
Labor force:
Greek Cypriot area: 291,000; Turkish Cypriot area: 86,300 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
Greek Cypriot area: services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5%
(2000); Turkish Cypriot area: services 56.4%, industry 22.8%,
agriculture 20.8% (1998)
Unemployment rate:
Greek Cypriot area: 3.3%; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: Greek Cypriot area - $4.4 billion, Turkish Cypriot area -
$231.3 million (2002 est.)
expenditures: $3.7 billion, Greek Cypriot area - $539 million,
including capital expenditures of $539 million, Turkish Cypriot area
- $432.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood
products
Industrial production growth rate:
Greek Cypriot area: -1.4% (2002); Turkish Cypriot area: -0.3% (2002)
Electricity - production:
3.401 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
other: 0% (2001)
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Greek Cypriot area: 3.163 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh
(2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables
Exports:
Greek Cypriot area: $1.03 billion f.o.b. Turkish Cypriot area: $46
million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,
clothing and cigarettes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes,
textiles
Exports - partners:
UK 28.2%, Greece 7%, UAE 5.3%, France 5.2% (2002)
Imports:
Greek Cypriot area: $3.9 billion f.o.b.; Turkish Cypriot area: $301
million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants,
intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; Turkish Cypriot
area: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
Imports - partners:
Russia 17.9%, Greece 7.4%, Germany 6.7%, France 6.6%, UK 6.6%,
Italy 6.6%, South Korea 5.7%, Japan 5.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
Greek Cypriot area: $8 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: $NA (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
Greek Cypriot area - $17 million (1998);; Turkish Cypriot area -
$700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97), which are
usually forgiven (1998)
Currency:
Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkish lira (TRL)
Currency code:
CYP; TRL
Exchange rates:
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.61 (2002), 0.64 (2001), 0.62
(2000), 0.54 (1999), 0.52 (1998), Turkish lira per US dollar NA
(2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724
(1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cyprus
Telephones - main lines in use:
Greek Cypriot area: 405,000 (1998);; Turkish Cypriot area: 83,162
(1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Greek Cypriot area: 68,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 70,000
(1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot areas
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic
submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish
Cypriot area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450
(1994)
Television broadcast stations:
Greek Cypriot area: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September
1995);; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300
(1994)
Internet country code:
.cy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
150,000 (2002)
Transportation Cyprus
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 13,491 km
note: Greek Cypriot area: 11,141 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km
unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,713 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km
(2000/1996)
paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,428 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos
Merchant marine:
total: 1,180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 23,106,229 GRT/37,032,163 DWT
ships by type: bulk 421, cargo 325, chemical tanker 25, combination
bulk 24, combination ore/oil 2, container 151, liquefied gas 2,
passenger 8, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 124, refrigerated
cargo 45, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 9, specialized
tanker 3, vehicle carrier 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Austria 12, Belgium 2, Bulgaria 2, Canada 3, Chile 2,
China 16, Croatia 2, Cuba 11, Finland 1, Germany 229, Greece 607,
Guam 1, Hong Kong 6, India 6, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 1,
Japan 26, Latvia 14, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 2, Mexico 1, Monaco 10,
Netherlands 30, Norway 23, Panama 1, Philippines 2, Poland 19,
Portugal 2, Russia 57, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, South Korea 4, Spain
7, Sudan 2, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, United
Arab Emirates 13, United Kingdom 6, United States 4, Vietnam 1 (2002
est.)
Airports:
16 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Heliports:
10 (2002)
Military Cyprus
Military branches:
Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including
air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police
Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 201,606 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 138,336 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 6,638 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$384 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Cyprus
Disputes - international:
hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous
areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally
recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot area, separated
by a UN buffer zone; UN deadline on sides accepting a federation
plan for reunification have expired, diminishing chances of
Turkish-Cypriot participation in EU membership in 2004
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; anti-money-laundering laws
strengthened but few convictions
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Czech Republic
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. Now a member of NATO, the Czech
Republic has moved toward integration in world markets, a
development that poses both opportunities and risks. In December
2002, the Czech Republic was invited to join the European Union
(EU). It is expected that the Czech Republic will accede to the EU
in 2004.
Geography Czech Republic
Location:
Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 78,866 sq km
water: 1,590 sq km
land: 77,276 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,881 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,
Slovakia 215 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: 40%
permanent crops: 3.04%
other: 56.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
240 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
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:
10,249,216 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 809,697; female 768,747)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 3,617,214; female 3,614,060)
65 years and over: 14% (male 554,922; female 884,576) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 36.6 years
female: 40.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.08% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.01 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.18 years
male: 71.69 years
female: 78.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.18 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 10 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech
Ethnic groups:
Czech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%,
Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (1991)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%,
atheist 39.8%
Languages:
Czech
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99.9% (1999 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Czech Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local short form: Ceska Republika
local long form: Ceska Republika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Prague
Administrative divisions:
13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni
mesto); Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj,
Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj,
Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Praha*, Stredocesky
Kraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj
Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia)
National holiday:
Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Constitution:
ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line
with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
note: the Czech Republic's first president Vaclav HAVEL stepped down
from office on 2 February 2003 having served exactly 10 years;
parliament finally elected a successor on 28 February 2003 after two
inconclusive elections in January 2003
head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir SPIDLA (since 12 July
2002), Deputy Prime Ministers Bohuslav SOBOTKA (since 20 August
2003), Cyril SVOBODA (since July 2002), Stanislav GROSS (since July
2002), Petr MARES (since July 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
election results: Vaclav KLAUS elected president on 28 February
2003; Vaclav KLAUS 142 votes, Jan SOKOL 124 votes (third round;
combined votes of both chambers of parliament)
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
last successful election held 28 February 2003 (after earlier
elections held 15 and 24 January 2003 were inconclusive); prime
minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat
(81 seats; members are 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)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - ODS 26, KDU-CSL 14, CSSD 11, US 9, KSCM 3, independents 18;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 30.2%, ODS
24.5%, KSCM 18.5%, KDU-CSL & US-DEU coalition 14.3%, other minor
12.5%; seats by party - CSSD 70, ODS 58, KSCM 41, KDU-CSL 21, US-DEU
10
elections: Senate - last held in two rounds 25-26 October and 1-2
November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); Chamber of
Deputies - last held 14-15 June 2002 (next to be held by NA June
2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen
are appointed by the president for a 10-year term
Political parties and leaders:
Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or
KDU-CSL [Miroslav KALOUSEK, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance or
ODA [Michael ZANTOVSKY, chairman]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS
[Mirek TOPOLANEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
or KSCM [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Communist Party of
Czechoslovakia or KSC [Miroslav STEPAN, chairman]; Czech National
Social Party of CSNS [Jan SULA, chairman]; Czech Social Democratic
Party or CSSD [Vladimir SPIDLA, chairman]; Freedom Union-Democratic
Union or US-DEU [Petr MARES, chairman]; Quad Coalition [Karel KUHNL,
chairman] (includes KDU-CSL, US, ODA, DEU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions [Richard FALBR]
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin PALOUS
chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540
telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETON
embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [420] (2) 5753-0663
FAX: [420] (2) 5753-0583
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue
isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (identical to the flag of
the former Czechoslovakia)
Economy Czech Republic
Economy - overview:
One of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states,
the Czech Republic has been recovering from recession since
mid-1999. Growth in 2000-03 was supported by exports to the EU,
primarily to Germany, and a near doubling of foreign direct
investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role
in underpinning growth as interest rates drop and the availability
of credit cards and mortgages increases. High current account
deficits - averaging around 5% of GDP in the last several years -
could be a persistent problem. Inflation is under control. The EU
put the Czech Republic just behind Poland and Hungary in
preparations for accession, which will give further impetus and
direction to structural reform. Moves to complete banking,
telecommunications, and energy privatization will encourage
additional foreign investment, while intensified restructuring among
large enterprises and banks and improvements in the financial sector
should strengthen output growth. But revival in the European
economies remains essential to stepped-up growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $157.1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $15,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 41%
services: 55.2% (2001)
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:
25.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
5.203 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 5%, industry 35%, services 60% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $16.7 billion
expenditures: $18 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass,
armaments
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2002)
Electricity - production:
70.04 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 76.1%
hydro: 2.9%
other: 1% (2001)
nuclear: 20%
Electricity - consumption:
55.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
18.92 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
9.38 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
7,419 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
175,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
26,670 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
192,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
17.25 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.892 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
1 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
9.521 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.057 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry
Exports:
$40.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 44%, intermediate manufactures
25%, chemicals 7%, raw materials and fuel 7% (2000)
Exports - partners:
Germany 40.2%, Slovakia 7.1%, Austria 5.8%, UK 5.1%, Poland 5%,
France 4% (2002)
Imports:
$43.2 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 40%, intermediate manufactures
21%, raw materials and fuels 13%, chemicals 11% (2000)
Imports - partners:
Germany 39.1%, Slovakia 6%, Austria 5.6%, Italy 5.4%, France 5.3%,
Poland 4.1%, UK 4.1%, Russia 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$23.8 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$108 million; EU structural adjustment funds (2002)
Currency:
Czech koruna (CZK)
Currency code:
CZK
Exchange rates:
koruny per US dollar - 32.74 (2002), 38.04 (2001), 38.6 (2000),
34.57 (1999), 32.28 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Czech Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.869 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.346 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech
telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily;
growth in the use of mobile cellular telephones is particularly
vigorous
domestic: 86% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber
systems now being 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
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic
and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1
Globalstar
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)
Radios:
3,159,134 (December 2000)
Television broadcast stations:
150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)
Televisions:
3,405,834 (December 2000)
Internet country code:
.cz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
more than 300 (2000)
Internet users:
2.69 million (2001)
Transportation Czech Republic
Railways:
total: 9,462 km
standard gauge: 9,363 km 1.435-m gauge (1,745 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 99 km 0.760-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 55,408 km
paved: 55,408 km (including 499 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
303 km
note: the Labe (Elbe) is the principal river (2000)
Pipelines:
gas 7,020 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Airports:
144 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 44
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
under 914 m: 19 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 100
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 62 (2002)
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Czech Republic
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Territorial Defense Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,622,192 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,002,202 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 67,777 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1,190.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Czech Republic
Disputes - international:
Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of
land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918; individual Sudeten
German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection
with their expulsion after World War II; Austria has minor dispute
with Czech Republic over the Temelin nuclear power plant and
post-World War II treatment of German-speaking minorities
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Denmark
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) 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
water: 700 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
land: 42,394 sq km
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:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: Yding Skovhoej 173 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and
sand
Land use:
arable land: 55.74%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 44.07% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
4,760 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 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, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of
the Sea
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:
5,384,384 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 516,872; female 490,543)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,809,138; female 1,762,577)
65 years and over: 15% (male 338,141; female 467,113) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.1 years
male: 38.1 years
female: 40.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.28% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.52 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.72 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 74.48 years
female: 79.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other 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: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Denmark
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local short form: Danmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Copenhagen
Administrative divisions:
metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2
boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskomunes); Arhus, Bornholm,
Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*,
Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom,
Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg
note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland,
which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing
overseas administrative divisions
Independence:
first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became
a constitutional monarchy
National holiday:
none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June is generally viewed as
the National Day
Constitution:
1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5
June 1953, allowing 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 26
May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27
November 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by
Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 from
Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 November 2001 (next to be held by November
2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Liberal Party 56, Social Democrats 52, Danish People's Party 22,
Conservative Party 16, Socialist People's Party 12, Social Liberal
Party 9, Christian People's Party 4, Unity List 4; note - does not
include the 2 seats from Greenland and the 2 seats from the Faroe
Islands
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Christian People's Party
[Marianne KARLSMOSE]; Conservative Party (sometimes known as
Conservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party
[Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Social
Democratic Party [Mogens LYKKETOFT]; Social Liberal Party (sometimes
called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Johannes LEBECH,
chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Holger K. NIELSEN]; Red-Green
Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of
Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collective leadership]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO,
UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ulrik Andreas FEDERSPIEL
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart A. BERNSTEIN
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: [45] 35 55 31 44
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, and that
design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently
adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway,
and Sweden
Economy Denmark
Economy - overview:
This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech
agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry,
extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards,
a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is
a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance
of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the
bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. The
government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the
economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase
(a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join the 12 other EU
members in the euro; even so, the Danish Krone remains pegged to the
euro. Given the sluggish state of the European economy, growth in
2003 was a mere 1.1%.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $155.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $28,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
24.7 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.856 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 79%, industry 17%, agriculture 4% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.1% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $52.9 billion
expenditures: $51.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $500
million (2001 est.)
Industries:
food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing,
chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture and other
wood products, shipbuilding, windmills
Industrial production growth rate:
1.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
35.47 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 82.7%
hydro: 0.1%
other: 17.3% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
32.41 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
8.775 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
8.199 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
346,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
218,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
332,100 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
195,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.23 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
8.38 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
5.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
3.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
81.98 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish
Exports:
$56.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products,
fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills
Exports - partners:
Germany 17.1%, Sweden 11.6%, UK 7.8%, US 6.8%, France 5.8%, Norway
5.7%, Japan 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$47.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for
industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Germany 22.9%, Sweden 10.7%, UK 8.7%, Netherlands 7.8%, France 6%,
Norway 4.9%, Italy 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$21.7 billion (2000)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.63 billion (1999)
Currency:
Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:
DKK
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.89 (2002), 8.32 (2001), 8.08
(2000), 6.98 (1999), 6.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Denmark
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.785 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,444,016 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph services
domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form
trunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systems
international: 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with
Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Faroe
Islands, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 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 (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
6.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:
3.121 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.dk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2000)
Internet users:
3.37 million (2002)
Transportation Denmark
Railways:
total: 3,164 km
standard gauge: 2,324 km 1.435-m gauge (595 km electrified)
note:: total includes 840 km of suburban track (2002)
Highways:
total: 71,591 km
paved: 71,591 km (including 880 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
417 km
Pipelines:
condensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2 km;
unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia,
Frederikshavn, Hirtshals, Kolding, Odense, Roenne (Bornholm), Vejle
Merchant marine:
total: 282 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,714,557 GRT/8,715,716 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1, Greenland 1, Indonesia 1, Netherlands 1,
Norway 9, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 85, chemical tanker 29, container 77,
liquefied gas 19, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 28, railcar
carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 11, short-sea
passenger 6, specialized tanker 4
Airports:
104 (2002)
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 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 76
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 71 (2002)
Military Denmark
Military branches:
Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home
Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,282,315 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,094,611 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 28,198 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.47 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY99/00)
Transnational Issues Denmark
Disputes - international:
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and
the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the
Rockall area); dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands'
fisheries median line boundary within 200 NM; disputes with Iceland,
the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf
boundary outside 200 NM; Faroese are considering proposals for full
independence; uncontested dispute with Canada over Hans Island
sovereignty in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and
Greenland
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Djibouti
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 three consecutive six-year terms as
president. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990's led to
multi-party elections resulting in President Ismail Omar GUELLEH
attaining office in May 1999. A peace accord in 2001 ended the final
phases of a ten-year uprising by Afar rebels. Djibouti occupies a
very 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. GUELLEH favors close ties to
France, which maintains a significant military presence in the
country.
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: 23,000 sq km
water: 20 sq km
land: 22,980 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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:
geothermal areas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the
Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;
desertification; endangered species
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
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:
457,130 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.1% (male 98,796; female 98,202)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 129,492; female 116,953)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,933; female 6,754) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 18.9 years
female: 17.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
40.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
19.45 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 106.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 98.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 114.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.13 years
male: 41.82 years
female: 44.48 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.56 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
11.75% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
37,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups:
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
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.)
Government Djibouti
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Djibouti
Administrative divisions:
5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil,
Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:
27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:
multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and
Islamic law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister DILEITA Mohamed Dileita (since 4
March 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 9 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH elected president; percent of
vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 74.4%, IDRIS Moussa Ahmed 25.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats;
members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held NA January
2008)
election results: percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats -
RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election
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 (governing party) [Ismail Omar GUELLEH]; Peoples
Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; Republican
Alliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed Dini AHMED]; Union for
Democracy and Justice or UDJ [leader NA]
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, UDJ, and PDD) [Ahmed Dini AHMED]
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald YAMAMOTO
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
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
northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital
city, the remainder being 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.
It 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 50% continues to be a major problem. Inflation
is not a concern, however, because of the fixed tie of the franc to
the US dollar. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over
the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high
population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced
with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen
in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to
meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors. Another factor limiting
growth is the negative impact on port activity now that Ethiopia has
more trade route options.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $619 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 15.8%
services: 80.7% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
282,000
Labor force - by occupation:
NA%
Unemployment rate:
50% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $135 million
expenditures: $182 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
construction, agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:
180 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
167.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Exports:
$70 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Exports - partners:
Somalia 56.7%, Yemen 24.4%, Pakistan 4.8%, Ethiopia 4.4%, UAE 4.1%
(2002)
Imports:
$255 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 18.2%, Ethiopia 10.5%, US 9.2%, France 8.6%, China
8.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$366 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$36 million (2001)
Currency:
Djiboutian franc (DJF)
Currency code:
DJF
Exchange rates:
Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.72 (2002), 177.72 (2001),
177.72 (2000), 177.72 (1999), 177.72 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Djibouti
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5,000 (2002)
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: microwave radio relay network
international: submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles,
Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio
relay telephone network
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:
52,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
28,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.dj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
3,300 (2002)
Transportation Djibouti
Railways:
total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)
narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2002)
Highways:
total: 2,890 km
paved: 364 km
unpaved: 2,526 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Djibouti
Airports:
13 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Djibouti
Military branches:
Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 107,050 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 63,459 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$26.53 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.4% (FY02)
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 including the Somali Transitional
National Government in Mogadishu
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Dominica
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 one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and
Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 754 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 754 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 16%
other: 80% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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, 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:
69,655 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 9,807; female 9,571)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 23,024; female 21,768)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 2,226; female 3,259) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.4 years
male: 28.1 years
female: 28.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.63% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-16.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 20.29 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.12 years
male: 71.23 years
female: 77.15 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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, mixed black and European, European, Syrian, Carib Amerindian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6%
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)
Government Dominica
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica
Government type:
parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth
Capital:
Roseau
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 UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution:
3 November 1978
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicholas LIVERPOOL (since 10 November
2003)
elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held
NA October 2008); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent of
legislative vote - NA%
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Pierre CHARLES (since 1 October
2000); note - assumed post after death of Prime Minister Roosevelt
DOUGLAS
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21
elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 31 January 2000 (next to be held by 17 July
2005) 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 (17 April 2000) plus a 90
day grace period
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party
-DLP 10, UWP 9, DFP 2
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 [Pierre CHARLES]; United Workers Party or UWP [Edison
JAMES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Swinburne LESTRADE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; US interests are
served by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados
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 encircled by 10
green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent
the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy Dominica
Economy - overview:
The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas,
and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and
international economic developments. Hurricane Luis devastated the
country's banana crop in 1995 after tropical storms wiped out a
quarter of the 1994 crop. The economy subsequently has been fueled
by increases in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals.
Development of the tourism industry remains difficult however,
because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence of
an international airport. Economic growth is sluggish, and
unemployment is greater than 20%. The government has been attempting
to develop an offshore financial sector in order to diversify the
island's production base.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $380 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
25,000
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%
Unemployment rate:
23% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $73.9 million
expenditures: $84.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001)
Industries:
soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate:
-10% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
72.41 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 47.1%
hydro: 52.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
67.35 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and
fishery potential not exploited
Exports:
$50 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Exports - partners:
UK 36.1%, Jamaica 18%, US 7.5%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.4%, Guyana
5.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$135 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
China 23.9%, US 23.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.9%, South Korea 7.6%,
UK 7.3%, Japan 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$161.5 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$24.4 million (1995)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Dominica
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
461 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fully automatic network
international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to
Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint
Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
46,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (however, there is one cable television company) (1997)
Televisions:
6,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.dm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Dominica
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 780 km
paved: 393 km
unpaved: 387 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Military Dominica
Military branches:
Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (including Special Service
Unit, Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Dominica
Disputes - international:
protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,
which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a
large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe;
minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement is weak,
making the country particularly vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Dominican Republic
Introduction Dominican Republic
Background:
Explored and claimed by 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. A legacy of
unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its
subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin
BALAGUER became president. He 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. The Dominican economy has had
one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past
decade.
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: 48,730 sq km
land: 48,380 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 6 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: 21.08%
permanent crops: 9.92%
other: 69% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,590 sq km (1998 est.)
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; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the
Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
People Dominican Republic
Population:
8,715,602 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,497,777; female 1,431,104)
15-64 years: 61.2% (male 2,719,505; female 2,614,495)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 212,045; female 240,676) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.5 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 23.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.36% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 34.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.96 years
male: 66.41 years
female: 69.58 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.92 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,800 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:
white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.7%
male: 84.6%
female: 84.8% (2003 est.)
Government Dominican Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republica Dominicana
local short form: none
Government type:
representative democracy
Capital:
Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions:
29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district*
(distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*,
Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, 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, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro
de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Independence:
27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution:
28 November 1966
Legal system:
based on French civil codes
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons
regardless of age
note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16
August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since
16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16
August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 16 May 2000
(next to be held NA May 2004)
election results: Raphael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez elected
president; percent of vote - Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD)
49.87%, Danilo MEDINA (PLD) 24.95%, Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 24.6%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de
Diputados (149 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held NA May
2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held
NA May 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council
made up of members of the legislative and executive branches with
the president presiding)
Political parties and leaders:
Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna];
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hatuey DE CAMPS]; Social
Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Eduardo ESTRELLA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Collective of Popular Organizations or COP
International organization participation:
ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA
(observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo GUILIANI Cury
consulate(s): Mobile and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, Mayaguez
(Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San
Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280
chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL
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 an olive 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
Economy Dominican Republic
Economy - overview:
The Dominican Republic's economy experienced dramatic growth over
the last decade, even though the economy was hit hard by Hurricane
Georges in 1998. Although the country has long been viewed primarily
as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, 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 country
suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the
population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest
10% enjoy nearly 40% of national income. Growth probably will slow
in 2003 with reduced tourism and expected low growth in the US
economy, the source of 87% of export revenues.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $53.78 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 34%
services: 55% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.3 million - 2.6 million
Labor force - by occupation:
services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17%
(1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.9 billion
expenditures: $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1
billion (2001 est.)
Industries:
tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles,
cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
9.186 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 92%
hydro: 7.6%
other: 0.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
8.543 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes,
corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Exports:
$5.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats,
consumer goods
Exports - partners:
US 85%, Canada 1.6%, UK 1.6% (2002)
Imports:
$8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and
pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
US 51.5%, Venezuela 9.6%, Mexico 5.1%, Spain 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$239.6 million (1995)
Currency:
Dominican peso (DOP)
Currency code:
DOP
Exchange rates:
Dominican pesos per US dollar - 18.61 (2002), 16.95 (2001), 16.42
(2000), 16.03 (1999), 15.27 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Dominican Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
709,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
130,149 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave
radio relay network
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
1.44 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
25 (1997)
Televisions:
770,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.do
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
24 (2000)
Internet users:
186,000 (2002)
Transportation Dominican Republic
Railways:
total: 1,503 km
standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge
note:: 986 km also operated by sugar companies in 1.076-m, 0.889-m,
and 0.762-m gauges (2002)
narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge
Highways:
total: 12,600 km
paved: 6,224 km
unpaved: 6,376 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Ports and harbors:
Barahona, La Romana, Manzanillo, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de
Macoris, Santo Domingo
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Dominican Republic
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,319,419 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,453,705 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 89,073 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$180 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Dominican Republic
Disputes - international:
despite efforts to control illegal migration, destitute Haitians
continue to cross into the Dominican Republic
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; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the
Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@East Timor
Introduction East Timor
Background:
The Portuguese colony of 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 East Timor. A 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, the people of
East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. During 1999-2001,
pro-integrationist militias - supported by Indonesia - conducted
indiscriminate violence. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was
internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's
newest democracy.
Geography East Timor
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda
Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note -
East Timor 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: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline:
706 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: NA NM
extended fishing zone: NA NM
territorial sea: NA NM
exclusive fishing zone: NA NM
continental shelf: NA NM
exclusive economic zone: NA 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: NA%
other: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
Irrigated land:
1,065 sq km (est.)
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:
NA
Geography - note:
Timor comes from the Malay word for "Orient;" the island of Timor
is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost
of the Lesser Sunda Islands
People East Timor
Population:
997,853
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.) (July 2003
est.)
Age structure:
NA (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.7 years
female: 19.6 years (2002)
male: 19.8 years
Population growth rate:
2.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
27.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 50.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 57.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.2 years
female: 67.55 years (2003 est.)
male: 62.97 years
Total fertility rate:
3.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist,
Animist (1992 est.)
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: 48% (2001)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government East Timor
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
conventional short form: East Timor
local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
former: Portuguese Timor
local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum];
Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Dili
Administrative divisions:
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro
(Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos),
Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Independence:
28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from
Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international
recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution:
22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system:
UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law (2002)
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May
2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is
able to veto some legislation; he often is referred to as Xanana
GUSMAO
head of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20
May 2002)
cabinet: Council of State
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007);
after the first legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party was appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting a
precedent for the future
election results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent
of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL
17.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum
requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term of
office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an
exceptional basis
elections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD
8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT
2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by
party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT
2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the National
Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the
Judiciary
Political parties and leaders:
Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do
AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio
XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da
Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO];
Liberal Party or PL [leader NA]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM
[leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];
Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO];
Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO];
Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of the Mountain
Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA
[Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao
CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA];
Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular
Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AsDB, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IMF, Interpol, UN, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES
consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York)
(2003)
FAX: 202 965-1517
telephone: 202 965-1515
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
embassy: Vila 10, Avenida de Portugal, Farol, Dili
mailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington,
DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684, 331-3205/3160/3472
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; there is a white star in the center of the
black triangle
Economy East Timor
Economy - overview:
In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East
Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence
militias, and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the next three
years, however, 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
mid-2002, all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The
country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of
infrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civil
administration. One promising long-term project is the planned
development of oil resources in nearby waters.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $440 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
18% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25.4%
industry: 17.2%
services: 57.4% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
42% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38 (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
50% (including underemployment)
Budget:
revenues: $36 million
expenditures: $97 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2003 est.)
Industries:
printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate:
8.5%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage,
mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Exports:
$8 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and
vanilla exports
Exports - partners:
NA
Imports:
$237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mainly food (2001)
Imports - partners:
NA
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
IDR
Exchange rates:
see US dollar
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications East Timor
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.tp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
NA
Transportation East Timor
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 3,800 km
paved: 428 km
unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
Waterways:
NA
Pipelines:
NA
Ports and harbors:
NA
Merchant marine:
total: NA
ships by type: NA
Airports:
8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,427 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military East Timor
Military branches:
The East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL comprises a
light-infantry Army and a small Naval component; note - plans are to
develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve
personnel over the next five years
Military manpower - military age:
18-21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
NA
Military manpower - fit for military service:
NA
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues East Timor
Disputes - international:
East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets regularly to survey
and delimit the land boundary; some East Timor refugees delay return
from camps in Indonesia; maritime delimitation and resource-sharing
agreements signed with Australia resolved dispute over "Timor Gap"
hydrocarbon reserves, but maritime agreement with Indonesia awaits
further discussions
Illicit drugs:
NA
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Ecuador
Introduction Ecuador
Background:
The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that
emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being
Colombia and Venezuela). 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.
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: 283,560 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
water: 6,720 sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
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:
continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and
Galapagos Islands
territorial sea: 200 NM
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
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 5.69%
permanent crops: 5.15%
other: 89.16% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
8,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods;
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution;
pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas
of the Galapagos Islands
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, 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:
13,710,234 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.9% (male 2,430,303; female 2,351,166)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 4,116,289; female 4,198,667)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 284,082; female 329,727) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 22 years
female: 23 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.91% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
24.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.29 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 37.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.89 years
male: 69.06 years
female: 74.86 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,700 (2001 est.)
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%
Languages:
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 94%
female: 91% (2003 est.)
Government Ecuador
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Quito
Administrative divisions:
22 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, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:
24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution:
10 August 1998
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages
18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January 2003);
Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: the president and vice president are elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for four-year term (no reelection); election
last held 20 October 2002; runoff election held 24 November 2002
(next to be held NA October 2006)
head of government: President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January
2003); Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election results: results of the 24 November 2002 runoff election -
Lucio GUTIERREZ elected president; percent of vote - Lucio GUTIERREZ
54.3%; Alvaro NOBOA 45.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats;
members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held NA October
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PSC 25, PRE 15, ID 16, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD
5, DP 4, PS 3, independents 7; note - defections by members of
National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in
the numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (new justices are elected by the
full Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM];
Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos]; National Action
Institutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [leader NA]; Pachakutik
Movement [Miguel LLUCO]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [leader NA];
Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan Manuel FUERTES]; Popular
Democratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta]; Radical Alfarista
Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosist Party or PRE
[Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC
[Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE
[Leonidas IZA, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS
[F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of
Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of
Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA
CRUZ, president]; Popular Front or FP [Luis VILLACIS]
International organization participation:
CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raul GANGOTENA Rivadeneira
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie Anne KENNEY
embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address: APO AA 34039
telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890
FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052
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;
similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear
a coat of arms
Economy Ecuador
Economy - overview:
Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas.
Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas,
and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a
substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World Trade
Organization (WTrO) in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of
its accession commitments. The aftermath of El Nino and depressed
oil market of 1997-98 drove Ecuador's economy into a free-fall in
1999. The beginning of 1999 saw the banking sector collapse, which
helped precipitate an unprecedented default on external loans later
that year. Continued economic instability drove a 70% depreciation
of the currency throughout 1999, which forced a desperate government
to "dollarize" the currency regime in 2000. The move stabilized the
currency, but did not stave off the ouster of the government.
Gustavo NOBOA, who assumed the presidency in January 2000, has
managed to pass substantial economic reforms and mend relations with
international financial institutions. Ecuador completed its first
standby agreement since 1986 when the IMF Board approved a 10
December 2001 disbursement of $96 million, the final installment of
a $300 million standby credit agreement. In February 2003, newly
installed president Lucio GUTIERREZ faced a budget gap and massive
foreign debt. He has pledged to use oil revenues to pay off debt and
is seeking additional IMF support.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $42.65 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 33%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3.7 million (urban)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.7%; note - widespread underemployment (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.6 billion
expenditures: planned $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products,
wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 81%
hydro: 19%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
421,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
2.358 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
106.5 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca),
plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy
products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Exports:
$4.9 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish
Exports - partners:
US 39%, Colombia 5.6%, South Korea 5.1%, Germany 5%, Italy 4.4%
(2002)
Imports:
$6 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw materials, fuels; consumer
goods
Imports - partners:
US 28.6%, Colombia 14.4%, Japan 6%, Chile 4.5%, Brazil 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$14.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$120 million (2001)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
sucres per US dollar - 25,000 (2002), 25,000 (2001), 24,988.4
(2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.57 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Ecuador
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,115,272 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
384,000 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
Radios:
5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
2.5 million (2001)
Internet country code:
.ec
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
31 (2001)
Internet users:
328,000 (2002)
Transportation Ecuador
Railways:
total: 966 km
narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 43,197 km
paved: 8,164 km
unpaved: 35,033 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,500 km
Pipelines:
gas 71 km; oil 1,575 km; refined products 1,185 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San
Lorenzo
Merchant marine:
total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 239,276 GRT/392,048 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Chile 1, Greece 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1,
passenger 3, petroleum tanker 23, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
205 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 61
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 144
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 113 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Ecuador
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,555,068 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,395,178 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 137,433 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$720 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.4% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Ecuador
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and
Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit
narcotics; dollarization may raise the volume of money-laundering
activity, especially along the border with Colombia; increased
activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and
Colombian insurgents
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Egypt
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 following World War II. 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 ready the economy for the new millennium
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
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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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, zinc
Land use:
arable land: 2.85%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.68% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
33,000 sq km (1998 est.)
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; very 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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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:
74,718,797 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.9% (male 12,964,852; female 12,346,808)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 23,375,037; female 22,865,190)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 1,359,685; female 1,807,225) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 23.1 years
male: 22.8 years
female: 23.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.88% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
24.36 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 35.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 36.02 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.41 years
male: 67.94 years
female: 73 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups:
Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%,
Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and
French) 1%
Religions:
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated
classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.7%
male: 68.3%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Government Egypt
Country name:
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local short form: Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Cairo
Administrative divisions:
26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah,
Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al
Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al
Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways,
Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash
Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Independence:
28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Constitution:
11 September 1971
Legal system:
based on English common law, Islamic law, and 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 Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October
1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Atef Mohammed ABEID (since 5
October 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for a
six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national,
popular referendum; national referendum last held 26 September 1999
(next to be held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's
nomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term
Legislative branch:
bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis
al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by
the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory
Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative
role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the
president; members serve NA-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19
October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November
2005); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP
88%, independents 8%, opposition 4%; seats by party - NDP 398, NWP
7, Tagammu 6, Nasserists 2, LSP 1, independents 38, undecided 2;
Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents
1%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD];
National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK]
- governing party; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu
[Khalid MUHI AL-DIN]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; Socialist
Liberal Party or LSP [leader NA]
note: formation of political parties must be approved by the
government
Political pressure groups and leaders:
despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the
technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's
potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated
limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two
terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its
influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in
practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are
officially sanctioned
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACC, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU,
EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC,
OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador C. David WELCH
embassy: 5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900
telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300
FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with
the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing
the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in
Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen,
which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria,
which has two green stars, and to the flag of Iraq, which has three
green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line
centered in the white band
Economy Egypt
Economy - overview:
Egypt improved its macroeconomic performance throughout most of the
last decade by following IMF advice on fiscal, monetary, and
structural reform policies. As a result, Egypt managed to tame
inflation, slash budget deficits, and attract more foreign
investment. In the past four years, however, the pace of reform has
slackened, and excessive spending on national infrastructure
projects has widened budget deficits again. Lower foreign exchange
earnings since 1998 resulted in pressure on the Egyptian pound and
periodic dollar shortages. Monetary pressures have increased since
11 September 2001 because of declines in tourism and Suez Canal
tolls, and Egypt has devalued the pound several times in the past
year. The development of a gas export market is a major bright spot
for future growth prospects. In the short term, regional tensions
will continue to affect tourism and hold back prospects for economic
expansion.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $289.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 34%
services: 49% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
22.9% (FY 95/96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 25% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.9 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
20.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 29%, industry 22%, services 49% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $21.5 billion
expenditures: $26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9
billion (2001)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons,
construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate:
2.2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 81%
hydro: 19%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
816,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
3.308 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.264 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water
buffalo, sheep, goats
Exports:
$7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,
chemicals
Exports - partners:
US 18.3%, Italy 13.7%, UK 8.4% (2002)
Imports:
$15.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 16.9%, Germany 7.9%, Italy 6.7%, France 6.5%, China 5%, UK 4.1%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$30.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)
Currency:
Egyptian pound (EGP)
Currency code:
EGP
Exchange rates:
Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 4.5 (2002), 3.97 (2001), 3.47
(2000), 3.4 (1999), 3.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Egypt
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,971,500 (December 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
380,000 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgrading
during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular
service are available
domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,
Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean
and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine
cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to
Israel; a participant in Medarabtel and a signatory to Project
Oxygen (a global submarine fiber-optic cable system)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios:
20.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
98 (September 1995)
Televisions:
7.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.eg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2000)
Internet users:
600,000 (2002)
Transportation Egypt
Railways:
total: 5,105 km
standard gauge: 5,105 km 1.435-m gauge (42 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 64,000 km
paved: 49,984 km
unpaved: 14,016 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
3,500 km
note: includes the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and
numerous smaller canals in the delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including
approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water
Pipelines:
condensate 327 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,145 km; liquid
petroleum gas 382 km; oil 5,726 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; water 62 km
(2003)
Ports and harbors:
Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta,
Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Merchant marine:
total: 170 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,284,197 GRT/1,907,734 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 1, Germany 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 3, Monaco 1,
Ukraine 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 20, cargo 50, container 5, liquefied gas 1,
passenger 63, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea
passenger 3
Airports:
89 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Egypt
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 19,895,370 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,867,160 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 743,305 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.04 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.1% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Egypt
Disputes - international:
Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the triangular areas
that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the
22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence - Egypt is
economically developing the "Hala'ib triangle" north of the Treaty
line
Illicit drugs:
transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and
opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop for
Nigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to lax
banking regulations
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@El Salvador
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:
Middle 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: 21,040 sq km
water: 320 sq km
land: 20,720 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: 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: 27.27%
permanent crops: 12.11%
other: 60.62% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
360 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very
destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible
to hurricanes
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,
Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
6,470,379 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.1% (male 1,224,024; female 1,173,667)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,777,522; female 1,966,064)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 147,482; female 181,620) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.1 years
male: 20 years
female: 22.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.81% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
27.9 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.01 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 29.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.62 years
male: 67.02 years
female: 74.4 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
24,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%
note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout
the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million
Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages:
Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
Government El Salvador
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
Government type:
republic
Capital:
San Salvador
Administrative divisions:
14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz,
La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente,
Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
23 December 1983
Legal system:
based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June
1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June
1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June
1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June
1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 7 March 1999
(next to be held NA March 2004)
election results: Francisco FLORES Perez elected president; percent
of vote - Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%, Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN) 29%,
Ruben ZAMORA (CD) 7.5%, other (no individual above 3%) 11.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year
terms)
elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FMLN 31, ARENA 27, PCN 16, PDC 5, CD 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by the
Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic
Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general] (includes Social
Democratic Party or PSD [Juan MEDRANO, leader); Democratic Party or
PD [Jorge MELENDEZ]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or
FMLN [Fabio CASTILLO]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo
SALGADO, president]; National Action Party or PAN [Gustavo Rogelio
SALINAS, secretary general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN
[Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA
[Walter ARAUJO]; Social Christian Union or USC (formed by the merger
of Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC and Unity Movement or MU)
[Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]
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, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
LAIA (observer), MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC
FAX: [1] (202) 234-3834
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671
chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rose M. LIKINS
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La
Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
telephone: [503] 278-4444
FAX: [503] 278-6011
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; 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
Economy El Salvador
Economy - overview:
In recent years, this Central American economy has been suffering
from a weak tax collection system, factory closings, the aftermaths
of Hurricane Mitch of 1998 and the devastating earthquakes of early
2001, and weak world coffee prices. On the bright side, inflation
has fallen to single digit levels, and total exports have grown
substantially. The trade deficit has been offset by annual
remittances of almost $2 billion from Salvadorans living abroad and
by external aid. The US dollar is now the legal tender. Because
competitor countries have fluctuating exchange rates, El Salvador
must face the challenge of raising productivity and lowering costs.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $29.41 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 30%
services: 60% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
48% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
52.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
2.35 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10% - but the economy has much underemployment. (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.1 billion
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer,
textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.729 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 44%
hydro: 30.9%
other: 25.1% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
3.777 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
44 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
353 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
39,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; shrimp;
beef, dairy products
Exports:
$3 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles,
chemicals, electricity
Exports - partners:
US 63.3%, Guatemala 12%, Honduras 6.8%, Nicaragua 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$4.9 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs,
petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 39%, Guatemala 10.1%, Mexico 7.2%, France 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.6 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
total $252 million; $57 million from US (1999 est.)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
8.75 the US dollar is the legal tender
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications El Salvador
Telephones - main lines in use:
380,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
40,163 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
2.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1997)
Televisions:
600,000 (1990)
Internet country code:
.sv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2000)
Internet users:
40,000 (2000)
Transportation El Salvador
Railways:
total: 283 km
narrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gauge
note: length of operational route reduced from 562 km to 283 km by
disuse and lack of maintenance (2002)
Highways:
total: 10,029 km
paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports and harbors:
Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El Triunfo
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
82 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 61 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military El Salvador
Military branches:
Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,536,230 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 973,884 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 69,534 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$112 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.7% (FY99)
Transnational Issues El Salvador
Disputes - international:
in 1992, the ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed
areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, but they remain
largely undemarcated; in 2002, El Salvador filed an application to
the ICJ to revise the decision on a section of bolsones; the ICJ
also advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the
Golfo de Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the
Pacific; El Salvador claims tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned by the
ICJ, off Honduras in the Golfo de Fonseca
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana
produced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Equatorial Guinea
Introduction Equatorial Guinea
Background:
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of
Spanish rule. President OBIANG NGUEM MBASOGO has ruled the tiny
country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands
and one of the smallest countries on the African continent, since he
seized power in a coup in 1979. Although nominally a constitutional
democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as
well as the 1999 legislative elections - were widely seen as being
flawed.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 28,051 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:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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:
oil, petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits of gold,
manganese, uranium, titanium, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 3.57%
other: 91.8% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
violent windstorms, flash floods
Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
insular and continental regions rather widely separated
People Equatorial Guinea
Population:
510,473 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 108,179; female 107,164)
15-64 years: 54% (male 132,342; female 143,509)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,576; female 10,703) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.7 years
male: 18 years
female: 19.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 89.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 82.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 95.25 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.75 years
male: 52.63 years
female: 56.93 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.75 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
370 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups:
Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily
Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions:
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan
practices
Languages:
Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi,
Ibo
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.7%
male: 93.3%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government Equatorial Guinea
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
former: Spanish Guinea
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Malabo
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal adult
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)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held NA December
2009); 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 97.1%, Celestino
Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Candido Muatetema RIVAS (since 26
February 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG
(since NA January 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Demetrio Elo NDONG
NZE FUMU (since NA January 1998)
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de
Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDGE 80%, UP 6%, CPDS
5%; seats by party - PDGE 75, UP 4 and CPDS 1
note: opposition parties have refused to take up their seats in the
House to protest widespread irregularities in the 1999 legislative
elections
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MIKO
Abogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling
party) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress of
Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of
Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP
[Andres Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP
[Victorino Bolekia BONAY]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI
[Daniel OYONO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Teodoro Biyogo NSUE
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy
closed September 1995); the US ambassador to Cameroon is accredited
to Equatorial Guinea; the US State Department is considering opening
a Consulate Agency in Malabo
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)
Economy Equatorial Guinea
Economy - overview:
The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have
contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry,
farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence
farming predominates. 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. No
longer eligible for concessional financing because of large oil
revenues, the government has been unsuccessfully trying to agree on
a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF.
Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and
their family members. Undeveloped natural resources include
titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth
will remain strong in 2003, led by oil.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.27 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
20% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 60%
services: 20% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
30% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $200 million
expenditures: $158 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
30% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
23.56 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 94.3%
hydro: 5.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
21.91 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
181,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
563.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
20 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
20 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
68.53 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil
nuts; livestock; timber
Exports:
$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
Exports - partners:
US 28.3%, Spain 25.3%, China 17.4%, Canada 10.6%, France 4.9% (2002)
Imports:
$562 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
Imports - partners:
US 29.1%, Spain 15.9%, UK 14.8%, France 10.4%, Norway 7.2%,
Netherlands 4.8%, Italy 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$248 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$33.8 million (1995)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 January - 31 December
Communications Equatorial Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
300 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor system with adequate government services
domestic: NA
international: international communications from Bata and Malabo to
African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002)
Radios:
180,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
900 (2002)
Transportation Equatorial Guinea
Railways:
total: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,880 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 37 km; gas 39 km; liquid natural gas 4 km; oil 24 km
(2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,571 GRT/9,670 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Equatorial Guinea
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, National Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 116,496 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 59,110 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$30 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.5% (FY02)
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 states have not yet agreed to abide by the decision;
creation of a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay with
Gabon is hampered by dispute over small islets on Mbane/Mbagne bank,
administered and occupied by Gabon since the 1970s
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Eritrea
Introduction Eritrea
Background:
Eritrea was awarded 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 on 12 December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN
peacekeeping operation that is monitoring the border region. An
international commission, organized to resolve the border dispute,
posted its findings in 2002 but final demarcation is on hold due to
Ethiopian objections.
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: 121,320 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 121,320 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 total; 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); semiarid in
western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September
except in coastal desert
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 Denakil 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: 3.87%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 96.11% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
220 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
frequent droughts; locust swarms
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of
infrastructure from civil warfare
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species
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:
4,362,254 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 977,447; female 972,068)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,121,077; female 1,147,109)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 71,620; female 72,933) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.28% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
39.44 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13.23 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-13.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: UNHCR began repatriating about 150,000 Eritrean refugees from
Sudan in 2001 following the restoration of diplomatic relations
between the two countries in 2000 (2003 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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 76.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 83.78 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.18 years
male: 51.48 years
female: 54.92 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.74 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
55,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
350 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups:
ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea
coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%
Religions:
Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages:
Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)
Government Eritrea
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: Hagere Ertra
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
local short form: Ertra
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 had been scheduled to take place
in December 2001, but were postponed indefinitely; currently the
sole legal party is the People's Front for Democracy and Justice
(PFDJ)
Capital:
Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions:
6 regions (regions, singular - region); Central, Anelba, Southern
Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Southern, Gash-Barka
Independence:
24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
Constitution:
the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced
by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet 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; also relies on customary and post-independence-enacted
laws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law
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);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority;
members appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last
held 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%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits not
established)
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, that 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:
or 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, the only party
recognized by the government [ISAIAS Afworki]; note - a National
Assembly committee drafted a law on political parties in January
2001, but the full National Assembly has not yet debated or voted on
it
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ [leader NA] (also including Eritrean
Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu Sihel
Movement) [leader NA]); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (also
known as the Arafa Movement) [leader NA]; 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, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador GIRMA Asmerom
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)
FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. McCONNELL
embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt 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
Economy Eritrea
Economy - overview:
Since independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea has faced
the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country. Like the
economies of many African nations, the economy is largely based on
subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in
farming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severely
hurt Eritrea's economy. GDP growth fell to zero in 1999 and to -1%
in 2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into northern Eritrea
caused some $600 million in property damage and loss, including
losses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000 homes. The attack
prevented planting of crops in Eritrea's most productive region,
causing food production to drop by 62%. Even during the war, Eritrea
developed its transportation infrastructure, asphalting new roads,
improving its ports, and repairing war damaged roads and bridges.
Since the war ended, 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. Erratic
rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the
military kept cereal production well below normal, holding down
growth in 2002. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability
to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low
skills, and to open its economy to private enterprise so the
diaspora's money and expertise can foster economic growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 29%
services: 54% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
53% (1993/94)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2001)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $206.4 million
expenditures: $615.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
220.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
205.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh NA kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal;
livestock, goats; fish
Exports:
$20 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)
Exports - partners:
Italy 36.9%, Germany 16.7%, France 10.3%, US 5.4%, Netherlands 5.2%
(2002)
Imports:
$500 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000)
Imports - partners:
Italy 27.1%, US 15.7%, Germany 7.2%, Ukraine 5.8%, Turkey 5.5%,
France 4.5%, Netherlands 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$311 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$77 million (1999)
Currency:
nakfa (ERN)
Currency code:
ERN
Exchange rates:
nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 9.5 (January 2000), 7.6 (January 1999),
7.2 (March 1998 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Eritrea
Telephones - main lines in use:
30,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA; note - mobile cellular service was introduced in May 2001
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate
domestic: very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; government
is seeking international tenders to improve the system (2002)
international: NA; note - international connections exist
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)
Radios:
345,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2000)
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.er
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
10,000 (2002)
Transportation Eritrea
Railways:
total: 306 km
narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge
note: railway is being rebuilt (2002)
Highways:
total: 4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 19,100 GRT/23,399 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1,
roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
18 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Eritrea
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$95.75 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
12% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Eritrea
Disputes - international:
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 independent boundary
commission delimitation decision, but demarcation, scheduled to
begin in 2003, has been hampered by technical delays and Ethiopian
concerns that the decision ignored "human geography" and awarded
Badme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war, to Eritrea, demarcation of
the boundary has been postponed indefinately; UN Peacekeeping
Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) monitors a 25 km wide
Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea until the demarcation; Sudan
accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Eritrea
protests Yemeni fishing around the Hanish Islands awarded to Eritrea
by the ICJ in 1999
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Estonia
Introduction Estonia
Background:
After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule,
Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into
the USSR in 1940, 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. Estonia received invitations to join NATO and the EU
in 2002.
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: 45,226 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
water: 2,015 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Land boundaries:
total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km
Coastline:
3,794 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with
neighboring states
territorial sea: 12 NM
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, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite,
arable land, sea mud
Land use:
arable land: 26.5%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 73.15% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (1998 est.)
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 twentieth 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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore
lie more than 1,500 islands
People Estonia
Population:
1,408,556 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.8% (male 113,239; female 108,876)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 467,041; female 501,805)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 71,512; female 146,083) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.1 years
male: 34.7 years
female: 41.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.49% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.24 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13.42 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 13.88 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.31 years
male: 64.36 years
female: 76.57 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 7,700 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups:
Estonian 65.3%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Belarusian 1.5%,
Finn 1%, other 1.6% (1998)
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist,
Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word
of Life, Jewish
Languages:
Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, Finnish, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Government Estonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Tallinn
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:
regained on 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was
the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 20 August 1991 was the
date of reindependence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arnold RUUTEL (since 8 October 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Juhan PARTS (since 10 April 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
approved by Parliament
election results: Arnold RUUTEL elected president on 21 September
2001 by a 367-member electoral assembly that convened following
Parliament's failure in August to elect then-President MERI's
successor; on the second ballot of voting, RUUTEL received 188 votes
to Parliament Speaker Toomas SAVI's 155; the remaining 24 ballots
were either left blank or invalid
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if
he or she 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 governments) elects the
president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest
percentage of votes; election last held 21 September 2001 (next to
be held in the fall of 2006); prime minister nominated by the
president and approved by Parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - Center Party 25.4%, Res
Publica 24.6%, Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian People's Union 13%, Pro
Patria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3% People's Party Moodukad 7%;
seats by party - Center Party 28, Res Publica 28, Reform Party 19,
Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria Union 7, People's Party
Moodukad 6
elections: last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)
Judicial branch:
National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman];
Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN]; Estonian Reform
Party (Reformierakond) [Siim KALLAS]; Estonian United Russian
People's Party or EUVRP [leader NA]; Moderates (Moodukad) [Ivari
PADAR]; Pro Patria Union (Isamaaliit) [Tunne KELAM, chairman]; Res
Publica [Juhan PARTS]; Russian Baltic Party [Sergei IVANOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Juri LUIK
chancery: 1730 M Street NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. DeTHOMAS
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8134
Flag description:
pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal
horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
Economy Estonia
Economy - overview:
Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization, is
steadily moving toward a modern market economy with increasing ties
to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The
economy benefits from strong electronics and telecoms sectors. A
major goal is accession to the EU, possibly by 2004. The economy is
greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany,
three major trading partners. The high current account deficit
remains a concern.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $15.52 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 28.6%
services: 65.6% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
608,600 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 20%, agriculture 11%, services 69% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.4% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $1.89 billion
expenditures: $1.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile;
information technology, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
7.937 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.8%
hydro: 0.1%
other: 0.2% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.192 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.19 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
5,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Exports:
$3.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles 14%, food
products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)
Exports - partners:
Finland 19.2%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 10.6%, Latvia 7.4%, Germany 7.2%
(2002)
Imports:
$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%, textiles
10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001)
Imports - partners:
Russia 26.6%, Finland 18.9%, Germany 9.2%, Sweden 8.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.3 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$108 million (2000)
Currency:
Estonian kroon (EEK)
Currency code:
EEK
Exchange rates:
krooni per US dollar - 16.61 (2002), 17.56 (2001), 16.97 (2000),
14.68 (1999), 14.07 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Estonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
501,691 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
711,000 (yearend 2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint
business ventures greatly improved telephone service; substantial
fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in
the digital mode; internet services are available throughout most of
the country - only about 11,000 subscriber requests were unfilled by
September 2000
domestic: a wide range of high quality voice, data, and internet
services is available throughout the country
international: fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and
Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; two international
switches are located in Tallinn (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:
1.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (2001)
Televisions:
605,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ee
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
38 (2001)
Internet users:
429,700 (2002)
Transportation Estonia
Railways:
total: 968 km
broad gauge: 968 km 1.520-m/1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified)
note:: gauge being increased from 1.520-m to 1.524-m to reduce wear
on wheels and rail as lines are modernized (2002)
Highways:
total: 51,411 km
paved: 10,334 km (including 94 km of expressways)
unpaved: 41,077 km (2000)
Waterways:
320 km (perennially navigable) (2002)
Pipelines:
gas 859 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
Merchant marine:
total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 200,807 GRT/169,899 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Liberia 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 5, petroleum tanker 2,
roll on/roll off 6, short-sea passenger 5
Airports:
38 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Military Estonia
Military branches:
Estonia Defense Forces (including Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force),
Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), Volunteer
Defense League (Kaitseliit), Maritime Border Guard, Coast Guard
note: Border Guards and Ministry of Internal Affairs become part of
the Estonian Defense Forces in wartime; the Coast Guard is
subordinate to the Ministry of Defense in peacetime and the Estonian
Navy in wartime
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 360,440 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 283,278 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 11,123 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$155 million (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Estonia
Disputes - international:
Russia continues to reject signing and ratifying the joint December
1996 technical border agreement with Estonia
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia
and the Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western
Europe and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to
Scandinavia; increasing domestic drug abuse problem; possible
precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Ethiopia
Introduction Ethiopia
Background:
Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy
maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the
Italian occupation of 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 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian
People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A
constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty
elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with
Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Final
demarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian
objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to
surrender sensitive territory.
Geography Ethiopia
Location:
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,127,127 sq km
water: 7,444 sq km
land: 1,119,683 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: Denakil Depression -125 m
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,620 m
Natural resources:
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 9.9%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 89.45% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
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:
66,557,553
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 14,944,168; female 14,871,164)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 17,474,403; female 17,384,817)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 840,057; female 1,042,944) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.3 years
female: 17.4 years (2002)
male: 17.3 years
Population growth rate:
1.96% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
39.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
20.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan for refuge from
war and famine in earlier years is expected to continue for several
years; some Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from
the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to
their homes (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 103.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 92.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 113.48 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.24 years
male: 40.39 years
female: 42.11 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.55 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2.1 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
160,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups:
Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali
6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%
Languages:
Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, other
local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 50.3%
female: 35.1% (2003 est.)
Government Ethiopia
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local short form: Ityop'iya
former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
abbreviation: FDRE
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
Addis Ababa
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
National holiday:
National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Constitution:
ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995
Legal system:
currently transitional mix of national and regional courts
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 NA August
1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994
constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and
approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections: president elected by the House of People's
Representatives for a six-year term; election last held 8 October
2001 (next to be held NA October 2007); 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 - 100%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation or upper
chamber (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve
five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives or lower
chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)
note: irregularities and violence at a number of polling stations
necessitated the rescheduling of voting in certain constituencies;
voting postponed in Somali regional state because of severe drought
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - OPDO 177,
ANDM 134, TPLF 38, WGGPDO 27, EPRDF 19, SPDO 18, GNDM 15, KSPDO 10,
ANDP 8, GPRDF 7, SOPDM 7, BGPDUF 6, BMPDO 5, KAT 4, other regional
political groupings 22, independents 8; note - 43 seats unconfirmed
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 [leader NA]; Amhara National
Democratic Movement or ANDM [ADDISU Legesse]; Bench Madji People's
Democratic Organization or BMPDO [leader NA]; Benishangul Gumuz
People's Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF [leader NA]; Ethiopian
People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] (an
alliance of ANDM, OPDO, SEPDF, and TPLF); Gedeyo People's
Revolutionary Democratic Front or GPRDF [leader NA]; Gurage
Nationalities' Democratic Movement or GNDM [leader NA]; Kafa Shaka
People's Democratic Organization or KSPDO [leader NA]; Kembata,
Alabaa and Tembaro or KAT [leader NA]; Oromo People's Democratic
Organization or OPDO [JUNEDI Sado]; Sidamo People's Democratic
Organization or SPDO [leader NA]; South Omo People's Democratic
Movement or SOPDM [leader NA]; Tigrayan People's Liberation Front or
TPLF [MELES Zenawi]; Walayta, Gamo, Gofa, Dawro, and Konta People's
Democratic Organization or WGGPDO [leader NA]; dozens of small
parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front or ARDUF [leader NA];
Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia or
CAFPDE [BEYANE Petros]; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic
Coalition or SEPDC [BEYANE Petros]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador KASSAHUN Ayele
chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
FAX: [1] (202) 686-9551
telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia A. BRAZEAL
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone: [251] (1) 550666
FAX: [251] (1) 551328
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;
Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three
main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African
countries upon independence that they became known as the
pan-African colors
Economy Ethiopia
Economy - overview:
Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, which
accounts for half of GDP, 85% of exports, and 80% 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 $270 million in 2000/01, but
historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to
supplement their income. The war with Eritrea in 1999-2000 and
recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee
production. In November 2001 Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from
the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Under
Ethiopia's land tenure system, the government 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. Strong growth in 2002 resulted
from good rainfall early in the year, the cessation of hostilities,
and renewed foreign aid and debt relief. But drought struck again
late in 2002, and the World Food Program (WFP) estimates 14 million
Ethiopians need food immediately to survive into 2003. The
government estimates than annual growth of 7% is needed to reduce
poverty, yet the maintenance of 5% in 2003 will be quite difficult
(one estimate is for 1.5% growth).
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $48.53 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 52%
industry: 11%
services: 37% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
45% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 33.7% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%,
industry and construction 8% (1985)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.8 billion
expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $600
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing,
cement
Industrial production growth rate:
6.7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.713 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.3%
hydro: 97.6%
other: 1.2% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.594 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
214,000 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
12.46 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, qat; hides,
cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:
$433 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds
Exports - partners:
UK 16.2%, Djibouti 10.9%, Germany 7.6%, Italy 7.2%, Japan 6.7%,
Saudi Arabia 6.5%, US 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.63 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 28.7%, China 6%, Italy 5.9%, India 4.8%, Germany 4.1%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$5.3 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$308 million (FY00/01)
Currency:
birr (ETB)
Currency code:
ETB
Exchange rates:
birr per US dollar - NA (2002), 8.46 (2001), 8.22 (2000), 7.94
(1999), 7.12 (1998)
note: since 24 October 2001 exchange rates are determined on a daily
basis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank
Fiscal year:
8 July - 7 July
Communications Ethiopia
Telephones - main lines in use:
231,900 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,800 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: open-wire and microwave radio relay system;
adequate for government use
domestic: open-wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in
the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites provide
the national trunk service
international: 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
15.2 million (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
1 plus 24 repeaters (2002)
Televisions:
682,000 (2002)
Internet country code:
.et
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
20,000 (2002)
Transportation Ethiopia
Railways:
total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti
railroad)
narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2002)
Highways:
total: 31,571 km
paved: 3,789 km
unpaved: 27,782 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by agreement with Eritrea
using the ports of Assab and Massawa; since the border dispute with
Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the port of Djibouti for nearly
all of its imports
Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 81,933 GRT/101,287 DWT
ships by type: cargo 5, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll
on/roll off 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
83 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 21 (2002)
Military Ethiopia
Military branches:
Ethiopian National Defense Force (Ground Forces, Air Force,
militia, police)
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the
secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in
Eritrean possession
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 15,388,318 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,040,381 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 714,165 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$800 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
12.6% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Ethiopia
Disputes - international:
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 independent boundary
commission delimitation decision, but demarcation, scheduled to
begin in 2003, has been hampered by technical delays and Ethiopian
concerns that the decision ignored "human geography" and awarded
Badme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war, to Eritrea, demarcation of
the boundary has been postponed indefinately; Ethiopia maintains
only an administrative line and no international border with the
Oromo region of southern Somalia and maintains alliances with local
clans in opposition to the Transitional National Government in
Mogadishu; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities and
trade ties to land-locked Ethiopia; efforts to demarcate the porous
boundary with Sudan have been delayed by civil war there
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia
and destined for Europe and North America 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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Europa Island
Introduction Europa Island
Background:
A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is
the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.
Geography Europa Island
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half
of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
22 20 S, 40 22 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 28 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 28 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
22.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
low and flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
wildlife sanctuary
People Europa Island
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few
meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2003 est.)
Government Europa Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island
local short form: Ile Europa
local long form: none
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the
Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Europa Island
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Communications Europa Island
Communications - note:
1 meteorological station
Transportation Europa Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Europa Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Europa Island
Disputes - international:
claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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 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
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and
about 200 small islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,288 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 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) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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
Chornobyl disaster
Geography - note:
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing
season
People Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Population:
2,967 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate:
2.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman
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:
primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist
Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
English
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:
Stanley
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:
3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
Legal system:
English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch
head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002);
Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial
Secretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected
by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by
the governor
elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November
2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8;
note - 71% voter turnout
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:
none
International organization participation:
ICFTU
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 is 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
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 Falklands exclusive fishing
zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which
goes to 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. Exports feature
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. 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 - $75 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 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)
Labor force:
1,100 (est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
Unemployment rate:
full employment; labor shortage
Budget:
revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2
million (FY98/99 est.)
Industries:
fish and wool processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
16.33 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
15.19 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
Exports:
$7.6 million (1995)
Exports - commodities:
wool, hides, meat
Exports - partners:
Spain 76.2%, UK 9.2%, US 7.1% (2002)
Imports:
$24.7 million (1995)
Imports - commodities:
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Imports - partners:
UK 57.9%, Spain 19.8%, Italy 16.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
none
Currency:
Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency code:
FKP
Exchange rates:
Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66
(2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998); note - the Falkland pound is at par
with the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
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: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
with links through London to other countries
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service)
note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.fk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA; however one-half of all households are reported to have
internet access (2002)
Transportation Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 440 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 390 km (2002)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Stanley
note: the primary port is located in Stanley Harbour and known
locally as FIPASS (Falkland Interim Port and Storage System); the
facility consists of seven permanently moored barges providing 300
meters of berthing space; it was installed by the military after
1982 and handed over to the Falkland Islands Government in 1988
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Military branches:
British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military
forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), Police
Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Disputes - international:
claimed by Argentina whose forces briefly occupied it in 1982, but
now declares it will no longer seek settlement by force
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Faroe Islands
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 attained in 1948.
Geography Faroe Islands
Location:
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to
Norway
Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
land: 1,399 sq km
Area - comparative:
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,117 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
territorial sea: 3 NM
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
Land use:
arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
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:
46,345 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 5,103; female 5,077)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 15,822; female 14,002)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,842; female 3,499) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.1 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 35.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.7% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
13.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.9 years
male: 75.44 years
female: 82.36 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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
Languages:
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: similar to Denmark proper
Government Faroe Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local short form: Foroyar
local long form: none
Dependency status:
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Torshavn
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 49 municipalities
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday:
Olaifest, 29 July
Constitution:
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:
Danish
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief
administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)
election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent
of parliamentary vote - 52.8%
note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party, Home Rule
Party, and Center Party
elections: the monarch 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
30 April 2002 (next to be held no later than April 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May
1998)
cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven
constituencies to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 26%,
Republican Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 20.9%, People's Party 20.8%
Home Rule Party 4.4%, Center Party 4.2%; seats by party - Union
Party 8, Republican Party 8, Social Democrats 7, People's Party 7,
Home Rule Party 1, Center Party 1
note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on
20 November 2001 (next to be held no later than November 2005);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican
Party 1, Union Party 1
elections: last held 30 April 2002 (next to be held no later than
April 2006)
Judicial branch:
none
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam a
NEYSTABO]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party
[Finnabogi ISAKSON]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD];
Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
IMO (associate), NC, NIB
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)
Economy Faroe Islands
Economy - overview:
The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly
as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export
prices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of labor
shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has
helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget
surpluses, which in turn help to reduce the large public debt, most
of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing
makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present
fishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level of
fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give
hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may
eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus
lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a
substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese
have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other
Scandinavians.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 11%
services: 62% (1999)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.1% (1999)
Labor force:
24,250 (October 2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and
private services 33%, public services 34%
Unemployment rate:
1% (October 2000)
Budget:
revenues: $488 million
expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21
million (1999)
Industries:
fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
160.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.4%
hydro: 37.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
149.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Exports:
$418 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners:
Denmark 39.9%, UK 32.1%, Norway 7.4%, Netherlands 6.1% (2002)
Imports:
$469 million c.i.f. (1999)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw
materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)
Imports - partners:
Denmark 53.8%, Norway 24.2%, Iceland 5.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$64 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:
$55 million (annual subsidy from Denmark)
Currency:
Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:
DKK
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.89 (2002), 8.32 (2001), 8.08
(2000), 6.98 (1999), 6.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Faroe Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
24,851 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
10,761 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good international communications; good
domestic facilities
domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog)
and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed
international: 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
26,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
15,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.fo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
3,000 (2000)
Transportation Faroe Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 463 km
paved: 454 km
unpaved: 9 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjordhur
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 100,951 GRT/139,396 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Faroe Islands
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; small Police Force and Coast
Guard are maintained
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues Faroe Islands
Disputes - international:
Faroese are considering proposals for full independence; Denmark
dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands fisheries median line
boundary of 200 NM; Denmark disputes with Iceland, the UK, and
Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside
200 NM
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Fiji
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). A 1990
constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to
heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic
difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.
Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable.
Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by
an Indo-Fijian, but a 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 and gave a
mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.
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: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,129 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
People Fiji
Population:
868,531 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 141,979; female 136,378)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 278,759; female 278,150)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 15,329; female 17,936) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.7 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 24.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.41% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.88 years
male: 66.43 years
female: 71.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.81 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups:
Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture),
Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and
other 5% (1998 est.)
Religions:
Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim
8%, other 2%
note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is
a Muslim minority (1986)
Languages:
English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
Government Fiji
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji
Government type:
republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally
declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital:
Suva
Administrative divisions:
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*,
Western
Independence:
10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Constitution:
promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allow
nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty
government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - the
May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and
introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the first
time at the national level
Legal system:
based on British system
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since NA
2000); Vice President Jope SENILOLI (since NA 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10
September 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there
is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters
of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs, which consists
of the highest ranking members of the traditional chief system
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a
five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president
by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed
by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the president, and
one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of
Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19
reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups,
one 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 25 August through 1
September, 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later than
September 2006)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - FLP 34.8%, SDL 26%, NFP 10.1%, MV 9.9%, independents 2.7%,
other 16.5%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of
Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Conservative
Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE];
Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic
Party or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat
Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or
FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily
Fijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni
BABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; General Voters
Party or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party);
Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party
or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA];
National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];
Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of
National Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT
[leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or
SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick
BEDDOES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anare JALE
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYON
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
shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the
cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree,
bananas, and a white dove
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 and a growing tourist
industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major
sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of
industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment,
uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to
manage its budget.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.822 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 25%
services: 58% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25.5% (1990-91)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
137,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (1999)
Budget:
revenues: $427.9 million
expenditures: $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small
cottage industries
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
520.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 18.5%
hydro: 81.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
483.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes,
bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Exports:
$442 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
US 25.1%, Australia 19.5%, UK 10.6%, Japan 6.3%, Samoa 5.5% (2002)
Imports:
$642 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum
products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Australia 37.3%, New Zealand 17.2%, Singapore 16.1%, Japan 4.2%,
China 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$135.9 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$40.3 million (1995)
Currency:
Fijian dollar (FJD)
Currency code:
FJD
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars per US dollar - 2.19 (2002), 2.28 (2001), 2.13
(2000), 1.97 (1999), 1.99 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Fiji
Telephones - main lines in use:
80,901 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5,200 (1997)
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: NA
international: access to important cable links between US and Canada
as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
541,476 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
88,110 (1999)
Internet country code:
.fj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
15,000 (2002)
Transportation Fiji
Railways:
total: 597 km
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used
to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to September) (2002)
Highways:
total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
Ports and harbors:
Lambasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Malau, Savusavu, Suva, Vuda
Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Singapore 4 (2002 est.)
ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1,
roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
27 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Military Fiji
Military branches:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), includes ground forces,
naval division
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 235,546 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 129,432 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 9,359 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$39.21 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Fiji
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Finland
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 finally 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 on
par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland
was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation
in January 1999.
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: 337,030 sq km
water: 31,560 sq km
land: 305,470 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,628 km
border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km
Coastline:
1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM; extends to continental shelf boundary
with Sweden
territorial sea: 12 NM (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 NM)
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: Halti 1,328 m
Natural resources:
timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Land use:
arable land: 6.98%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 93.01% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
640 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national
capital on European continent; population concentrated on small
southwestern coastal plain
People Finland
Population:
5,190,785 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.7% (male 468,077; female 450,785)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,753,760; female 1,719,253)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 312,883; female 486,027) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.3 years
male: 38.8 years
female: 41.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.92 years
male: 74.28 years
female: 81.68 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups:
Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Sami 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Russian Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%
Languages:
Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small Sami- and
Russian-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Finland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local short form: Suomi
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Helsinki
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani,
Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani
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; Supreme Court may request
legislation interpreting or modifying 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 Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June
2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Antti KALLIOMAKI (since 17 April
2003); note - former Prime Minister Anneli JAATTEENMAKI resigned
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to be
held NA February 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed from the majority party by the president after
parliamentary elections
note: government coalition - KESK, SDP, and SFP
election results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote -
Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected
by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%,
Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party -
Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4
elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD
[Bjarne KALLIS]; Green League or VIHR [Osmo SOININVAARA]; Left
Alliance or VAS (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League
and Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition
(conservative) Party or Kok [Ville ITALA]; Social Democratic Party
or SDP [Paavo LIPPONEN]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Jan-Erik
ENESTAM]
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNTSO,
UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARI
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bonnie McELVEEN-HUNTER
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 174681
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)
Economy Finland
Economy - overview:
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy,
with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and
Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the
wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics
industries. Trade is important, with exports equaling almost
one-third of GDP. 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. Rapidly increasing integration
with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 11 countries joining
the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on 1 January 1999 -
will dominate the economic picture over the next several years.
Growth in 2003 was held back by the global slowdown but will pick up
in 2004 provided the world economy suffers no further blows.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $133.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 34%
services: 62% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25.6 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.6 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
public services 32%, industry 22%, commerce 14%, finance,
insurance, and business services 10%, agriculture and forestry 8%,
transport and communications 8%, construction 6%
Unemployment rate:
8.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $36.1 billion
expenditures: $31 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
metal products, electronics, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper
refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
71.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 39%
hydro: 18.7%
other: 11.8% (2001)
nuclear: 30.4%
Electricity - consumption:
76.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.81 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
11.77 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
211,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
101,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
318,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.557 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish
Exports:
$40.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp
(1999)
Exports - partners:
Germany 11.8%, UK 9.6%, US 9%, Sweden 8.5%, Russia 6.6%,
Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$31.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport
equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics,
grains (1999)
Imports - partners:
Germany 14.5%, Sweden 10.9%, Russia 9.9%, UK 5.7%, France 4.3%,
Denmark 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$30 billion (December 1993)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $379 million (2001)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Finland
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,847,900 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,728,600 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with excellent service
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular
net provide domestic needs
international: 1 submarine cable; 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
7.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)
Televisions:
3.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.fi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2002)
Internet users:
2.69 million (2002)
Transportation Finland
Railways:
total: 5,850 km
broad gauge: 5,850 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 77,943 km
paved: 50,305 km (including 750 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,688 km (2001)
Waterways:
6,675 km
note: includes Saimaa Canal; 3,700 km suitable for large ships
Pipelines:
gas 694 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma,
Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus
Merchant marine:
total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,687 GRT/1,185,653 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 24, chemical tanker 5, container 1,
passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 32, short-sea
passenger 9
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1, Sweden 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
150 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 74
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 76
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 72 (2002)
Military Finland
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including Sea Guard)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,230,934 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,016,693 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 31,926 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.8 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues Finland
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@France
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 presidential democracy
resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary
democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation
with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of
Europe, including the introduction of the euro in January 2002. At
present, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to
exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a
more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus.
Geography France
Location:
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
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 2 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 547,030 sq km
land: 545,630 sq km
note: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas
administrative divisions
water: 1,400 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
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
Coastline:
3,427 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
Climate:
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
Terrain:
mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west;
remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, potash, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land: 33.3%
permanent crops: 2.11%
other: 64.59% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
20,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires
in south near the Mediterranean
Environment - current issues:
some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as
a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); 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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, 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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
largest West European nation
People France
Population:
60,180,529 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 5,725,170; female 5,449,991)
15-64 years: 65.1% (male 19,619,994; female 19,583,850)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 4,006,857; female 5,794,667) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 38.3 years
male: 36.8 years
female: 39.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.42% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.28 years
male: 75.63 years
female: 83.11 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.85 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
800 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups:
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese,
Basque minorities
Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%,
unaffiliated 4%
Languages:
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages
(Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1980 est.)
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:
Paris
Administrative divisions:
22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine,
Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre,
Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie,
Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine,
Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie,
Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the
"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided
into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas
departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the
overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and
Miquelon)
Dependent areas:
Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French
Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands,
Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and
Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:
486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in
1962, amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht
Treaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty, 2000 Treaty of Nice; amended to
tighten immigration laws 1993
Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative
but not legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN (since 7 May
2002)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(changed from seven-year term in 2001); election last held 21 April
and 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round NA April 2007, second
round NA May 2007); prime minister nominated by the National
Assembly majority and appointed by the president
election results: Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent of
vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN
(FN) 18.04%
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
suggestion of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat
(321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas
departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad;
members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve
nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the
National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are
elected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system to
serve five-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - RPR 83, PS 68, UDF 37, DL 35, RDES 16, PCF 16, other 66;
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UMP 355, PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22
elections: Senate - last held 23 September 2001 (next to be held NA
September 2004); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (next
to be held NA June 2007)
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:
Citizen and Republican Movement or MCR [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT];
Democratic and European Social Rally or RDSE (mainly RAD and PRG)
[leader NA]; French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET];
Left Radical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS
and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Liberal
Democracy or DL (originally Republican Party or PR; now merged into
the UMP) [Alain MADELIN]; Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE
VILLIERS]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Rally for the
Republic or RPR (merged into UMP) [Serge LEPELTIER]; Socialist Party
or PS [Francois HOLLANDE]; Greens [Martine BILLARD, Denis BAUPIN,
Stephane POCRAIN, Maryse ARDITI]; Union for French Democracy or UDF
(coalition of DL, CDS, UDF, RP, and other parties) [Francois
BAYROU]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, and
a part of UDF) [Alain JUPPE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale du
Travail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed);
left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du
Travail) or CFDT, approximately 865,000 members (claimed, of which
810,000 are actively employed); independent labor union
(Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000
members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation
Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members (claimed); employers'
union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or MEDEF, 750,000
companies as members (claimed)
International organization participation:
ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CDB
(non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC,
EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH,
MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC,
UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTE
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. LEACH
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 French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and/or colors
are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium,
Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the
official flag for all French dependent areas
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
Socialist-led government has partially or fully privatized many
large companies, banks, and insurers, but still retains controlling
stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France
Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and remains dominant in some sectors,
particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The
telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition.
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. The current government has lowered
income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment. At the end
of 2002 the government was focusing on the problems of the high cost
of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour
workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The government was also
pushing for pension reforms and simplification of administrative
procedures. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe. The
current economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed
the deficit above the EU's 3% debt limit. Business investment
remains listless because of low rates of capital utilization, high
debt, and the steep cost of capital.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.558 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $26,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
6.4% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
26.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 71%, industry 25%, agriculture 4% (1997)
Unemployment rate:
9.1% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $286 billion
expenditures: $330 billion, including capital expenditures of $23
billion (2002 est.)
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft,
electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.3% (2002)
Electricity - production:
520.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 8.2%
hydro: 14%
other: 0.7% (2001)
nuclear: 77.1%
Electricity - consumption:
415.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
72.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
4.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
34,920 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.026 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
409,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
2.281 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
144.3 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
1.898 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
42.01 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
1.725 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
40.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
12.86 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy
products; fish
Exports:
$307.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners:
Germany 15%, UK 9.8%, Spain 9%, Italy 9%, US 7.8%, Belgium 6.9%
(2002)
Imports:
$303.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 19.4%, Belgium 9.2%, Italy 8.8%, UK 7.3%, Netherlands 7%,
US 6.8%, Spain 6.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
NA (1998)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $6.3 billion (1997)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications France
Telephones - main lines in use:
34.86 million (yearend 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.078 million (yearend 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive
introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: satellite earth stations - 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes
many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
55.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
34.8 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.fr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
62 (2000)
Internet users:
16.97 million (2002)
Transportation France
Railways:
total: 32,682 km
standard gauge: 32,515 km 1.435-m gauge (14,104 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 894,000 km
paved: 894,000 km (including 11,500 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
14,932 km (6,969 km heavily traveled)
Pipelines:
gas 13,946 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le
Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nates, Paris, Rouen, Saint
Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
Merchant marine:
total: 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 749,570 GRT/939,134 DWT
ships by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 9, liquefied gas 4,
passenger 2, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea
passenger 4
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: French Polynesia 2, Greece 1, Japan 1, Norway 1, Sweden
9 (2002 est.)
Airports:
477 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 273
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 80
under 914 m: 57 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 95
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 204
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 74
under 914 m: 128 (2002)
Heliports:
3 (2002)
Military France
Military branches:
Army (includes marines), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force
(includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 14,523,208 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,079,413 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 392,824 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$46.5 billion (2000)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.57% (2002)
Transnational Issues France
Disputes - international:
Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands,
and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims
Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and French
Guiana; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew and
Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia, claimed by France and Vanuatu
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine,
Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@French Guiana
Introduction French Guiana
Background:
First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of
notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency
launches its communication satellites from Kourou.
Geography French Guiana
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Brazil and Suriname
Geographic coordinates:
4 00 N, 53 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 91,000 sq km
water: 1,850 sq km
land: 89,150 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline:
378 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0.11% NEGL
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 99.86% (90% forest, 10% other) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion of
the South American continent
People French Guiana
Population:
186,917 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.9% (male 28,565; female 27,280)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 64,836; female 55,498)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 5,455; female 5,283) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.2 years
male: 29.2 years
female: 27.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.4% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
21.33 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
7.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.69 years
male: 73.36 years
female: 80.18 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.09 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective: French Guianese
Ethnic groups:
black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian
12%, other 10%
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83%
male: 84%
female: 82% (1982 est.)
Government French Guiana
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Guiana
conventional short form: French Guiana
local short form: Guyane
local long form: none
Dependency status:
overseas department of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Cayenne
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Ange MANCINI (since 31 July 2002)
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; presidents of the General and Regional
Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
head of government: President of the General Council Joseph
HO-TEN-YOU (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council
Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a
unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be
held NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to
be held NA 2004)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PSG 5, various left-wing parties 5, independents 7,
other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%,
various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari
Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6,
independents 3, Walwari Committee 2
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998
(next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French
National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007);
results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR
1, Walwari Committee 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in
Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French
Guiana)
Political parties and leaders:
Guyanese Democratic Action or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; Guyanese
Socialist Party or PSG [Marie-Claude VERDAN]; Guyana Democratic
Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Popular National Guyanese Party or
PNPG [Jose DORCY]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Roland
HO-WEN-SZE]; Socialist Party or PS [Pierre RIBARDIERE]; Walwari
Committee [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy French Guiana
Economy - overview:
The economy is tied closely to the larger French economy through
subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou
(which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are the most
important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the
country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully
exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn
logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal
area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc
are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports
of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly
among younger workers.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.26 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $14,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
58,800 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation:
services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%,
agriculture 18.2% (1980)
Unemployment rate:
22% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $225 million
expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105
million (1996)
Industries:
construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
455 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
423.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas;
cattle, pigs, poultry
Exports:
$155 million f.o.b.
Exports - commodities:
shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing
Exports - partners:
France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (2001)
Imports:
$625 million c.i.f.
Imports - commodities:
food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment,
fuels and chemicals
Imports - partners:
France 63%, US, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.2 billion (1988)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
euro (EUR); French franc (FRF)
Currency code:
EUR; FRF
Exchange rates:
Euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications French Guiana
Telephones - main lines in use:
47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fair open-wire and microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5
repeaters) (1998)
Radios:
104,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
30,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation French Guiana
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 722 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1996)
Waterways:
3,300 km navigable by native craft
note: 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and
river steamers
Ports and harbors:
Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
11 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Military French Guiana
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 51,444 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 33,345 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Guiana
Disputes - international:
Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini
(both headwaters of the Lawa)
Illicit drugs:
small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor
transshipment point to Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@French Polynesia
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.
Geography French Polynesia
Location:
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of
the way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
water: 507 sq km
land: 3,660 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,525 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.01%
other: 92.35% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
occasional cyclonic storms in January
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 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:
262,125 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.3% (male 37,804; female 36,249)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 90,421; female 83,304)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 7,226; female 7,121) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.7 years
male: 27.1 years
female: 26.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.62% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.45 years
male: 73.08 years
female: 77.93 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.14 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 (official), Tahitian (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)
Government French Polynesia
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
former: French Colony of Oceania
Dependency status:
overseas territory of France since 1946
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Papeete
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel
des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French
Polynesia
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
based on French system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Michel
MATHIEU (since 24 October 2001)
head of government: President of the Territorial Government of
French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of
the Territorial Assembly Lucette TAERO (since 17 May 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
ministers
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
are elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (49 seats
- changed from 41 seats for May 2001 election; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 6 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006)
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on NA September 1998
(next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the
French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA
2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Independent Front for
the Liberation of Polynesia 13, New Fatherland Party 7, other 1
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:
Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini
Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile
VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR
(Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api)
[leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered
on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the
lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a
stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the
French flag is used for official occasions
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 - $1.3 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 18%
services: 76% (1997)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5%
Labor force:
70,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997)
Unemployment rate:
11.8% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $1 billion
expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185
million (1996)
Industries:
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
428.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 60.7%
hydro: 39.3%
other: 0%; note - sun, wind, biomass (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
398.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy
products, coffee
Exports:
$260 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:
cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla,
shark meat (1997)
Exports - partners:
France 37.4%, Japan 35.5%, US 17.5% (2002)
Imports:
$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners:
France 58.9%, Australia 12.2%, New Zealand 6.9%, US 6.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$367 million (1997)
Currency:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the
euro in 2003
Currency code:
XPF
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 126.41
(2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998)
note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications French Polynesia
Telephones - main lines in use:
52,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5,427 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
128,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
40,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.pf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
16,000 (2002)
Transportation French Polynesia
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 2,590 km
paved: 1,735 km
unpaved: 855 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 12,679 GRT/13,915 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
45 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Military French Polynesia
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces (including
Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Polynesia
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Introduction French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Background:
The Southern Lands consist of two archipelagos, Iles Crozet and
Iles Kerguelen, and two volcanic islands, Ile Amsterdam and Ile
Saint-Paul. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited
only by researchers studying the native fauna. The Antarctic portion
consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent
discovered and claimed by the French in 1840.
Geography French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Location:
southeast of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about
equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French
Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul,
Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen 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:
43 00 S, 67 00 E
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 7,829 sq km
note: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and Iles
Kerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in
Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
water: 0 sq km
land: 7,829 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,232 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM from Iles Kerguelen only
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
antarctic
Terrain:
volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m
Natural resources:
fish, crayfish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in
the southern Indian Ocean
People French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants (July 2002 est.)
note: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary from
winter (July) to summer (January) (July 2003 est.)
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
Dependency status:
overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by
Administrateur Superieur Francois GARDE (since 24 May 2000),
assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles
Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica
that is not recognized by the US
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
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
Economy French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and
geophysical research stations 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
Transportation French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,596,194 GRT/5,924,475 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 4, chemical tanker 14, container 15,
liquefied gas 5, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 17, roll on/roll off
11, vehicle carrier 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belgium 2, France 62, Japan 3, Monaco 1, Norway 5,
Sweden 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
none (2002)
Military French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Disputes - international:
"Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Gabon
Introduction Gabon
Background:
Ruled by autocratic presidents since independence from France in
1960, Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new constitution in
the early 1990s that allowed for a more transparent electoral
process and for reforms of governmental institutions. A small
population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign
support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous black
African countries.
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
water: 10,000 sq km
land: 257,667 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 1.26%
permanent crops: 0.66%
other: 98.08% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
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:
1,321,560
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 280,218; female 278,808)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 352,363; female 355,315)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 22,786; female 32,070) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.5 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 18.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.54% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
11.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 55.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 65.12 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.12 years
male: 55.45 years
female: 58.84 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.83 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
23,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,000 (2001 est.)
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.)
Government Gabon
Country name:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties
legalized in 1990)
Capital:
Libreville
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:
Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)
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 El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE
(since 23 January 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percent of
vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO 66.6%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr. Paul
M'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; members
elected by members of municipal councils and departmental
assemblies) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120
seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 9 and 23 December 2001
(next to be held NA December 2006); Senate - last held 26 January
and 9 February 1997 (next to be held in January 2004)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - PDG 86, RNB-RPG 8, PGP 3, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PUP
1, PSD 1, independents 13, others 3; Senate - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1,
CLR 1, independents 9
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];
Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge
DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party
[Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP
[Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE,]; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally
for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's
Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and
Progress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD
[Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJA
consulate(s): New York
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth P. MOOREFIELD
embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92
FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
Economy Gabon
Economy - overview:
Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most nations of
sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme
poverty; yet 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 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating
prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the
abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the
economy. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12
January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate
dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby
arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility
(EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by
credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandate
progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided
additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF
targets for mid-1996. 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
in 1999-2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon
from fully realizing potential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed
a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt.
A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in
December 2001. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world
economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $8.354 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 60%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
600,000
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 60%, services 25%, industry 15%
Unemployment rate:
21% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.8 billion
expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $310
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, and gold mining;
chemicals; ship repair; food and beverage; textile; lumbering and
plywood; cement.
Industrial production growth rate:
1.6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
798.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 34.5%
hydro: 65.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
742.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
301,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
2.45 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
80 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
80 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
66.47 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical
softwood); fish
Exports:
$2.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
Exports - partners:
US 46.5%, France 11.6%, China 6.5%, Netherlands Antilles 5.8% (2002)
Imports:
$1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction
materials
Imports - partners:
France 50.7%, US 6.3%, Netherlands 3.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$331 million (1995)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Gabon
Telephones - main lines in use:
39,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
120,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate service by African standards and
improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable to be in service in 2002
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:
208,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
63,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ga
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)
Internet users:
18,000 (2002)
Transportation Gabon
Railways:
total: 814 km
standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 8,464 km
paved: 838 km
unpaved: 7,626 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:
1,600 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines:
gas 210 km; oil 1,426 km; water 3 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo,
Port-Gentil
Airports:
57 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 47
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Military Gabon
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential (Republican) Guard (charged
with protecting the president and other senior officials), National
Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 305,603 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 158,226 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 12,853 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$81.9 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Gabon
Disputes - international:
creation of a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
with Equatorial Guinea is hampered by dispute over small islets on
Mbane/Mbagne bank, administered and occupied by Gabon since the 1970s
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Gambia, The
Introduction Gambia, The
Background:
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a
short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and
1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation
treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned
political activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential
elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a
nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round
of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early
2002.
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: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 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:
contiguous zone: 18 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
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 location 53 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 19.5%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 80% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
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:
1,501,050 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.9% (male 338,497; female 335,503)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 390,150; female 396,763)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 20,836; female 19,301) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.4 years
male: 17.3 years
female: 17.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
40.77 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.35 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 1.08 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 74.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 81.67 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.38 years
male: 52.39 years
female: 56.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.53 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
400 (2001 est.)
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%
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
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.)
Government Gambia, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
Banjul
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North
Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence:
18 February 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:
24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by
national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in January 1997
Legal system:
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic 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; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he 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
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 18 October
2001 (next to be held NA October 2006)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote,
five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held NA January
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC
[Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's
Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou
DARBOE]; 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 [Sidia JATTA]
note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed
the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned
since 1996
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Lena Manga
Sagnia SECK
chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson McDONALD
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971
FAX: [220] 392475
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges,
and green
Economy Gambia, The
Economy - overview:
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and
has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends
on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing
activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides.
Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic
activity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan,
and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of
the reexport trade away from The Gambia. The government's 1998
seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest
purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons
have seen substantially lower prices and sales. A decline in tourism
in 2000 has also held back growth. Unemployment and underemployment
rates are extremely high. Shortrun economic progress remains highly
dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on
responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF
technical help and advice, and on expected growth in the
construction sector.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.582 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.7% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 13%
services: 54% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
400,000
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $90.5 million
expenditures: $80.9 million, including capital expenditures of $4.1
million (2001 est.)
Industries:
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages;
agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
85.33 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
79.36 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca),
palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:
$138 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:
France 21.9%, UK 19.1%, Malaysia 11.8%, Italy 11.1%, Germany 7.3%,
Belgium 6.3%, South Africa 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$225 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:
China 21.8%, Senegal 8.9%, Brazil 7.8%, UK 6.5%, Netherlands 5.4%,
India 4.9%, Belgium 4.5%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$476 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$45.4 million (1995)
Currency:
dalasi (GMD)
Currency code:
GMD
Exchange rates:
dalasi per US dollar - NA (2002), 15.69 (2001), 12.79 (2000), 11.4
(1999), 10.64 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,900 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5,624 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is
available
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire
international: microwave radio relay links to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:
196,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (government-owned) (1997)
Televisions:
5,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.gm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2001)
Internet users:
5,000 (2001)
Transportation Gambia, The
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 2,700 km
paved: 956 km
unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)
Waterways:
400 km
Ports and harbors:
Banjul
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Gambia, The
Military branches:
Gambian National Army (GNA) (includes marine unit), National
Police, Presidential Guard
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 338,800 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 170,904 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.2 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Gambia, The
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip
Introduction Gaza Strip
Background:
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,
provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years of
Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and
responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes the
Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of
the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip
and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo
Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional
areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995
Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol
Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998
Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh
Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility
during the transitional period for external and internal security
and for public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Direct
negotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bank
had begun in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, but have been
derailed by a second intifadah that broke out in September 2000. The
resulting widespread violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,
Israel's military response, and instability within the Palestinian
Authority continue to undermine progress toward a permanent
agreement.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 360 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 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources:
arable land, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 26.32%
permanent crops: 39.47%
other: 34.21% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (1998 est.)
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:
there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the
Gaza Strip (February 2002 est.)
People Gaza Strip
Population:
1,274,868 (July 2002 est.)
note: in addition, there are more than 5,000 Israeli settlers in the
Gaza Strip (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 49.4% (male 322,658; female 307,026)
15-64 years: 47.9% (male 310,910; female 299,724)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 14,645; female 19,905) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 15.3 years
male: 15.1 years
female: 15.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.89% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
41.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 25.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.4 years
male: 70.13 years
female: 72.73 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.17 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
Religions:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians),
English (widely understood)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: 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:
Economic output in the Gaza Strip - under the responsibility of the
Palestinian Authority since the Cairo Agreement of May 1994 -
declined by about one-third between 1992 and 1996. The downturn was
largely the result of Israeli closure policies - the imposition of
generalized border closures in response to security incidents in
Israel - which disrupted previously established labor and commodity
market relationships between Israel and the WBGS (West Bank and Gaza
Strip). The most serious negative social effect of this downturn was
the emergence of high unemployment; unemployment in the WBGS during
the 1980s was generally under 5%; by 1995 it had risen to over 20%.
Israel's use of comprehensive closures decreased during the next few
years and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce the
impact of closures and other security procedures on the movement of
Palestinian goods and labor. These changes fueled an almost
three-year-long economic recovery in the West Bank and Gaza Strip;
real GDP grew by 5% in 1998 and 6% in 1999. Recovery was upended in
the last quarter of 2000 with the outbreak of violence, triggering
tight Israeli closures of Palestinian self-rule areas and a severe
disruption of trade and labor movements. In 2001, and even more
severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in Palestinian Authority
areas resulted in the destruction of capital plant and
administrative structure, widespread business closures, and a sharp
drop in GDP. Another major loss has been the decline in income
earned by Palestinian workers in Israel. International aid of $2
billion in 2001-02 to the Gaza Strip and West Bank have prevented
the complete collapse of the economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $735 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-15% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63% (includes West Bank)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (includes West Bank) (2001 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
services 66%, industry 21%, agriculture 13% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
50% (includes West Bank) (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $930 million
expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $15
million (includes West Bank) (2000 est.)
Industries:
generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap,
olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis
have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial
center
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel (2001)
Agriculture - products:
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports:
$603 million f.o.b., includes West Bank
Exports - commodities:
citrus, flowers
Exports - partners:
Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Imports:
$1.9 billion c.i.f., includes West Bank
Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners:
Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Debt - external:
$108 million (includes West Bank) (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$800 million (includes West Bank) (2001 est.)
Currency:
new Israeli shekel (ILS)
Currency code:
ILS
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001),
4.0773 (2000), 4.1397 (1999), 3.8001 (1998), 3.4494 (1997)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Gaza Strip
Telephones - main lines in use:
95,729 (total for Gaza Strip and West Bank) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: rudimentary telephone services provided by an open-wire
system
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (operated by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation) (1997)
Televisions:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (1999)
Internet users:
60,000 (includes West Bank) (2001)
Transportation Gaza Strip
Railways:
total: NA km; note - one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little
trackage remains (2001 est.)
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: small, poorly developed road network
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Gaza
Airports:
2 (2001)
note: includes Gaza International Airport (GIA), inaugurated on 24
November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the September 1995
Oslo II Accord and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum; GIA has
been largely closed since October 2000 by Israeli orders and its
runway was destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces in December 2001
(2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Gaza Strip
Military branches:
in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority
is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, a
Public Security Force and a civil Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Georgia
Introduction Georgia
Background:
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. Ethnic separation in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, poor governance, and Russian military bases deny the
government effective control over the entirety of the state's
internationally recognized territory. Despite myriad problems, some
progress on market reforms and democratization has been made. An
attempt by the government to manipulate legislative elections in
November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the
resignation of President Eduard SHEVARDNADZE.
Geography Georgia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and
Russia
Geographic coordinates:
42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 69,700 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:
NA
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:
forests, 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: 11.21%
permanent crops: 4.09%
other: 84.7% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
4,700 sq km (1998 est.)
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:
4,934,413 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 466,743; female 449,440)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,628,757; female 1,744,922)
65 years and over: 13% (male 252,031; female 392,520) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.8 years
male: 32.6 years
female: 37 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.52% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
14.71 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 51.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 56.83 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.76 years
male: 61.33 years
female: 68.36 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.51 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups:
Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian
3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
Religions:
Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian
Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
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: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98% (1999 est.)
Government Georgia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: none
Government type:
republic
Capital:
T'bilisi
Administrative divisions:
9 regions, (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi,
singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy
respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is
Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri
Respublika** (Bat'umi), Chiat'ura*, Gori*, Guria, Imereti, Kakheti,
K'ut'aisi*, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, P'ot'i*,
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Rust'avi*, Samegrelo and Zemo
Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli, T'bilisi*, Tqibuli*,
Tsqaltubo*, Zugdidi*
note: the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous republics are
shown in parentheses
Independence:
9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the date of
independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date of
independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 17 October 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nino BURJANADZE (acting president since
23 November 2003; formerly parliamentary speaker, she assumed the
presidency upon the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nino BURJANADZE (acting president
since 23 November 2003; formerly parliamentary speaker, she assumed
the presidency upon the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE reelected president; percent
of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 80%; note - following the resignation
of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, Nino BURJANADZE became acting president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held 4 January 2004 to
replace Eduard SHEVARDNADZE)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or
Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party (from earlier 1999
elections) - CUG 41.7%, AGUR 25.2%, IWSG 7.1%, all other parties
received less than 7% each; seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 64, IWSG
15, Labor 2, Abkhaz (government-in-exile) deputies 12, independents
12
elections: last held 2 November 2003 but results were invalidated
(next to be held spring 2004)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the
president's recommendation); Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG [Avtandil JORBENADZE]; Georgian
People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or
UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE];
Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party
[Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina
SARISHVILI-CHANTURIA]; New National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI];
New Right [Levaii GACHECHILADZE]; Republican Party [David
BERDZENISHVILI]; "Revival" Union Party or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE];
Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki
ASATIANI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile;
separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Levan MIKELADZE
chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20009
FAX: [1] (202) 393-6060
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard M. MILES
embassy: #25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68
FAX: [995] (32) 933-759
Flag description:
maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner;
rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
Economy Georgia
Economy - overview:
Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of
agricultural products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, and
grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small
industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages,
metals, machinery, and chemicals. The country imports the bulk of
its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only
sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe
damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with
the help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic
gains since 1995, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing
inflation. However, the Georgian Government suffers from limited
resources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia
also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisi
distribution network in 1998, but collection rates are low, making
the venture unprofitable. The country is pinning its hopes for
long-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines and
trade. The start of construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will bring
much-needed investment and job opportunities.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $16.05 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 25%
services: 55% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.1 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 20%, agriculture 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
17% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $499 million
expenditures: $554 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining
(manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2000)
Electricity - production:
7.27 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.7%
hydro: 80.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
7.611 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
850 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
31,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, grapes, tea, hazlenuts, vegetables; livestock
Exports:
$515 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits,
tea, wine
Exports - partners:
Turkey 23%, Italy 12.1%, Russia 11.4%, Greece 8.5%, Netherlands
7.5%, Spain 5.9%, Turkmenistan 4.7%, Ukraine 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$750 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and other
foods, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
Turkey 15.6%, Azerbaijan 11.2%, US 9.9%, Russia 9.1%, Germany 7.2%,
Italy 5.1%, Bulgaria 4.9%, Romania 4.3%, France 4.2%, Ukraine 4.1%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$1.7 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $150 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
lari (GEL)
Currency code:
GEL
Exchange rates:
lari per US dollar - 2.2 (2002), 2.07 (2001), 1.98 (2000), 2.02
(1999), 1.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Georgia
Telephones - main lines in use:
620,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
185,500 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone
networks; urban 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: Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line
between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); present international service is
available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow
switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:
2.57 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ge
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
25,000 (2002)
Transportation Georgia
Railways:
total: 1,612 km
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 20,362 km
paved: 19,038 km
unpaved: 1,325 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 1,495 km; oil 1,029 km; refined products 232 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi
Merchant marine:
total: 116 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 483,028 GRT/713,461 DWT
ships by type: bulk 16, cargo 72, chemical tanker 1, container 11,
petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2,
specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belize 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 4,
Gibraltar 1, Greece 5, Jordan 1, Latvia 1, Liberia 1, Malta 1,
Panama 9, Romania 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Syria 5, Turkey 2,
Ukraine 7, UAE 11, UK 1, US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
40 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 5
Transportation - note:
transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic
conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks
maintenance and repair
Military Georgia
Military branches:
Ground Forces (includes National Guard), combined Air and Air
Defense Forces, Naval Forces, Republic Security and Police Forces
(internal and border troops)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,302,815 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,028,913 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 43,359 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$23 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.59% (FY00)
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:
boundary with Russia has been largely delimited, but not demarcated
with several small, strategic segments remaining in dispute and OSCE
observers monitoring volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the
Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; Meshkheti Turks
scattered throughout the former Soviet Union seek to return to
Georgia; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek
greater autonomy, closer ties with Armenia
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Germany
Introduction Germany
Background:
As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germany
remains a key member of the continent's economic, political, and
defense organizations. European power struggles immersed the country
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 2002, Germany and 11 other EU
countries introduced a common European currency, the euro.
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: 357,021 sq km
water: 7,798 sq km
land: 349,223 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:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers;
occasional warm 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:
iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural
gas, salt, nickel, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 33.88%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 65.47% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
4,850 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance
to the Baltic Sea
People Germany
Population:
82,398,326 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.9% (male 6,312,614; female 5,988,681)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 28,213,316; female 27,240,648)
65 years and over: 17.8% (male 5,842,457; female 8,800,610) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 41.3 years
male: 39.9 years
female: 42.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.04% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
8.6 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.42 years
male: 75.46 years
female: 81.55 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
41,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
660 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: German(s)
adjective: German
Ethnic groups:
German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of
Serbo-Croatian, Italian, Russian, Greek, Polish, 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% (1977 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Germany
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form: Germany
local short form: Deutschland
former: German Empire, German Republic, German Reich
local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
Berlin
Administrative divisions:
16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern,
Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen,
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,
Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt,
Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen
Independence:
18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four
zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, 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;
unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October
1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991
National holiday:
Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Constitution:
23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united
German people 3 October 1990
Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Johannes RAU (since 1 July 1999)
elections: president elected for a five-year term by a Federal
Convention including all members of the Federal Assembly and an
equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; election
last held 23 May 1999 (next to be held 23 May 2004); chancellor
elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a
four-year term; election last held 22 September 2002 (next to be
held NA September 2006)
head of government: Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since 27 October
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by
the president on the recommendation of the chancellor
election results: Johannes RAU elected president; percent of Federal
Convention vote - 57.6%; Gerhard SCHROEDER elected chancellor;
percent of Federal Assembly vote 50.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or parlament consists of the Federal Assembly
or Bundestag (603 seats; elected by popular vote under a system
combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win
5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain
representation; members serve four-year terms) and the Federal
Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directly
represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on population
and are required to vote as a block)
elections: Federal Assembly - last held 22 September 2002 (next to
be held NA September 2006); 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: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - SPD
38.5%, CDU/CSU 38.5%, Alliance '90/Greens 8.6%, FDP 7.4%, PDS 4%;
seats by party - SPD 251, CDU/CSU 248, Alliance '90/Greens 55, FDP
47, PDS 2; Federal Council - current composition - NA
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 [Angelika BEER and Reinhard BUETIKOFER];
Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian Social
Union or CSU [Edmund STOIBER, chairman]; Free Democratic Party or
FDP [Guido WESTERWELLE, chairman]; Party of Democratic Socialism or
PDS [Lothar BISKY]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [Gerhard
SCHROEDER, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
employers' organizations; expellee, refugee, trade unions, and
veterans groups
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS,
CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7,
G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UPU,
WADB (nonregional), WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wolfgang Friedrich ISCHINGER
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249
telephone: [1] (202) 298-8140
chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel R. COATS
embassy: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5, 10117 Berlin; note - a new
embassy will be built near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265
telephone: [49] (30) 238-5174
FAX: [49] (30) 238-6290
consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg,
Leipzig, Munich
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold
Economy Germany
Economy - overview:
Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy has turned
in a weak performance throughout much of the 1990s and early 2000s.
The modernization and integration of the eastern German economy
continues to be a costly long-term problem, with annual transfers
from west to east amounting to roughly $70 billion. Germany's ageing
population, combined with high unemployment, has pushed social
security outlays to a level exceeding contributions from workers.
Structural rigidities in the labor market - including strict
regulations on laying off workers and the setting of wages on a
national basis - have made unemployment a chronic problem. Growth in
2002 and 2003 fell short of 1%. Corporate restructuring and growing
capital markets are setting the foundations that could allow Germany
to meet the long-term challenges of European economic integration
and globalization, particularly if labor market rigidities are
further addressed. In the short run, however, the fall in government
revenues and the rise in expenditures have raised the deficit above
the EU's 3% debt limit.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.16 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $26,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 31%
services: 68% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
41.9 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 33.4%, agriculture 2.8%, services 63.8% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $802 billion
expenditures: $825 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
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:
-2.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
544.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.8%
hydro: 4.2%
other: 4.1% (2001)
nuclear: 29.9%
Electricity - consumption:
506.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
43.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
44 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
85,860 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.813 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
404,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
3.081 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
327.3 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
22.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
94.34 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
6.674 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
78.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
298.3 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle,
pigs, poultry
Exports:
$608 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures,
foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners:
France 10.7%, US 10.3%, UK 8.4%, Italy 7.3%, Netherlands 6.1%,
Austria 5.1%, Belgium 4.8%, Spain 4.6%, Switzerland 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$487.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals
Imports - partners:
France 9.5%, Netherlands 8.2%, US 7.7%, UK 6.5%, Italy 6.4%,
Belgium 5.2%, Austria 4%, China 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $5.6 billion (1998)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999), 1.76 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Germany
Telephones - main lines in use:
50.9 million (March 2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
55.3 million (June 2001)
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: 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
77.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
51.4 million (1998)
Internet country code:
.de
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
200 (2001)
Internet users:
32.1 million (2002)
Transportation Germany
Railways:
total: 45,514 km (21,000 km electrified)
standard gauge: 45,276 km 1.435-m gauge (20,084 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 214 km 1.000-m gauge (16 km electrified); 24 km
0.750-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 230,735 km
paved: 230,735 km (including 11,515 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:
7,500 km
note: major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel Canal is an
important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea (1999)
Pipelines:
condensate 325 km; gas 25,289 km; oil 3,743 km; refined products
3,827 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne, Dresden,
Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Luebeck, Magdeburg,
Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart
Merchant marine:
total: 337 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,036,397 GRT/7,334,067 DWT
ships by type: cargo 94, chemical tanker 15, container 203,
liquefied gas 3, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 5, railcar carrier 2,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 7
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Chile 1, Finland 5, Iceland 1, Netherlands 3,
Switzerland 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
551 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 328
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 54
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 131 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 223
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 189 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 31
Heliports:
40 (2002)
Military Germany
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including naval air arm), Air Force, Medical Corps,
Joint Support Service
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 20,509,838 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 17,399,936 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 472,946 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$38.8 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.38% (2002)
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Ghana
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 country
in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups
resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the
banning of political parties. A new constitution, restoring
multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, head
of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996,
but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in
2000. He was succeeded by John KUFUOR, who defeated former Vice
President Atta MILLS in a free and fair election.
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: 239,460 sq km
land: 230,940 sq km
water: 8,520 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 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 880 m
Natural resources:
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish,
rubber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 15.82%
permanent crops: 7.47%
other: 76.71% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
110 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, 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:
20,467,747
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.9% (male 4,021,570; female 3,938,454)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 5,859,940; female 5,909,910)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 350,045; female 387,828) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.5 years
female: 20 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.45% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
25.84 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.53 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 53.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 55.97 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.53 years
male: 55.66 years
female: 57.43 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.32 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
360,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
28,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups:
black African 98.5% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%,
Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5% (1998)
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 21%, Muslim 16%, Christian 63%
Languages:
English (official), African languages (including Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 67.1% (2003 est.)
male: 82.7%
total population: 74.8%
People - note:
there are 9,500 Liberians, 2,000 Sierra Leoneans, and 1,000
Togolese refugees residing in Ghana (2002)
Government Ghana
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Accra
Administrative divisions:
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra,
Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence:
6 March 1957 (from 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 Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January
2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January
2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject
to approval by Parliament
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 and 28
December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2004)
election results: John Agyekum KUFUOR elected president in runoff
election; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 56.4%, John Atta MILLS 43.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct,
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 December 2000 (next to be held NA December
2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NPP 100, NDC 92, PNC 3, CPP 1, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Convention People's Party or CPP [Nii Noi DOWUONA, general
secretary]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA,
chairman]; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTY];
National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; National
Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary];
New Patriotic Party or NPP [Samuel Arthur ODOI-SYKES]; People's
Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman];
People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE];
People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]; Reform Party
[Kyeretwie OPUKU, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS
(observer), OAU, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. KYEREMATEN
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Carlin YATES
embassy: 6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 775-347, 775-348
FAX: [233] (21) 701-813
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a
large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; 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
Economy Ghana
Economy - overview:
Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the
per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so,
Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and
technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major
sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to
revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 36% of
GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders.
Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country
(HIPC) program in 2002. Policy priorities include tighter monetary
and fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement of
social services.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $41.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 36%
industry: 25%
services: 39% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
31.4% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.7 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
9 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.603 billion
expenditures: $1.975 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food
processing
Industrial production growth rate:
3.8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
8.801 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 5%
hydro: 95%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
8.835 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
300 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
950 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
7,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
38,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
8.255 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
11.89 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts,
bananas; timber
Exports:
$2.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore,
diamonds
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 14.8%, UK 9.9%, US 7%, Germany 6.6%, France 5.8%,
Nigeria 4.8%, Belgium 4.4%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Nigeria 21.3%, UK 7.2%, US 6.6%, China 6.2%, Italy 6.1%, Cote
d'Ivoire 6.1%, Germany 4.7%, Netherlands 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$7.2 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$6.9 billion (1999)
Currency:
cedi (GHC)
Currency code:
GHC
Exchange rates:
cedis per US dollar - NA (2002), 7,170.76 (2001), 5,455.06 (2000),
2,669.3 (1999), 2,314.15 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Ghana
Telephones - main lines in use:
240,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
150,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor to fair system; Internet accessible; many
rural communities not yet connected; expansion of services is
underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has
been installed
international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana
to its neighbors
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios:
12.5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
10 (2001)
Televisions:
1.9 million (2001)
Internet country code:
.gh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
12 (2000)
Internet users:
200,000 (2002)
Transportation Ghana
Railways:
total: 953 km
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 39,409 km
paved: 11,665 km
unpaved: 27,744 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,293 km
note: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial
navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km
of arterial and feeder waterways
Pipelines:
refined products 74 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,559 GRT/27,531 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Brazil 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Spain 1
(2002 est.)
ships by type: petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 6
Airports:
12 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Ghana
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 5,240,557 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,911,474 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 239,742 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$36.01 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.6% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Ghana
Disputes - international:
Ghana has received many refugees and returning nationals escaping
rebel fighting in Cote d'Ivoire
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 corruption have made money laundering a
problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure
limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Gibraltar
Introduction Gibraltar
Background:
Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by
Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was
formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967 and
2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted
overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency.
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 8 N, 5 21 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
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:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
27,776 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 2,593; female 2,482)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 9,458; female 8,946)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 1,873; female 2,424) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.8 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 39 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.22% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.93 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.92 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.38 years
male: 76.51 years
female: 82.4 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.9%, Church of England 6.9%, Muslim 6.9%, Jewish
2.3%, none or other 7% (1991)
Languages:
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish,
Italian, Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Gibraltar
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Gibraltar
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 go with Spain
Constitution:
30 May 1969
Legal system:
English law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have been
residents six months or more
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief Sir Francis RICHARDS
(since 27 May 2003)
elections: none; the monarch 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
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 15 elected
members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation
with the chief minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected by popular
vote, one appointed for the Speaker, and two ex officio members;
members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 November 2003 (next to be held not later
than NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 58%, GSLP 41%;
seats by party - GSD 8, GSLP 7
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)
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
Economy Gibraltar
Economy - overview:
Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore
banking, and its position as an international conference center. 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), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also
generate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, and
tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts
for another 10%. 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 - $500 million (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $17,500 (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (1998)
Labor force:
14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL%
Unemployment rate:
2% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $307 million
expenditures: $284 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
100 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
93 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
42,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
none
Exports:
$81.1 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%,
other 8%
Exports - partners:
UK 27.7%, Switzerland 14.3%, Germany 12%, France 6.9%, Spain 6.1%,
Turkmenistan 5%, Ukraine 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$492 million c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 27.3%, Spain 21.8%, UK 12.1%, Italy 8% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA; note - if an agreement between Spain and the UK is reached,
could receive 50 million euros from the EU
Currency:
Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Currency code:
GIP
Exchange rates:
Gibraltar pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001),
0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); note - the Gibraltar
pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Gibraltar
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,620 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system and
adequate international facilities
domestic: automatic exchange facilities
international: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Gibraltar
Highways:
total: 29 km
paved: 29 km
unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
0 km
Ports and harbors:
Gibraltar
Merchant marine:
total: 114 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,008,140 GRT/1,435,595 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, France 2, Germany 55, Greece 6,
Ireland 1, Monaco 2, Norway 3, United Kingdom 13 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 58, chemical tanker 14, container 20,
multi-functional large-load carrier 3, passenger 2, petroleum tanker
13, roll on/roll off 2
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Gibraltar
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; British Army, Royal Navy,
Royal Air Force
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Gibraltar
Disputes - international:
Gibraltar residents vote overwhelmingly in referendum against
"total shared sovereignty" arrangement worked out between Spain and
UK to change 300-year rule over colony
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Glorioso Islands
Introduction Glorioso Islands
Background:
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.
Geography Glorioso Islands
Location:
Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 5 sq km
note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock,
and South Rock
water: 0 sq km
land: 5 sq km
Area - comparative:
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
35.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
low and flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 12 m
Natural resources:
guano, coconuts
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system
People Glorioso Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few
meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2003 est.)
Government Glorioso Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
local short form: Iles Glorieuses
local long form: none
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the
Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (possession of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Glorioso Islands
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Communications Glorioso Islands
Communications - note:
1 meteorological station
Transportation Glorioso Islands
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Glorioso Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Glorioso Islands
Disputes - international:
claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Greece
Introduction Greece
Background:
Greece achieved its 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. Following the
defeat of Communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A
military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political
liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven
years. Democratic elections in 1974 and a referendum created a
parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy; Greece joined the
European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992).
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: 131,940 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km
land: 130,800 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,
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 246 km
Coastline:
13,676 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 6 NM
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:
bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 22.12%
permanent crops: 8.47%
other: 69.41% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
14,220 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
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, Antarctic
Treaty, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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:
10,665,989 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 811,080; female 761,728)
15-64 years: 67% (male 3,578,320; female 3,557,800)
65 years and over: 18.3% (male 866,425; female 1,090,636) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.8 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 41 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.19% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.89 years
male: 76.32 years
female: 81.65 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.35 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups:
Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in
Greece
Religions:
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:
Greek 99% (official), English, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.6%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Government Greece
Country name:
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
Government type:
parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December
1974
Capital:
Athens
Administrative divisions:
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos)and 1 autonomous region*;
Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, Argolis,
Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, 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, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella,
Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS
(since 10 March 1995)
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 8 February 2000 (next to be held by NA February
2005); prime minister appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19
January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president;
percent of Parliament vote - 90%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held by NA
May 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 43.8%, ND 42.7%,
KKE 5.5%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 3.2%; seats by party -
PASOK 158, ND 125, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6;
note - seats by party as of January 2002 - PASOK 156, ND 122, KKE
11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6, independents 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges
appointed for life by the president after consultation with a
judicial council
Political parties and leaders:
Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos
KONSTANTOPOULOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA];
New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS];
Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos SIMITIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU,
EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yeoryious SAVVAIDES
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. MILLER
embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 101 60 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; there
is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white
cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established
religion of the country
Economy Greece
Economy - overview:
Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector
accounting for half of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of the
leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants
make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs.
Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of GDP.
The economy has improved steadily with economic growth averaging 4%
since 1997, exceeding EU growth by more than 1 percentage point.
Remaining challenges include the reduction of the public debt,
inflation, and unemployment; and further restructuring of the
economy, including privatizing several state enterprises,
undertaking pension and other reforms, and minimizing bureaucratic
inefficiencies. The Olympic Games will be held in Athens in mid-2004.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $203.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.1%
industry: 22.3%
services: 69.3% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.7 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.37 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 20%, agriculture 20%, services 59% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $45 billion
expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal
products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
49.79 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 94.5%
hydro: 3.8%
other: 1.7% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
48.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.062 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
3.562 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
5,992 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
405,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
84,720 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
468,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
4.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
35 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.021 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.018 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
254.9 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco,
potatoes; beef, dairy products
Exports:
$12.6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,
chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners:
Germany 10.4%, Italy 8.5%, UK 6.3%, Bulgaria 5.4%, US 5.3%, Cyprus
4.7% (2002)
Imports:
$31.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Germany 12.2%, Italy 11.5%, Russia 7.4%, South Korea 6%, France
5.7%, Netherlands 5.6%, US 4.7%, Belgium 4.3%, UK 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$63.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$5.4 billion from EU
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 365.4 (2000),
305.65 (1999), 295.53 (1998)
note: in January 2001, the drachma became a participating currency
within the Eurosystem, and the euro market rate became applicable to
all transactions
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Greece
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.431 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
937,700 (1997)
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: tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1
Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
5.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US
Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
Televisions:
2.54 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.gr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
27 (2000)
Internet users:
1.4 million (2002)
Transportation Greece
Railways:
total: 2,571 km (764 km electrified)
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge
dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail
system) (2002)
Highways:
total: 117,000 km
paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,594 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
80 km
note: system consists of three coastal canals including the Corinth
Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the
Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage
from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km; there are also
three unconnected rivers
Pipelines:
gas 1,531 km; oil 108 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra,
Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus),
Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine:
total: 813 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,173,608 GRT/51,184,723 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Ireland 1, Japan 1, Liberia 1, Norway 1, Panama 2,
Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 289, cargo 59, chemical tanker 32, combination
bulk 6, combination ore/oil 4, container 47, liquefied gas 7,
passenger 14, petroleum tanker 281, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 18, short-sea passenger 49, specialized tanker 4,
vehicle carrier 2
Airports:
79 (note - new Athens airport at Spata opened in March 2001) (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Heliports:
7 (2002)
Military Greece
Military branches:
Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, Police, National
Guard
Military manpower - military age:
21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,662,208 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,026,409 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 74,650 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$6.12 billion (FY99/00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.91% (FY99/00 est.)
Transnational Issues Greece
Disputes - international:
Greece and Turkey have resumed discussions to resolve their complex
maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea;
Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia over its name
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Greenland
Introduction Greenland
Background:
The world's largest non-continental island, about 81% ice-capped,
Greenland was granted self-government in 1978 by the Danish
parliament. The law went into effect the following year. Denmark
continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.
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:
Arctic Region
Area:
total: 2,166,086 sq km
land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km
ice-covered) (2000 est.)
Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
44,087 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
territorial sea: 3 NM
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 3,700 m
Natural resources:
zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium,
fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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, but
close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk;
world's second largest ice cap
People Greenland
Population:
56,385 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 7,463; female 7,161)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 20,885; female 17,605)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,508; female 1,763) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.1 years
male: 34.3 years
female: 31.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-8.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 18.09 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69 years
male: 65.44 years
female: 72.65 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.43 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100 (1999)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups:
Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and
others 12% (January 2000)
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: similar to Denmark proper
Government Greenland
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
local long form: none
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:
Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions:
3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu
(Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
note: foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but
Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating
to Greenland
National holiday:
June 21 (longest day)
Constitution:
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:
Danish
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA
1995)
note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit
election results: Hans ENOKSEN elected prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December
2002)
cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament
(Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of parties
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed
by the monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually the
leader of the majority party); election last held 3 December 2002
(next to be held NA December 2006)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected
by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or
Folketing on 20 November 2001 (next to be held no later than
November 2005); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1
election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 28.7%, Inuit
Ataqatigiit 25.5%, Atassut Party 20.4%, Demokratiit 15.6%,
Katusseqatigiit 5.3%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit
8, Atassut 7, Demokratiit 5, Katusseqatigiit 1
elections: last held on 3 December 2002 (next to be held by NA
December 2006)
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:
Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a
conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark)
[Augusta SALLING]; Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit
or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring complete
independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT];
Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Kattusseqatigiit
(Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with no
official platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party, a social
democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and
greater autonomy from Denmark) [Hans ENOKSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
NC, NIB
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
Economy Greenland
Economy - overview:
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and
substantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies about
half of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly
owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in
the economy. Despite several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals
exploration activities, it will take several years before production
can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term
potential, and even this is limited due to a short season and high
costs.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
24,500 (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $646 million
expenditures: $629 million, including capital expenditures of $85
million (1999)
Industries:
fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), handicrafts,
hides and skins, small shipyards, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
245 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from fossil
fuel to hydropower production (2001)
hydro: 0%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
227.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer;
fish
Exports:
$364 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)
Exports - partners:
Denmark 60.3%, Japan 15.5%, US 6%, Thailand 5%, Germany 4% (2002)
Imports:
$403 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Denmark 74.6%, Norway 14.2%, Russia 2.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$25 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:
$380 million subsidy from Denmark
Currency:
Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:
DKK
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.8947 (2002), 8.323 (2001), 8.083
(2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Greenland
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,617 (yearend 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12,676 (yearend 1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate domestic and international service
provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally
digitalized in 1995
domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite
international: satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2
Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
30,000 (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations, and three
AFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)
Televisions:
30,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:
.gl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
20,000 (2002)
Transportation Greenland
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: NA (there are no roads between towns) (2003)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Aasiaat (Egedesminde), Ilulissat (Jakobshavn), Kangerlussuaq,
Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Qaqortoq (Julianehab),
Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Tasiilaq (March 2001)
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,593 GRT/3,640 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, passenger 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
14 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
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: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Greenland
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues Greenland
Disputes - international:
uncontested dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in
the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Grenada
Introduction Grenada
Background:
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.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 344 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
121 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 26.47%
other: 67.65% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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, 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:
89,258 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.1% (male 15,840; female 15,492)
15-64 years: 61.3% (male 28,941; female 25,735)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 1,502; female 1,748) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.5 years
male: 21 years
female: 20 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.08% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
22.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-14.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 14.18 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.52 years
male: 62.74 years
female: 66.31 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.45 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government Grenada
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament
Capital:
Saint George's
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark,
Saint Patrick
Independence:
7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution:
19 December 1973
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 Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June
1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch 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 (a 13-member body, 10
appointed by the government and three by the leader of the
opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 November 2003 (next to be held by NA
November 2008)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NNP 8, NDC 7
Judicial branch:
West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an associate judge
resides in Grenada)
Political parties and leaders:
Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Herbert PREUDHOMME]; National
Democratic Congress or NDC [leader vacant]; New National Party or
NNP [George McGUIRE]; People Labor Movement or PLM [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to
Grenada
embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies
telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176
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 represent the seven administrative
divisions
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. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing,
together with the development of an offshore financial industry,
have also contributed to growth in national output.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $440 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.7%
industry: 23.9%
services: 68.4% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
32% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
42,300 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 62%, agriculture 24%, industry 14% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.5% (2000)
Budget:
revenues: $85.8 million
expenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28
million (1997)
Industries:
food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism,
construction
Industrial production growth rate:
0.7% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
138 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
128.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops,
sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Exports:
$78 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports - partners:
Germany 14%, US 13.6%, Bangladesh 9.7%, Netherlands 8.6%, Saint
Lucia 6.4%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.3%, France 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$270 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
Imports - partners:
US 30.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 27.3%, UK 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$196 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$8.3 million (1995)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Grenada
Telephones - main lines in use:
27,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
976 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic, islandwide telephone system
domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international: new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago
and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
33,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gd
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
14 (2000)
Internet users:
5,200 (2002)
Transportation Grenada
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,040 km
paved: 638 km
unpaved: 402 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Grenville, Saint George's
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Grenada
Military branches:
Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Grenada
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for
marijuana and cocaine to US
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Guadeloupe
Introduction Guadeloupe
Background:
Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island of
Saint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern portion is
named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles and its
northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe
Geography Guadeloupe
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
16 15 N, 61 35 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,780 sq km
note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands,
including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade,
Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthelemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, and
Saint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin)
water: 74 sq km
land: 1,706 sq km
Area - comparative:
10 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 10.2 km
border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
Coastline:
306 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
Terrain:
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,484 m
Natural resources:
cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 10.65%
permanent crops: 4.14%
other: 85.21% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an active
volcano
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper into
two islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller,
eastern Grande-Terre
People Guadeloupe
Population:
440,189 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 55,521; female 53,137)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 144,764; female 147,449)
65 years and over: 8.9% (male 16,443; female 22,875) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 31 years
male: 30.2 years
female: 31.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 10.33 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.53 years
male: 74.37 years
female: 80.84 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Guadeloupian(s)
adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic groups:
black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less
than 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1%
Languages:
French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 90%
female: 90% (1982 est.)
Government Guadeloupe
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
conventional short form: Guadeloupe
local short form: Guadeloupe
local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
Dependency status:
overseas department of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since 6 August 2002)
election results: NA
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; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
head of government: President of the General Council Jacques GILLOT
(since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council Lucette
MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (42 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the
unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held 22 March 1998 (next to be
held by NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next
to be held NA 2004)
note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1, FGPS
1; Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held
NA 2007); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 2, PS
1, different right parties 1
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - left-wing candidates 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6,
right-wing candidates 5, PCG 3, UDF 1; Regional Council - percent of
vote by party - RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/diverse left parties 24.49%, PCG
5.29%, diverse right parties 5.73%; seats by party - RPR 25,
PS/PPDG/diverse left parties 12, PCG 2, diverse right parties 2
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe,
French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Mona CADOCE]; FGPS [Dominique
LARIFLA]; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]; Rally
for the Republic or RPR (may have become UMP) [Lucette
MICHAUX-CHEVRY]; Socialist Party or PS [Georges LOUISOR]; Union for
French Democracy or UDF [Marcel ESDRAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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 Independent Guadeloupe or
MPGI
International organization participation:
FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Guadeloupe
Economy - overview:
The Caribbean economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light
industry, and services. It also depends on France for large
subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists
from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the
islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by
other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export
earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops
are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still
dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry
features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel
are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 17%
services: 68% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
125,900 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
27.8% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $225 million
expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105
million (1996)
Industries:
construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.155 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.074 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs,
goats
Exports:
$140 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:
bananas, sugar, rum
Exports - partners:
France 60%, Martinique 18%, US 4% (1999)
Imports:
$1.7 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods,
construction materials
Imports - partners:
France 63%, Germany 4%, US 3%, Japan 2%, Netherlands Antilles 2%
(1999)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA; note - substantial annual French subsidies
Currency:
euro (EUR); French franc (FRF)
Currency code:
EUR; FRF
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854
(2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Guadeloupe
Telephones - main lines in use:
171,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic facilities inadequate
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and
Martinique
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
113,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
118,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
4,000 (2000)
Transportation Guadeloupe
Railways:
NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways:
total: 2,467 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1998)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy), Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,240 GRT/109 DWT
ships by type: passenger 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: France 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
9 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Guadeloupe
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Guadeloupe
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Guam
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: 549 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 549 sq km
Area - comparative:
three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
125.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast
trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from 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:
fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use:
arable land: 10.91%
permanent crops: 10.91%
other: 78.18% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but
potentially very 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:
163,941 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.1% (male 30,334; female 27,264)
15-64 years: 58.4% (male 50,258; female 45,538)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 5,269; female 5,278) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.2 years
male: 25.6 years
female: 24.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.89% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.19 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.29 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.62 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.27 years
male: 75.96 years
female: 80.9 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.62 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Guamanian(s)
adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups:
Chamorro 37%, Filipino 26%, white 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean,
and other 27%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Languages:
English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
Government Guam
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam
local long 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:
Hagatna (Agana)
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 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 George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
election results: Felix P. P. CAMACHO elected governor; percent of
vote - Felix P. P. CAMACHO (Republican Party) 55.4%, Robert A.
UNDERWOOD (Democratic Party) 44.6%
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for a four-year term; governor and lieutenant governor
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term;
election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)
head of government: Governor Felix P. P. CAMACHO (since 6 January
2003) and Lieutenant Governor Kaleo MOYLAN (since 6 January 2003)
cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with
the consent of the Guam legislature
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November
2004)
note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of
Representatives; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held
NA November 2004); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party)
was elected as delegate; percent of vote by party - Democratic Party
64.6%, Republican Party 35.4%; seats by party - Democratic Party 1
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Democratic Party 9, Republican Party 6
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 (controls the legislature) [speaker, Vicente (Ben)
PANGELINAN]; Republican Party (party of Governor CAMACHO) [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC
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, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree
with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the
national flag
Economy Guam
Economy - overview:
The economy depends on US military spending, tourism, and the
export of fish and handicrafts. Total US grants, wage payments, and
procurement outlays amounted to $1 billion in 1998. Over the past 20
years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a
construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones.
More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry has
recently suffered setbacks because of the continuing Japanese
slowdown; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists.
Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam faces the problem
of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of
military downsizing.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.2 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% (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):
0% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
60,000 (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
federal and territorial government 26%, private 74% (trade 24%,
other services 40%, industry 10%) (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $340 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services,
concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
830 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
771.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Exports:
$75.7 million f.o.b. (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products; construction
materials, fish, food and beverage products
Exports - partners:
Japan 81.7%, South Korea 6.1%, Canada 2.4% (2002)
Imports:
$203 million f.o.b. (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Singapore 40.5%, South Korea 21.7%, Japan 21.6%, Hong Kong 4.9%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury
($143 million in 1997) into which Guamanians pay no income or excise
taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam
Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes
paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Guam
Telephones - main lines in use:
84,134 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
55,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities
for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers
domestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service
and local access to the Internet
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific
Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan (Guam is a trans-Pacific
communications hub for MCI, Sprint, AT&T, IT&E, and GTE, linking the
US and Asia)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2003)
Radios:
221,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1997)
Televisions:
106,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
20 (2000)
Internet users:
5,000 (2000)
Transportation Guam
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 885 km
paved: 675 km
unpaved: 210 km
note: there are also 685 km of roads classified non-public,
including roads located on federal government installations
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Apra Harbor
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Guam
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Guam
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Guatemala
Introduction Guatemala
Background:
Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule 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 led to the death of more than 100,000
people and had created some 1 million refugees.
Geography Guatemala
Location:
Middle 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: 108,890 sq km
water: 460 sq km
land: 108,430 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:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone
plateau (Peten)
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: 12.54%
permanent crops: 5.03%
other: 82.43% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent
earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and
other tropical storms
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note:
no natural harbors on west coast
People Guatemala
Population:
13,909,384 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 3,052,658; female 2,908,428)
15-64 years: 53.8% (male 3,779,688; female 3,706,315)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 215,653; female 246,642) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.66% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
35.05 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 37.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 38.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.23 years
male: 64.31 years
female: 66.21 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.67 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
67,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,200 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups:
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindian - in
local Spanish called Ladino), approximately 55%, Amerindian or
predominantly Amerindian, approximately 43%, whites and others 2%
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages:
Spanish 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: 70.6%
male: 78%
female: 63.3% (2003 est.)
Government Guatemala
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala
Government type:
constitutional democratic republic
Capital:
Guatemala
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; note - suspended 25 May
1993 by former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following
ouster of president; 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 (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 Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since
14 January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since
14 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera
(since 14 January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez
(since 14 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 7 November 1999; runoff held 26 December 1999
(next to be held NA November 2003)
election results: Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera elected
president; percent of vote - Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG)
68%, Oscar BERGER Perdomo (PAN) 32%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica
(140 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held 9 November 2003 (next to be held NA November
2007)
note: for the 9 November 2003 election, the number of congressional
seats increased to 140 from 113
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
GANA 49, FRG 42, UNE 33, PAN 16
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (thirteen
members 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); Constitutional Court or
Corte de Constitutcionalidad (five judges are elected for concurrent
five-year terms by Congress, each serving one year as president of
the Constitutional Court; one is elected by Congress, one elected by
the Supreme Court of Justice, one appointed by the President, one
elected by Superior Counsel of Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala,
and one by Colegio de Abogados)
Political parties and leaders:
Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Eduardo SUGER]; Democratic
Union or UD [Rodolfo PAIZ Andrade]; Grand National Alliance or GANA
[leader NA]; Green Party or LOV [Rodolfo ROSALES Garcis-Salaz];
Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo];
Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Secretary General
Alba ESTELA Maldonado]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain
RIOS Montt]; Movement for Guatemalan Unity or MGU [Jacobo ARBENZ
Villanueva]; Movement for Principals and Values or MPV [Francisco
BIANCHI]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Secretary General
Leonel LOPEZ Rodas]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvarado COLOM
Caballeros]; New Nation Alliance or ANN, formed by an alliance of
DIA, URNG, and several splinter groups most of whom subsequently
defected [led by three co-equal partners - Nineth Varenca MONTENEGRO
Cottom, Rodolfo BAUER Paiz, and Jorge Antonio BALSELLS TUT]; Patriot
Party or PP [retired General Otto PEREZ Molina]; Progressive
Liberator Party or PLP [Acisclo VALLADARES Molina]; Reform Movement
or MR [Secretary General Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE]; Unionista Party
[leader NA]
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; Mutual Support Group or GAM
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio Fernando ARENALES Forno
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Randle HAMILTON
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] 331-1541/55
FAX: [502] 334-8477
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)
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 and a pair of crossed swords and framed
by a wreath
Economy Guatemala
Economy - overview:
The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP,
two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar,
and bananas are the main products. Former President ARZU (1996-2000)
worked to implement a program of economic liberalization and
political modernization. President PORTILLO has continued the
liberalization program but with more sporadic results. The 1996
signing of the peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war,
removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, but numerous
corruption scandals associated with the PORTILLO administration have
dampened investor confidence. The distribution of income remains
highly unequal, with perhaps 75% of the population below the poverty
line. Ongoing challenges include increasing the government revenues,
negotiating further assistance from international donors, upgrading
both government and private financial operations, and narrowing the
trade deficit. A free trade agreement between the US and Central
American countries promises greater access to US and neighboring
markets.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $53.2 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 20%
services: 57% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
75% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 46% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
55.8 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.2 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.5% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.3 billion
expenditures: $2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $750
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum,
metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4.1% (1999)
Electricity - production:
6.237 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 51.9%
hydro: 35.2%
other: 12.9% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
5.559 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
336 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
95 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
21,080 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
61,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
263 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.543 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep,
pigs, chickens
Exports:
$2.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, meat,
apparel, petroleum, electricity
Exports - partners:
US 58.7%, El Salvador 9.3%, Nicaragua 3.1% (2002)
Imports:
$5.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,
grain, fertilizers, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 33.2%, Mexico 9.9%, South Korea 8.2%, El Salvador 5.7%, China 4%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$4.9 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$250 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed
Currency code:
GTQ; USD
Exchange rates:
quetzales per US dollar - 7.82 (2002), 7.86 (2001), 7.76 (2000),
7.39 (1999), 6.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Guatemala
Telephones - main lines in use:
665,061 (June 2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
663,296 (September 2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of
Guatemala
domestic: NA
international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)
Radios:
835,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
1.323 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.gt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)
Internet users:
200,000 (2002)
Transportation Guatemala
Railways:
total: 886 km
narrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 14,118 km
paved: 4,871 km (including 74 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,247 km (1999)
Waterways:
990 km
note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable
during highwater season
Pipelines:
oil 480 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas
de Castilla
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
466 (2002)
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: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 455
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 115
under 914 m: 330 (2002)
Military Guatemala
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,320,077 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,167,270 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 151,294 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$120 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Guatemala
Disputes - international:
Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in Belize border region;
OAS brokered Differendum in 2002 creating small adjustment to land
boundary, large Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, joint
ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UK
financial package, but agreement was not brought to popular
referendum leaving Guatemalan claim to southern half of Belize intact
Illicit drugs:
major transit country for cocaine and heroin; minor producer of
illicit opium poppy and cannabis for mostly domestic consumption;
proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs
(cocaine and heroin shipments); money laundering is a serious
problem; corruption is a major problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Guernsey
Introduction Guernsey
Background:
The island of 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.
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
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other
smaller islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 78 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
50 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 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 location on Sark 114 m
Natural resources:
cropland
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People Guernsey
Population:
64,818 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.8% (male 5,216; female 5,061)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 21,433; female 21,835)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 4,705; female 6,568) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.2 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 41.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.43 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.04 years
male: 77.04 years
female: 83.14 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
UK and Norman-French descent
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational,
Methodist
Languages:
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Guernsey
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Saint Peter Port
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 Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson, Vale,
Castel, Saint Saviour, Saint Pierre du Bois, Torteval, Forest, Saint
Martin, Saint Andrew
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal
Court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor
appointed by the monarch; bailiff appointed by the monarch
head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief Lt.
Gen. Sir John FOLEY (since NA 2000) and Bailiff de Vic Graham CAREY
(since NA 1999)
cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee appointed by the Assembly of
the States
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the States; consists of the bailiff, 10
Douzaine (parish council) representatives, 45 people's deputies
elected by popular vote, 2 representatives from Alderney, Her
Majesty's Procureur (Attorney General), Her Majesty's Comptroller
(Solicitor General) and Her Majesty's Greffier (Court Recorder and
Registrar General); note - Alderney and Sark have their own
parliaments
elections: last held 12 April 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:
Royal Court
Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
none
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
Economy Guernsey
Economy - overview:
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance, etc. -
account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel Island
economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes
and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties
make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration
of the EU nations is changing the rules of the game under which
Guernsey operates.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.7% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $20,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 10%
services: 87% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.99% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
31,322 (2000)
Unemployment rate:
0.5% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $381.3 million
expenditures: $368.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Agriculture - products:
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit;
Guernsey cattle
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other
vegetables
Exports - partners:
UK (regarded as internal trade)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners:
UK (regarded as internal trade)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Guernsey pound
Currency code:
GBP
Exchange rates:
Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001),
0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); note - the Guernsey
pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Guernsey
Telephones - main lines in use:
44,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12,000 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.gg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Guernsey
Railways:
5 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Guernsey
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Guernsey
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Guinea
Introduction Guinea
Background:
Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic
elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the military
government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was
reelected in 1998. Unrest in Sierra Leone has spilled over into
Guinea, threatening stability and creating a humanitarian emergency.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 245,857 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:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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
Land use:
arable land: 3.6%
permanent crops: 2.44%
other: 93.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
950 sq km (1998 est.)
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, 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:
9,030,220 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,027,970; female 1,986,300)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 2,358,566; female 2,372,384)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 124,382; female 160,618) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.7 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.37% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
42.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is
host to approximately 150,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees
(2003 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 93.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 87.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 98.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.54 years
male: 48.28 years
female: 50.83 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.54% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
55,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,000 (2001 est.)
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), each ethnic group has its own language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.9%
male: 49.9%
female: 21.9% (1995 est.)
Government Guinea
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Conakry
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; legal
codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military
government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected
president; election last held 14 December 1998 (next to be held NA
December 2003); the prime minister is appointed by the president
election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote
- Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56.1%, Mamadou Boye BA (UPR) 24.6%, Alpha
CONDE (RPG) 16.6%,
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
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 Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El
Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; National Union for Progress or
UNP [Paul Louis FABER]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana
CONTE] - the governing party; People's Party of Guinea or PPG
[Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE];
Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Siradiou DIALLO]; Union for
Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general];
Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rafiou Alpha Oumar BARRY
FAX: [1] (202) 478-3010
telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY
embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry
mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry
telephone: [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23
FAX: [224] 41 15 22
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Guinea
Economy - overview:
Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural
resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country
possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the
second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for
about 75% of exports in 1999. Long-run improvements in government
fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if
the country is to move out of poverty. The government made
encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-99, and reform
progress was praised in the World Bank/IMF October 2000 assessment.
However, fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders has
caused major economic disruptions. In addition to direct defense
costs, the violence has led to a sharp decline in investor
confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff,
while panic buying has created food shortages and inflation in local
markets. Multilateral aid - including Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) debt relief - and single digit inflation permitted
moderate 3.7% growth in 2002. Growth should strengthen in 2003
because of a slowly improving security situation and increased
investor confidence.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $18.69 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 37%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 32% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.3 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $395.7 million
expenditures: $472.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
million (2000 est.)
Industries:
bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and
agricultural processing industries
Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (1994)
Electricity - production:
790.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 45.5%
hydro: 54.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
735.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
8,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas,
sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Exports:
$835 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural
products
Exports - partners:
South Korea 17.8%, Spain 10.1%, Cameroon 9.7%, Belgium 9.6%, US
9.2%, Ireland 8.6%, France 7.1%, Russia 6.8%, Germany 5% (2002)
Imports:
$670 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment,
textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 18.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 11%, Italy 8.9%, US 8.2%, Belgium 7.6%,
China 5.6%, UK 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.4 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$359.2 million (1998)
Currency:
Guinean franc (GNF)
Currency code:
GNF
Exchange rates:
Guinean francs per US dollar - NA (2002), 1,950.56 (2001), 1,746.87
(2000), 1,387.4 (1999), 1,236.83 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
37,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
21,567 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small
radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay
system
domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters), shortwave
3 (2001)
Radios:
357,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
6 low-power stations (2001)
Televisions:
85,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2001)
Internet users:
15,000 (2002)
Transportation Guinea
Railways:
total: 1,115 km
standard gauge: 311 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 804 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 30,500 km
paved: 5,033 km
unpaved: 25,467 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft)
Ports and harbors:
Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
15 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Guinea
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard,
paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete
National)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,056,520 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,038,428 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$154 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Guinea
Disputes - international:
domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups in Guinea, Liberia,
and Sierra Leone have created skirmishes, deaths, and refugees in
border areas
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Guinea-Bissau
Introduction Guinea-Bissau
Background:
In 1994, 20 years after independence from Portugal, the country's
first multiparty legislative and presidential elections were held.
An army uprising that triggered a bloody civil war in 1998 created
hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. A military junta ousted
the president in May 1999. An interim government turned over power
in February 2000 when opposition leader Kumba YALA took office
following two rounds of transparent presidential elections.
Guinea-Bissau's transition back to democracy will be complicated by
its crippled economy, devastated in the civil war.
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: 36,120 sq km
water: 8,120 sq km
land: 28,000 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:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 location in the northeast corner of the
country 300 m
Natural resources:
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 10.67%
permanent crops: 1.78%
other: 87.55% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
170 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying
further inland
People Guinea-Bissau
Population:
1,360,827 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 284,150; female 285,370)
15-64 years: 55.2% (male 358,891; female 392,703)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 17,285; female 22,428) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.8 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 19.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.02% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
38.41 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
16.62 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 110.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 99.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 120.99 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.97 years
male: 45.09 years
female: 48.91 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
17,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,200 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%,
Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
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.)
Government Guinea-Bissau
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea
Government type:
republic, multiparty since mid-1991
Capital:
Bissau
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 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10
September 1974 (recognized by 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 1996
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Henrique ROSA (interim; since 28
September 2003); note - a September 2003 coup overthrough the
elected government of Kumba YALA; General Verissimo Correia SEABRA
served as interim president from 14 to 28 September 2003
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 28 November 1999 and 16 January 2000 (next to be
held NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president after
consultation with party leaders in the legislature
note: a bloodless coup led to the dissolution of the elected
government of Kumba YALA in September 2003; General Verissimo
Correia SEABRA served as interim president from 14 September 2003
until stepping aside on 28 September 2003 with the establishment of
a caretaker government
election results: Kumba YALA elected president; percent of vote,
second ballot - Kumba YALA (PRS) 72%, Malan Bacai SANHA (PAIGC) 28%
cabinet: NA
head of government: Prime Minister Artur SANHA (since 28 September
2003)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional
Popular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve a
maximum of four years); note - President YALA dissolved the National
People's Assembly in November 2002, elections for a new legislature
were scheduled to fall in February 2003 but were then postponed to
April, then July, and were last scheduled to occur in September 2003
elections: last held 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA September
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PRS 37, RGB 27, PAIGC 25, 11 remaining seats went to 5 of the
remaining 10 parties that fielded candidates
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine
justices who are 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 over $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not
necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases under $1,000 and
misdemeanor criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde
or PAIGC [Francisco BENANTE]; Front for the Liberation and
Independence of Guinea or FLING [Francois MENDY]; Guinea-Bissau
Resistance-Ba Fata Movement or RGB-MB [Helder Vaz LOPES]; Guinean
Civic Forum or FCG [Antonieta Rosa GOMES]; International League for
Ecological Protection or LIPE [Alhaje Bubacar DJALO, president];
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Abubacer BALDE,
secretary general]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor
MANDINGA]; Social Renovation Party or PRS [Kumba YALA]; Union for
Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary
general]; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Victor Sau'de
MARIA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henrique
Adriano DA SILVA
chancery: 1511 K Street NW, Suite 519, Washington, DC 20005
FAX: [1] (202) 347-3954
telephone: [1] (202) 347-3950
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; for the time being, US embassy Dakar is
responsible for covering Guinea-Bissau: telephone - [221] 823-4296;
FAX - [221] 822-5903
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; uses the popular pan-African colors
of Ethiopia
Economy Guinea-Bissau
Economy - overview:
One of the 10 poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends
mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased
remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in
cashew production. 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. Before the war, trade
reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the
country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The
tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private
sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high
costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral
resources is not a near-term prospect. However, unexploited offshore
oil reserves could provide much-needed revenue in the long run. The
inequality of income distribution is one of the most extreme in the
world. The government and international donors continue to work out
plans to forward economic development from a lamentably low base.
Government drift and indecision, however, have resulted in low
growth in 2002 and dim prospects for 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $901.4 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-4.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 62%
industry: 12%
services: 26% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
480,000
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 82% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
55 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
51.15 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm
kernels, cotton; timber; fish
Exports:
$71 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
Exports - partners:
India 51.5%, Uruguay 19.5%, Thailand 19.4% (2002)
Imports:
$59 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Senegal 19.6%, Portugal 19.1%, India 15.3%, Taiwan 5.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$941.5 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$115.4 million (1995)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States; previously
the Guinea-Bissau peso (GWP) was used
Currency code:
XOF; GWP
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
note: as of 1 May 1997, Guinea-Bissau adopted the XOF franc as the
national currency; since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc is pegged to
the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Guinea-Bissau
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system
domestic: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines,
radiotelephone, and cellular communications
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:
49,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.gw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2002)
Internet users:
4,000 (2002)
Transportation Guinea-Bissau
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 4,400 km
paved: 453 km
unpaved: 3,947 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
several rivers are accessible to coastal shipping
Ports and harbors:
Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
28 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Military Guinea-Bissau
Military branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army, Navy, and
Air Force), paramilitary force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 318,711 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 181,318 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$5.6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Guinea-Bissau
Disputes - international:
separatist war in Senegal's Casamance region results in refugees
and cross-border raids, arms smuggling and other illegal activities,
and political instability in Guinea-Bissau
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Guyana
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, but until the early 1990s it was
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. Upon his death five
years later, he was succeeded by his wife Janet, who resigned in
1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was
reelected in 2001.
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: 214,970 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km
land: 196,850 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries:
total: 2,462 km
border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Coastline:
459 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy
seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-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: 2.44%
permanent crops: 0.08%
other: 97.48% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,500 sq km (1998 est.)
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, 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:
702,100
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 96,775; female 93,077)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 240,305; female 236,378)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 15,755; female 19,810) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.7 years
male: 25.2 years
female: 26.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.27 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 37.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 41.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.09 years
male: 60.51 years
female: 65.79 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
18,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese
Ethnic groups:
East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, and
mixed 7%
Religions:
Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5%
Languages:
English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.5% (2003 est.)
Government Guyana
Country name:
conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana
Government type:
republic within the Commonwealth
Capital:
Georgetown
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 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 JAGAN
head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since NA December
1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president,
responsible to the legislature
elections: president elected by the majority party in the National
Assembly following legislative elections, which must be held at
least every five years; elections last held 19 March 2001 (next to
be held by March 2006); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of
legislative vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (68 seats, 65 elected by popular vote,
1 elected Speaker of the National Assembly, and 2 nonvoting members
appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PPP/C 34, PNC 27, GAP and WPA 2, ROAR 1, TUF 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature; Judicial Court of Appeal; High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Guyana or AFG (includes Guyana Labor Party or GLP and
Working People's Alliance or WPA) [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]; Guyana
Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Guyana Labor Party or GLP [leader
NA]; People's National Congress 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]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert
ROOPNARAINE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Civil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC; Guyana Council of Indian
Organizations or GCIO; Trades Union Congress or TUC
note: the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not well
organized
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL
chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald D. GODARD
embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
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
Economy Guyana
Economy - overview:
The Guyanese economy has exhibited moderate economic growth in
2001-02, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors,
a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more
realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued
support of international organizations. 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. The bauxite mining sector
should benefit in the near term by restructuring and partial
privatization.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.628 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 21%
services: 44% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
418,000 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
9.1% (understated) (2000)
Budget:
revenues: $227 million
expenditures: $235.2 million, including capital expenditures of
$93.4 million (2000)
Industries:
bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:
7.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
852 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.4%
hydro: 0.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
792.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy
products; fish (shrimp)
Exports:
$500 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber
Exports - partners:
Canada 21.1%, US 17.9%, Netherlands Antilles 12.9%, UK 10.4%,
Jamaica 5.3%, Portugal 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$575 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
Imports - partners:
US 23.7%, Netherlands Antilles 20.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 15.2%,
Italy 6.3%, UK 5.1%, Cuba 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.2 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC)
$253 million (1997)
Currency:
Guyanese dollar (GYD)
Currency code:
GYD
Exchange rates:
Guyanese dollars per US dollar - NA (2002), 187.32 (2001), 182.43
(2000), 178 (1999), 150.52 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Guyana
Telephones - main lines in use:
70,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6,100 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system for long-distance calling
domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines
international: tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US
satellite services) (1997)
Televisions:
46,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
95,000 (2002)
Transportation Guyana
Railways:
total: 187 km
standard gauge: 139 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge
note: all dedicated to ore transport (2001 est.)
Highways:
total: 7,970 km
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
5,900 km (total length of navigable waterways)
note: Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by
oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively
Ports and harbors:
Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,929 GRT/4,507 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
51 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Military Guyana
Military branches:
Guyana Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air
Corps), Guyana Police Force, Guyana People's Militia, Guyana
National Service
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 207,890 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 156,174 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Guyana
Disputes - international:
all of the area west of the Essequibo (river) claimed by Venezuela;
Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Courantyne/Kutari [Koetari] rivers (all headwaters of the
Courantyne); territorial sea boundary with Suriname is in dispute
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily
Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Haiti
Introduction Haiti
Background:
The native Arawak 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,
and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the
island - 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 and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black
republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued
by political violence for most of its history since then, and it is
now one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Over
three decades of dictatorship followed by military rule ended in
1990 when Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was elected president. Most of his
term was usurped by a military takeover, but he was able to return
to office in 1994 and oversee the installation of a close associate
to the presidency in 1996. ARISTIDE won a second term as president
in 2000, and took office early in 2001. However, a political crisis
stemming from fraudulent legislative elections in 2000 has not yet
been resolved.
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
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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: 20.32%
permanent crops: 12.7%
other: 66.98% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
750 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:
shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western
one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
People Haiti
Population:
7,527,817
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 1,637,853; female 1,575,893)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 1,962,975; female 2,073,353)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 131,784; female 145,959) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 18.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.67% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
34.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13.36 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 76.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 81.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.61 years
male: 50.36 years
female: 52.92 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
250,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
30,000 (2001 est.)
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% (1982)
note: roughly half of the population also 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.)
Government Haiti
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
conventional short form: Haiti
local short form: Haiti
local long form: Republique d'Haiti
Government type:
elected government
Capital:
Port-au-Prince
Administrative divisions:
9 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite,
Centre, Grand 'Anse, 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; suspended June 1988, with most articles
reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed to be
observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October
1994
Legal system:
based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February
2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Yvon NEPTUNE (since 4 March
2002); note - former Prime Minister CHERESTAL resigned in January
2002
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National
Assembly
election results: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE elected president; percent
of vote - Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 92%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the
Senate (27 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of
Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held for two-thirds of seats 21 May 2000,
with runoffs on 9 July boycotted by the opposition; seven seats
still disputed; election for remaining one-third held on 26 November
2000 (next to be held NA 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21
May 2000, with runoffs on 30 July boycotted by the opposition; one
vacant seat rerun 26 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - FL 26, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 73, MOCHRENA 3, PLB 2, OPL 1,
vacant 1, other minor parties and independents 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or ALAH
[Reynold GEORGES]; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or
RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convergence (opposition coalition composed of
ESPACE, OPL, and MOCHRENA) [Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES, Evans PAUL, Luc
MESADIEU, Victor BENOIT]; Democratic Consultation Group coalition or
ESPACE [Evans PAUL, Victor BENOIT] composed of the following
parties: National Congress of Democratic Movements or KONAKOM,
National Progressive Revolutionary Party or PANPRA, Generation 2004,
and Haiti Can; Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH
[Marie-France CLAUDE]; Haitian Democratic Party or PADEM [Clark
PARENT]; Lavalas Family or FL [Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE]; Mobilization
for National Development or MDN [Hubert DE RONCERAY]; Movement for
National Reconstruction or MRN [Rene THEODORE]; Movement for the
Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; Movement
for the Organization of the Country or MOP [Gesner COMEAU and Jean
MOLIERE]; National Cooperative Action Movement or MKN [Volrick Remy
JOSEPH]; National Front for Change and Democracy or FNCD [Evans PAUL
and Turneb DELPE]; New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or
MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open the Gate or PLB [Renaud BERNARDIN];
Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Autonomous Haitian Workers or CATH; Confederation of Haitian
Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; National
Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP; Popular
Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Harry
Frantz LEO
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan
(Puerto Rico)
FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090
chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James B. Foley
embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
telephone: [509] 222-0354, 222-0368, 222-0200, 222-0612
FAX: [509] 223-1641
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)
Economy Haiti
Economy - overview:
About 80% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly 70% of
all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly
of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of
the economically active work force. Following legislative elections
in May 2000, fraught with irregularities, international donors -
including the US and EU - suspended almost all aid to Haiti. The
economy shrank an estimated 1.2% in 2001 and an estimated 0.9% in
2002. The contraction will likely intensify in 2003 unless a
political agreement with donors is reached on economic policy.
Suspended aid and loan disbursements totaled more than $500 million
at the start of 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 20%
services: 50% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
80% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.9% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
3.6 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1995)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%
Unemployment rate:
widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds
of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $273 million
expenditures: $361 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly
industries based on imported parts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
580 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 60.3%
hydro: 39.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
539.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood
Exports:
$298 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa
Exports - partners:
US 83.9%, Dominican Republic 6.6%, Canada 2.4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.14 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels,
raw materials
Imports - partners:
US 53.4%, Dominican Republic 5.3%, Colombia 3.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.2 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:
$120 million (FY02)
Currency:
gourde (HTG)
Currency code:
HTG
Exchange rates:
gourdes per US dollar - 29.25 (2002), 24.43 (2001), 21.17 (2000),
16.94 (1999), 16.77 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Haiti
Telephones - main lines in use:
60,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
over 180,000 (January 2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic facilities barely adequate;
international facilities slightly better
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay trunk service
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)
Radios:
415,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)
Televisions:
38,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ht
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
30,000 (2002)
Transportation Haiti
Railways:
total: 40 km
narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge; single-track
note: privately owned industrial line; closed in early 1990s (2001
est.)
Highways:
total: 4,160 km
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
NEGL; less than 100 km navigable
Ports and harbors:
Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les Cayes, Miragoane,
Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
12 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Military Haiti
Military branches:
Haitian National Police (HNP)
note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been
demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are
constitutionally abolished
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,735,845 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 944,474 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 94,349 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$50 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Haiti
Disputes - international:
despite efforts to control illegal migration, destitute Haitians
continue to cross into Dominican Republic; claims US-administered
Navassa Island
Illicit drugs:
major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US
and Europe; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian
narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial
transactions; pervasive corruption
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 412 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
101.9 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 2,745 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues:
NA
People Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Population:
uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
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
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the
Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment
and Heritage
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:
No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government
allows limited fishing around the islands.
Communications Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Internet country code:
.hm
Transportation Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Holy See (Vatican City)
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 the
failing health of Pope John Paul II, interreligious dialogue and
reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of
rapid change and globalization. About 1 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
water: 0 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of The 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 mid-May) with hot, dry
summers (May to September)
Terrain:
low hill
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
urban; landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state;
outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo
(the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
People Holy See (Vatican City)
Population:
911 (July 2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 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: NA%
female: NA%
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 short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Government type:
ecclesiastical
Capital:
Vatican City
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
11 February 1929 (from Italy)
note: on 11 February 1929, three treaties were signed with Italy
which, among other things, recognized 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:
Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978)
Constitution:
Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system:
based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it
Suffrage:
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since
2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death
of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Legislative branch:
unicameral Pontifical Commission
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 of 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:
CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WHO
(observer), WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador R. James "Jim" NICHOLSON
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 5758346
Flag description:
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the
crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the
white band
Economy Holy See (Vatican City)
Economy - overview:
This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an
annual tax on Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world, as well
as by special collections (known as Peter's Pence); the sale of
postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; fees for
admission to museums; and the sale of publications. Investments and
real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue.
The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to
those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
essentially services with a small amount of industry; note -
dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live
outside the Vatican
Budget:
revenues: $173.5 million
expenditures: $176.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001)
Industries:
printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps, a small
amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and
financial activities
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Economic aid - recipient:
none
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.1324 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854
(2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Holy See (Vatican City)
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1996)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.va
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Holy See (Vatican City)
Railways:
total: 0.86 km
standard gauge: 0.86 km 1.435-m gauge
note: a spur of the Italian Railways system, serving Rome's Saint
Peter's station (2001 est.)
Highways:
none; all city streets
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
none (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Holy See (Vatican City)
Military branches:
Swiss Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are
posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and
protect the Pope
Transnational Issues Holy See (Vatican City)
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Honduras
Introduction Honduras
Background:
Part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an
independent nation in 1821. After two and one-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 against leftist guerrillas.
The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed
about 5,600 people and caused almost $1 billion in damage.
Geography Honduras
Location:
Middle 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
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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 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: 15.15%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 81.72% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
760 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
6,669,789
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.6% (male 1,414,791; female 1,357,537)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 1,811,757; female 1,843,456)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 114,791; female 127,457) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.8 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 19.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.32% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
31.67 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.44 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 29.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 33.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.65 years
male: 65.31 years
female: 68.06 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
57,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,300 (2001 est.)
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 minority
Languages:
Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.2%
male: 76.1%
female: 76.3% (2003 est.)
Government Honduras
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
conventional short form: Honduras
local short form: Honduras
local long form: Republica de Honduras
Government type:
democratic constitutional republic
Capital:
Tegucigalpa
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 1995
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 Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27 January
2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since 27
January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DE LOPEZ
Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice President Alberto DIAZ
Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
head of government: President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27
January 2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since
27 January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DE
LOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice President
Alberto DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 25 November 2001 (next to be held NA November
2005)
election results: Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (PN) elected president -
52.2%, Raphael PINEDA Ponce (PL) 44.3%, others 3.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats;
members are elected proportionally to the number of votes their
party's presidential candidate receives to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 November 2001 (next to be held NA November
2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PN
61, PL 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU-SD 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are
elected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Dr. Hernan CORRALES Padilla];
Democratic Unification Party or PUD [leader NA]; Liberal Party or PL
[Roberto MICHELETTI Bain]; National Innovation and Unity
Party-Social Democratic Party or PINU-SD [Olban F. VALLADARES];
National Party of Honduras or PN [Raphael CALLEJAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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 Federation of Honduran
Workers or FUTH
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mario Miguel CANAHUATI
honorary consulate(s): Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Jacksonville
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico),
Tampa
FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2604
chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Leon PALMER
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
telephone: [504] 238-5114, 236-9320
FAX: [504] 236-9037
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; 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 word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and
AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
Economy Honduras
Economy - overview:
Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere
with an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income, is banking
on expanded trade privileges under the Enhanced Caribbean Basin
Initiative and on debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) initiative. While the country has met most of its
macroeconomic targets, it failed to meet the IMF's goals to
liberalize its energy and telecommunications sectors. Growth remains
dependent on the status of the US economy, its major trading
partner, on commodity prices, particularly coffee, and on reduction
of the high crime rate.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $16.29 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 32%
services: 54% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
53% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.6%
highest 10%: 42.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.3 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.3 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 34%, industry 21%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
28% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $607 million
expenditures: $411.9 million, including capital expenditures of $106
million (1999 est.)
Industries:
sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.778 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 50.2%
hydro: 49.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
3.822 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
308 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp
Exports:
$1.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, bananas, shrimp, lobster, meat; zinc, lumber (2000)
Exports - partners:
US 69.5%, El Salvador 3%, Guatemala 2% (2002)
Imports:
$2.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials,
chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs (2000)
Imports - partners:
US 55.3%, El Salvador 4.3%, Mexico 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$557.8 million (1999)
Currency:
lempira (HNL)
Currency code:
HNL
Exchange rates:
lempiras per US dollar - 16.43 (2002), 15.47 (2001), 14.84 (2000),
14.21 (1999), 13.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Honduras
Telephones - main lines in use:
234,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14,427 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate system
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)
Radios:
2.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
570,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.hn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
40,000 (2000)
Transportation Honduras
Railways:
total: 699 km
narrow gauge: 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 13,603 km
paved: 2,775 km
unpaved: 10,828 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
465 km (navigable by small craft)
Ports and harbors:
La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto
Lempira
Merchant marine:
total: 250 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 680,784 GRT/765,815 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Argentina 1, Bahrain 1, Belize 1, British Virgin
Islands 1, Bulgaria 1, China 8, Costa Rica 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 6, El
Salvador 1, Germany 1, Greece 18, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 2, Italy 1,
Japan 7, Lebanon 4, Liberia 4, Maldives 2, Marshall Islands 1,
Mexico 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 1, Panama 14, Philippines 1, Romania 2,
Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1, Singapore 24, South Korea 12, Spain 1, Syria 1, Taiwan 4,
Tanzania 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 2, Turks and Caicos
Islands 1, United Arab Emirates 6, UK 1, US 5, Vanuatu 1, Vietnam 1,
Virgin Islands (UK) 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 140, chemical tanker 4, container 7,
livestock carrier 2, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum
tanker 55, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea
passenger 4, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
115 (2002)
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: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 103
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 83 (2002)
Military Honduras
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including marines), Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,594,266 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 948,957 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 74,895 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$35 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Honduras
Disputes - international:
in 1992, ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed
areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border, but they still remain
largely undemarcated; in 2002, El Salvador filed an application to
the ICJ to revise the decision on a section of bolsones; the ICJ
also advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the
Golfo de Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the
Pacific; El Salvador claims tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned by the
ICJ, off Honduras in the Golfo de Fonseca; Honduras claims Sapodilla
Cays off the coast of Belize but agreed to creation of a joint
ecological park and Guatemalan corridor in the Caribbean in the 2002
Belize-Guatemala Differendum; Nicaragua filed a claim against
Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over a
complex maritime dispute in the Caribbean Sea
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Hong Kong
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 China on 1 July 1997. In this
agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two
systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be
imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will 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: 1,092 sq km
water: 50 sq km
land: 1,042 sq km
Area - comparative:
six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 30 km
border countries: China 30 km
Coastline:
733 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:
tropical 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%
other: 93.94% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 1.01%
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:
7,394,170 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 680,973; female 599,309)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 2,619,929; female 2,679,430)
65 years and over: 11% (male 375,058; female 439,471) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.5 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 37.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.22% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.71 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
7.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.93 years
male: 77.23 years
female: 82.83 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.32 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,600 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions:
eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages:
Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 97.1%
female: 90.5% (2003 est.)
Government Hong Kong
Country name:
conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Hong Kong
local short form: Xianggang
local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu
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 "mini-constitution"
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents
living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years;
indirect election limited to about 100,000 members of functional
constituencies and an 800-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 TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and
10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary Donald
TSANG Yam-kuen (since 1 May 2001), Financial Secretary Antony LEUNG
(since 1 May 2001), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1
July 1997)
elections: TUNG Chee-Hwa was elected to a second term in March 2002
by an 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces;
the next election is scheduled to be held in 2007
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; 30 indirectly
elected by functional constituencies, 24 elected by popular vote,
and 6 elected by an 800-member election committee; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 September 2000 (next to be held in September
2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Democratic Party 12, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong
Kong 10, Liberal Party 7, Frontier Party 5, Hong Kong Progressive
Alliance 4, New Century Forum 2, Hong Kong Association for Democracy
and People's Livelihood 1, independents 19
Judicial branch:
Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood [Frederick FUNG
Kin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Democratic
Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong [Jasper TSANG Yok-sing,
chairman]; Democratic Party [Martin LEE Chu-ming, chairman];
Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Hong Kong
Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood [leader NA]; Hong
Kong Progressive Alliance [Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen]; Liberal Party
[James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman]; New Century Forum [NQ Ching-fai,
chairman]
note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association for
Democracy and People's Livelihood, Citizens Party, Democratic Party,
Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Betterment
of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party, New
Century Forum
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade
Unions (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan,
general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation
of Trade Unions (pro-China) [LEE Chark-tim, president]; 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]; Liberal
Democratic Federation [HU Fa-kuang, chairman]
International organization participation:
APEC, AsDB, BIS, ESCAP (associate), ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMO
(associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL,
WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General James KEITH
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006
telephone: [852] 2523-9011
FAX: [852] 2524-0860
Flag description:
red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
Economy Hong Kong
Economy - overview:
Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent on
international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw
materials must be imported. Imports and exports, including
reexports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong
reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997 it had extensive
trade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong has been further
integrating its economy with China because China's growing openness
to the world economy has increased competitive pressure on Hong
Kong's service industries, and Hong Kong's re-export business from
China is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP compares with the
level in the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth
averaged a strong 5% in 1989-1997, but Hong Kong suffered two
recessions in the past 6 years because of the Asian financial crisis
in 1998 and the global downturn of 2001-2002. The Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak has also battered Hong Kong's
economy but the resumption of strong growth began in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $198.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $27,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 13.4%
services: 86.5% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3.52 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 31%, financing,
insurance, and real estate 13%, community and social services 12%,
manufacturing 6%, transport and communications 6%, construction 5%,
other 25% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $22.8 billion
expenditures: $30.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY02/03)
Industries:
textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics,
plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate:
-9.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
30.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
37.12 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.581 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
10.36 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
257,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
fresh vegetables; poultry, fish, pork
Exports:
$200.3 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear,
watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones
Exports - partners:
China 34%, US 19.5%, UK 5.5%, Japan 4.8% (2002)
Imports:
$208.1 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures,
petroleum, plastics, machinery, electrical equipment; a large share
is reexported
Imports - partners:
China 37.5%, Japan 12.2%, Taiwan 7.3%, US 6.2%, Singapore 5.3%,
South Korea 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$49.5 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:
Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Currency code:
HKD
Exchange rates:
Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.8 (2002), 7.8 (2001), 7.79
(2000), 7.76 (1999), 7.75 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Hong Kong
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.839 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.7 million (December 1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access
to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN
member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western
Europe
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
4.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
1.84 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.hk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)
Internet users:
4.35 million (2002)
Transportation Hong Kong
Railways:
total: 34 km
standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified and double-tracked)
note: connects to China railway system at Hong Kong-China border
(2001)
Highways:
total: 1,831 km
paved: 1,831 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
total: 549 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,176,728 GRT/27,119,764 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 315, cargo 66, chemical tanker
15, combination bulk 2, container 86, liquefied gas 16,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 40,
refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 1,
vehicle carrier 2, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here
as a flag of convenience: Belgium 5, Belize 1, British Virgin
Islands 1, China 115, Denmark 2, Germany 19, Greece 2, India 8,
Japan 8, Liberia 1, Malaysia 7, Norway 1, Panama 2, Philippines 5,
Singapore 7, South Korea 2, Taiwan 1, UK 27, Virgin Islands (UK) 1
note: (2002 est.)
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Hong Kong
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) including 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
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,033,716 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,524,903 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 47,477 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA% (FY02)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues Hong Kong
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
Makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces serious
challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to
regional and world markets; modern banking system provides a conduit
for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,
especially among young people
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Howland Island
Introduction Howland Island
Background:
Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island was
officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies
mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon near
the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during
World War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory of
the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the
US Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.
Geography Howland Island
Location:
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
6.4 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow
fringing reef; depressed central area
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic
wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime
hazard
Environment - current issues:
no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and
low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a
nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
and marine wildlife
People Howland Island
Population:
uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during
World War II, but abandoned after the war; 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 (July 2003 est.)
Government Howland Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Howland Island
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory 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
Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Howland Island
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Transportation Howland Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat
landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports:
airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the
round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they left
Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the
airstrip is no longer serviceable (2002)
Transportation - note:
Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been
rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART
Military Howland Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US
Coast Guard
Transnational Issues Howland Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Hungary
Introduction Hungary
Background:
Hungary was 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 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 is
scheduled to accede to the EU along with nine other states on 1 May
2004. In an April 2003 referendum, 84 percent voted in favor of
joining the EU.
Geography Hungary
Location:
Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 93,030 sq km
water: 690 sq km
land: 92,340 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,171 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Slovakia 677 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: 52.2%
other: 45.34% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 2.46%
Irrigated land:
2,100 sq km (1998 est.)
Environment - current issues:
the approximation of Hungary's standards in waste management,
energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with
environmental requirements for EU accession will require large
investments
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea
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:
10,045,407 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 832,033; female 787,336)
15-64 years: 69% (male 3,406,046; female 3,523,118)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 544,099; female 952,775) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 35.7 years
female: 41.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.29% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.32 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.73 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.17 years
male: 67.84 years
female: 76.81 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups:
Hungarian 89.9%, Roma 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%,
Romanian 0.7%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other
7.5%
Languages:
Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.5%
female: 99.3% (2003 est.)
Government Hungary
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local short form: Magyarorszag
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Budapest
Administrative divisions:
19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20 urban counties*
(singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city** (fovaros);
Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen,
Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*, Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*,
Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely*,
Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*, Komarom-Esztergom,
Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*, Pecs*, Pest, Somogy,
Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*, Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*,
Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala,
Zalaegerszeg*
Independence:
1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday:
Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August
Constitution:
18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 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:
rule of law based on Western model
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Ferenc MADL (since 4 August 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Peter MEDGYESSY (since 27 May
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on
the recommendation of the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 6 June 2000 (next to be held by
June 2005); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the president
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
election results: Ferenc MADL elected president; percent of
legislative vote - NA% (but by a simple majority in the third round
of voting); Peter MEDGYESSY elected prime minister; percent of
legislative vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members
are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and
direct representation to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote
required for parliamentary representation in the first round) -
Fidesz/MDF 48.70%, MSzP 46.11%, SzDSz 4.92%, other 0.27%; seats by
party - Fidesz 164, MSzP 178, MDF 24, SzDSz 20
elections: last held 7 and 21 April 2002 (next to be held NA April
2006)
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 [Gabor KUNCZE]; Christian
Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Laszlo VARGA, chairman];
Hungarian Civic Alliance or Fidesz-MPP [Jozsef SZASER, chairman];
Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian
Democratic People's Party or MDNP [Erzsebet PUSZTAI, chairman];
Hungarian Justice and Life Party or MIEP [Istvan CSURKA, chairman];
Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP [Laszlo KOVACS, chairman];
Hungarian Workers' Party or MMP [Gyula THURMER, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andras SIMONYI
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy Goodman BRINKER
embassy: 1054 Szabadsag ter 12, Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest
Place, 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
Economy Hungary
Economy - overview:
Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to a
market economy, with a per capita income one-half that of the Big
Four European nations. Hungary continues to demonstrate strong
economic growth and to work toward accession to the European Union
in May 2004. The private sector accounts for over 80% of GDP.
Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms are
widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling more
than $23 billion since 1989. Hungarian sovereign debt was upgraded
in 2000 to the second-highest rating among all the Central European
transition economies. Inflation has declined substantially, from 14%
in 1998 to 4.7% in 2003; unemployment has persisted around the 6%
level. Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic partner.
Short-term issues include the reduction of the public sector deficit
to 3% in 2004 and avoiding unjustified increases in wages.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $134 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $13,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.1%
industry: 33.8%
services: 62.1% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
8.6% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 20.5% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
24.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.2 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 65%, industry 27%, agriculture 8% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $13 billion
expenditures: $14.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods,
textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
34.39 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 60.1%
hydro: 0.5%
other: 0.3% (2001)
nuclear: 39%
Electricity - consumption:
35.15 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
7.261 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
10.43 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
41,190 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
140,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
47,180 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
136,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
110.7 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
3.231 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
13.37 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
4 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
9.587 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
50.45 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle,
poultry, dairy products
Exports:
$31.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 57.6%, other manufactures 31.0%, food
products 7.5%, raw materials 1.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (2001)
Exports - partners:
Germany 34.3%, Austria 8.5%, Italy 5.5%, France 5.4%, US 4.9%, UK
4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$33.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 51.6%, other manufactures 35.3%, fuels and
electricity 8.2%, food products 2.9%, raw materials 2.0% (2001)
Imports - partners:
Germany 25.3%, Austria 7.7%, Italy 7.5%, Russia 6%, China 5%,
France 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$31.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $250 million (2000)
Currency:
forint (HUF)
Currency code:
HUF
Exchange rates:
forints per US dollar - 257.89 (2002), 286.49 (2001), 282.18
(2000), 237.15 (1999), 214.4 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Hungary
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.095 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.269 million (July 1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telephone system has been modernized and is
capable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication service
domestic: the system is digitalized 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; heavy use is made of mobile cellular telephones
international: 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
7.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
35 (plus 161 low-power repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
4.42 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.hu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
1.2 million (2001)
Transportation Hungary
Railways:
total: 7,875 km
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,620 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified)
note: Hungary and Austria jointly manage a cross-border,
standard-gauge railway connecting Gyor, Sopron, and Ebenfurt (Gysev
railroad) with a route length of 101 km in Hungary and 65 km in
Austria; 156 km of this line is electrified (2002)
narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge
Highways:
total: 188,203 km
paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways)
unpaved: 106,523 km (1999)
Waterways:
1,373 km (permanently navigable) (1997)
Pipelines:
gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Budapest, Dunaujvaros
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 3,784 GRT/5,500 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1
Airports:
49 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 16
Heliports:
5 (2002)
Military Hungary
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Air Forces
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,541,426 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,026,912 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 64,305 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.08 billion (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.75% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Hungary
Disputes - international:
Hungary has yet to amend status law extending special social and
cultural benefits to ethnic Hungarians in neighboring states, who
protest the law
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; improving, but remains vulnerable to money
laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Iceland
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. Literacy, longevity, income, 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 UK
Geographic coordinates:
65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references:
Arctic Region
Area:
total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,988 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land: 1%
other: 70% (2001 est.)
forest and woodlands: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 28%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater
treatment
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Environmental Protection through Criminal Law, Hazardous Wastes,
Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Oil Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, 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:
280,798 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 32,902; female 30,952)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 92,519; female 91,000)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male 14,973; female 18,452) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 34.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.49% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.13 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.95 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.8 years
male: 77.54 years
female: 82.22 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
220 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%,
population of foreign origin 6%
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%, other Protestant 4.1%, Roman Catholic
1.7%, other 7.1% (2002)
Languages:
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Iceland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local short form: Island
local long form: Lydhveldidh Island
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:
23 counties (syslur, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns*
(kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*,
Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla,
Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla,
Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*,
Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla,
Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la,
Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla,
Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*,
Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla,
Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*,
Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
note: there may be four other counties
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
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 David ODDSSON (since 30 April
1991)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by
Parliament
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON ran unopposed in 2000 and
was reelected
elections: president, which is largely a ceremonial post, elected by
popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 29 June 1996
(next to be held NA June 2004); President GRIMSSON ran unopposed in
June 2000 so there were no elections; prime minister appointed by
the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party
33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%,
Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party -
Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, Progressive
Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)
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 [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance or
LGP [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon
KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social
Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social
Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List)or SDA [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON];
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Sighvatur BJORGVINSSON]; Women's
List or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA,
NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU,
UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James I. GADSDEN
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone: [354] 5629100
FAX: [354] 5629118
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)
Economy Iceland
Economy - overview:
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet
with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing
subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of
income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for
abundant hydrothermal and geothermal power), the economy depends
heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export
earnings and employs 12% of the work force. The economy 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. Government policies include reducing the budget
and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing
inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying
the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government
remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders'
concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's
economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service
industries in the last decade, and new developments in software
production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place.
The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in
ecotourism and whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in
1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an
environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and
inflation dropped back from 5% to 2%.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $8.444 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $30,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14% (includes fishing 12%)
industry: 21%
services: 65% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
159,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 5.1%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, manufacturing
12.9%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
2.8% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.5 billion
expenditures: $3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $467
million (1999)
Industries:
fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production,
geothermal power; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
0.2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
7.894 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.1%
hydro: 82.5%
other: 17.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
7.341 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
16,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
15,470 bbl/day (2001)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, green vegetables, chicken, pork, mutton; fish
Exports:
$2.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 70%, animal products, aluminum, diatomite,
ferrosilicon
Exports - partners:
Germany 18.5%, UK 17.5%, Netherlands 11.4%, US 10.9%, Spain 5.2%,
Denmark 4.6%, Portugal 4.3%, Norway 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$2.1 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
US 10.9%, Germany 10.7%, Denmark 8.5%, Norway 8%, UK 7.5%,
Netherlands 6%, Sweden 5.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.6 billion (1999)
Economic aid - donor:
$NA
Currency:
Icelandic krona (ISK)
Currency code:
ISK
Exchange rates:
Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 91.66 (2002), 97.42 (2001), 78.62
(2000), 72.34 (1999), 70.96 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Iceland
Telephones - main lines in use:
196,984 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
248,131 (221,231 GSM, 26,900 NMT) (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: extensive domestic service
domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic
cables and microwave radio relay links
international: 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
260,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
98,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.is
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
20 (2001)
Internet users:
220,000 (2002)
Transportation Iceland
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 12,955 km
paved/oiled gravel: 3,863 km
unpaved: 9,092 km (2003)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Akureyri, Hornafjordhur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn,
Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,500 GRT/5,000 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
86 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 73
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 49 (2002)
Military Iceland
Military branches:
no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 71,157 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 62,552 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$0
Military - note:
defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF)
headquartered at Keflavik
Transnational Issues Iceland
Disputes - international:
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and
the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the
Rockall area); dispute with Denmark over the Faroe Islands'
fisheries median line boundary within 200 NM; disputes with Denmark,
the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf
boundary outside 200 NM
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@India
Introduction India
Background:
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, goes
back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded
about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier inhabitants created
the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th
century and Turkish in 12th were followed by European traders,
beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had
assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Nonviolent
resistance to British colonialism under Mohandas GANDHI and
Jawaharlal NEHRU led to independence in 1947. The subcontinent was
divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state
of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted
in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.
Fundamental concerns in India include the ongoing dispute with
Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental
degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife, all
this despite impressive gains in economic investment and output.
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: 3,287,590 sq km
land: 2,973,190 sq km
water: 314,400 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds,
petroleum, limestone, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 54.35%
permanent crops: 2.66%
other: 42.99% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
590,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive
flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes
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,
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
People India
Population:
1,049,700,118 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.2% (male 173,973,350; female 163,979,116)
15-64 years: 63% (male 342,620,712; female 319,259,867)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 25,281,756; female 24,585,317) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 24.1 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 24.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.47% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 59.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 58.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 60.23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.62 years
male: 62.92 years
female: 64.37 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3.97 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
310,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Indian(s)
adjective: Indian
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)
Religions:
Hindu 81.3%, Muslim 12%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other groups
including Buddhist, Jain, Parsi 2.5% (2000)
Languages:
English enjoys associate status but is the most important language
for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the
national language and primary tongue of 30% 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
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.5%
male: 70.2%
female: 48.3% (2003 est.)
Government India
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form: India
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
New Delhi
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, Pondicherry*, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh,
West Bengal
Independence:
15 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 26 January (1950)
Constitution:
26 January 1950
Legal system:
based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdul KALAM (since 26 July 2002); Vice
President Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT (since 12 August 2002)
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; election last held NA July 2002
(next to be held NA July 2007); vice president elected by both
houses of Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 12
August 2002 (next to be held NA August 2007); prime minister elected
by parliamentary members of the majority party following legislative
elections; election last held NA October 1999 (next to be held NA
October 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Atal Bihari VAJPAYEE (since 19
March 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Abdul KALAM elected president; percent of
electoral college vote - NA%; Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT elected vice
president; percent of Parliament vote - 59.8%; Atal Bihari VAJPAYEE
elected prime minister; percent of vote - NA%
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 which 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 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the
president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - last held 5 September through 3
October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - BJP
alliance 40.8%, Congress (I) alliance 33.8%, other 25.4%; seats by
party - BJP alliance 304, Congress (I) alliance 134, other 107
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president and remain in
office until they reach the age of 65)
Political parties and leaders:
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK [C. Jayalalitha
JAYARAM]; All India Forward Bloc or AIFB, [D. BISWAS (general
secretary)]; Asom Gana Parishad [Brindaban GOSWAMI]; Bahujan Samaj
Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]; Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP [Jana
KRISNAMURTHY]; Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK]; Communist
Party of India or CPI [Ardhendu Bhushan BARDHAN]; Communist Party of
India/Marxist-Leninist or CPI/ML [Dipankar BHATTACHARYA]; Congress
(I) Party [Sonia GANDHI]; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham or DMK (a
regional party in Tamil Nadu) [M. KARUNANIDHI]; Indian National
League [Suliaman SAITH]; Janata Dal (Secular) [H. D. Deve GOWDA];
Janata Dal (United) or JDU [Sharad YADAV]; Kerala Congress (Mani
faction) [K. M. MANI]; Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or
MDMK [VAIKO]; Muslim League [G. M. BANATWALA]; Nationalist Congress
Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]; Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Laloo
Prasad YADAV]; Revolutionary Socialist Party or RSP [Abani ROY];
Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]; Shiromani Akali Dal [G.
S. TOHRA]; Shiv Sena [Bal THACKERAY]; Tamil Maanila Congress [G. K.
VASAN]; Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU]; Trinamool
Congress [Mamata BANERJEE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations,
including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh; various separatist groups seeking greater
communal and/or regional autonomy, including the All Parties
Hurriyat Conference
International organization participation:
AfDB, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS,
C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC,
NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lalit MANSINGH
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 483-3972
telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000
chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note -
Embassy located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. BLACKWILL
embassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [91] (11) 419-8000
FAX: [91] (11) 419-0017
consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), 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; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small
orange disk centered in the white band
Economy India
Economy - overview:
India's economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern
agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a
multitude of support services. Overpopulation severely handicaps the
economy and about a quarter of the population is too poor to be able
to afford an adequate diet. Government controls have been reduced on
imports and foreign investment, and privatization of domestic output
has proceeded slowly. The economy has posted an excellent average
growth rate of 6% since 1990, reducing poverty by about 10
percentage points. India has large numbers of well-educated people
skilled in the English language; India is a major exporter of
software services and software workers; the information technology
sector leads the strong growth pattern. The World Bank and others
worry about the continuing public-sector budget deficit, running at
approximately 10% of GDP in 1997-2002. In 2003 the state-owned
Indian Bank substantially reduced non-performing loans, attracted
new customers, and turned a profit. Deep-rooted problems remain,
notably conflicts among political and cultural groups.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.664 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 25%
services: 50% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.8 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
406 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 60%, services 23%, industry 17% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
8.8% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $48.3 billion
expenditures: $78.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $14
(FY01/02 est.)
Industries:
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation
equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
533.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 81.7%
hydro: 14.5%
other: 0.3% (2001)
nuclear: 3.4%
Electricity - consumption:
497.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
321 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.54 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
732,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.13 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
4.33 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
22.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
22.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
542.4 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes;
cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish
Exports:
$44.5 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals,
leather manufactures
Exports - partners:
US 22.5%, UK 5.1%, UAE 5.1%, Hong Kong 4.5%, Germany 4.3%, China
4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$53.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, gems, fertilizer, chemicals
Imports - partners:
US 7.1%, Belgium 6.7%, China 4.6%, Singapore 4.6%, UK 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$100.6 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.9 billion (FY 98/99)
Currency:
Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code:
INR
Exchange rates:
Indian rupees per US dollar - 48.61 (2002), 47.19 (2001), 44.94
(2000), 43.06 (1999), 41.26 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications India
Telephones - main lines in use:
27.7 million (October 2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.93 million (November 2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: mediocre service; local and long distance
service provided throughout all regions of the country, with
services primarily concentrated in the urban areas; major objective
is to continue to expand and modernize long-distance network to keep
pace with rapidly growing number of local subscriber lines; steady
improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and
private-public investors, but, with telephone density at about two
for each 100 persons and a waiting list of over 2 million, demand
for main line telephone service will not be satisfied for a very
long time
domestic: local service is provided by microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable, with open wire and obsolete electromechanical and
manual switchboard systems still in use in rural areas; starting in
the 1980s, a substantial amount of digital switch gear has been
introduced for local and long-distance service; long-distance
traffic is carried mostly by coaxial cable and low-capacity
microwave radio relay; since 1985 significant trunk capacity has
been added in the form of fiber-optic cable and a domestic satellite
system with 254 earth stations; mobile cellular service is provided
in four metropolitan cities
international: satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); nine gateway exchanges
operating from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta),
Chennai (Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gaidhinagar, Hyderabad, and
Ernakulam; 4 submarine cables - LOCOM linking Chennai (Madras) to
Penang; Indo-UAE-Gulf cable linking Mumbai (Bombay) to Al Fujayrah,
UAE; India-SEA-ME-WE-3, SEA-ME-WE-2 with landing sites at Cochin and
Mumbai (Bombay); Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with
landing site at Mumbai (Bombay) (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 153, FM 91, shortwave 68 (1998)
Radios:
116 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
562 (of which 82 stations have 1 kW or greater power and 480
stations have less than 1 kW of power) (1997)
Televisions:
63 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.in
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
43 (2000)
Internet users:
7 million (2002)
Transportation India
Railways:
total: 63,518 km (15,009 km electrified)
broad gauge: 45,142 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 15,013 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,363 km 0.762-m gauge and
0.610-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 3,319,644 km
paved: 1,517,077 km
unpaved: 1,802,567 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
16,180 km
note: 3,631 km navigable by large vessels
Pipelines:
gas 5,798 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,195 km; oil 5,613 km; refined
products 5,567 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Chennai (Madras), Cochin, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Kolkata
(Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Vishakhapatnam
Merchant marine:
total: 305 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,753,279 GRT/9,621,911 DWT
ships by type: bulk 100, cargo 82, chemical tanker 15, combination
bulk 2, combination ore/oil 2, container 10, liquefied gas 10,
passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 75, roll on/roll off 1,
short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: China 1, UAE 10, UK 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
334 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 232
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 47
914 to 1,523 m: 73
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 78
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 102
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
under 914 m: 48 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 42
Heliports:
19 (2002)
Military India
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including naval air arm), Air Force, Strategic Nuclear
Command (SNC), Coast Guard, various security or paramilitary forces
(including Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Rashtriya Rifles,
National Security Guards, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Special
Frontier Force, Ladakh Scouts, Central Reserve Police Force, Central
Industrial Security Force, Railway Protection Force, Defense
Security Corps, and Indian Reserve Battalions)
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 288,251,975 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 169 million (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 11,035,174 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$11.52 billion (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues India
Disputes - international:
much of the rugged, militarized boundary with China is in dispute,
but the two sides have participated in more than 13 rounds of joint
working group sessions on this issue; India objects to Pakistan
ceding lands to China in 1965 boundary agreement that India believes
are part of disputed Kashmir; with Pakistan, armed stand-off over
the status and sovereignty of Kashmir continues; disputes with
Pakistan over Indus River water sharing and the terminus of the Rann
of Kutch, which prevents maritime boundary delimitation; Joint
Border Committee with Nepal continues to work on resolution of
disputed boundary sections; dispute with Bangladesh over New
Moore/South Talpatty Island in the Bay of Bengal prevents maritime
boundary delimitation
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; illicit producer of methaqualone;
vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Indian Ocean
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).
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 harbors:
Chennai (Madras; India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South
Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kolkata (Calcutta; India) Melbourne
(Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South Africa)
Transnational Issues Indian Ocean
Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Indonesia
Introduction Indonesia
Background:
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago; it achieved
independence from the Netherlands in 1949. Current issues include:
alleviating widespread poverty, implementing IMF-mandated reforms of
the banking sector, effecting a transition to a popularly-elected
government after four decades of authoritarianism, addressing
charges of cronyism and corruption, holding the military and police
accountable for human rights violations, and resolving growing
separatist pressures in Aceh and Papua.
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: 1,919,440 sq km
water: 93,000 sq km
land: 1,826,440 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,830 km
border countries: East Timor 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New
Guinea 820 km
Coastline:
54,716 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 9.9%
permanent crops: 7.2%
other: 82.9% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
48,150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes,
volcanoes, forest fires
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note:
archipelago of more than 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited);
straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea
lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
People Indonesia
Population:
234,893,453 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 35,437,274; female 34,232,824)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 76,743,613; female 76,845,245)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 5,086,465; female 6,548,032) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 25.8 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.52% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
21.49 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 38.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 32.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 43.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.94 years
male: 66.54 years
female: 71.47 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
120,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,600 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Indonesian(s)
adjective: Indonesian
Ethnic groups:
Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%,
other 26%
Religions:
Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist
1%, other 1% (1998)
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: 88.5%
male: 92.9%
female: 84.1% (2003 est.)
Government Indonesia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia
conventional short form: Indonesia
local long form: Republik Indonesia
former: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
local short form: Indonesia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Jakarta
Administrative divisions:
27 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 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, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan
Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Kepulauan Bangka
Belitung, Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa
Tenggara Timur, Papua, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah,
Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan,
Sumatera Utara, Yogyakarta*; note - with the implementation of
decentralization on 1 January 2001, the 357 districts (regencies)
have become the key administrative units responsible for providing
most government services
note: following the 30 August 1999 provincial referendum for
independence that was overwhelmingly approved by the people of Timor
Timur and the October 1999 concurrence of Indonesia's national
legislature, the name East Timor was adopted as the provisional name
for the political entity formerly known as Propinsi Timor Timur;
East Timor gained its formal independence on 20 May 2002
Independence:
17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949,
Indonesia became legally independent from the Netherlands)
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
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous
concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: President MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri (since 23 July
2001) and Vice President Hamzah HAZ (since 26 July 2001); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri (since 23 July
2001) and Vice President Hamzah HAZ (since 26 July 2001); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected separately by the
People's Consultative Assembly or MPR for five-year terms; selection
of president last held 23 July 2001; selection of vice president
last held 26 July 2001; next election to be held in July 2004; in
accordance with constitutional changes, the election of the
president and vice president will be by direct vote of the citizenry
note: the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan
Rakyat or MPR) includes the House of Representatives (Dewan
Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR) plus 195 indirectly selected members; it
meets every five years to elect the president and vice president and
to approve broad outlines of national policy and also has yearly
meetings to consider constitutional and legislative changes;
constitutional amendments adopted in 2001 and 2002 provide for the
MPR to be restructured in 2004 and to consist entirely of
popularly-elected members who will be in the DPR and the new House
of Regional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD); the
MPR will no longer formulate national policy
election results: MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri elected president, receiving
591 votes in favor (91 abstentions); Hamzah HAZ elected vice
president, receiving 340 votes in favor (237 against)
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat
(DPR) (500 seats; 462 elected by popular vote, 38 are appointed
military representatives until 2004 election when military seats
expire; members serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDI-P 37.4%, Golkar
20.9%, PKB 17.4%, PPP 10.7%, PAN 7.3%, PBB 1.8%, other 4.5%; seats
by party - PDI-P 154, Golkar 120, PPP 58, PKB 51, PAN 35, PBB 14,
other 30; note - subsequent to the election, there has been a change
in the distribution of seats; the new distribution is: PDI-P 153,
Golkar 120, PPP 58, PKB 51, PAN 35, PBB 13, other 32
elections: last held 7 June 1999 (next to be held April 2004)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (justices appointed by the
president from a list of candidates approved by the legislature);
note - the Supreme Court is preparing to assume administrative
responsibility for the lower court system, currently run by the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; a separate Constitutional
Court was invested by the president on 16 August 2003
Political parties and leaders:
Crescent Moon and Star Party or PBB [Yusril Ihza MAHENDRA,
chairman]; Federation of Functional Groups or Golkar [Akbar
TANDJUNG, general chairman]; Indonesia Democracy Party-Struggle or
PDI-P [MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri, chairperson]; National Awakening Party
or PKB [Alwi SHIHAB, chairman]; National Mandate Party or PAN [Amien
RAIS, chairman]; Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Hidayat NUR WAHID,
chairman]; United Development Party or PPP (federation of former
Islamic parties) [Hamzah HAZ, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SOEMADI Brotodiningrat
chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365
telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE
embassy: Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 3-5, Jakarta 10110
mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520
telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000
FAX: [62] (21) 385-7189
consulate(s) general: Surabaya
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the
flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of
Poland, which is white (top) and red
Economy Indonesia
Economy - overview:
Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, faces severe economic
development problems stemming from secessionist movements and the
low level of security in the regions; the lack of reliable legal
recourse in contract disputes; corruption; weaknesses in the banking
system; and strained relations with the IMF. Investor confidence
will remain low and few new jobs will be created under these
circumstances. In November 2001, Indonesia agreed with the IMF on a
series of economic reforms in 2002, thus enabling further IMF
disbursements. Negotiations with the IMF and bilateral donors
continued in 2002. Keys to future growth remain internal reform, the
build-up of the confidence of international donors and investors,
and a strong comeback in the global economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $714.2 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 41%
services: 42% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
27% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 26.7% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.7 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
99 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 45%, industry 16%, services 39% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $26 billion
expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas; textiles, apparel, and footwear; mining,
cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood; rubber; food; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4.9% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
95.78 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 86.9%
hydro: 10.5%
other: 2.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
89.08 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1.451 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.045 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
7.083 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
69 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
36.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
32.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.549 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil,
copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Exports:
$52.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber
Exports - partners:
Japan 21.1%, US 13.2%, Singapore 9.4%, South Korea 7.2%, China
5.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$32.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment; chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Japan 14.1%, Singapore 13.1%, US 8.5%, China 7.8%, South Korea
5.3%, Taiwan 5.1%, Australia 5.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$131 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$43 billion from IMF program and other official external financing
(1997-2000)
Currency:
Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Currency code:
IDR
Exchange rates:
Indonesian rupiahs per US dollar - 9,311.19 (2002), 10,260.8
(2001), 8,421.77 (2000), 7,855.15 (1999), 10,013.6 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year; note - previously was 1 April - 31 March, but
starting with 2001, has been changed to calendar year
Communications Indonesia
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,588,310 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.07 million (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic service fair, international service
good
domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net;
domestic satellite communications system
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998)
Radios:
31.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
41 (1999)
Televisions:
13.75 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.id
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
24 (2000)
Internet users:
4.4 million (2002)
Transportation Indonesia
Railways:
total: 6,458 km
narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (125 km electrified); 497 km
0.750-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 342,700 km
paved: 158,670 km
unpaved: 184,030 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
21,579 km total
note: Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460
km, Sulawesi (Celebes) 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km
Pipelines:
condensate 672 km; condensate/gas 125 km; gas 8,183 km; oil 7,429
km; oil/gas/water 66 km; refined products 1,329 km; water 72 km
(2003)
Ports and harbors:
Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Makassar, Palembang, Semarang,
Surabaya
Merchant marine:
total: 710 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,045,673 GRT/4,106,508 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 1, Hong Kong 2, India 1, Japan 2, Malaysia 1,
Monaco 3, Panama 1, Philippines 1, Singapore 11, South Korea 1,
Switzerland 1, UK 2, US 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 42, cargo 400, chemical tanker 15, container 56,
liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier 1, passenger 9, passenger/cargo
13, petroleum tanker 127, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 16,
short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 6
Airports:
631 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 153
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 48
under 914 m: 43 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 46
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 478
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 450 (2002)
Heliports:
9 (2002)
Military Indonesia
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including marines and naval air arm), Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 65,665,721 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 38,290,550 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 2,213,727 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1 billion (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Indonesia
Disputes - international:
East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet regularly
to survey and delimit land boundary; East Timor refugees delay
return from camps in Indonesia; maritime delimitations with
Australia and East Timor await further discussions; ICJ awarded
Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in 2002; Indonesian
secessionists, squatters and illegal migrants create repatriation
problems for Papua New Guinea
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; possible
growing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Iran
Introduction Iran
Background:
Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979
after the ruling shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical
forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate
political authority vested in a learned religious scholar. 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 over disputed territory. Over the
past decade, popular dissatisfaction with the government, driven by
demographic changes, restrictive social policies, and poor economic
conditions, has created a powerful and enduring pressure for
political reform.
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 million sq km
land: 1.636 million sq km
water: 12,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: natural prolongation
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the
Persian Gulf
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: 10.17%
permanent crops: 1.16%
other: 88.67% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
75,620 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes
along western border and in the northeast
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, 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:
68,278,826 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.3% (male 10,279,588; female 9,727,668)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 22,916,431; female 22,095,124)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 1,625,113; female 1,634,902) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 22.9 years
male: 22.7 years
female: 23.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.08% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 44.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 44.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.35 years
male: 68.04 years
female: 70.73 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
290 (2001 est.)
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:
Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian,
and Baha'i 1%
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: 79.4%
male: 85.6%
female: 73% (2003 est.)
Government Iran
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local short form: Iran
former: Persia
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
Government type:
theocratic republic
Capital:
Tehran
Administrative divisions:
28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e
Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman,
Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad,
Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan,
Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence:
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
note: additional holidays celebrated widely in Iran include
Revolution Day, 11 February (1979); Noruz (New Year's Day), 21
March; Constitutional Monarchy Day, 5 August (1925)
Constitution:
2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency
and eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system:
the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
Suffrage:
15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI
(since 4 June 1989)
elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by
the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 8 June 2001 (next to be held June
2005)
election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani reelected
president; percent of vote - (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 77%
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over
appointments to the more sensitive ministries
head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since
3 August 1997); First Vice President Dr. Mohammad Reza AREF-YAZDI
(since 26 August 2001)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or
Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats, note - changed from 270 seats
with the 18 February 2000 election; members elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 18 February 2000 with a runoff held 5 May 2000
(next to be held February 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - reformers
189, conservatives 54, independents 42, seats reserved for religious
minorities 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
a loose pro-reform coalition called the 2nd Khordad front achieved
considerable success at elections to the sixth Majles in early 2000,
and groups in the coalition include: Islamic Iran Participation
Front (IIPF); Executives of Construction Party (Kargozaran);
Solidarity Party; Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization
(MIRO); and Militant Clerics Society (Ruhaniyun); a new apparently
conservative group, the Builders of Islamic Iran, emerged at the
local level in early 2003
Political pressure groups and leaders:
active pro-reform student groups include the "Organization for
Strengthening Unity"; groups that generally support the Islamic
Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Muslim Students Following the
Line of the Imam, Tehran Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat),
Islamic Coalition Association, and Islamic Engineers Society;
opposition groups include Freedom Movement of Iran, the National
Front, Marz-e Por Gohar, and various Monarchist organizations; armed
political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the
government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's
Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, and Komala
International organization participation:
CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; note - protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
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
Economy Iran
Economy - overview:
Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of
oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and
small-scale private trading and service ventures. President KHATAMI
has continued to follow the market reform plans of former President
RAFSANJANI and has indicated that he will pursue diversification of
Iran's oil-reliant economy although he has made little progress
toward that goal. Relatively high oil prices in recent years have
enabled Iran to amass some $15 billion in foreign exchange reserves,
but have not solved Iran's structural economic problems, including
high unemployment and inflation.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $458.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 26%
services: 55% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
21 million
note: shortage of skilled labor (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16.3% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $29.5 billion
expenditures: $31.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction
materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and
vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments
Industrial production growth rate:
5.5% excluding oil (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
124.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 97.1%
hydro: 2.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
115.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
3.804 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.277 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
94.39 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
61.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
65.59 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
110 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
4.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
24.8 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy
products, wool; caviar
Exports:
$24.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum 85%, carpets, fruits and nuts, iron and steel, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Japan 17.4%, China 8.6%, UAE 7.6%, Italy 6.6%, South Korea 4.9%,
South Africa 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$21.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods,
foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military
supplies
Imports - partners:
Germany 10.9%, Italy 9%, France 7.9%, China 7.4%, South Korea 6.5%,
UAE 4.4%, Japan 4.1%, Russia 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$8.7 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$408 million (2002 est.)
Currency:
Iranian rial (IRR)
Currency code:
IRR
Exchange rates:
rials per US dollar 6,906.96 (2002), 1,753.56 (2001), 1,764.43
(2000), 1,752.93 (1999), 1,751.86 (1998)
note: from 1997 to 2001, Iran had a multi-exchange-rate system; one
of these rates, the official floating exchange rate, by which most
essential goods were imported, averaged 1,750 rials per US dollar;
in March 2002, the multi-exchange-rate system was converged into one
rate at about 7,900 rials per US dollar
Fiscal year:
21 March - 20 March
Communications Iran
Telephones - main lines in use:
6.313 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
265,000 (August 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate but 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: as a result of heavy investing in the telephone system
since 1994, the number of long-distance channels in the microwave
radio relay trunk has grown substantially; many villages have been
brought into the net; the number of main lines in the urban systems
has approximately doubled; and thousands of mobile cellular
subscribers are being served; moreover, the technical level of the
system has been raised by the installation of thousands of digital
switches
international: HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey,
Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; 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; satellite earth stations - 9 Intelsat and
4 Inmarsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios:
17 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
28 (plus 450 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
4.61 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ir
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
100 (2002)
Internet users:
1.326 million (2002 est.)
Transportation Iran
Railways:
total: 7,201 km
broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,107 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 167,157 km
paved: 94,109 km (including 890 km of expressways)
unpaved: 73,048 km (1998)
Waterways:
904 km
note: the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for
about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 212 km; gas 16,998 km; liquid petroleum gas 570 km;
oil 8,256 km; refined products 7,808 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war), Ahvaz,
Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr, Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni,
Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-e Torkaman, Chabahar
(Bandar Beheshti), Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye
Sirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation since November 1992), Now
Shahr
Merchant marine:
total: 139 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,190,576 GRT/7,276,700 DWT
ships by type: bulk 43, cargo 34, chemical tanker 4, container 10,
liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 6, petroleum
tanker 30, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea
passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
309 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 122
over 3,047 m: 39
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 187
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
under 914 m: 39 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 138
Heliports:
13 (2002)
Military Iran
Military branches:
Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground Forces,
Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Command), Iranian Revolutionary
Guards Corps (IRGC) (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Qods
[special operations], and Basij [Popular Mobilization Army] forces),
Law Enforcement Forces
Military manpower - military age:
21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 20,343,063 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,094,551 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 870,711 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.7 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.1% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Iran
Disputes - international:
Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed waters on
Helmand River tributaries in response to prolonged drought in
region; thousands of Afghan refugees still reside in Iran; despite
restored diplomatic relations in 1990, disputes with Iraq over
maritime and land boundaries, navigation channel, and other issues
from eight-year war persist; UAE engage direct talks and Arab League
support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Tunb Islands
and Abu Musa Island; Iran insists on division of the Caspian Sea
into five equal sectors, while other littoral states have generally
agreed to equidistant seabed boundaries - Iran has threatened
Azerbaijanian hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters
Illicit drugs:
despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a key
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domestic
narcotics consumption remains a persistent problem and Iranian press
reports estimate at least 2 million drug users in the country
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Iraq
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
military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest
being 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 resulted in the US-led
invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn
regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded
infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely
elected government.
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: 437,072 sq km
water: 4,910 sq km
land: 432,162 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:
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: unamed peak 3,611 m; note - this peak is not Gundah
Zhur 3,607 m or Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
arable land: 11.89%
permanent crops: 0.78%
other: 87.33% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
35,250 sq km (1998 est.)
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: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
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:
24,683,313 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.7% (male 5,103,669; female 4,946,443)
15-64 years: 56.3% (male 7,033,268; female 6,855,644)
65 years and over: 3% (male 348,790; female 395,499) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 18.9 years
female: 19.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.78% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
33.66 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 55.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 61.09 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.81 years
male: 66.7 years
female: 68.99 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.52 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,000
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups:
Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%
Religions:
Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages:
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.4%
male: 55.9%
female: 24.4% (2003 est.)
Government Iraq
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq
Government type:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime
by US-led coalition
Capital:
Baghdad
Administrative divisions:
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al
Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah,
At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan,
Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence:
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 17 July (1968)
Constitution:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime
by US-led coalition
Legal system:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime
by US-led coalition
Suffrage:
formerly 18 years of age; universal; note - in transition following
April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Executive branch:
chief of state: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM
Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Legislative branch:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime
by US-led coalition
Judicial branch:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime
by US-led coalition
Political parties and leaders:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime
by US-led coalition
Political pressure groups and leaders:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime
by US-led coalition
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, EAPC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime
by US-led coalition
Diplomatic representation from the US:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime
by US-led coalition
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with
three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the
white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic
script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the
left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the
Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria which has two
stars but no script and the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white
band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle
centered in the white band
Economy Iraq
Economy - overview:
Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has
traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In
the 1980s financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the
eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran
led the government to implement austerity measures, borrow heavily,
and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic
losses from the war of at least $100 billion. After hostilities
ended in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction
of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraq's
seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic
sanctions, and damage from military action by an international
coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic
activity. Although government policies supporting large military and
internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters
of the regime have hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's
oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve
conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export
limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some
infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999 the UN Security Council
authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required
to meet humanitarian needs. Oil exports have recently been more than
three-quarters prewar level. However, 28% of Iraq's export revenues
under the program have been deducted to meet UN Compensation Fund
and UN administrative expenses. The drop in GDP in 2001-02 was
largely the result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil
prices. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while
medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per
capita output and living standards were still well below the prewar
level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The military
victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted in the
shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure
and the loss of a comparatively small amount of capital plant.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $58 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 13%
services: 81% (1993 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
70% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
6.5 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food
processing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
36.01 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.4%
hydro: 1.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
33.49 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2.452 million bbl/day (2001 est.); note - production was disrupted
as a result of the March-April 2003 war (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
460,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
113.8 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.149 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep
Exports:
$13 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil
Exports - partners:
US 40.9%, Canada 8.2%, France 8.2%, Jordan 7.5%, Netherlands 6.4%,
Italy 5.4%, Morocco 4.7%, Spain 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$7.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, medicine, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Jordan 11%, France 8.8%, China 8.4%, Germany 7.6%, Russia 7.3%,
Australia 7.2%, Vietnam 6.6%, Italy 6.4%, Japan 5.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$120 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$327.5 million (1995)
Currency:
Iraqi dinar (IQD)
Currency code:
IQD
Exchange rates:
Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 0.31 (2002), 0.31 (2001), 0.31 (2000),
0.31 (1999), 0.31 (1998), note: fixed official rate since 1982;
market rate subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Iraq
Telephones - main lines in use:
675,000 (1997); note - an unknown number of telephone lines were
damaged or destroyed during the March-April war
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA; service available in northern Iraq (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: an unknown number of telecommunication
facilities were damaged during the March-April 2003 war
domestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio
relay links
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region),
and 1 Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably
nonoperational
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 19 (5 are inactive), FM 51, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
4.85 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (1997); note - unknown number were destroyed during the
March-April 2003 war
Televisions:
1.75 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.iq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
12,500 (2001)
Transportation Iraq
Railways:
total: 1,963 km
standard gauge: 1,963 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
Highways:
total: 45,550 km
paved: 38,399 km
unpaved: 7,151 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:
1,015 km
note: Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for
about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use; Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft
boats; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft
before closing in 1991 because of the Gulf war
Pipelines:
gas 1,739 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,343 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limited functionality
Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 119,433 GRT/170,221 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 6, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
150 (2002); note - unknown number were damaged during the
March-April 2003 war
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 77
over 3,047 m: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 73
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
Heliports:
5 (2002)
Military Iraq
Military branches:
Army, Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border
Guard Force, Fedayeen Saddam; note - with the defeat of Saddam
Hussein's regime in 2003, the data listed in the following entries
for Iraq is invalid, but is retained here for historical purposes
and until replaced by valid information related to the future Iraqi
Government (April 2003)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,339,458 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,541,467 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 292,930 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.3 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Iraq
Disputes - international:
despite restored diplomatic relations in 1990, disputes with Iran
over maritime and land boundaries, navigation channel, and other
issues from eight-year war persist; land and Shatt al Arab boundary
demarcation put an end to claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah
islands, but no maritime boundary exists with Kuwait in the Persian
Gulf; Iraq protests Turkey's hydrological projects to regulate the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers upstream
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Ireland
Introduction Ireland
Background:
Celtic tribes settled on the island in the 4th century 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 United Kingdom. In 1948
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,
known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is
currently being implemented.
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: 70,280 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
land: 68,890 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:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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:
zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone,
dolomite, peat, silver
Land use:
arable land: 19.49%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 80.47% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Endangered Species, 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 97 km of Dublin
People Ireland
Population:
3,924,140 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.2% (male 427,017; female 404,191)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 1,322,982; female 1,322,429)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 194,724; female 252,797) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.1 years
male: 32.2 years
female: 34 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.63 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.95 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.35 years
male: 74.58 years
female: 80.31 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups:
Celtic, English
Religions:
Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9% (1998)
Languages:
English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic) spoken
mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98% (1981 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
Government Ireland
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Dublin
Administrative divisions:
26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway,
Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth,
Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary,
Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province
Independence:
6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
National holiday:
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution:
29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite
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: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination
by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote -
Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive
Democrats
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 31 October 1997 (next to be held NA November
2004); prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and
appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad
Eireann (60 seats - 49 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 are elected
by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 15, Labor Party 5, Progressive
Democrats 4, independents and others 6; House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, Labor
Party 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats 4.0%, Green Party
3.8%, others 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31,
Labor Party 21, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5,
others 14
elections: Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002 (next to be held
by July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 17 May 2002
(next to be held by May 2007)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of
the prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party
[Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats
[Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe
HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMEE,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Noel FAHEY; note - FAHEY has announced
that he will leave
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard J. EGAN
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; 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
Economy Ireland
Economy - overview:
Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth
averaging a robust 8% in 1995-2002. The global slowdown, especially
in the information technology sector, pressed growth down to 2.7% in
2003. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by
industry and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP and about
80% of exports and employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports
remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the economy has also
benefited from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and
business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above that of the four
big European economies. Over the past decade, the Irish Government
has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to
curb inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force
skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in launching
the euro currency system in January 1999 along with 10 other EU
nations.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $113.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $29,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35.9 (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.8 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 64% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $30.7 billion
expenditures: $30.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.5
billion (2002)
Industries:
food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and
crystal; software
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
23.53 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 95.9%
hydro: 2.3%
other: 1.7% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
21.63 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
285 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
38 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
174,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
27,450 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
178,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
815 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.199 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
3.384 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
9.911 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products
Exports:
$86.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals;
live animals, animal products (1999)
Exports - partners:
UK 23.3%, US 16.7%, Belgium 14.6%, Germany 7.3%, France 5% (2002)
Imports:
$48.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment,
chemicals; petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
Imports - partners:
UK 41.1%, US 15.3%, Germany 6.8% (2002)
Debt - external:
$11 billion (1998)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $283 million (2001)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999), 0.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Ireland
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.6 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3 million (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave
radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
2.55 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
1.82 million (2001)
Internet country code:
.ie
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2000)
Internet users:
1.31 million (2002)
Transportation Ireland
Railways:
total: 3,312 km
broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (46 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)
(2002)
Highways:
total: 92,500 km
paved: 87,043 km (including 115 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,457 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:
700 km (limited facilities for commercial traffic) (1998)
Pipelines:
gas 1,795 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick, New Ross,
Waterford
Merchant marine:
total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 110,913 GRT/128,017 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 2 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 20, container 1, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
36 (2002)
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: 4
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Military Ireland
Military branches:
Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police
(Garda Siochana)
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,020,182 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 821,378 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 31,437 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$700 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (FY00/01)
Transnational Issues Ireland
Disputes - international:
disputes with Iceland, Denmark, and the UK over the Faroe Islands
continental shelf boundary outside 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;
minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for
Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Israel
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 occupied by
Israel 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.
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 keeping with the framework
established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral
negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian
representatives (from the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip)
and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. But progress toward a
permanent status agreement has been undermined by the outbreak of
Palestinian-Israeli violence since September 2000.
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: 20,770 sq km
water: 440 sq km
land: 20,330 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:
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: 17.02%
permanent crops: 4.17%
other: 78.81% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,990 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note:
there are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in
the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 25 in the
Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (February 2002 est.); Sea of
Galilee is an important freshwater source
People Israel
Population:
6,116,533 (July 2002 est.)
note: includes about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank,
about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, more than 5,000
in the Gaza Strip, and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem
(February 2003 est.) (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.9% (male 842,885; female 803,864)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 1,941,440; female 1,922,512)
65 years and over: 9.9% (male 260,315; female 345,517) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.1 years
female: 29.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.39% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.67 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 8.14 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.02 years
male: 76.95 years
female: 81.19 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,400 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli
Ethnic groups:
Jewish 80.1% (Europe/America-born 32.1%, Israel-born 20.8%,
Africa-born 14.6%, Asia-born 12.6%), non-Jewish 19.9% (mostly Arab)
(1996 est.)
Religions:
Jewish 80.1%, Muslim 14.6% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2.1%,
other 3.2% (1996 est.)
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: 95.4%
male: 97.3%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Government Israel
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local short form: Yisra'el
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Jerusalem; note - Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in
1950, but the US, like nearly 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
Legal system:
mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in
personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in
December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no
longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Moshe KATSAV (since 31 July 2000)
elections: president elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term;
election last held 31 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2007); following
legislative elections, the president assigns a Knesset member -
traditionally the leader of the largest party - the task of forming
a governing coalition; election last held 28 January 2003 (next to
be held fall of 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Ariel SHARON (since 7 March 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the
Knesset
election results: Moshe KATSAV elected president by the 120-member
Knesset with a total of 60 votes, other candidate, Shimon PERES,
received 57 votes (there were three abstentions); Ariel SHARON
continues as prime minister after Likud Party victory in January
2003 Knesset elections; Likud won 38 seats and then formed coalition
government with Shinui, the National Religious Party, and the
National Union
Legislative branch:
unicameral Knesset or parliament (120 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 January 2003 (next to be held fall of 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Likud Party 29.4%,
Labor 14.5%, Shinui 12.3%, Shas 8.2%, National Union 5.5%, Meretz
5.2%, United Torah Judaism 4.3%, National Religious Party 4.2%,
Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3.0%, One Nation 2.8%,
National Democratic Alliance 2.3%, YBA 2.2%, United Arab List 2.1%,
Green Leaf Party 1.2%, Herut 1.2%, other 1.6%; seats by party -
Likud 38, Labor 19, Shinui 15, Shas 11, National Union 7, Meretz 6,
National Religious Party 6, United Torah Judaism 5, Democratic Front
for Peace and Equality 3, One Nation 3, National Democratic Alliance
3, YBA 2, United Arab List 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed for life by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Dan MERIDOR]; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality
(Hadash) [Muhammad BARAKA]; Democratic Movement [Roman BRONFMAN];
Gesher [David LEVI]; Green Leaf Party [Boaz WACHTEL and Shlomi
SANDAK]; Herut [Michael KLEINER]; Labor Party [Binyamin
BEN-ELIEZER]; Likud Party [Ariel SHARON]; Meimad [Rabbi Michael
MELCHIOR]; Meretz [Yossi SARID]; National Democratic Alliance
(Balad) [Azmi BISHARA]; National Religious Party [Yitzhak LEVY];
National Union [Benyamin ELON] (includes Tekuma and Moledet); One
Israel [Ra'anan COHEN]; One Nation [Amir PERETZ]; Shas [Eliyahu
YISHAI]; Shinui [Tommy LAPID]; United Arab List [Abd al-Malik
DAHAMSHAH]; United Torah Judaism [Meir PORUSH]; Yisra'el Ba'Aliya or
YBA [Natan SHARANSKY]; Yisra'el Beiteinu [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Israeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank
and Gaza Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip; Yesha (settler) Council promotes settler
interests and opposes territorial compromise; B'Tselem monitors
human rights abuses
International organization participation:
BSEC (observer), CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
OAS (observer), OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel AYALON
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607
telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
mailing address: PSC 98, Box 29, APO AE 09830
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7457/7369/7454/7458/7453
FAX: [972] (3) 517-4390
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
Economy Israel
Economy - overview:
Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with
substantial government participation. 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. Israel imports
significant quantities of grain but is largely self-sufficient in
other agricultural products. Cut diamonds, high-technology
equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are the
leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable current account
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, which is its major source of economic and
military aid. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR
during the period 1989-99, coupled with the opening of new markets
at the end of the Cold War, energized Israel's economy, which grew
rapidly in the early 1990s; growth began moderating in 1996 when the
government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the
immigration bonus petered out. Growth was a strong 7.2% in 2000, but
the bitter Israeli-Palestinian conflict, difficulties in the
high-technology, construction, and tourist sectors, and fiscal
austerity in the face of growing inflation led to small declines in
GDP in 2001 and 2002.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $117.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 30%
services: 67% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
18% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 28.3% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35.5 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.5 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
public services 31.2%, manufacturing 20.2%, finance and business
13.1%, commerce 12.8%, construction 7.5%, personal and other
services 6.4%, transport, storage, and communications 6.2%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2.6% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
10.4% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $38.5 billion
expenditures: $45.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
high-technology projects (including aviation, communications,
computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics), wood
and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and
tobacco, caustic soda, cement, diamond cutting
Industrial production growth rate:
-1.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
42.24 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.9%
hydro: 0.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
37.82 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.457 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
80 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
260,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.92 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
10 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
10 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
20.81 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products
Exports:
$28.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural
products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
Exports - partners:
US 39.2%, Belgium 6.5%, Germany 4.4%, UK 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$30.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough
diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 21.6%, Belgium 8.9%, Germany 6.7%, UK 6.6%, Switzerland 4.9%,
Italy 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$42.8 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$720 million from US (2001 est.)
Currency:
new Israeli shekel (ILS); note - NIS is the currency abbreviation;
ILS is the International Organization for Standarization (ISO) code
for the NIS
Currency code:
ILS
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.74 (2002), 4.21 (2001), 4.08
(2000), 4.14 (1999), 3.8 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Israel
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.8 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.5 million (1999)
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
international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
3.07 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
17 (plus 36 low-power repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.69 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.il
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
21 (2000)
Internet users:
1.94 million (2001)
Transportation Israel
Railways:
total: 640 km
standard gauge: 640 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 16,281 km
paved: 16,281 km (including 56 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 100 km; oil 1,509 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 705,897 GRT/823,605 DWT
ships by type: container 17, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
52 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Heliports:
3 (2002)
Military Israel
Military branches:
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (includes ground, naval, and air
components with Air Defense Forces), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal);
note - historically there have been no separate Israeli military
services
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,562,716
note: both sexes are liable for military service (2003 est.)
females age 15-49: 1,516,505
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,279,277
females age 15-49: 1,237,926 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 51,080
females: 53,496 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$8.97 billion (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
8.75% (FY02)
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; Golan Heights
is Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan
Heights)
Illicit drugs:
increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse; drugs arrive
in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Italy
Introduction Italy
Background:
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the
peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King
Victor EMMANUEL. An era of parliamentary government came to a close
in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist
dictatorship. His disastrous 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 European Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent
problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption,
high unemployment, 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: 301,230 sq km
note: includes Sardinia and Sicily
water: 7,210 sq km
land: 294,020 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
total: 1,932.2 km
border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican
City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 232 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline:
7,600 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
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:
mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, natural gas and crude oil
reserves, fish, coal, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 28.07%
permanent crops: 9.25%
other: 62.68% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
26,980 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice
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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as
southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
People Italy
Population:
57,998,353 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14% (male 4,193,412; female 3,947,679)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 19,625,428; female 19,337,861)
65 years and over: 18.8% (male 4,516,995; female 6,376,978) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 41 years
male: 39.4 years
female: 42.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.11% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.18 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.12 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.82 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.4 years
male: 76.47 years
female: 82.52 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.26 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,100 (2001 est.)
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:
predominately Roman Catholic with 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: 98.6%
male: 99%
female: 98.3% (2003 est.)
Government Italy
Country name:
conventional long form: Italian Republic
conventional short form: Italy
local long form: Repubblica Italiana
former: Kingdom of Italy
local short form: Italia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Rome
Administrative divisions:
20 regions (regioni, singular - regione); Abruzzi, Basilicata,
Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio,
Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna,
Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto
Independence:
17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally
unified until 1870)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
Constitution:
1 January 1948
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 Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI (since 13 May 1999)
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a
seven-year term; election last held 13 May 1999 (next to be held NA
May 2006); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed
by Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as the
president of the Council of Ministers) Silvio BERLUSCONI (since 10
June 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
approved by the president
election results: Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI elected president; percent of
electoral college vote - 70%
note: a five-party government coalition includes Forza Italia,
National Alliance, Northern League, Democratic Christian Center,
United Christian Democrats
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato
della Repubblica (315 seats elected by popular vote of which 232 are
directly elected and 83 are elected by regional proportional
representation; in addition, there are a small number of
senators-for-life including former presidents of the republic;
members serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera
dei Deputati (630 seats; 475 are directly elected, 155 by regional
proportional representation; members serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 13 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006);
Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - House of Liberties 177 (Forza Italia 82, National Alliance
46, CCD-CDU 29, Northern League 17, others 3), Olive Tree 128
(Democrats of the Left 62, Daisy Alliance 42, Sunflower Alliance 16,
Italian Communist Party 3, independents 5), non-affiliated with
either coalition 10, senators for life 9; Chamber of Deputies -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - House of Liberties
367 (Forza Italia 189, National Alliance 96, CCD-CDU 40, Northern
League 30, others 12), Olive Tree 248 (Democrats of the Left 138,
Daisy Alliance 76, Sunflower Alliance 18, Italian Communist Party 9,
independents 7), non-affiliated with either coalition 15
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-Left Olive Tree Coalition [Francesco RUTELLI] - Democrats of
the Left, Daisy Alliance (including Italian Popular Party, Italian
Renewal, Union of Democrats for Europe, The Democrats), Sunflower
Alliance (including Green Federation, Italian Democratic
Socialists), Italian Communist Party; Center-Right Freedom House
Coalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI] (formerly House of Liberties and
Freedom Alliance) - Forza Italia, National Alliance, The Whiteflower
Alliance (includes Christian Democratic Center, United Christian
Democrats), Northern League; Christian Democratic Center or CCD
[Marco FOLLINI]; Democrats of the Left or DS [Piero FASSINO]; Forza
Italia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI]; Green Federation [Alfonso Pecoraro
SCANIO]; Italian Communist Party or PdCI [Armando COSSUTTA]; Italian
Popular Party or PPI [Pierluigi CASTAGNETTI]; Italian Renewal or RI
[Lamberto DINI]; Italian Social Democrats or SDI [Enrico BOSELLI];
Socialist Movement-Tricolor Flame or MS-Fiamma [Pino RAUTI];
National Alliance or AN [Gianfranco FINI]; Northern League or NL
[Umberto BOSSI]; Southern Tyrols People's Party or SVP (German
speakers) [Siegfried BRUGGER]; Sunflower Alliance (includes Green
Federation, Italian Social Democrats); The Daisy Alliance (includes
Italian Popular Party, Italian Renewal, Union of Democrats for
Europe, The Democrats); The Democrats [Arturo PARISI]; The Radicals
(formerly Pannella Reformers and Autonomous List) [Marco PANNELLA];
The Whiteflower Alliance (includes Christian Democratic Center,
United Christian Democrats); Union of Democrats for Europe or UDEUR
[Clemente MASTELLA]; United Christian Democrats or CDU [Rocco
BUTTIGLIONE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Italian manufacturers and merchants associations (Confindustria,
Confcommercio); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori,
Confagricoltura); Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union
confederations (Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL
[Sergio COFFERATI] which is left wing, Confederazione Italiana dei
Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Savino PEZZOTTA], which is Roman
Catholic centrist, and Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Pietro
LARIZZA] which is lay centrist)
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CDB, CE, CEI,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 7, G- 8,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sergio VENTO
consulate(s): Detroit
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los
Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 518-2151
telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400
chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Melvin F. SEMBLER
embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 119/A, 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;
similar to the flag of 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
note: inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in
1797
Economy Italy
Economy - overview:
Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the same
total and per capita output as France and the UK. This capitalistic
economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated
by private companies, and a less developed, welfare-dependent
agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most raw materials needed
by industry and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported.
Over the past decade, Italy has pursued a tight fiscal policy in
order to meet the requirements of the Economic and Monetary Unions
and has benefited from lower interest and inflation rates. The
current government has enacted numerous short-term reforms aimed at
improving competitiveness and long-term growth. Italy has moved
slowly, however, on implementing needed structural reforms, such as
lightening the high tax burden and overhauling Italy's rigid labor
market and over-generous pension system, because of the current
economic slowdown and opposition from labor unions.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.455 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 30%
services: 67.6% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
27.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
23.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 63%, industry 32%, agriculture 5% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
9.1% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $504 billion
expenditures: $517 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing,
textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate:
-2.8% (2002)
Electricity - production:
258.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 78.6%
hydro: 18.4%
other: 3% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
289.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
556 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
48.93 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
79,460 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.866 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
456,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
2.158 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
586.6 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
15.49 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
71.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
61 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
54.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
209.7 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain,
olives; beef, dairy products; fish
Exports:
$259.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 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 13.7%, France 12.2%, US 9.8%, UK 6.9%, Spain 6.4% (2002)
Imports:
$238.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy
products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing;
food, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.8%, France 11.3%, Netherlands 5.9%, UK 5%, US 4.9%,
Spain 4.6%, Belgium 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Italy
Telephones - main lines in use:
25 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
20.5 million (1999)
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: 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; 21 submarine
cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM about 100, FM about 4,600, shortwave 9 (1998)
Radios:
50.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
358 (plus 4,728 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
30.3 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.it
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
93 (Italy and Holy See) (2000)
Internet users:
19.25 million (2001)
Transportation Italy
Railways:
total: 19,493 km
standard gauge: 18,090 km 1.435-m gauge (11,375 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 88 km 1.000-m gauge (88 km electrified); 1,315 km
0.950-m gauge (189 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 479,688 km
paved: 479,688 km (including 6,621 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:
2,400 km
note: serves various types of commercial traffic, although of
limited overall value (2002)
Pipelines:
gas 17,448 km; oil 1,245 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Augusta (Sicily), Bagnoli, Bari, Brindisi, Gela, Genoa, La Spezia,
Livorno, Milazzo, Naples, Porto Foxi, Porto Torres (Sardinia),
Salerno, Savona, Taranto, Trieste, Venice (2001)
Merchant marine:
total: 462 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 8,518,900 GRT/9,963,040 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Croatia 1, Denmark 4, France 1, Greece 3, Man, Isle of
1, Monaco 7, Netherlands 6, Norway 1, Panama 2, Spain 1, Switzerland
1, Taiwan 15, Turkey 1, UK 6, US 12 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 43, cargo 39, chemical tanker 98, combination
ore/oil 5, container 28, liquefied gas 39, multi-functional
large-load carrier 1, passenger 14, petroleum tanker 67,
refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 60, short-sea passenger 32,
specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 22
Airports:
134 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Heliports:
4 (2002)
Military Italy
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 14,450,147 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,349,356 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 291,529 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$20.2 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.64% (2002)
Transnational Issues Italy
Disputes - international:
Croatia and Italy continue to debate bilateral property and ethnic
minority rights issues stemming from border changes after the Second
World War
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Jamaica
Introduction Jamaica
Background:
Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in
1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to
recurrent violence and a dropoff in tourism. Elections in 1980 saw
the democratic socialists voted out of office. Subsequent
governments have been open market oriented. Political violence
marred elections during the 1990s.
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
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 baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 NM
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: 16.07%
permanent crops: 9.23%
other: 74.7% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
2,695,867 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.6% (male 395,074; female 376,870)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 870,486; female 869,431)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 82,022; female 101,984) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.5 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 27.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.61% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.35 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.42 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.85 years
male: 73.84 years
female: 77.97 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.01 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
980 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups:
black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed
7.3%, other 0.1%
Religions:
Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United
Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%),
Roman Catholic 4%, other, including some spiritual cults 34.7%
Languages:
English, patois English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 87.9%
male: 84.1%
female: 91.6% (2003 est.)
Government Jamaica
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jamaica
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Kingston
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
Independence:
6 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, first Monday in 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 Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1
August 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since
30 March 1992)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch 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 is 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 eight seats) and
the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 October 2002 (next to be held NA October
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 52%, JLP 47.3%;
seats by party - PNP 34, JLP 26
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the
advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Edward SEAGA]; National Democratic
Movement or NDM [Bruce GOLDING]; People's National Party or PNP
[Percival James PATTERSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black
religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Seymour MULLINGS
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660
chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sue McCourt COBB
embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,
Kingston 5
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859
FAX: [1] (876) 935-6001
Flag description:
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green
(top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)
Economy Jamaica
Economy - overview:
The economy, which depends heavily on tourism and bauxite, has been
stagnant since 1995. After five years of recession, the economy
inched ahead, by 0.8% in 2000, 1.7% in 2001, and 0.8% in 2002; the
global economic slowdown, particularly in the United States after
the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, has stunted the economic
recovery. Serious problems include: high interest rates; increased
foreign competition; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate;
a widening merchandise trade deficit; and a growing internal debt,
the result of government bailouts to various ailing sectors of the
economy, particularly the financial sector. Depressed economic
conditions have led to increased civil unrest, including serious
violent crime. Jamaica's medium-term prospects will depend upon
encouraging investment and tourism, maintaining a competitive
exchange rate, selling off reacquired firms, and implementing proper
fiscal and monetary policies.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.08 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 31%
services: 63% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
34.2% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.9 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.13 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 60%, agriculture 21%, industry 19% (1998)
Unemployment rate:
15.4% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.23 billion
expenditures: $2.56 billion, including capital expenditures of
$232.5 million (FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:
tourism, bauxite, textiles, food processing, light manufactures,
rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products
Industrial production growth rate:
-2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.272 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 96.8%
hydro: 1.8%
other: 1.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
5.833 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; poultry,
goats, milk
Exports:
$1.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
alumina, bauxite; sugar, bananas, rum
Exports - partners:
US 28.1%, Canada 12.2%, Norway 10.7%, UK 10.5%, Germany 7%,
Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
Imports:
$3.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, fuel,
food, chemicals, fertilizers
Imports - partners:
US 45%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.3 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
NA
Currency:
Jamaican dollar (JMD)
Currency code:
JMD
Exchange rates:
Jamaican dollars per US dollar - 48.42 (2002), 46 (2001), 42.7
(2000), 39.04 (1999), 36.55 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Jamaica
Telephones - main lines in use:
353,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
54,640 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone network
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
1.215 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (1997)
Televisions:
460,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.jm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
21 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2002)
Transportation Jamaica
Railways:
total: 272 km
standard gauge: 272 km 1.435-m gauge; note - 207 km, belonging to
the Jamaica Railway Corporation, were in common carrier service but
are no longer operational; the remaining track is privately owned
and used to transport bauxite (2002)
Highways:
total: 18,700 km
paved: 13,109 km
unpaved: 5,591 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
petroleum products 10 km
Ports and harbors:
Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios,
Port Antonio, Rocky Point, Port Esquivel (Longswharf)
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 50,536 GRT/62,868 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2,
short-sea passenger 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Latvia 2, US 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
35 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Military Jamaica
Military branches:
Jamaica Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and
Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 755,698 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 528,689 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 27,398 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$30 million (FY95/96 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Jamaica
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North
America and Europe; illicit cultivation 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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Jan Mayen
Introduction Jan Mayen
Background:
This desolate, 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 Haakon VII
Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; 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:
Arctic Region
Area:
total: 373 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 373 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
124.1 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 10 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 4 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic
activity resumed in 1970
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 (July 2003 est.)
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. Economic activity is limited to providing services for
employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on
the island.
Communications Jan Mayen
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000)
Transportation Jan Mayen
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Jan Mayen
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Jan Mayen
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Japan
Introduction Japan
Background:
While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed
Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an
economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor
retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests
in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business
executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the
1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth.
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: 377,835 sq km
note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,
Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and
Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
water: 3,091 sq km
land: 374,744 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
29,751 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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
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: Mount Fuji 3,776 m
Natural resources:
negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use:
arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops: 1.01%
other: 86.86% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
26,790 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic
occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:
strategic location in northeast Asia
People Japan
Population:
127,214,499 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 9,368,132; female 8,906,024)
15-64 years: 67% (male 42,852,204; female 42,368,109)
65 years and over: 18.6% (male 9,945,638; female 13,774,392) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 42 years
male: 40.3 years
female: 43.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.11% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.61 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.55 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 3.56 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.93 years
male: 77.63 years
female: 84.41 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.38 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
12,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
430 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups:
Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian
182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914) (2000)
Religions:
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including
Christian 0.7%)
Languages:
Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1995 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Japan
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Japan
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Capital:
Tokyo
Administrative divisions:
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,
Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, 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:
660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
National holiday:
Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
Constitution:
3 May 1947
Legal system:
modeled after European civil law system 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)
note: following the resignation of Prime Minister Yoshiro MORI,
Junichiro KOIZUMI was elected as the new president of the majority
Liberal Democratic Party and soon thereafter designated by the Diet
to become the next prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the Diet designates the
prime minister; the constitution requires that the prime minister
must command a parliamentary majority; therefore, following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of
a majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes
prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Junichiro KOIZUMI (since 26 April
2001)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or
Sangi-in (247 seats - members elected for six-year terms; half
reelected every three years; 149 members in multi-seat
constituencies and 98 by proportional representation); House of
Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for
four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by
proportional representation in 11 regional blocs)
election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - LDP 110, DPJ 59, Komeito 23, JCP 20, SDP 8,
Liberal Party 8, Conservative Party 5, independents 14; distribution
of seats as of July 2001 was: LDP 115, DPJ 60, Komeito 24, JCP 20,
SDP 8, Liberal Party 8 (merged with DPJ in 2003), independents 6,
others 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LDP
49.38%, DPJ 36.88%, Komeito 7.09%, JCP 1.88%, SDP 1.25%, NCP .84%;
seats by party - LDP 237, DPJ 177, Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, NCP 4,
others 13; distribution of seats as of 13 November 2003 was: LDP
244, DPJ 177, Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, others 10
elections: House of Councillors - last held 29 July 2001 (next to be
held in July 2004); House of Representatives - last held 9 November
2003 (next election has not been scheduled)
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, leader; Katsuya OKADA,
secretary general]; Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII,
chairman; Tadayoshi ICHIDA, secretary general]; Komeito [Takenori
KANZAKI, president; Tetsuzo FUYUSHIBA, secretary general]; Liberal
Democratic Party or LDP [Junichiro KOIZUMI, president; Shinzo ABE,
secretary general]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho
FUKUSHIMA, chairperson; Seiji MATAICHI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,
EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ryozo KATO
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187
consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver,
Detroit, Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri),
Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San
Francisco, and Seattle
chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. BAKER, Jr.
embassy: 10-5 Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004
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
Economy Japan
Economy - overview:
Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of
high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of
GDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of
second-most-technologically-powerful economy in the world after the
US and third-largest economy after the US and China. One notable
characteristic of the economy is the working together of
manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely-knit groups
called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of
lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor
force. Both features are now eroding. Industry, the most important
sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw
materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly
subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the
world. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50%
of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. 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
aftereffects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and
contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative
excesses from the stock and real estate markets. Government efforts
to revive economic growth have met with little success and were
further hampered in 2000-2003 by the slowing of the US, European,
and Asian economies. Japan's huge government debt, which is
approaching 150% of GDP, and the ageing of the population are two
major long-run problems. Robotics constitutes a key long-term
economic strength with Japan possessing 410,000 of the world's
720,000 "working robots." Internal conflict over the proper way to
reform the ailing banking system continues.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.651 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $28,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 30.9%
services: 67.7% (2001 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:
24.9 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
67.7 million (December 2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 70%, industry 25%, agriculture 5% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.4% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $441 billion
expenditures: $718 billion, including capital expenditures (public
works only) of about $0 NA (FY 01/02 est.)
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:
-1.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.037 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 60%
hydro: 8.4%
other: 1.8% (2001)
nuclear: 29.8%
Electricity - consumption:
964.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
17,330 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5.29 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
93,360 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
5.449 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
29.29 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
2.519 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
80.42 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
77.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
20.02 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy
products, eggs; fish
Exports:
$383.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
motor vehicles, semiconductors, office machinery, chemicals
Exports - partners:
US 28.8%, China 9.6%, South Korea 6.9%, Taiwan 6.2%, Hong Kong 6.1%
(2002)
Imports:
$292.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles,
raw materials (2001)
Imports - partners:
China 18.3%, US 17.4%, South Korea 4.6%, Indonesia 4.2%, Australia
4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $9.1 billion (1999)
Currency:
yen (JPY)
Currency code:
JPY
Exchange rates:
yen per US dollar - 125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001), 107.77 (2000),
113.91 (1999), 130.91 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Japan
Telephones - main lines in use:
60.381 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
63.88 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of
every kind
international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and
1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); submarine cables to
China, Philippines, Russia, and US (via Guam) (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 215 plus 370 repeaters, FM 89 plus 485 repeaters, shortwave 21
(2001)
Radios:
120.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
211 plus 7,341 repeaters
note: in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV
cable services (1999)
Televisions:
86.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.jp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
73 (2000)
Internet users:
56 million (2002)
Transportation Japan
Railways:
total: 23,168 km (15,995 km electrified)
standard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 19,855 km
1.067-m gauge (12,683 km electrified); 31 km 0.762-m gauge (31 km
electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 1,161,894 km
paved: 534,471 km (including 6,455 km of expressways)
unpaved: 627,423 km (1999)
Waterways:
1,770 km approximately
note: seagoing craft ply all coastal inland seas
Pipelines:
gas 2,719 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 60 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Akita, Amagasaki, Chiba, Hachinohe, Hakodate, Higashi-Harima,
Himeji, Hiroshima, Kawasaki, Kinuura, Kobe, Kushiro, Mizushima,
Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Sakai, Sakaide, Shimizu, Tokyo, Tomakomai
Merchant marine:
total: 594 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,467,142 GRT/13,335,833 DWT
ships by type: bulk 120, cargo 45, chemical tanker 18, combination
bulk 28, combination ore/oil 1, container 18, liquefied gas 52,
passenger 8, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 179, refrigerated
cargo 9, roll on/roll off 59, short-sea passenger 6, vehicle carrier
49
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: China 1, Panama 1, Singapore 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
172 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 141
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 37
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 32 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
over 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 26 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 3
Heliports:
15 (2002)
Military Japan
Military branches:
Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Maritime Self-Defense Force
(Navy), Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force), Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 29,392,559 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 25,405,779 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 725,281 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$39.52 billion (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Japan
Disputes - international:
islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group
occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia,
claimed by Japan; Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) disputed with
South Korea; Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Jarvis Island
Introduction Jarvis Island
Background:
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. Abandoned after World War II, the
island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the
US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the
middle of the west coast.
Geography Jarvis Island
Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and the Cook Islands
Geographic coordinates:
0 22 S, 160 03 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 4.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4.5 sq km
Area - comparative:
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
8 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic
wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime
hazard
Environment - current issues:
no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife
People Jarvis Island
Population:
uninhabited
note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally
used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was
abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical
Year by scientists who left in 1958; 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 (July 2003 est.)
Government Jarvis Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jarvis Island
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory 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
Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Jarvis Island
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Transportation Jarvis Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat
landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the
southwest corner of the island
Transportation - note:
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Military Jarvis Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US
Coast Guard
Transnational Issues Jarvis Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Jersey
Introduction Jersey
Background:
The island of 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.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 116 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
70 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 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 location 143 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: NEGL%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
90,156 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 8,292; female 7,744)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 30,178; female 30,410)
65 years and over: 15% (male 5,858; female 7,674) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.8 years
male: 39.1 years
female: 40.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.4% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.44 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.93 years
male: 76.48 years
female: 81.57 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.57 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
UK and Norman-French descent
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,
Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages:
English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken
in country districts
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Jersey
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Saint Helier
Administrative divisions:
none (British crown dependency)
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal
Court
Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and
bailiff appointed by the monarch
head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air
Chief Marshall Sir John CHESHIRE (since 24 January 2001) and Bailiff
Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA February 1995)
cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators
(elected for 6-year terms), 12 constables or heads of parishes
(elected for 3-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for 3-year terms);
the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and 3 non-voting members - the
Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General all
appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 52
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:
none
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 and in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red
shield holding the three lions of England in yellow
Economy Jersey
Economy - overview:
The economy is based largely on international financial services,
agriculture, and tourism. 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. In 1996 the finance sector accounted
for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of
the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the
government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with
the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the
traditional manufacturing of knitwear. 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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.2 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $24,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 2%
services: 93% (1996)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.7% (1998)
Labor force:
57,050 (1996)
Unemployment rate:
0.7% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $601 million
expenditures: $588 million, including capital expenditures of $98
million (2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners:
UK
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs,
mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
UK
Debt - external:
none
Economic aid - recipient:
none
Currency:
British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound
Currency code:
GBP
Exchange rates:
Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596
(2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); the Jersey pound is at par
with the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Jersey
Telephones - main lines in use:
65,500 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4,400 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: 3 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.je
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Jersey
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 577 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Jersey
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Jersey
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Johnston Atoll
Introduction Johnston Atoll
Background:
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. The US Navy took over the atoll in 1934, and subsequently the
US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The site was used for
high-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, and until late
in 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage and disposal site for
chemical weapons. Munitions destruction is now complete. Cleanup and
closure of the facility is progressing, with completion anticipated
in 2004.
Geography Johnston Atoll
Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 NM (1328 km)
southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, about one-third of the way from
Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates:
16 45 N, 169 31 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 2.8 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2.8 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
34 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with
little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Natural resources:
guano deposits worked until depletion about 1890, terrestrial and
aquatic wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; 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; a former US nuclear weapons
test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System
(JACADS); some low-growing vegetation
People Johnston Atoll
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: in previous years, there was an average of 1,100 US military
and civilian contractor personnel present; as of September 2001,
population had decreased significantly when US Army Chemical
Activity Pacific (USACAP) departed; as of January 2003 the island
population was just above 800 personnel, including US Air Force, US
Department of Defense civilian, and civilian contractor personnel
(January 2003 est.) (July 2003 est.)
Government Johnston Atoll
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Johnston Atoll
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Honolulu, HI,
by Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, and the Fish and
Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Johnston Atoll
Economy - 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 - production:
44.2 million kWh; note - approximate annual production; there are
six 25,000 kWh generators operated by the base operating support
contractor (1999)
Electricity - consumption:
2.002 million kWh; note - approximate annual consumption
Communications Johnston Atoll
Telephone system:
general assessment: 33 commercial lines, 15 incoming and 18
outgoing; adequate telecommunications
domestic: 60-channel submarine cable (broken in January 2002), 24
DSN circuits by satellite, Automated Digital Network (AUTODIN) with
standard remote terminal, digital telephone switch, Military
Affiliated Radio System (MARS) station (scheduled for
decommissioning March 2003), UHF/VHF air-ground radio, a link to the
Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network (PCTN) satellite
international: NA (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM 7 (1 island-run morale, welfare, and recreation station
and 6 all-music digital radio stations broadcast over FM band),
shortwave NA (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
commercial satellite television system, with 30 channels (2002)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 256 KB circuit to US Department of Defense-run Nonsecure Internet
Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET) (2002)
Transportation Johnston Atoll
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Johnston Island
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Johnston Atoll
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Johnston Atoll
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Jordan
Introduction Jordan
Background:
For most of its history since independence from British
administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99).
A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures
from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states,
Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, through several
wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he resumed parliamentary elections
and gradually permitted political liberalization; in 1994 a formal
peace treaty was signed with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest
son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following
his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated
his power and established his domestic priorities, including an
aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World
Trade Organization in January 2000, and signed free trade agreements
with the United States in 2000, and with the European Free Trade
Association in 2001.
Geography Jordan
Location:
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 92,300 sq km
water: 329 sq km
land: 91,971 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 Ram 1,734 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use:
arable land: 2.87%
permanent crops: 1.52%
other: 95.61% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
750 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
5,460,265 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.9% (male 1,001,174; female 959,157)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,764,061; female 1,541,453)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 95,566; female 98,854) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 22.4 years
female: 21.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.78% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
2.62 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 22.51 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.88 years
male: 75.42 years
female: 80.5 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,000
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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 Shi'a 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: 91.3%
male: 95.9%
female: 86.3% (2003 est.)
Government Jordan
Country name:
conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local short form: Al Urdun
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
former: Transjordan
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
'Amman
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:
8 January 1952
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 HAMZAH (half brother of the monarch, born 29 March 1980)
head of government: Prime Minister Faisal al-FAYEZ (since 25 October
2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch
elections: none; the monarch 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 (Majlis al-Ayan) (40
seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categories
of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of
Representatives, also called the House of Deputies (Majlis
al-Nuwaab) (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis
of proportional representation to serve four-year terms; note - six
seats are reserved for women and are allocated by a special
electoral panel if no women are elected)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 17 June 2003, next
to be held NA 2007
note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved
by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989, the first
parliamentary elections in 22 years were held; political parties
were not legalized until 1992; King Abdallah delayed the 2001
elections until 2003
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - independents and others 89.6%, Islamic Action Front 10.4%;
seats by party - independents and others 92, Islamic Action Front 18
(note - one of the six quota seats was given to a female IAF
candidate)
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)
Political parties and leaders:
Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general]; Arab
Land Party [Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Communist
Party [Munir HAMARINAH, secretary general]; Constitutional Front
[Mahdi al-TALL, secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular
Unity Party [Sa'id DHIYAB, secretary general]; Jordanian Progressive
Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general]; Jordanian People's
Democratic (Hashd) Party [Salim al-NAHHAS, secretary general];
Islamic Action Front [Hazma MANSOUR, secretary general]; National
Action (Haqq) Party [Muhammad al-ZUBI, secretary general]; National
Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general]; (Arab)
Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysif al-HIMSI, secretary general]; Pan-Arab
(Democratic) Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice
chairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president];
Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim
Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Karim Tawfiq KAWAR
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward William GNEHM, Jr.
embassy: Abdoun, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box
5, APO AE 09892-0200
telephone: [962] (6) 5920101
FAX: [962] (6) 5920121
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top, the Abbassid Caliphate
of Islam), white (the Ummayyad Caliphate of Islam), and green (the
Fatimid Caliphate of Islam) with a red isosceles triangle
(representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916) based on the hoist side
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
Economy Jordan
Economy - overview:
Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water
and other natural resources such as oil. Debt, poverty, and
unemployment are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH since
assuming the throne in 1999 has undertaken some broad economic
reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Amman in
the past three years has worked closely with the IMF, practiced
careful monetary policy, and made significant headway with
privatization. The government also has liberalized the trade regime
sufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTrO (2000), a
free trade accord with US (2000), and an association agreement with
the EU (2001). These measures have helped improve productivity and
have put Jordan on the foreign investment map. The US-led war in
Iraq in 2003 dealt an economic blow to Jordan, which was dependent
on Iraq for discounted oil. It remains unclear how Jordan will
finance energy imports in the absence of such a deal. Other ongoing
challenges include fiscal adjustment to reduce the budget deficit
and broader investment incentives to promote job-creating ventures.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $22.63 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.7%
industry: 26%
services: 70.3% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.4 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.36 million (2002)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 82.5%, industry 12.5%, agriculture 5% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.7 billion
expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $614
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement,
potash, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
7.091 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.4%
hydro: 0.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.86 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
267 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
40 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
103,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
445,000 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
290 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
290 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.256 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats,
poultry
Exports:
$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products,
manufactures, pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:
Iraq 20.1%, US 14.5%, India 8.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Israel 4.4%
(2002)
Imports:
$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals,
manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Iraq 13.4%, Germany 8.8%, US 8%, China 6%, France 4.2%, UK 4.1%,
Italy 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$8.2 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $553 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Currency code:
JOD
Exchange rates:
Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.71 (2002), 0.71 (2001), 0.71
(2000), 0.71 (1999), 0.71 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Jordan
Telephones - main lines in use:
403,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11,500 (1995)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service has improved recently with the
increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access to
the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access
to pay telephones is needed by the urban public
domestic: microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and
fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use of
mobile cellular systems; Internet service is available
international: satellite earth stations - 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;
connection to international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link
Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL; international links
total about 4,000
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios:
1.66 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
500,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.jo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)
Internet users:
212,000 (2002)
Transportation Jordan
Railways:
total: 505 km
narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 7,245 km
paved: 7,245 km
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 10 km; oil 743 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Al 'Aqabah
Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 63,522 GRT/79,776 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, container 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 3, short-sea passenger 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 6 (2002 est.)
Airports:
17 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 1
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Jordan
Military branches:
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) (Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal
Naval Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Special Operations
Command or SOCOM); note - Public Security Directorate normally falls
under Ministry of Interior but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis
situations
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,577,136 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,113,787 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 58,840 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$757.5 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
8.6% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Jordan
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Juan de Nova Island
Introduction Juan de Nova Island
Background:
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.
Geography Juan de Nova Island
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third
of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
17 03 S, 42 45 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 4.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4.4 sq km
Area - comparative:
about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
24.1 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
low and flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 10 m
Natural resources:
guano deposits and other fertilizers
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (90% forest) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
wildlife sanctuary
People Juan de Nova Island
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few
meteorologists; occasionally visited by scientists (July 2003 est.)
Government Juan de Nova Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island
local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
local long form: none
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the
Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (possession of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Juan de Nova Island
Economy - overview:
Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.
Communications Juan de Nova Island
Communications - note:
1 meteorological station
Transportation Juan de Nova Island
Railways:
total: NA km; short line going to a jetty
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Juan de Nova Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Juan de Nova Island
Disputes - international:
claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Kazakhstan
Introduction Kazakhstan
Background:
Native 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-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence has caused many of
these newcomers to emigrate. Current issues include: developing a
cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the
country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets;
achieving a sustainable economic growth outside the oil, gas, and
mining sectors; 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
River in eastern-most Europe
Geographic coordinates:
48 00 N, 68 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 2,717,300 sq km
water: 47,500 sq km
land: 2,669,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 12,012 km
border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 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:
extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains
in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia
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: 11.23%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 88.72% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
23,320 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
Environment - current issues:
radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former
defense industries and test ranges throughout the country pose
health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe
in some cities; because the two main rivers which 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory
enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome
People Kazakhstan
Population:
16,763,795 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.4% (male 2,161,510; female 2,089,780)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 5,425,545; female 5,769,457)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 458,379; female 859,124) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.2 years
male: 26.6 years
female: 29.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.17% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.36 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 58.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 63.41 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.48 years
male: 58.16 years
female: 69.06 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.16 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kazakhstani(s)
adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups:
Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%,
German 2.4%, Uighur 1.4%, other 6.6% (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: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.7% (1999 est.)
Government Kazakhstan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
conventional short form: Kazakhstan
local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
local short form: none
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Astana; note - the government moved from Almaty to Astana in
December 1998
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qala,
singular - qalasy); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy
(Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys
Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy*, Mangghystau Oblysy
(Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy,
Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys
Qazaqstan Oblysy (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
(Baykonyr, formerly Leninsk)
Independence:
16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 25 October (1990)
Constitution:
adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995; first
post-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system
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 Daniyal AKHMETOV (since 13 June
2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president;
percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 81.7%, Serikbolsyn
ABDILDIN 12.1%, Gani KASYMOV 4.7%, Engels GABBASSOV 1.5%
note: President NAZARBAYEV expanded his presidential powers by
decree: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and
dismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his
discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previously
scheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note - President NAZARBAYEV's
previous term was extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum held
30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (39 seats - previously
47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members
are popularly elected, two from each of the 14 oblasts, the capital
of Astana, and the city of Almaty, to serve six-year terms) and the
Majilis (77 seats; 10 out of the 77 Majilis members are elected from
the winning party's lists; members are popularly elected to serve
five-year terms)
election results: note - the election results are for the old Senate
structure; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NA; 16 seats up for election in 1999, candidates nominated by local
councils; Majilis - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Otan 23, Civic Party 13, Communist Party 3, Agrarian Party 3,
People's Cooperative Party 1, independents 34; note - most
independent candidates are affiliated with parastatal enterprises
and other pro-government institutions
elections: Senate - (indirect) last held 17 September 1999 (next to
be held NA December 2005); Majilis - last held 10 and 24 October and
26 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Party [Romin MADINOV]; Ak Zhol Party "White Road" [Bulat
ABILOV, Uraz ZHANDOSOV, Zhanat YERTLESOVA, cofounders]; AUL
"Village" [leader NA]; Civic Party [Azat PERUASHEV, first
secretary]; Communist Party or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN, first
secretary]; Otan "Fatherland" [Gani YESIMOV, chairman]; Patriots'
Party [Gani KASYMOV]
note: only seven parties in Kazakhstan have been registered under
the new political party law passed in July 2002
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Alash [Sabet-Kazy AKATAY]; AZAMAT
"Citizen" Movement [Petr SVOIK, Murat AUEZOV, and Galym ABILSEITOV,
cochairmen]; Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan [Galymzhan ZHAKIYANOV,
Nurzhan SUBKHANBERDIN, cochairmen]; Labor and Worker's Movement
[Madel ISMAILOV, chairman]; Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human
Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director]; Orleu "Development"
Movement [Seidakhmet KUTTYKADAM]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye
[Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; People's Congress of Kazakhstan of
NKK [Olzhas SULEIMENOV, chairman]; People's Cooperative Party of
Kazakhstan [Umirzak SARSENOV]; Republican People's Party of
Kazakhstan or RNPK [Akezhan KAZHEGELDIN]; Socialist Party [Petr
SVOIK]
International organization participation:
AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kanat B. SAUDABAYEV
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845
consulate(s): New York
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488
chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER
embassy: 99/97A Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
480091
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (3272) 63-39-21, 63-13-75, 50-76-23, 50-76-27
(emergency number)
FAX: [7] (3272) 63-38-83
Flag description:
sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun
with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on
the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold
Economy Kazakhstan
Economy - overview:
Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics in
territory, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves
as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also
is a large agricultural - livestock and grain - producer.
Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and
processing of these natural resources and also on a growing
machine-building sector specializing in construction equipment,
tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The
breakup of the USSR in December 1991 and the collapse in demand for
Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products resulted in a
short-term contraction of the economy, with the steepest annual
decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97, the pace of the government
program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in
a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. Kazakhstan
enjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 - and a solid 9.5% in 2002 -
thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also to economic
reform, good harvests, and foreign investment. The opening of the
Caspian Consortium pipeline in 2001, from western Kazakhstan's
Tengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raised export
capacity. The country has embarked upon an industrial policy
designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the
oil sector, by developing light industry. Additionally, the policy
aims to reduce the influence of foreign investment and foreign
personnel; the government has engaged in several disputes with
foreign oil companies over the terms of production agreements, and
tensions continue.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $120 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 40%
services: 51% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 27.3% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
8.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services 50% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.8% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.2 billion
expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
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:
10% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
52.43 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 84.3%
hydro: 15.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
48.36 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
3.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
3.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
798,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
195,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
2.709 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
10.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
14.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
4.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
8.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
920.3 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock
Exports:
$10.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and oil products 58%, ferrous metals 24%, chemicals 5%,
machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal (2001)
Exports - partners:
Russia 16.2%, Bermuda 12.1%, China 11.3%, Germany 8.8%, Italy 5.5%,
Ukraine 4.9%, France 4% (2002)
Imports:
$9.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 41%, metal products 28%, foodstuffs 8%
(2001)
Imports - partners:
Russia 37.1%, US 9.3%, China 9.3%, Germany 9.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$6.6 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$610 million in US assistance programs, 1992-2000
Currency:
tenge (KZT)
Currency code:
KZT
Exchange rates:
tenge per US dollar - 153.28 (2002), 146.74 (2001), 142.13 (2000),
119.52 (1999), 78.3 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Kazakhstan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.92 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
400,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service is poor; equipment antiquated
domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; mobile
cellular systems are available in most of Kazakhstan
international: 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 60, FM 17, shortwave 9 (1998)
Radios:
6.47 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus nine repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:
3.88 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.kz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
10 (with their own international channels) (2001)
Internet users:
100,000 (2002)
Transportation Kazakhstan
Railways:
total: 13,601 km
broad gauge: 13,601 km 1.520-m gauge (3,661 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 81,331 km
paved: 77,020 km
unpaved: 4,311 km (2000)
Waterways:
3,900 km
note: on the Syr Darya (Syrdariya) and Ertis (Irtysh) rivers
Pipelines:
condensate 640 km; gas 10,527 km; oil 9,771 km; refined products
1,187 km; water 1,465 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk),
Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,064 GRT/646 DWT
ships by type: roll on/roll off 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
488 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 428
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 44
914 to 1,523 m: 103
under 914 m: 251 (2002)
Military Kazakhstan
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Force, Border
Service, Republican Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,580,754 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,658,815 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 174,111 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$221.8 million (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)
Transnational Issues Kazakhstan
Disputes - international:
Kazakhstan and China have resolved their border dispute and are
working to delimit their large open borders to control population
migration, illegal activities, and trade; delimitation of boundary
with Russia is scheduled for completion in 2003 - delimitations with
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are complete with demarcations underway
- delimitation with Kyrgyzstan is largely complete; equidistant
seabed treaties have been signed 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; no resolution of Caspian
seabed boundary with Turkmenistan
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Kenya
Introduction Kenya
Background:
Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led
Kenya from independence 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 are viewed as
having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President
MOI stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peaceful
elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic,
united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition, defeated
KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a
campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.
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: 582,650 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km
land: 569,250 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:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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:
gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, rubies, fluorspar, garnets,
wildlife, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 7.03%
permanent crops: 0.91%
other: 92.06% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
31,639,091
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.3% (male 6,609,904; female 6,461,945)
15-64 years: 55.8% (male 8,900,615; female 8,766,698)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 389,918; female 510,011) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.4 years
female: 18.5 years (2002)
male: 18.2 years
Population growth rate:
1.27% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
28.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
16.01 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to UNHCR, by the end of 2001 Kenya was host to
220,000 refugees from neighboring countries, including: Somalia
145,000 and Sudan 68,000 (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 66.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.22 years
male: 45.02 years
female: 45.43 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.47 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
15% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2.5 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
190,000 (2001 est.)
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%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim
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.)
Government Kenya
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Nairobi
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*,
North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
Independence:
12 December 1963 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Constitution:
12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with
amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, and 2001
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) and
Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002)
and Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year 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 27 December 2002 (next to be held
NA December 2007); vice president appointed by the president
election results: President Mwai KIBAKI elected; percent of vote -
Mwai KIBAKI 63%, Uhuru KENYATTA 30%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (224 seats; 210 members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called
"nominated" members who are appointed by the president but selected
by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2
ex-officio members)
elections: last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held by early 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NARC 125, KANU 64, FORD-P 14, other 7; ex-officio 2; seats appointed
by the president - NARC 7, KANU 4, FORD-P 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-People or FORD-People
[Kimaniwa NYOIKE, chairman]; Kenya African National Union or KANU
[Uhuru KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Mwai KIBAKI] -
the governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations; National
Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of
political parties and nongovernment organizations [Kivutha KIBWANA];
Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Mutava
MUSYIMI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; Supreme
Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNMISET, UNMOP, UNU, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yusuf Abdulraham NZIBO
consulate(s) general: offices in Los Angeles and New York are
closed; mission to the UN remains open
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Johnnie CARSON
embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Ave., Gigiti; P. O. Box 606
Village Market Nairobi
mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone: [254] (2) 537-800
FAX: [254] (2) 537-810
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the
red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering
crossed spears is superimposed at the center
Economy Kenya
Economy - overview:
Kenya, the regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, is
hampered by corruption and reliance upon several primary goods whose
prices remain low. Following strong economic growth in 1995 and
1996, Kenya's economy has stagnated, with GDP growth failing to keep
up with the rate of population growth. In 1997, the IMF suspended
Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the
government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. A
severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems,
causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output.
As a result, GDP contracted by 0.3% in 2000. The IMF, which had
resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through the drought, again
halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute
several anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong rains
in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic corruption, and low
investment limited Kenya's economic growth to 1%. Growth fell below
1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager
donor support, and political infighting up to the elections. In the
key December 27, 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. Substantial donor support and
rooting out corruption are essential to making Kenya realize its
substantial economic potential.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $32.89 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 13%
services: 63% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.9 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
10 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 75% 75%-80%
Unemployment rate:
40% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.91 billion
expenditures: $2.97 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries,
textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products
processing; oil refining, cement; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
0.9% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.033 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 71%
hydro: 17.7%
other: 11.3% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
3.981 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
230 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
57,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy
products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Exports:
$2.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish,
cement
Exports - partners:
Uganda 18.3%, UK 12.9%, US 8%, Netherlands 7.6%, Pakistan 4.9%,
Tanzania 4.4%, Egypt 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor
vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics
Imports - partners:
UAE 12%, Saudi Arabia 8.7%, US 8.1%, UK 7.1%, South Africa 7.1%,
France 5.8%, China 5.5%, Japan 5%, India 4.8% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.7 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$457 million (1997)
Currency:
Kenyan shilling (KES)
Currency code:
KES
Exchange rates:
Kenyan shillings per US dollar - 78.75 (2002), 78.56 (2001), 76.18
(2000), 70.33 (1999), 60.37 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Kenya
Telephones - main lines in use:
310,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
540,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: unreliable; little attempt to modernize except
for service to business
domestic: trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data
commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system
international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:
3.07 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
8 (2002)
Televisions:
730,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ke
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
65 (2001)
Internet users:
500,000 (2002)
Transportation Kenya
Railways:
total: 2,778 km
narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 63,942 km
paved: 7,737 km
unpaved: 56,205 km (2000)
Waterways:
NA
note: part of the Lake Victoria system is within the boundaries of
Kenya
Pipelines:
refined products 752 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,893 GRT/6,320 DWT
ships by type: petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
230 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 211
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 113
under 914 m: 83 (2002)
Military Kenya
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 8,096,142 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,017,501 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$185.2 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Kenya
Disputes - international:
Kenya's administrative boundary still extends into the Sudan,
creating the "Ilemi triangle"
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Kingman Reef
Introduction Kingman Reef
Background:
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 around the reef were designated a US National Wildlife
Refuge.
Geography Kingman Reef
Location:
Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates:
6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain:
low and nearly level
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources:
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter
makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
none
Geography - note:
barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
People Kingman Reef
Population:
uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
Government Kingman Reef
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,
DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the
Interior
note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted
restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef
from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18
January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be
administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this
refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of
Kingman Reef out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit
Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Kingman Reef
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Transportation Kingman Reef
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American
Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938
(2002)
Military Kingman Reef
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Kingman Reef
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Kiribati
Introduction Kiribati
Background:
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 one-half of the way from
Hawaii to Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed
that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert
Islands group (GMT +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line
Islands under its jurisdiction lie 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
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 811 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,143 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources:
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 50.68%
other: 49.32% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;
occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them
very 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, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection
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:
98,549 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 19,839; female 19,333)
15-64 years: 57% (male 27,705; female 28,438)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,385; female 1,849) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.7 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 20.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.26% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
31.24 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 51.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 56.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.93 years
male: 57.97 years
female: 64.03 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.28 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
predominantly Micronesian with some Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, some
Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Church
of God (1999)
Languages:
I-Kiribati, English (official)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Kiribati
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
former: Gilbert Islands
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Tarawa
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 UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution:
12 July 1979
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice
President NA; note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential
candidates from among their members and then those candidates
compete in a general election; president is elected by popular vote
for a four-year term; election last held 4 July 2003 (next to be
held not later than July 2007); vice president appointed by the
president
election results: Anote TONG 47.4%, Harry TONG 43.5%, Banuera BERINA
9.1%
cabinet: 12-member Cabinet appointed by the president from among the
members of the House of Parliament
head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice
President NA; note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (42 seats;
39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member - the attorney
general, one appointed to represent Banaba, and one other; members
serve four-year terms)
elections: first round elections last held 29 November 2002; second
round elections held 6 December 2002 (next to be held by November
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
BTK 17, MTM 16, independents 7, other 2 (includes attorney general)
note: new legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first
round on 9 May 2003 and the second round on 14 May 2003
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
[leader NA]; 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, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO
(applicant)
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 ambassador to the
Marshall Islands 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 ocean
Economy Kiribati
Economy - overview:
A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few
natural resources. 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. The financial sector is at an early stage of
development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives.
Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and
China is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of GDP in
recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than
$5 million each year.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $79 million - supplemented by a nearly
equal amount from external sources (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 7%
services: 63% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers
Unemployment rate:
2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $28.4 million
expenditures: $37.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
0.7% (1991 est.)
Electricity - production:
7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.51 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
190 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Exports:
$6 million f.o.b. (1998)
Exports - commodities:
copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Exports - partners:
Japan 56.7%, Thailand 16.6%, South Korea 16.3% (2002)
Imports:
$44 million c.i.f. (1999)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured
goods, fuel
Imports - partners:
France 28.7%, Australia 26.3%, Fiji 12.5%, Japan 9.5%, Latvia 5.4%,
US 4.6%, New Zealand 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$10 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$15.5 million largely from UK and Japan (1995)
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.84 (2002), 1.93 (2001), 1.72
(2000), 1.55 (1999), 1.59 (1998)
Fiscal year:
NA
Communications Kiribati
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,800 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
note: Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative
Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station may be inactive (2002)
Radios:
17,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (not reported to be active) (2002)
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ki
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
1,000 (2000)
Transportation Kiribati
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 670 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands)
Ports and harbors:
Banaba, Betio, English Harbour, Kanton
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT
ships by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
20 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Military Kiribati
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law
enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts
are on all islands)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is
provided by Australia and NZ
Transnational Issues Kiribati
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Korea, North
Introduction Korea, North
Background:
Following World War II, Korea was split, with the northern half
coming under Communist domination and the southern portion becoming
Western-oriented. KIM Chong-il has ruled North Korea since his
father and the country's founder, president KIM Il-song, died in
1994. After decades of mismanagement, the North relies heavily on
international food aid to feed its population while continuing to
expend resources to maintain an army of about 1 million. North
Korea's long-range missile development and research into nuclear,
chemical, and biological weapons and massive conventional armed
forces are of major concern to the international community. In
December 2002, North Korea repudiated a 1994 agreement that shut
down its nuclear reactors and expelled UN monitors, further raising
fears it would produce nuclear weapons.
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: 120,540 sq km
water: 130 sq km
land: 120,410 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: 14.12%
permanent crops: 2.49%
other: 83.39% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
14,600 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional
typhoons during the early fall
Environment - current issues:
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne
disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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:
22,466,481 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 2,845,727; female 2,763,800)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 7,485,310; female 7,746,603)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 541,155; female 1,083,886) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.1 years
male: 30 years
female: 32.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.07% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.61 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.93 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 27.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.79 years
male: 68.1 years
female: 73.61 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 Korean
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%
Government Korea, North
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local short form: none
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to
their country
abbreviation: DPRK
Government type:
authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship
Capital:
Pyongyang
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 special cities* (si,
singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto
(North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province),
Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South
Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon
Province), Najin Sonbong-si*, Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),
P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South
P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (Pyongyang City), Yanggang-do
(Yanggang Province)
Independence:
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9
September (1948)
Constitution:
adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in
April 1992 and September 1998
Legal system:
based on German 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 Chong-il (since NA July 1994); note - on 3
September 2003, KIM Chong-il was reelected Chairman of the National
Defense Commission, a position accorded the nation's "highest
administrative authority"; KIM Yong-nam was reelected President of
the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium and given the responsibility
of representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials
elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly;
election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA)
election results: HONG Song-nam elected premier; percent of Supreme
People's Assembly vote - NA%
cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister of
People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly
head of government: Premier PAK Pong-chu (since 3 September 2003);
Vice Premiers KWAK Pom-ki (since 5 September 1998), CHON Sung-hun
(since 3 September 2003), NO Tu-chol (since 3 September 2003)
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 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NA; the KWP approves a list of candidates who are elected without
opposition; some seats are held by minor parties
Judicial branch:
Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Chondoist Chongu Party [YU Mi-yong, chairwoman]; Social Democratic
Party [KIM Yong-tae, chairman]; major party - Korean Workers' Party
or KWP [KIM Chong-il, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ARF (dialogue partner), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS,
IHO, IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New
York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (Swedish Embassy in P'yongyang 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
Economy Korea, North
Economy - overview:
North Korea, one of the world's most centrally planned and isolated
economies, faces desperate economic conditions. Industrial capital
stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of
underinvestment and spare parts shortages. Industrial and power
output have declined in parallel. The nation has suffered its tenth
year of food shortages because of a lack of arable land; collective
farming; weather-related problems, including major drought in 2000;
and chronic shortages of fertilizer and fuel. Massive international
food aid deliveries have allowed the regime to escape mass
starvation since 1995-96, but the population remains the victim of
prolonged malnutrition and deteriorating living conditions.
Large-scale military spending eats up resources needed for
investment and civilian consumption. Recently, the regime has placed
emphasis on earning hard currency, developing information
technology, addressing power shortages, and attracting foreign aid,
but in no way at the expense of relinquishing central control over
key national assets or undergoing widespread market-oriented
reforms. In 2003, heightened political tensions with key donor
countries and general donor fatigue have held down the flow of
desperately needed food aid and have threatened fuel aid as well.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $22.26 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30.4%
industry: 32.3%
services: 37.3% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
9.6 million
Labor force - by occupation:
agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals;
mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and
precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
30.01 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 29%
hydro: 71%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
27.91 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
85,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Exports:
$842 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including
armaments); textiles and fishery products
Exports - partners:
China 23.5%, Japan 19.9%, Costa Rica 12.4%, Brazil 6.5% (2002)
Imports:
$1.314 billion c.i.f. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; textiles, grain
Imports - partners:
China 24.9%, Brazil 12.1%, India 9.2%, Thailand 9.2%, Germany 7.8%,
Japan 7.1%, Singapore 4.5%, Qatar 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA; note - nearly $300 million in food aid alone from US, South
Korea, Japan, and EU in 2001 plus much additional aid from the UN
and non-governmental organizations
Currency:
North Korean won (KPW)
Currency code:
KPW
Exchange rates:
official: North Korean won per US dollar - 150 (December 2002),
2.15 (December 2001), 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14
(September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990); market: North Korean won per
US dollar - 300-600 (December 2002), 200 (December 2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Korea, North
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.1 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Russian (Indian Ocean region); other international connections
through Moscow and Beijing
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 14, shortwave 12 (1999)
Radios:
3.36 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
38 (1999)
Televisions:
1.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.kp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Korea, North
Railways:
total: 5,214 km
standard gauge: 4,549 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 31,200 km
paved: 1,997 km
unpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
2,253 km
note: mostly navigable by small craft only
Pipelines:
oil 136 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin,
Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine:
total: 149 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 881,276 GRT/1,309,547 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 1, Greece 2, Pakistan 1, Singapore 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 120, combination bulk 2, container 1,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo
1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2
Airports:
72 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 34
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Military Korea, North
Military branches:
Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil
Security Forces
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,103,615 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,654,223 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 180,875 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$5,217.4 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
33.9% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Korea, North
Disputes - international:
with China, certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers are in
uncontested dispute; a section of boundary around Paektu-san
(mountain) is indefinite; China objects to illegal migration of
North Koreans into northern China; Military Demarcation Line within
the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South
Korea since 1953
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Korea, South
Introduction Korea, South
Background:
After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of
the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was
installed in the north. During the Korean War (1950-1953), US and
other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Korean
attacks supported by the Chinese. 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 20 times the level of North
Korea. South Korea has maintained its commitment to democratize its
political processes. In June 2000, a historic first North-South
summit took place between the South's President KIM Dae-jung and the
North's leader KIM Chong-il.
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: 98,480 sq km
land: 98,190 sq km
water: 290 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the Korea Strait
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: 17.44%
permanent crops: 2.05%
other: 80.51% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
11,590 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic
activity common in southwest
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,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location on Korea Strait
People Korea, South
Population:
48,289,037 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.6% (male 5,256,451; female 4,703,853)
15-64 years: 71.5% (male 17,527,407; female 16,991,229)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 1,512,157; female 2,297,940) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 33.2 years
male: 32.2 years
female: 34.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.66% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.6 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.03 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 7.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.36 years
male: 71.73 years
female: 79.32 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.56 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
220 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions:
Christian 49%, Buddhist 47%, Confucianist 3%, Shamanist, Chondogyo
(Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%
Languages:
Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 99.3%
female: 97% (2003 est.)
Government Korea, South
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local short form: none
note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han'guk" to refer to
their country
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
abbreviation: ROK
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Seoul
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities*
(gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto,
Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo,
Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do,
Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*,
Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*,
Ulsan-gwangyoksi*
Independence:
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution:
17 July 1948
Legal system:
combines elements of continental European civil law systems,
Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President NO Mu-hyun (ROH Moo-hyun) (since 25
February 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister KO Kun (KOH Kun) (since 27
February 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers KIM Chin-p'yo (KIM Jin-pyo)
(since 27 February 2003) and YUN Tok-hong (since 6 March 2003)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime
minister's recommendation
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year
term; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held NA
December 2007); prime minister appointed by the president; deputy
prime ministers appointed by the president on the prime minister's
recommendation
election results: results of the 19 December 2002 election - NO
Muh-hyun elected president, took office 25 February 2003; percent of
vote - NO Muh-hyun (MDP) 48.9%; YI Hoe-ch'ang (GNP) 46.6%; other 4.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (273 seats total - 227
elected by direct, popular vote; members serve four-year terms);
note - beginning in 2004, all members will be directly elected;
possible redistricting before 2004 may affect the number of seats in
the National Assembly
elections: last held 13 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
GNP 133, MDP 115, ULD 17, other 8; note - the distribution of seats
as of April 2003 was: GNP 153, MDP 101, ULD 11, DPP 1, PPR 1,
independents 5; one seat vacant
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices are appointed by the president with the
consent of the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic People's Party or DPP [leader NA]; Grand National Party
or GNP [CH'OE Pyong-ryol, chairman]; Millennium Democratic Party or
MDP [CHO Sun-hyong, chairman]; United Liberal Democrats or ULD [KIM
Chong-p'il, president]; Uri Party [KIM Kun-t'ae, chairman]
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:
AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
Australia Group, BIS, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest),
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador HAN Sung-chu (HAN Sung-joo)
consulate(s): New York, Tamuning (Guam)
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston,
Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD
embassy: 82 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, 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
Economy Korea, South
Economy - overview:
As one of the Four Tigers of East Asia, South Korea has achieved an
incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech
modern world economy. Three decades ago GDP per capita was
comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia.
Today its GDP per capita is 18 times North Korea's and equal to the
lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the
late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government/business
ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of
specific industries, and a strong labor effort. 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 1997-99 exposed
longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model,
including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an
undisciplined financial sector. Growth plunged to a negative 6.6% in
1998, then strongly recovered to 10.8% in 1999 and 9.2% in 2000.
Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing global
economy, falling exports, and the perception that much-needed
corporate and financial reforms had stalled. Led by consumer
spending and exports, growth in 2002 was an impressive 6.2%, despite
anemic global growth, followed by moderate 2.8% growth in 2003. In
2003 the six-day work week was reduced to five days.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $941.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 41.6%
services: 54% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
4% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 24.8% (1998 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.6 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
22 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 69%, industry 21.5%, agriculture 9.5% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $118.1 billion
expenditures: $95.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $22.6
billion (2000)
Industries:
electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel,
textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
290.7 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.4%
hydro: 0.8%
other: 0.2% (2001)
nuclear: 36.6%
Electricity - consumption:
270.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.14 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
804,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
2.965 million bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
20.92 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
21.11 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs,
chickens, milk, eggs; fish
Exports:
$162.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electronic products, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles,
steel, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish
Exports - partners:
US 20.4%, China 14.7%, Japan 9.4%, Hong Kong 6.3% (2002)
Imports:
$148.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,
transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains
Imports - partners:
Japan 19.6%, US 15.2%, China 11.4%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$135.2 billion (yearend 2002 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA $200 million
Currency:
South Korean won (KRW)
Currency code:
KRW
Exchange rates:
South Korean won per US dollar - 1,251.09 (2002), 1,290.99 (2001),
1,130.96 (2000), 1,188.82 (1999), 1,401.44 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Korea, South
Telephones - main lines in use:
24 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
28 million (September 2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; the
Russia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat
(Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 104, FM 136, shortwave 5 (2001)
Radios:
47.5 million (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
121 (plus 850 repeater stations and the eight-channel American
Forces Korea Network) (1999)
Televisions:
15.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.kr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2000)
Internet users:
25.6 million (2002)
Transportation Korea, South
Railways:
total: 3,125 km
standard gauge: 3,125 km 1.435-m gauge (661 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 86,990 km
paved: 64,808 km (including 1,996 km of expressways)
unpaved: 22,182 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,609 km
note: restricted to small native craft
Pipelines:
gas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Pusan,
Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu
Merchant marine:
total: 541 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,490,521 GRT/10,602,751 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Bulgaria 1, China 1, Greece 1, Japan 1,
Malaysia 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1,
UK 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 114, cargo 174, chemical tanker 63, combination
bulk 9, container 52, liquefied gas 17, passenger 3, petroleum
tanker 69, refrigerated cargo 21, roll on/roll off 6, short-sea
passenger 2, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier 5
Airports:
102 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 21 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Heliports:
204 (2002)
Military Korea, South
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police
(Coast Guard)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 14,252,851 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,994,941 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 345,331 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$13,094.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Korea, South
Disputes - international:
Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone
has separated North from South Korea since 1953; Liancourt Rocks
(Take-shima/Tok-do) are disputed with Japan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Kuwait
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.
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: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 17,820 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 location 306 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0.34%
permanent crops: 0.06%
other: 99.6% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
60 sq km (1998 est.)
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: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping
Geography - note:
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People Kuwait
Population:
2,183,161
note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.9% (male 310,008; female 298,474)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 970,282; female 547,753)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 36,306; female 20,338) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 28.4 years
female: 21.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.34%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
21.83 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
2.45 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
14.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.65 years
male: 75.72 years
female: 77.62 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.08 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
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%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and
other 15%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.5%
male: 85.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
Government Kuwait
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local short form: Al Kuwayt
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Government type:
nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Kuwait
Administrative divisions:
5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al
Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Independence:
19 June 1961 (from 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:
adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have
resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at
age 21
note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,
naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but
have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the
first time
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31
December 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah
(since 13 July 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister NAWWAF al-Ahmad Al
Sabah (since 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamad Al
Sabah (since 2001) and Muhammad Dayfallah al-SHARAR (since 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - Islamists 21,
government supporters 14, liberals 3, and independents 12; note -
all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National
Assembly
Judicial branch:
High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none; formation of political parties is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders:
several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins,
merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and
nationalists
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sheikh SALIM al-Abdallah Jabir Al Sabah
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517
telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES
embassy: Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan
palace), Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait Unit 69000,
APO AE 09880-9000
telephone: [965] 539-5307, ext. 2240
FAX: [965] 538-0282
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a
black trapezoid based on the hoist side
Economy Kuwait
Economy - overview:
Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved crude
oil reserves of about 98 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves.
Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues,
and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agricultural
development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends
almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be
distilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign
oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.
Oil production declined by an estimated 8% in 2002 but is expected
to return to the 2001 level in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $36.85 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $17,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 60%
industry: 39.7%
services: 0.3% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.3 million
note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force. (1998
est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA, industries NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:
7% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $11 billion
expenditures: $17.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 02/03)
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing,
construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
-5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
31.49 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
29.29 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2.117 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
273,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
97.68 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
9.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.548 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
practically no crops; fish
Exports:
$16 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners:
Japan 24.4%, South Korea 12.9%, US 11.9%, Singapore 10.1%, Taiwan
7%, Netherlands 4.5%, Pakistan 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$7.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners:
US 13.1%, Japan 11.1%, Germany 9.7%, Saudi Arabia 6.6%, UK 6%,
Italy 5.4%, France 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$10.4 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
NA
Currency:
Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
Currency code:
KWD
Exchange rates:
Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.3 (2002), 0.31 (2001), 0.31
(2000), 0.3 (1999), 0.3 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Kuwait
Telephones - main lines in use:
412,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
210,000 (1997)
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 cellular
telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well
supplied with pay telephones
international: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi
Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG)
cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2
Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
1.175 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Televisions:
875,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
200,000 (2002)
Transportation Kuwait
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 4,450 km
paved: 3,587 km
unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 169 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al
Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Merchant marine:
total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,273,628 GRT/3,638,645 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, container 6, liquefied gas 6,
livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 19, roll on/roll off 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Monaco 1, Saudi Arabia 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Heliports:
3 (2002)
Military Kuwait
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force (including Air Defense Force), National
Police Force, National Guard, Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 845,026 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 508,399 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 18,885 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1,967.3 million (FY01)
note: Kuwait is changing its fiscal year; the above figure is for
July-March 2001; future budget years will be April-March annually
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.5% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Kuwait
Disputes - international:
the Kuwait 1994 land and Khawr 'Abd Allah channel boundary
demarcation ended Iraqi claims to Kuwait and Bubiyan and Warbah
islands; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are negotiating maritime boundary
with Iran
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Kyrgyzstan
Introduction Kyrgyzstan
Background:
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud
nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864; it
achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Current
concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises,
expansion of democracy and political freedoms, interethnic
relations, and combating terrorism.
Geography Kyrgyzstan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 198,500 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 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; 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: 7.04%
permanent crops: 0.39%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut
forest (1998 est.)
other: 92.57%
Irrigated land:
10,740 sq km (1998 est.)
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,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range;
many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
People Kyrgyzstan
Population:
4,892,808 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 836,593; female 819,615)
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 1,436,371; female 1,492,884)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 117,405; female 189,940) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.7 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 23.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.46% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
26.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 75.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 84.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.66 years
male: 59.49 years
female: 68.03 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.12 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
over 500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German
2.4%, other 11.8%
Religions:
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages:
Kyrgyz - official language, Russian - official language
note: in December 2001, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian an
official language, equal in status to Kyrgyz
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government Kyrgyzstan
Country name:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Bishkek
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 Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President AKAYEV
and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly
expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikolay TANAYEV (since 22 May
2002); note - Prime Minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV resigned on 22 May
2002 when five demonstrators were killed in a clash with police in
March of 2002
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote
- Askar AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek TEKEBAYEV 14%, other candidates 12%;
note - election marred by serious irregularities
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
elections last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held November or
December 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh consists of the
Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative
Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; and Legislative Assembly -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - total
seats by party in the Supreme Council were as follows: Union of
Democratic Forces 12, Communists 6, My Country Party of Action 4,
independents 73, other 10
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995
elections; the 2000 election results include both the Assembly of
People's Representatives and the Legislative Assembly
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 20
February and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA February 2005);
Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000 (next
to be held NA February 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed for 10-year terms by the
Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president);
Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson S. SYDYKOV]; Agrarian
Party of Kyrgyzstan [Arkin ALIYEV]; Ata-Meken or Fatherland [Omurbek
TEKEBAYEV]; Banner National Revival Party or ASABA [Chaprashty
BAZARBAY]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar
JEKSHEYEV]; Democratic Women's Party of Kyrgyzstan [T. A.
SHAILIYEVA]; Dignity Party [Feliks KULOV]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan
Progressive and Democratic Party [Tursunbay Bakir UULU]; Justice
Party [Chingiz AYTMATOV]; Movement for the People's Salvation
[Jumgalbek AMAMBAYEV]; Mutual Help Movement or Ashar [Jumagazy
USUPOV]; My Country Party of Action [Almazbek ISMANKULOV]; National
Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE [Yury RAZGULYAYEV]; Party of
Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Absamat M. MASALIYEV]; Party of the
Veterans of the War in Afghanistan [leader NA]; Peasant Party
[leader NA]; People's Party [Melis ESHIMKANOV]; Republican Popular
Party of Kyrgyzstan [J. SHARSHENALIYEV]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [J. IBRAMOV]; Union of Democratic Forces (composed of Social
Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan or PSD [J. IBRAMOV], Economic Revival
Party, and Birimdik Party)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Council of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights
[Ramazan DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement; Union of
Entrepreneurs
International organization participation:
AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW
(signatory), OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV
FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139
consulate(s): New York
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek
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 the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt
Economy Kyrgyzstan
Economy - overview:
Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with a
predominantly agricultural economy. 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, and natural gas and electricity. Kyrgyzstan has
been fairly progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an
improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first
CIS country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. With
fits and starts, inflation has been lowered to an estimated 7% in
2001, 2.1% in 2002, and 4.0% in 2003. 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.
Growth was held down to 2.1% in 1998 largely because of the
spillover from Russia's economic difficulties, but moved ahead to
3.6% in 1999, 5% in 2000, and 5% again in 2001. The drop in output
at the Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 and
again in 2003. On the positive side, the government and the
international financial institutions have been engaged in a
comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth
strategy. Further restructuring of domestic industry and success in
attracting foreign investment are keys to future growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $13.88 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 25%
services: 40% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
55% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 27.7% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.6 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.2% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $207.4 million
expenditures: $238.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn
logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth
metals
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
13.45 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 7.6%
hydro: 92.4%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
10.46 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
2.25 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
16 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.016 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries;
sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Exports:
$488 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,
hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 19.9%, Russia 16.5%, UAE 14.2%, China 8.5%, Kazakhstan
7.6%, US 7.4%, Uzbekistan 5.7% (2002)
Imports:
$587 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Kazakhstan 21.1%, Russia 19.9%, Uzbekistan 10.2%, China 10.1%, US
8.1%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$50 million from the US (2001)
Currency:
Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)
Currency code:
KGS
Exchange rates:
soms per US dollar - 46.94 (2002), 48.38 (2001), 47.7 (2000), 39.01
(1999), 20.84 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Kyrgyzstan
Telephones - main lines in use:
351,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied
applications for household telephones
domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider,
probably limited to Bishkek region
international: 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 - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat; connected
internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
520,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (repeater stations throughout the country relay programs from
Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions:
210,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
51,600 (2001)
Transportation Kyrgyzstan
Railways:
total: 420 km
broad gauge: 420 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
600 km (1990)
Pipelines:
gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports:
68 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 50
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 36 (2002)
Military Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,265,019 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,026,063 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 54,445 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$19.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:
Kyrgyzstan's constitutional court has ruled that 1,270 sq km ceded
to China in a 2000 delimitation agreement were legally transferred;
delimitation with Kazakhstan is largely complete with only minor
disputed areas; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of
delimitation with Tajikistan; serious disputes with Uzbekistan
around Uzbek enclaves mar progress on delimitation efforts
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Laos
Introduction Laos
Background:
In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government,
ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam
and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private
enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the
admission into ASEAN in 1997.
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
water: 6,000 sq km
land: 230,800 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: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
arable land: 3.47%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,640 sq km
note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation -
750 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
floods, droughts
Environment - current issues:
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the
population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, 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 forms a large part of the western boundary with
Thailand
People Laos
Population:
5,921,545 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 1,255,172; female 1,242,823)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 1,592,697; female 1,639,431)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,192; female 104,230) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.5 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.45% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 88.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 99.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.3 years
male: 52.34 years
female: 56.33 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 150 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups:
Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung
(highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic
Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions:
Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian
denominations 1.5%)
Languages:
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.8%
male: 67.5%
female: 38.1% (2003 est.)
Government Laos
Country name:
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local short form: none
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
Vientiane
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality*
(kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone**
(khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai,
Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang,
Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan,
Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence:
19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Constitution:
promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system:
based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures,
and socialist practice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February
1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 27
March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27
March 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli
(since NA May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since
27 March 2001), and Deputy Prime Minister SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since
26 February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held
NA 2007); prime minister appointed by the president with the
approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term
election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (109 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms; note - total number of seats
increased from 99 to 109 for the 2002 election)
elections: last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109
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 [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party
president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders
fled the country in 1975
International organization participation:
ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxay
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas A. HARTWICK
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585
FAX: [856] (21) 212584
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red
with a large white disk centered in the blue band
Economy Laos
Economy - overview:
The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official
Communist states - began decentralizing control and encouraging
private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely
low base, were striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-2001 except
during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis
beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a
country with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a
rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal
telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban
areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides
80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from
aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new
foreign investment in food processing and mining.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 53%
industry: 23%
services: 24% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $211 million
expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99 est. est.)
Industries:
tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural
processing, construction, garments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.4%
hydro: 98.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
824.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
400 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,
cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Exports:
$345 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners:
Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Imports:
$555 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.53 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:
$345 million (1999 est.)
Currency:
kip (LAK)
Currency code:
LAK
Exchange rates:
kips per US dollar - 7,562 (2002), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64
(2000), 7,102.02 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Laos
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4,915 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving
with over 20,000 telephones currently in service and an additional
48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone
network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: radiotelephone communications
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (1999)
Televisions:
52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.la
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
10,000 (2002)
Transportation Laos
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 21,716 km
paved: 9,664 km
unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
4,587 km approximately
note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are
intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines:
refined products 540 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
51 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 42
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Military Laos
Military branches:
Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force,
National Police Department
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 67,260 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.2% (FY96)
Transnational Issues Laos
Disputes - international:
demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is
nearing completion, but with Thailand several areas including Mekong
River islets remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand and
Vietnam over squatters
Illicit drugs:
world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation
in 2002 - 23,200 hectares, a 5% increase over 2001; estimated
potential production in 2002 - 180 metric tons, a 10% decrease from
2001); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and
methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis;
growing methamphetamine abuse problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Latvia
Introduction Latvia
Background:
After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars,
Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It 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 continues to revamp its economy for eventual
integration into various Western European political and economic
institutions and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
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
water: 1,000 sq km
land: 63,589 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
low plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources:
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 29.01%
permanent crops: 0.48%
other: 70.51% (1998 est.)
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 (1998 est.)
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, and
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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with
some hills in the east
People Latvia
Population:
2,348,784 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)
65 years and over: 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39 years
male: 35.5 years
female: 42.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.73% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
8.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.31 years
male: 63.46 years
female: 75.45 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.2 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups:
Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%,
Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2%
Religions:
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages:
Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Government Latvia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Latvijas Republika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Riga
Administrative divisions:
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles
Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons,
Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons,
Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas
Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons,
Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons,
Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu
Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*,
Ventspils Rajons
Independence:
21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is
the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is the
date of independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
the 1991 Constitutional Law, which supplements the 1922
constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by the Parliament
elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term;
election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president;
parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL
18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%;
seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12,
First Party 10, LNNK 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS
(Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; CENTER Political
Alliance [Juris CELMINS]; First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS];
For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS]; For Human
Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of
the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or
LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS];
Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA]; Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris
RUBINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats)
or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC [Janis NAGLIS];
Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS]; New Era Party [Einars
REPSE]; Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS]; Party of Latvians [Aivars
GARDA]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Progressive Center Party
[Inta STAMGUTE]; Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS]; Social
Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Social Democratic Welfare
Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or
LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner),
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS
FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON
embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723
telephone: [371] 703-6200
FAX: [371] 781-0047
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and
maroon
Economy Latvia
Economy - overview:
Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian
financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget
stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU
countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. 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. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top
foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government
deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to
increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget
deficit.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $20.99 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 26%
services: 69.5% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.4 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers,
agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios,
electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note -
dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Industrial production growth rate:
5.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.1%
hydro: 70.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs;
fish
Exports:
$2.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles,
foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania 5.9%,
Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002)
Imports:
$3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.9%, Russia 15.1%, Finland 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Sweden
5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Estonia 4.8% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.4 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$96.2 million (1995)
Currency:
Latvian lat (LVL)
Currency code:
LVL
Exchange rates:
lati per US dollar - 0.62 (2002), 0.63 (2001), 0.61 (2000), 0.59
(1999), 0.59 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Latvia
Telephones - main lines in use:
734,693 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
401,263 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an international capability independent of the Moscow international
switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use
domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections,
rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied
subscriber applications
international: international connections are now available via cable
and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections
for most calls (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
1.76 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
41 (2001)
Internet users:
312,000 (2001)
Transportation Latvia
Railways:
total: 2,347 km
broad gauge: 2,314 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 73,202 km
paved: 28,256 km
unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Waterways:
300 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines:
gas 1,097 km; oil 412 km; refined products 421 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 52,607 GRT/35,650 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3,
roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
38 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Latvia
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard,
National Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 592,562 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 465,788 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 19,477 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Latvia
Disputes - international:
the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty
with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998
maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns
over oil exploration rights
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and
Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American
cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; money
laundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Lebanon
Introduction Lebanon
Background:
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political
institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 16-year civil
war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national
reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable
political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in
the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions
in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have
conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have
been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have
extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the
country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons.
Syria maintains about 16,000 troops in Lebanon, based mainly east of
Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop deployment was
legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the
Ta'if Accord. Damascus justifies its continued military presence in
Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese
Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the
Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from its security zone in southern
Lebanon in May 2000, however, has emboldened some Lebanese
Christians and Druze to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as
well.
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
water: 170 sq km
land: 10,230 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: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m
Natural resources:
limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit
region, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 17.6%
permanent crops: 12.51%
other: 69.89% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,200 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
Nahr el Litani 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:
3,727,703 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.1% (male 514,447; female 494,166)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,177,773; female 1,286,433)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 115,693; female 139,191) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 27.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.32 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 29.22 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.07 years
male: 69.64 years
female: 74.61 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups:
Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 70% (including Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or
Nusayri), Christian 30% (including Orthodox Christian, Catholic,
Protestant), Jewish NEGL%
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.)
Government Lebanon
Country name:
conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form: Lebanon
local short form: Lubnan
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Beirut
Administrative divisions:
6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beyrouth, Beqaa,
Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye
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 Charter of
Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989
Legal system:
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law;
no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at
age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI (since 23 October
2000); Deputy Prime Minister Issam FARES (since 23 October 2000);
note - HARIRI resigned on 15 April 2003, but was reappointed the
next day
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president and members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year
term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next to be held NA 2004);
prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the president
is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and
the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
election results: Emile LAHUD elected president; National Assembly
vote - 118 votes in favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (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 27 August and 3 September 2000 (next to be held
NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - Muslim 57% (of which
Sunni 25%, Sh'ite 25%, Druze 6%, Alawite less than 1%), Christian
43% (of which Maronite 23%); seats by party - Muslim 64 (of which
Sunni 27, Sh'ite 27, Druze 8, Alawite 2), Christian 64 (of which
Maronite 34)
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:
political party activity is organized along largely sectarian
lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual
political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and
economic considerations
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Farid ABBOUD
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6320
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vincent Martin BATTLE
embassy: Awkar, Lebanon
mailing address: P. O. Box 70840, Awkar, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box 2,
FPO AE 09836-0002
telephone: 011-961-4-543-600/542-600
FAX: 011-961-4-544-136
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red
with a green cedar tree centered in the white band
Economy Lebanon
Economy - overview:
The 1975-91 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.
Peace enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut,
begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government
facilities. Economic recovery was helped by a financially sound
banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers.
Family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports,
and international aid provided the main sources of foreign exchange.
Lebanon's economy made impressive gains since the launch in 1993 of
"Horizon 2000," the government's $20 billion reconstruction program.
Real GDP grew 8% in 1994, 7% in 1995, 4% in 1996 and in 1997, but
slowed to 1.2% in 1998, -1.6% in 1999, -0.6% in 2000, 0.8% in 2001,
and 1.5% in 2002. During the 1990s annual inflation fell to almost
0% from more than 100%. Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn
physical and financial infrastructure. The government nonetheless
faces serious challenges in the economic arena. It has funded
reconstruction by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks. In
order to reduce the ballooning national debt, the re-installed
HARIRI government began an economic austerity program to rein in
government expenditures, increase revenue collection, and privatize
state enterprises. The HARIRI government met with international
donors at the Paris II conference in November 2002 to seek bilateral
assistance restructuring its domestic debt at lower rates of
interest. While privatization of state-owned enterprises had not
occurred by the end of 2002, the government had successfully avoided
a currency devaluation and debt default in 2002.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $17.61 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 21%
services: 67% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
28% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.5 million
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers
(2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services NA%, industry NA%, agriculture NA%
Unemployment rate:
18% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.1 billion
expenditures: $5.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and
chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal
fabricating
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
6.728 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 97.2%
hydro: 2.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
7.44 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.183 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
107,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives,
tobacco; sheep, goats
Exports:
$1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, precious stones, metal
products, electrical products, jewelry, paper products
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 10.8%, Saudi Arabia 9%, UAE 8.6%, US 6.7%, Jordan 4.6%,
Turkey 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, electrical products, vehicles, minerals, chemicals,
textiles, fuels
Imports - partners:
Italy 11.3%, France 10.7%, Germany 8.4%, US 5.6%, Syria 5.4%, China
4.8%, Belgium 4.5%, UK 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$9.3 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$3.5 billion (pledges 1997-2001) $4.2 billion in pledges November
2002 Paris II Aid Conference
Currency:
Lebanese pound (LBP)
Currency code:
LBP
Exchange rates:
Lebanese pounds per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2002), 1,507.5 (2001),
1,507.5 (2000), 1,507.84 (1999), 1,516.13 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Lebanon
Telephones - main lines in use:
700,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
580,000 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system severely damaged by
civil war; rebuilding well underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria;
microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to
Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
2.85 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.18 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lb
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2000)
Internet users:
300,000 (2001)
Transportation Lebanon
Railways:
total: 401 km
standard gauge: 319 km 1.435-m
note: rail system is unusable because of damage in civil war (2002)
narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m
Highways:
total: 7,300 km
paved: 6,198 km
unpaved: 1,102 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
oil 209 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Antilyas, Batroun, Beirut, Chekka, El Mina, Ez Zahrani, Jbail,
Jounie, Naqoura, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 230,142 GRT/306,442 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 28, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
1, container 4, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 9, roll on/roll
off 4, vehicle carrier 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: France 1, Greece 10, Netherlands 4, Panama 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Spain 1, Syria 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Lebanon
Military branches:
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,025,984 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 630,657 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$541 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.8% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Lebanon
Disputes - international:
Syrian troops in central and eastern Lebanon since October 1976;
Lebanese Government claims Shab'a Farms area of Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights
Illicit drugs:
cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in
2002; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin
American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way
to US and European markets
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Lesotho
Introduction Lesotho
Background:
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence
from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990.
Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of
military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny
following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody South
African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since
restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were
held in 2002.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 30,355 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, some diamonds and other
minerals
Land use:
arable land: 10.71%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.29% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping
Geography - note:
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous,
more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
People Lesotho
Population:
1,861,959
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 353,554; female 349,092)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 516,017; female 541,694)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 41,735; female 59,867) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 20.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.19% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
27.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
24.58 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 86.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 91.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 36.94 years
male: 36.76 years
female: 37.13 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.52 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
31% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
360,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
25,000 (2001 est.)
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.)
Government Lesotho
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland
Government type:
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Maseru
Administrative divisions:
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales
Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence:
4 October 1966 (from 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; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
elections: none; according to the constitution, the leader of the
majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister;
the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution,
which 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
determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as
regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may
even depose the monarch
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 direct popular vote and 40 by
proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year
terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 80 to 120
in the May 2002 election
elections: last held 25 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 54%, BNP 21%, LPC
7%, other 18%; seats by party - LCD 76, BNP 21, LPC 5, other 18
Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of
Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders:
Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Tseliso MAKHAKHE]; Basotho National
Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Lesotho Congress
for Democracy or LCD [Phebe MOTEBANO, chairwoman; Pakalitha
MOSISILI, leader] - the governing party; Lesotho People's Congress
or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles
MOFELI]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP and Setlamo Alliance
[Vincent MALEBO]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Chief Peete
Nkoebe PEETE]; Sefate Democratic Party or SDP [Bofihla NKUEBE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Molelekeng E. RAPOLAKI
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. LOFTIS
embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 312666
FAX: [266] 310116
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half
is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with
crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with
a green triangle in the corner
Economy Lesotho
Economy - overview:
Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances
from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties from the
Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of government
revenue, but the government has strengthened its tax system to
reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major
hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to
South Africa, also generating royalties for Lesotho. 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 and a
rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. 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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $5.106 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 46%
services: 34% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
49% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 43.4%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56 (1986-87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
838,000
Labor force - by occupation:
86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture;
roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Unemployment rate:
45% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $76 million
expenditures: $80 million, including capital expenditures of $15
million (FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts;
construction; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
15.5% (1999)
Electricity - production:
0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
40 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,500 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Exports:
$422 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and
mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Exports - partners:
US 97.5%, Canada 0.9%, France 0.6% (2002)
Imports:
$738 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum
products (2000)
Imports - partners:
Hong Kong 51.9%, China 25%, France 3.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$735 million (2002)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA $4.4 million
Economic aid - recipient:
$41.5 million (2000)
Currency:
loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Currency code:
LSL; ZAR
Exchange rates:
maloti per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94 (2000), 6.11
(1999), 5.53 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Lesotho
Telephones - main lines in use:
22,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
21,600 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay
system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system; a cellular
mobile telephone system is growing
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
NA (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2000)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.ls
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
5,000 (2002)
Transportation Lesotho
Railways:
total: 2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the
statistics of South Africa
narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 5,940 km
paved: 1,087 km
unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
28 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Military Lesotho
Military branches:
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; including Army and Air Wing), Royal
Lesotho Mounted Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 459,723 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 250,560 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$34 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future
structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially
considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening
in political affairs
Transnational Issues Lesotho
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Liberia
Introduction Liberia
Background:
Eight years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1997 when
free and open presidential and legislative elections were held.
President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real
political opposition. Years of fighting, coupled with the flight of
most businesses, have disrupted formal economic activity. A still
unsettled domestic security situation has slowed the process of
rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn
country. In 2001, the UN imposed sanctions on Liberian diamonds,
along with an arms embargo and a travel ban on government officials,
for Liberia's support of the rebel insurgency in Sierra Leone.
Renewed rebel activity has further eroded stability and economic
activity. A regional peace initiative commenced in the spring of
2003 but was disrupted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL)
indictment of President TAYLOR on war crimes charges.
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: 111,370 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
land: 96,320 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: 1.97%
permanent crops: 2.08%
other: 95.95% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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:
3,317,176 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 724,960; female 716,831)
15-64 years: 53% (male 858,191; female 898,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 59,539; female 58,804) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.67% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
45.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
17.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-10.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries though
slowly returning (2003 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 132.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 125.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 139.03 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.15 years
male: 47.03 years
female: 49.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.23 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
125,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups:
indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru,
Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella,
Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of
immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5%
(descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a
few can be written and are used in correspondence
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6%
note: (2003 est.)
Government Liberia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Monrovia
Administrative divisions:
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gparbolu, 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA
2005)
note:: a UN-brokered cease fire among waring factions and the
Liberian government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of
former president Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement,
President Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as chairman of the National
Transitional Government on 14 October 2003
election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent
of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF
(UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%; note - Taylor
stepped down in August 2003
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats;
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)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3,
Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1
elections: Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA
2006); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be
held 14 October 2003)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Political Parties (a coalition of LAP and LUP) [leader
NA]; All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY]; Liberian
Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian People's Party or
LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; Liberia Unification Party or LUP [leader NA];
National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party;
United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity Party or UP
[Charles CLARKE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Aaron B.
KOLLIE
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John William BLANEY III
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,
1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: [231] 226-148
Flag description:
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating
with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in
the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
Economy Liberia
Economy - overview:
Civil war and misgovernment have destroyed much of Liberia's
economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many
businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with
them. Some have returned; many will not. 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. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign
owned, had been small in scope. The restoration of the
infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy
depend on the settlement of civil warfare, the implementation of
sound macro- and micro-economic policies, including the
encouragement of foreign investment, and generous support from donor
countries.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.116 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 74%
industry: 7%
services: 19% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
80%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA
Budget:
revenues: $85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
468.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
435.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil,
sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Exports:
$110 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - partners:
Germany 54.8%, Poland 8.9%, France 8.5%, China 4.9%, Italy 4.5%, US
4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$165 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
goods; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
South Korea 30.3%, Japan 19.1%, Germany 15.6%, France 9.1%,
Singapore 7.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.1 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$94 million (1999)
Currency:
Liberian dollar (LRD)
Currency code:
LRD
Exchange rates:
Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2002), 48.58 (2001), 40.95
(2000), 41.9 (1999), 41.51 (1998)
note: until December 1997, rates were based on a fixed relationship
with the US dollar; beginning in January 1998, rates are market
determined
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Liberia
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,700 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone and telegraph service via microwave
radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
790,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
70,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.lr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2001)
Internet users:
500 (2000)
Transportation Liberia
Railways:
total: 490 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: none of the railways are in operation (2002)
Highways:
total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia, Robertsport
Merchant marine:
total: 1,432 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 48,700,851 GRT/75,408,994 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 282, cargo 80, chemical tanker
163, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 24, container 357,
liquefied gas 82, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger
6, petroleum tanker 286, refrigerated cargo 60, roll on/roll off 19,
short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 37
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Argentina 9, Australia 2, Austria 15, Belgium 9, Brazil
5, Canada 4, Cayman Islands 1, Chile 7, China 39, Croatia 11,
Denmark 4, Ecuador 1, Estonia 1, Germany 437, Greece 154, Hong Kong
69, India 5, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Italy 5, Japan 90, Latvia 20,
Isle of Man 5, Monaco 56, Netherlands 12, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway
103, Pakistan 1, Portugal 5, Russia 66, Saudi Arabia 21, Singapore
20, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 10, Spain 2, Sweden 9,
Switzerland 17, Taiwan 29, Turkey 3, Ukraine 4, UAE 12, UK 39, US
113, Uruguay 3, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
47 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Military Liberia
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 735,481 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 396,725 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$7.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Liberia
Disputes - international:
rebels and refugees contribute to border instabilities with Sierra
Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, and Guinea; the Ivorian Government accuses
Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Libya
Introduction Libya
Background:
Since he took power in a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu
Minyar al-QADHAFI has espoused his own political system - a
combination of socialism and Islam - which he calls the Third
International Theory. Viewing himself as a revolutionary leader, he
used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology
outside Libya, even supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to
hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. Libyan military adventures
failed, e.g., the prolonged foray of Libyan troops into the Aozou
Strip in northern Chad was finally repulsed in 1987. Libyan support
for terrorism decreased after UN sanctions were imposed in 1992.
Those sanctions were suspended in April 1999.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,759,540 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
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: 0.17%
other: 98.8% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
4,700 sq km (1998 est.)
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; very 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, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
People Libya
Population:
5,499,074
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.5% (male 970,026; female 929,174)
15-64 years: 61.4% (male 1,744,992; female 1,630,399)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 109,262; female 115,221) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.1 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 21.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.39% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
27.43 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
3.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 29.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.07 years
male: 73.91 years
female: 78.34 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.49 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:
Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians,
Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 97%
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.)
Government Libya
Country name:
conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local short form: none
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
Government type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the
populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital:
Tripoli
Administrative divisions:
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al
'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al
Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,
Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt,
Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25
municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
Independence:
24 December 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:
11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system:
based on Italian civil law system 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 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
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 2 March 2000 (next to be held
NA)
election results: Mubarak al-SHAMEKH elected premier; percent of
General People's Congress vote - NA%
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Premier) Mubarak al-SHAMEKH (since 2 March 2000)
Legislative branch:
unicameral General People's Congress (NA 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:
various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible
memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some
Islamic elements
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Libya does not have an embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980
Flag description:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
religion)
Economy Libya
Economy - overview:
The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from
the oil sector, which contribute practically all export earnings and
about one-quarter of GDP. These oil revenues and 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. Import
restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to
periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil
manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 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. Higher
oil prices in the last three years led to an increase in export
revenues, which has improved macroeconomic balances but has done
little to stimulate broad-based economic growth. Libya is making
slow progress toward economic liberalization and the upgrading of
economic infrastructure, but truly market-based reforms will be slow
in coming.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $33.36 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 45%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
1.5 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 54%, industry 29%, agriculture 17% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $13.7 billion
expenditures: $8.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
20.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
18.77 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1.429 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
216,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
29.75 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
6.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
5.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
770 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.321 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts,
soybeans; cattle
Exports:
$11.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products (1999)
Exports - partners:
Italy 42.6%, Germany 14.1%, Spain 13.6%, Turkey 6.9%, Switzerland
4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$6.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods (1999)
Imports - partners:
Italy 25.6%, Germany 9.8%, South Korea 6.6%, UK 6.6%, Tunisia 6.5%,
Japan 6.4%, France 5.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.4 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$15 million (2000)
Currency:
Libyan dinar (LYD)
Currency code:
LYD
Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.2 (2003), 0.6 (2002), 0.51 (2001),
0.5 (2000), 0.39 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:
500,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
20,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized;
mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat,
and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave
radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece;
participant in Medarabtel (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
1.35 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)
Televisions:
730,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ly
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
20,000 (2001)
Transportation Libya
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 225 km; gas 3,196 km; oil 6,872 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra's
Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 130,081 GRT/115,480 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 1, roll
on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 4
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Algeria 1, Kuwait 1, UAE 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
136 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 58
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 39
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Libya
Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (Army), Navy, Air and Air Defense Command
(includes Air Force)
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,546,432 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 914,649 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 61,511 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Libya
Disputes - international:
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria
and about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes;
various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Liechtenstein
Introduction Liechtenstein
Background:
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy
Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. 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. However,
shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in
concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money
laundering.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 160 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: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources:
hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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:
33,145 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.1% (male 2,979; female 3,008)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 11,646; female 11,740)
65 years and over: 11.3% (male 1,538; female 2,234) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.3 years
male: 37.9 years
female: 38.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.25 years
male: 75.63 years
female: 82.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
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% (1981 est.)
Government Liechtenstein
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
Government type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and
parliamentary basis
Capital:
Vaduz
Administrative divisions:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,
Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,
Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established;
12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:
5 October 1921
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes; 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 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince
ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually
appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of
the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the
deputy head of government by the monarch
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
head of government: Head of Government Otmar HASLER (since 5 April
2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April
2001)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%,
FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1
elections: last held 11 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or
Obergericht
Political parties and leaders:
Fatherland Union or VU [Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party
or FBP [Ernst WALCH]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Karin
JENNY, Rene HASLER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 216-0460
FAX: [1] (202) 216-0459
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US
Ambassador to Switzerland is also 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
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
living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. 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 or so-called
letter box 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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $825 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
11% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: 40%
services: NA% (1999)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001)
Labor force:
29,000 of which 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria,
Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (37256)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 47.4%, services 51.3%, agriculture 1.3% (37256 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.3% (37500)
Budget:
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,
optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
other: 0% (2002)
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Exports:
$2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts
for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,
electronic equipment, optical products
Exports - partners:
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK
4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%
Imports:
$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,
textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners:
EU, Switzerland
Debt - external:
$0 (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
none
Currency:
Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:
CHF
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888
(2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,072 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio
relay
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
21,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions:
12,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.li
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Liechtenstein
Railways:
total: 18.5 km
standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian
Federal Railways (2002)
Highways:
total: 250 km
paved: 250 km
unpaved: 0 km
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
none (2002)
Military Liechtenstein
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:
Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of
land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918
Illicit drugs:
multilateral organizations engaged in issuing international
guidelines for financial sector oversight found gaps in
Liechtenstein's financial services controls that made it vulnerable
to money laundering, but Liechtenstein has become less attractive as
a haven for illicit funds, based on implementation in 2001 of new
anti-money-laundering legislation and improved mutual legal
assistance cooperation with other countries
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Lithuania
Introduction Lithuania
Background:
Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by
the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of
the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but this
proclamation was not generally recognized until September of 1991
(following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops
withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently has restructured its
economy for eventual integration into Western European institutions
and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
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: 65,200 sq km
water: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
99 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: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources:
peat, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 45.46%
permanent crops: 0.93%
other: 53.61% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and
chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are
ancient glacial deposits
People Lithuania
Population:
3,592,561 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 323,776; female 310,087)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,188,171; female 1,268,035)
65 years and over: 14% (male 169,513; female 332,979) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.6 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 39.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.23% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.48 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.89 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 16.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.6 years
male: 63.78 years
female: 75.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.43 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Belarusian 1.6%, other
2.1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant,
Evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish
Languages:
Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Lithuania
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Vilnius
Administrative divisions:
10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,
Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,
Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence:
11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6
September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is
the date of independence from German, Austrian, Prussian, and
Russian occupation, 11 March 1990 is the date of independence from
the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the
constitutional court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rolandas PAKSAS (since 26 February 2003)
head of government: Premier Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3
July 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the premier
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 22 December 2002 and 5 January 2003 (next to be
held in late 2007); premier appointed by the president on the
approval of the Parliament
election results: Rolandas PAKSAS elected president; percent of vote
- Rolandas PAKSAS 54.9%, Valdas ADAMKUS 45.1%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly
elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional
representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2004)
note: the voting results from the 2000 elections do not correspond
to the make up of the Seimas, which has evolved into a number of
factions, each made up of members of several parties
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democratic
Coalition 31.1%, New Union-Social Liberals 19.6%, Liberal Union
17.2%, TS 8.6%, remaining parties all less than 5%; seats by faction
- Social Democratic Coalition 51, New Union-Social Liberals 25,
United Political Group-Group of Liberals 24, Liberal Democrats 13,
Conservatives 9, Farmers and New Democracy Parties 8, Mixed Group 6,
independent 1 (four seats unfilled as of 1 June 2003)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for
all courts appointed by the President
Political parties and leaders:
Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI,
chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius
KUBILIUS, chairman]; Lithuanian Center Union or LCS [Kestutis
GLAVECKAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD [Kazys
BOBELIS]; Lithuanian Farmer's Party or LUP [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS,
chairman]; Lithuanian Green Party [Rimantas BRAZIULIS]; Lithuanian
Liberal Youth [Neringa MOROZAITE]; Lithuanian National Democratic
Party [Vygintas GONTIS]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition
[Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the Lithuanian
Democratic Labor Party or LDDP, the Lithuanian Social Democratic
Party or LSDP, and New Democracy; Moderate Conservative Union
[Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; Modern Christian Democratic Union [Vytautas
BOGUSIS, chairman]; New Democracy and Farmer's Union [Kazimiera
PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; New Union-Social Liberals [Arturas
PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Young Lithuania [Arnoldas PLATELIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant),
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vygaudas USACKAS
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE
09723
telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy Lithuania
Economy - overview:
Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with
Russia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.
Unemployment remains high, still 10.7% in 2003, but is improving.
Growing domestic consumption and increased investment have furthered
recovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West.
Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and
has moved ahead with plans to join the EU. Privatization of the
large, state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, is
nearing completion. Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been
privatized. Foreign government and business support have helped in
the transition from the old command economy to a market economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $30.08 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 31%
services: 61% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services 50% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.5% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.59 billion
expenditures: $1.77 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
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
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
14.62 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 16.5%
hydro: 5.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 77.7%
Electricity - consumption:
8.683 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
6.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
4,594 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs;
fish
Exports:
$5.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and
equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs
5% (2001)
Exports - partners:
Latvia 12.8%, Germany 12%, UK 7.6%, Poland 6.3%, US 5.9%, France
5.8%, Russia 5.7%, Sweden 5%, Denmark 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products 21%, machinery and equipment 17%, transport
equipment 11%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, metals 5%
(2001)
Imports - partners:
Russia 24.1%, Germany 20.3%, Italy 5.9%, Poland 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$228.5 million (1995)
Currency:
litas (LTL)
Currency code:
LTL
Exchange rates:
litai per US dollar - 3.68 (2002), 4 (2001), 4 (2000), 4 (1999), 4
(1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.142 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
500,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is
nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;
mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet
is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber
applications
international: landline connections to Latvia and Poland; major
international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by
submarine cable for further transmission by satellite
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
27
note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may
have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)
Televisions:
1.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
32 (2001)
Internet users:
341,000 (2001)
Transportation Lithuania
Railways:
total: 1,998 km
broad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (all service suspended) (2002)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 75,243 km
paved: 68,697 km (including 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,546 km (2000)
Waterways:
600 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines:
gas 1,698 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 303,910 GRT/328,380 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 13 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 23, combination bulk 8, petroleum tanker 2,
refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 3, short-sea passenger 4
Airports:
87 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 65
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 57 (2002)
Military Lithuania
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, National Volunteer
Defense Forces (SKAT)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 937,055 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 735,536 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 29,420 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$230.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Lithuania
Disputes - international:
in May 2003, the Russian Parliament ratified a 1997 land and
maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, which had ratified the
treaty in 1999, legalizing limits of former Soviet republic borders;
the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary
treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil
exploration rights; discussions are still ongoing among Russia,
Lithuania, and the EU concerning a simplified transit document for
residents of the Kaliningrad coastal exclave to transit through
Lithuania to Russia
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe
and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;
susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking
legislation
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Luxembourg
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 2,586 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: 25%
other: 75% (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 0%
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note:
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People Luxembourg
Population:
454,157 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 44,182; female 41,640)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 152,963; female 151,061)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 26,060; female 38,251) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.1 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 38.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.23% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
9.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.66 years
male: 74.38 years
female: 81.15 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:
Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,
Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kososvo) and European (guest
and resident workers)
Religions:
87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (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.)
Government Luxembourg
Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Luxembourg
Administrative divisions:
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:
1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
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 1
January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER (since 7 August
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and
appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popular
elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is
appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of
Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and DP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held by June 2004)
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
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 29.79%, DP 21.58%,
LSAP 23.75%, ADR 10.36%, Green Party 9.09%, the Left 3.77%; seats by
party - CSV 19, DP 15, LSAP 13, ADR 6, Green Party 5, the Left 2
Judicial branch:
judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district
courts, and 1 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:
Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Robert MEHLEN];
Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as Christian
Social Party or PCS) [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Democratic Party or
DP [Lydie POLFER]; Green Party [Abbes JACOBY and Felix BRAS];
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Jean ASSELBORN];
Marxist and Reformed Communist Party DEI LENK (the Left) [no formal
leadership]; 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);
LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)
International organization participation:
ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG,
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr.
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; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Luxembourg
Economy - overview:
This stable, high-income economy features 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 22% of GDP, has more than
compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned
and have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small
family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and trans-border
workers for more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg,
like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump,
the country has maintained a fairly strong growth rate and enjoys an
extraordinarily high standard of living.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $21.94 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $48,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 30%
services: 69% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
262,300 (of whom 87,400 are foreign cross-border workers primarily
from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 90.1%, industry 8%, agriculture 1.9% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.5 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $760
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal
products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
457 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 57.3%
hydro: 25.2%
other: 17.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
744 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
6.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
50,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
634 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
50,700 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
865 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
867 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock
products
Exports:
$10.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass
Exports - partners:
Germany 23.9%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.5%, UK 8.7%, Italy 6.1%,
Spain 4.5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$13.25 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Belgium 29.7%, Germany 23%, France 13.2%, Taiwan 6.7%, Netherlands
4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $160 million (1999)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:
314,700 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
215,741 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable
(Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:
285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1999)
Televisions:
285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:
.lu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2001)
Transportation Luxembourg
Railways:
total: 274 km
standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 5,189 km
paved: 5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
37 km (on the Moselle)
Pipelines:
gas 155 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Mertert
Merchant marine:
total: 60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,507,258 GRT/2,118,597 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, chemical tanker 12, container 8, liquefied
gas 18, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 8
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belgium 21, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 10, Monaco 1,
Netherlands 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 9, United States 3 (2002
est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Luxembourg
Military branches:
Army, Grand Ducal Police
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 114,326 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 93,994 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 2,636 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$147.8 million (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (FY01/02)
Transnational Issues Luxembourg
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Macau
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 China on 20 December
1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"
formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in
Macau and that Macau will 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: 25.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 25.4 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 0.34 km
border countries: 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 172.4 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100%
note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two
islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
People Macau
Population:
469,903 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 51,078; female 47,118)
15-64 years: 71.8% (male 159,500; female 178,043)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 13,930; female 20,234) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.1 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 33.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.72% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.07 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
3.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
8.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.87 years
male: 79.05 years
female: 84.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.32 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry),
Portuguese, other
Religions:
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97.2%
female: 92% (2003 est.)
Government Macau
Country name:
conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao
Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
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 - 20 December 1999 is celebrated
as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:
Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's
Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age, 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)
elections: chief executive chosen by a 200-member selection
committee for up to two five-year terms
cabinet: Executive Council consists of all five government
secretaries, three legislators, and two businessmen
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20
December 1999)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (27 seats; 10 elected by
popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief
executive; members serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by political bloc -
Entertainment Industry 3, pro-democracy 2, pro-Beijing Labor Union
2, pro-Beijing Neighborhood Association 2, pro-business 1
elections: last held 23 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch:
The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
there are no formal political parties, however, there are civic
associations that, for purposes of legislative voting, join together
to form political blocs
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Catholic Church [Domingos LAM, bishop]; Macau Society of Tourism
and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO, managing director]; Union for
Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong, leader]
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), IHO, IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO
(correspondent), UNESCO (associate), WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the
US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description:
light 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 center of arc and four smaller
Economy Macau
Economy - overview:
Macau's economy four years after reversion to China remains one of
the most open in the world. The territory's net exports of goods and
services account for 39% of GDP with tourism and apparel exports as
the mainstays. Although the territory was hit hard by the 1998 Asian
financial crisis and the global downturn in 2001, its economy grew
an estimated 9.5% in 2002. A rapid rise in the number of mainland
visitors because of China's easing of restrictions on travel drove
the recovery. The budget also returned to surplus in 2002 because of
the surge in visitors from China and a hike in taxes on gambling
profits, which generated about 63% of government revenue. The
liberalization of Macao's gambling monopoly may contribute to GDP
growth, as the three companies awarded gambling licenses have
pledged to invest $2.2 billion - roughly 33% of GDP - in the
territory. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the mainland
as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory may have
to rely more on gambling and trade-related services to generate
growth. Growth fell to 4% in 2003, according to early government
forecasts, with the drop in large measure due to concerns over the
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $8.6 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $18,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 12%
services: 87% (2002 est.)
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.)
Labor force:
214,000 (2002)
Labor force - by occupation:
restaurants and hotels 12%, manufacturing 20%, other services and
agriculture 68% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $1.41 billion
expenditures: $1.19 billion, including capital expenditures of $194
million (2002)
Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.611 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.688 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
193 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, livestock
Exports:
$2.36 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, cement, machines, and parts
Exports - partners:
US 48.6%, China 15.5%, Germany 7.4%, Hong Kong 5.8%, UK 5.4% (2002)
Imports:
$2.53 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, yarn, foodstuffs, fuel, automobiles, capital
goods
Imports - partners:
China 41.7%, Hong Kong 14.5%, Japan 6.7%, Taiwan 6.6%, South Korea
5%, France 4.3%, US 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$255 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
pataca (MOP)
Currency code:
MOP
Exchange rates:
patacas per US dollar - 8.03 (2002), 8.03 (2001), 8.03 (2000), 7.99
(1999), 7.98 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:
176,902 (November 2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
158,251 (November 2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to
international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and
China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
160,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2003)
Televisions:
49,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
101,000 (2002)
Transportation Macau
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 271 km
paved: 271 km
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Macau
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Macau
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; responsibility for defense
reverted to China on 20 December 1999; there is a local police force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 130,228 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 71,826 (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Macau
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic
Introduction Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Background:
International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia's (F.Y.R.O.M.) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was
delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it
considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its
trade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize
relations, despite continued disagreement over F.Y.R.O.M.'s use of
"Macedonia." F.Y.R.O.M.'s large Albanian minority, an ethnic
Albanian armed insurgency in F.Y.R.O.M. in 2001, and the status of
neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.
Geography Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 25,333 sq km
water: 477 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 221 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns and 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) 2,753 m
Natural resources:
chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron
ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 23.59%
permanent crops: 1.85%
other: 74.56% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Population:
2,063,122
note: a census was taken 1-15 November 2002, but results are not yet
available (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 235,102; female 217,574)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 700,929; female 691,552)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 96,039; female 121,926) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.5 years
male: 31.4 years
female: 33.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.4% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
13.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 13.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.49 years
male: 72.23 years
female: 76.94 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.75 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.8%, Roma 2.7%, Serb
1.8%, other 2.3% (1994)
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages:
Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other
3%
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Country name:
conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.
local short form: Makedonija
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Skopje
Administrative divisions:
123 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aracinovo, Bac,
Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola, Blatec, Bogdanci, Bogomila,
Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair (Skopje), Capari, Caska,
Cegrane, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo,
Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dobrusevo,
Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Skopje), Drugovo, Dzepciste,
Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor,
Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo,
Kisela Voda (Skopje), Klecevce, Kocani, Konce, Kondovo, Konopiste,
Kosel, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis,
Kukurecani, Kumanovo, Labunista, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, Makedonska
Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci, Mogila,
Murtino, Negotino, Negotino-Polosko, Novaci, Novo Selo, Oblesevo,
Ohrid, Orasac, Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica,
Podares, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman,
Rostusa, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste, Sopotnica, Srbinovo,
Star Dojran, Staravina, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica,
Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo,
Topolcani, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Velesta, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica,
Vitoliste, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Vratnica, Vrutok, Zajas,
Zelenikovo, Zeleno, Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovci
note: the seven municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute "greater Skopje"
Independence:
8 September 1991 referendum by registered voters endorsing
independence (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's
Day and Ilinden
Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
note: in November of 2001, the Macedonian Parliament approved a
series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Boris TRAJKOVSKI (since 15 December 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 1
November 2002)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA October
2004); prime minister elected by the Assembly; election last held 1
November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Boris TRAJKOVSKI elected president on second-round
ballot; percent of vote - Boris TRAJKOVSKI 52.4%, Tito PETKOVSKI
46.2%; Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected prime minister by Parliament with
72% of the vote
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 SDSM, LDP, and DUI (or BDI)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - 85 members are elected
by popular vote, 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted
by parties based on the percentage that a party gains from the
overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Together for Macedonia coalition (SDSM and LDP) 60, VMRO-DPMNE 33,
Democratic Union for Integration 16, Democratic Party of Albanians
7, Party for Democratic Prosperity 2, National Democratic Party 1,
Socialist Party of Macedonia 1
elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Constitutional
Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council
- Parliament appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president];
Democratic Union for Integration or DUI (also BDI) [Ali AHMETI];
Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH [Arben XHAFERI, president];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for
Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI,
president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-True
Macedonian Reform Option or VMRO-VMRO [Boris ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal
Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV];
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan
ANDOV]; National Democratic Party or PDK [Kastriot HAXHIREXHA];
Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD [Abdurrahman HALITI];
Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI,
president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV,
president]; Together for Macedonia coalition (including the SDSM and
LDP) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Union of Romanies of Macedonia or SRM
[leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV
chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence Edward BUTLER
embassy: Bul. Ilinden bb, 91000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120
Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 116-180
FAX: [389] 117-103
Flag description:
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of
the red field
Economy Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Economy - overview:
At independence in November 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 center and eliminated advantages from
inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of
infrastructure, UN sanctions on Yugoslavia, one of its largest
markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the
country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth
until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However,
the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, and
regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian
insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased
trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on
security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in
2002 to 0.3%, then rose to 2.8% in 2003. Unemployment at one-third
of the workforce remains the most critical economic problem. But
even this issue is overshadowed by the fragile political situation.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.57 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 31%
services: 58% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
24% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.1 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
37% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.13 billion
expenditures: $1.02 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood
products, tobacco, food processing, buses
Industrial production growth rate:
-5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.465 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 83.7%
hydro: 16.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.112 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
100 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry
leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Exports:
$1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.2%, Italy 9.2%, US 6.7%, Croatia 5.5%, Greece 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products
Imports - partners:
Greece 19.4%, Germany 14.4%, Bulgaria 7.5%, Slovenia 6.9%, Italy
6.9%, Turkey 5.9%, Ukraine 5%, Austria 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.3 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$150 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:
MKD
Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars per US dollar - 64.35 (2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9
(2000), 56.9 (1999), 54.46 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Telephones - main lines in use:
408,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12,362 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2001)
Transportation Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Railways:
total: 699 km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
note: lake transport only, on the Greek and Albanian borders
Pipelines:
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
18 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Military Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Military branches:
Army (ARM), Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 553,988 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 446,726 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 17,909 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
6% (FY01/02 est.)
Transnational Issues Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Disputes - international:
the Albanian government calls for the protection of the rights of
ethnic Albanians in F.Y.R.O.M. while continuing to seek regional
cooperation; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo continue to protest 2000
F.Y.R.O.M.-Serbia and Montenegro boundary treaty, which transfers
small tracts of land to F.Y.R.O.M.; dispute with Greece over
country's name persists
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;
while money laundering is a problem on a local level due to
organized crime activities, the lack of a well-developed financial
infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering
center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Madagascar
Introduction Madagascar
Background:
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony
in 1886, but regained its 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.
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: 587,040 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep 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, salt, quartz, tar sands,
semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 4.41%
permanent crops: 0.93%
other: 94.66% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to
the island are endangered
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, 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:
16,979,744 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 3,822,823; female 3,807,958)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 4,366,748; female 4,452,686)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 243,411; female 286,118) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.4 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
42.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
11.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 80.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 88.63 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.14 years
male: 53.82 years
female: 58.53 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.73 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
22,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
870 (2001 est.)
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)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Government Madagascar
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Antananarivo
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:
19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA November
2006); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of
candidates nominated by the National Assembly
election results: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 40.89%,
Marc RAVALOMANANA 46.21%; note - on 29 April 2002, the High
Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner by 51.5%
after a recount; RATSIRIKA's prime minister was put under house
arrest on 27 May 2002, and SYLLA was appointed the new prime
minister by President RAVALOMANANA
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats;
members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms); note - the legislature is scheduled to become a bicameral
Parliament with the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of the
seats of this Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whose
members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of
the seats will be appointed by the president; the total number of
seats will be determined by the National Assembly; all members will
serve four-year terms
elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to
be held NA 2006)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD
5, others 3, independents 22
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 [leader vacant];
Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or
LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; I Love Madagascar or TIM
[leader NA]; National Union or FP [leader NA]; Renewal of the Social
Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federalist Movement; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 483-7603
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
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
Economy Madagascar
Economy - overview:
Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has
since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of
privatization and liberalization, which has placed the country on a
slow and steady growth path. Agriculture, including fishing and
forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for one-fourth of
GDP and employing four-fifths of the population. Export earnings
primarily are earned in the small industrial sector, which features
textile manufacturing and agriculture processing. Deforestation and
erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of
fuel are serious concerns. The separatist political crisis of 2002
undermined macroeconomic stability, with the estimated drop in
output being subject to a wide margin of error. Poverty reduction
will be the centerpiece of economic policy for the next few years.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $12.59 billion (2002)
GDP - real growth rate:
-11.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 12%
services: 63% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
71% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.1 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
7.3 million (2000)
Unemployment rate:
5.9% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $553 million
expenditures: $735 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,
glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
830.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 36.1%
hydro: 63.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
772.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),
beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports:
$700 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite,
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
France 34%, US 24.6%, Netherlands 6%, Germany 5.9%, Mauritius 4%
(2002)
Imports:
$985 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:
France 17.2%, Iran 11%, Mauritius 10.6%, Bahrain 9.4%, Hong Kong
6.9%, South Africa 5.9%, China 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.6 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$838 million (1997)
Currency:
Malagasy franc (MGF)
Currency code:
MGF
Exchange rates:
Malagasy francs per US dollar - 6,831.96 (2002), 6,588.49 (2001),
6,767.48 (2000), 6,283.77 (1999), 5,441.4 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:
55,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
63,100 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: system is above average for the region
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,
and tropospheric scatter links connect regions
international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations
- 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean
region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:
3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
325,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
35,000 (2002)
Transportation Madagascar
Railways:
total: 732 km
narrow gauge: 732 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 49,827 km
paved: 5,780 km
unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
of local importance only
Ports and harbors:
Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,865 GRT/17,936 DWT
ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 (2002
est.)
Airports:
121 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 92
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 46
under 914 m: 44 (2002)
Military Madagascar
Military branches:
People's Armed Forces (comprising Intervention Force, Development
Force, Aeronaval [Navy and Air] Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential
Security Regiment
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,880,332 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,300,587 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 163,864 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$52.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Madagascar
Disputes - international:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan
de Nova Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used
mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Malawi
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, the country held multiparty elections in 1994 under
a provisional constitution, which took full effect the following
year. National multiparty elections were held again in 1999.
Geography Malawi
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 118,480 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km
land: 94,080 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: 19.93%
permanent crops: 1.33%
other: 78.74% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
280 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear
Test Ban, 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:
11,651,239
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 2,748,058; female 2,698,052)
15-64 years: 50.5% (male 2,911,892; female 2,973,723)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 128,722; female 190,792) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.4 years
male: 16.1 years
female: 16.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.21% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
44.7 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
22.64 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 105.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 100.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 109.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 37.98 years
male: 37.57 years
female: 38.39 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.1 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
15% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
850,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
80,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,
Asian, European
Religions:
Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs
3%, other 2%
Languages:
English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important
regionally
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
Government Malawi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland
Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:
multiparty democracy
Capital:
Lilongwe
Administrative divisions:
27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,
Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),
Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay,
Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence:
6 July 1964 (from 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; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Bakili MULUZI reelected president; percent of vote
- Bakili MULUZI (UDF) 51.4%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MCP-AFORD) 44.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDF 48%, MCP 34%, AFORD
15%, others 3%; seats by party - UDF 96, MCP 61, AFORD 30, others 6
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 [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Malawi Congress
Party or MCP [John TEMBO, president; Gwanda CHAKUAMBA, vice
president]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; United
Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI] - governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Democratic Alliance [Brown MPINGANJIRA]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul Tony Steven KANDIERO
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0976
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1007
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen BROWN
embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road
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 black (top), red, and green with a
radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note:
the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature
Economy Malawi
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed
countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90%
of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted for
nearly 40% of GDP and 88% of export revenues in 2001. The economy
depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF,
the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi
was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
(HIPC) program. In November 2002 the World Bank approved a $50
million drought recovery package, which is to be used for famine
relief. The government faces strong challenges, e.g., to fully
develop a market economy, to improve educational facilities, to face
up to environmental problems, to deal with the rapidly growing
problem of HIV/AIDS, and to satisfy foreign donors that fiscal
discipline is being tightened. The performance of the tobacco sector
is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for over 50% of
exports.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $6.811 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 37%
industry: 16%
services: 47% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
54% (FY 90/91 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
27.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
4.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 86% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $490 million
expenditures: $523 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.8% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
769.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 3.3%
hydro: 96.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
715.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca),
sorghum, pulses; groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Exports:
$435 million f.o.b. (201)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,
apparel
Exports - partners:
US 17.3%, Germany 13.6%, South Africa 10.2%, Egypt 6.2%, Japan 6%,
Netherlands 5.5%, Russia 4.8%, UK 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$505 million f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment
Imports - partners:
South Africa 44.4%, Zambia 12.7%, US 5.6%, India 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.9 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$540 million (1999)
Currency:
Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Currency code:
MWK
Exchange rates:
Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 76.69 (2002), 72.2 (2001), 59.54
(2000), 44.09 (1999), 31.07 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:
45,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
49,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a third
station held in standby status) (2001)
Radios:
2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.mw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2002)
Internet users:
35,000 (2002)
Transportation Malawi
Railways:
total: 797 km
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 28,400 km
paved: 5,254 km
unpaved: 23,146 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
144 km
note: on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire Riverall
Ports and harbors:
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Airports:
43 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Military Malawi
Military branches:
Army (including Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (including
paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,625,495 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,347,248 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$13.01 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Malawi
Disputes - international:
dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Malaysia
Introduction Malaysia
Background:
Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a federation of the former
British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, including the East
Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of
Borneo. The first several years of the country's history were marred
by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to
Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the federation in 1965.
Geography Malaysia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island
of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of
Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,750 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
land: 328,550 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:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
specified boundary in the South China Sea
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: 5.54%
permanent crops: 17.61%
other: 76.85% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
3,650 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China
Sea
People Malaysia
Population:
23,092,940 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.7% (male 4,001,507; female 3,777,896)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 7,163,252; female 7,131,745)
65 years and over: 4.4% (male 447,230; female 571,310) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.6 years
male: 23 years
female: 24.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.86% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.7 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal
immigrants from other countries in the region (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 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: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 21.97 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.67 years
male: 69.01 years
female: 74.51 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.13 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
42,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,500 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:
Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 24%, Indian 8%, others 10%
(2000)
Religions:
Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - in
addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia
Languages:
Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese,
Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu,
Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note - in addition, in East Malaysia
several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest are Iban and
Kadazan
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.9%
male: 92.4%
female: 85.4% (2003 est.)
Government Malaysia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
former: Federation of Malaysia
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August
1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore)
formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965);
nominally headed by the paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament
consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house;
Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka,
George Town (Penang), Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are
appointed by the Malaysian Government; powers of state governments
are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the
federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional
prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration
controls); Sabah - holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with
foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers
delegated to federal government; Sarawak - holds 28 seats in House
of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal
security, and other powers delegated to federal government
Capital:
Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:
13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 3 federal
territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah
persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri
Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Putrajaya*, Sabah,
Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*
note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is within the federal territory of
Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not interchangeable;
Independence:
31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:
31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Paramount Ruler Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni
Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Raja of Perlis (since 12
December 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since
31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister NA (since 31 October 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
election results: Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed
Putra Jamalullail elected paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers
of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 12
December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister designated
from among the members of the House of Representatives; following
legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality
of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan
Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed
by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan
Rakyat (193 seats; members elected by popular vote weighted toward
the rural Malay population to serve five-year terms)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - BN 56%, other 44%; seats by party - BN 148, PAS 27, DAP 10,
Keadilan 5, PBS 3
elections: House of Representatives - last held 29 November 1999
(next must be held by November 2004)
Judicial branch:
Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the
advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling coalition parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM
[LIM Kheng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik
- Sabah) or LDP [CHONG Kah Kiat]; Malaysian Chinese Association
(Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [LING Ong Ka Ting]; Malaysian
Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy VELLU];
Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak or PBDS [Leo MOGGIE]; Parti Bersatu Sabah
or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu or
PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Sabah Progressive Party
(Parti Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United
People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [WONG Soon
Kah]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH Ahmad
Badawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization
(Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [leader
NA]; opposition parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan
Demokratik) or DAP [KERK Kim Hock]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti
Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; National Justice Party
(Parti Keadilan Nasional) or Keadilan [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismael];
National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN (the ruling coalition
dominated by the UMNO and includes MCA, MIC, PGRM, PBDS, SUPP, PBB,
PBS, LDP, SAPP, UPKO) [ABDULLAH Ahmad Badawi]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador GHAZZALI bin Sheikh Abdul Khalid
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882
telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie T. HUHTALA
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American
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 fourteen-pointed star; the
crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design
was based on the flag of the US
Economy Malaysia
Economy - overview:
Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971
through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an
emerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven
by exports - particularly of electronics - and, as a result Malaysia
was hard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in the
Information Technology (IT) sector in 2001. GDP in 2001 grew only
0.5% due to an estimated 11% contraction in exports, but a
substantial fiscal stimulus package mitigated the worst of the
recession and the economy rebounded in 2002. Healthy foreign
exchange reserves and relatively small external debt make it
unlikely that Malaysia will experience a crisis similar to the one
in 1997, but the economy remains vulnerable to a more protracted
slowdown in Japan and the US, top export destinations and key
sources of foreign investment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $198.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 40%
services: 48% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
8% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 38.4% (1997 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.2 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
9.9 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
local trade and tourism 28%, manufacturing 27%, agriculture,
forestry, and fisheries 16%, services 10%, government 10%,
construction 9% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.8% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $20.3 billion
expenditures: $27.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.4
billion (2001 est.)
Industries:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and
manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining
and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah - logging,
petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum
production and refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
68.34 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.5%
hydro: 10.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
63.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
75 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
729,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
472,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
3.729 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
53.66 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
31.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
22.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.23 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah -
subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber,
pepper; timber
Exports:
$95.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and
wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals (2000)
Exports - partners:
US 21%, Singapore 17.4%, Japan 10.9%, China 6.5%, Hong Kong 5%,
Thailand 4% (2002)
Imports:
$76.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles,
iron and steel products, chemicals (2000)
Imports - partners:
Japan 16.9%, Singapore 15.9%, US 15.5%, China 7.3%, South Korea 5%,
Taiwan 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$47.5 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:
ringgit (MYR)
Currency code:
MYR
Exchange rates:
ringgits per US dollar - 3.8 (2002), 3.8 (2001), 3.8 (2000), 3.8
(1999), 3.92 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Malaysia
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.6 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system; international service excellent
domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia
mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio
relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic
satellite system with 2 earth stations
international: submarine cables to India, Hong Kong, and Singapore;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific
Ocean) (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)
Radios:
10.9 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
10.8 million (1999)
Internet country code:
.my
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
7 (2000)
Internet users:
5.7 million (2002)
Transportation Malaysia
Railways:
total: 2,418 km
standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,361 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 65,877 km
paved: 49,935 km (including 1,192 km of expressways)
unpaved: 15,942 km (1999)
Waterways:
7,296 km
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km
Pipelines:
condensate 279 km; gas 5,047 km; oil 1,841 km; refined products 114
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan, Lahad
Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, George Town (Penang), Port Dickson,
Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau
Merchant marine:
total: 366 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,111,476 GRT/7,242,323 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 15,
Indonesia 3, Japan 4, Monaco 1, Philippines 2, Singapore 78, South
Korea 2, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 62, cargo 103, chemical tanker 37, container 69,
liquefied gas 23, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker
55, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 8
Airports:
114 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 35
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 79
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 72 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Malaysia
Military branches:
Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force,
Royal Malaysian Police Field Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border
Scouts
Military manpower - military age:
21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,067,155 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,672,517 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 218,216 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.69 billion (FY00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.03% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Malaysia
Disputes - international:
involved in complex dispute over Spratly Islands with China,
Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and possibly Brunei; claimants in
November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in
the South China Sea," a mechanism to ease tension but which fell
short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; disputes over
deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation
on Johor, maritime boundaries, and Singapore-occupied Pedra Branca
Island/Pulau Batu Putih persist - parties agree to ICJ arbitration
on island dispute within three years; ICJ awarded Ligitan and
Sipadan islands off the coast of Sabah, also claimed by Indonesia
and Philippines, to Malaysia; a small section of the
Malaysia-Thailand boundary in the Kolok River remains in dispute
Illicit drugs:
transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking prosecuted
vigorously and carries severe penalties
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Maldives
Introduction Maldives
Background:
The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then
under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three
years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on
the archipelago.
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: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 300 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 baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
contiguous zone: 24 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 Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 3.33%
permanent crops: 6.67%
other: 90% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
low level of islands makes them very 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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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:
329,684 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.9% (male 75,991; female 71,826)
15-64 years: 52.1% (male 87,734; female 84,150)
65 years and over: 3% (male 5,073; female 4,910) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.3 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.91% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.71 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 60.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 59.23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.3 years
male: 62.07 years
female: 64.6 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.26 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Maldivian Dhivehi (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: 97.2%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.3% (2003 est.)
Government Maldives
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Male
Administrative divisions:
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-order
administrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu,
Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu,
Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
Independence:
26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:
adopted January 1998
Legal system:
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law
primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November
1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
elections: president nominated by the Majlis and then the nomination
must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval
margin is required); president elected for a five-year term;
election last held 16 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003)
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected in
referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon
Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president; note -
need not be members of Majlis
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11
November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by
popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1999 (next to be held NA November
2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 42
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
although political parties are not banned, none exist
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a
Permanent Mission to the UN in New York; permanent representative is
Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to
Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
Flag description:
red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical
white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side
of the flag
Economy Maldives
Economy - overview:
Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and
more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90%
of government tax revenue comes from import duties and
tourism-related taxes. Almost 400,000 tourists visited the islands
in 1998. Fishing is a second leading sector. The Maldivian
Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by
lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private
sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more
foreign investment. 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. Industry, which consists mainly of garment
production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 18%
of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and
possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area
is one meter or less above sea level.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
88,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NEGL%
Budget:
revenues: $224 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $282 million, including capital expenditures of $80
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut
processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining
Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:
117 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
108.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Exports:
$110 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, clothing
Exports - partners:
US 51.7%, Sri Lanka 16.2%, Thailand 9.3%, Japan 7.6%, UK 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$395 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Singapore 25.6%, Sri Lanka 15%, UAE 14.5%, India 6.6%, Malaysia
5.7%, Thailand 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$281 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
rufiyaa (MVR)
Currency code:
MVR
Exchange rates:
rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2002), 12.24 (2001), 11.77 (2000),
11.77 (1999), 11.77 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Maldives
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,290 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all
inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service
international: satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
35,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
10,000 (1999)
Internet country code:
.mv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
6,000 (2001)
Transportation Maldives
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Gan, Male
Merchant marine:
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 42,689 GRT/56,132 DWT
ships by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1
(2002 est.)
Airports:
5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Military Maldives
Military branches:
National Security Service
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 78,025 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 43,386 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$34.46 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
8.6% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Maldives
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Mali
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 with a
transitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic
presidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997,
President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and
economic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali's
two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was
succeeded by Amadou TOURE.
Geography Mali
Location:
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1.24 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km
land: 1.22 million 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, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited
Land use:
arable land: 3.77%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 96.19% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,380 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
Geography - note:
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,
cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the
northern, arid Saharan
People Mali
Population:
11,626,219 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.2% (male 2,759,802; female 2,727,226)
15-64 years: 49.8% (male 2,771,532; female 3,017,348)
65 years and over: 3% (male 161,983; female 188,328) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.3 years
male: 15.7 years
female: 16.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.82% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
47.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
19.21 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 119.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 112.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 125.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.43 years
male: 44.7 years
female: 46.19 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.66 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
110,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2001 est.)
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%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
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.)
Government Mali
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
local long form: Republique de Mali
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Bamako
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 (which was formally
established on 9 March 1994); 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 Ahmed Mohamed Ag HAMANI (since 9
June 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(two-term limit); election last held 12 May 2002 (next to be held NA
May 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE elected president; percent of
vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 64.4%, Soumaila CISSE 35.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 July and 28 July 2002 (next to be held NA
July 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Hope 2002 coalition 66, ADEMA 51, other 30
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda Traore KEITA, party
chairman]; Block of Alternative for the Renewal of Africa or BARA
[Yoro DIAKITE]; Democratic and Social Convention or CDS [Mamadou
Bakary SANGARE, chairman]; Hope 2002 [leader NA]; Movement for the
Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA
[Mohamed Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO]; National Congress for
Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL, chairman]; Party for
Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa TRAORE]; Party for
National Renewal or PARENA [Yoro DIAKITE, chairman; Tiebile DRAME,
secretary general]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Ali
GNANGADO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA,
chairman]; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Bonbasor KEITA, chairman];
Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou
TOURE, secretary general]; Union of Democratic Forces for Progress
or UFDP [Youssouf TOURE, secretary general]; Union for Democracy and
Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK; United Movement and
Fronts of Azawad or MFUA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603
telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vicki HUDDLESTONE
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone: [223] (2) 223-833
FAX: [223] (2) 223-712
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Mali
Economy - overview:
Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its
land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal
distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the
riverine area irrigated by the Niger. 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. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable
to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along
with gold. The government has continued its successful
implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program
that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign
investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50%
devaluation of the African franc in January 1994 have pushed up
economic growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2002. Worker
remittances and external trade routes have been jeopardized by
continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $9.775 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 17%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
64% average; 30% of the total population living in urban areas; 70%
of the total population living in rural areas) (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3.93 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and fishing 80% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.6% urban areas; 5.3% rural areas (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $764 million
expenditures: $828 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
480.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 41.7%
hydro: 58.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
446.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing
electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep,
goats
Exports:
$680 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, livestock
Exports - partners:
Thailand 13.9%, Italy 9.8%, India 7.7%, Brazil 5.5%, Germany 5%,
Spain 4.9%, Portugal 4.3%, Taiwan 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$630 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
Cote d'Ivoire 17.1%, France 13.5%, Senegal 6.5%, Germany 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.3 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$596.4 million (2001)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mali
Telephones - main lines in use:
45,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
40,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving;
provides only minimal service
domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open-wire, and
radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio
relay in progress
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 28, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station in Bamako has seven frequencies and five
transmitters and relays broadcasts for China Radio International
(2001)
Radios:
570,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
45,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ml
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2001)
Internet users:
30,000 (2002)
Transportation Mali
Railways:
total: 729 km
narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 15,100 km
paved: 1,827 km
unpaved: 13,273 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,815 km
Ports and harbors:
Koulikoro
Airports:
26 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Military Mali
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard,
National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,441,769 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,400,711 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$419.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
15% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Mali
Disputes - international:
armed bandits based in Mali attack southern Algerian towns
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Malta
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 become a freight transshipment point, financial center,
and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU
membership.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 316 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
very 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, Nuclear Test Ban,
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:
400,420 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 40,448; female 37,623)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 136,221; female 134,142)
65 years and over: 13% (male 21,730; female 30,256) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 38.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.73% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.43 years
male: 75.94 years
female: 81.14 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
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), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Government Malta
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Valletta
Administrative divisions:
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils
carry out administrative orders
Independence:
21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution:
1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and
again in 1987
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 Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6
September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 4 April
1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term; election last held NA April 1999 (next to be held by
April 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the
deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of
the prime minister
election results: Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House
of Representatives vote - 54%
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note -
additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular
vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by April 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD
0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both 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 [Harry
VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party
or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
C, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL
consulate(s): New York
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony H. GIOIA
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
Malta VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta
telephone: [356] 21-235-960
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
Economy Malta
Economy - overview:
Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and
a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food
needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has no domestic energy
sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing
(especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is
privatizing state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order
to prepare for membership in the European Union. The island remains
divided politically, however, over the question of joining the EU.
Continued sluggishness in the global economy is holding back
exports, tourism, and overall growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $6.818 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 25.5%
services: 71.7% (1999)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
160,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000)
Industries:
tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food
and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.768 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.644 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut
flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Exports:
$2 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners:
Singapore 17.3%, US 11.4%, UK 9.4%, Germany 9%, France 7.2%, China
6.5%, Italy 6% (2002)
Imports:
$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and
semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports - partners:
Italy 18.3%, France 12.1%, South Korea 11.3%, UK 7.5%, Singapore
5.3%, Germany 5.2%, Japan 5%, US 4.6%, Spain 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$130 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Maltese lira (MTL)
Currency code:
MTL
Exchange rates:
Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.43 (2002), 0.45 (2001), 0.44 (2000),
0.4 (1999), 0.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Malta
Telephones - main lines in use:
187,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,691 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios:
255,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2000)
Televisions:
280,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2002)
Internet users:
59,000 (2002)
Transportation Malta
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 2,254 km
paved: 1,972 km
unpaved: 282 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine:
total: 1,234 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,885,128 GRT/42,467,864 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 4, Austria 6, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 3,
Bulgaria 19, Canada 2, China 16, Croatia 14, Cuba 1, Cyprus 7,
Denmark 3, Estonia 5, Finland 1, Germany 54, Greece 627, Hong Kong
12, Iceland 3, India 10, Iran 2, Israel 26, Italy 36, Japan 2,
Latvia 24, Lebanon 6, Monaco 29, Netherlands 10, Nigeria 2, Norway
43, Poland 29, Portugal 2, Romania 15, Russia 85, Saudi Arabia 1,
Slovenia 2, South Korea 5, Spain 1, Switzerland 54, Syria 4, Turkey
84, Ukraine 25, UAE 3, UK 4, US 10 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 459, cargo 280, chemical tanker 45, combination
bulk 10, combination ore/oil 10, container 80, liquefied gas 3,
livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 1,
passenger 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 236, refrigerated
cargo 37, roll on/roll off 41, short-sea passenger 7, vehicle
carrier 15
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Malta
Military branches:
Armed Forces (including land forces [with subordinate air squadron
and maritime squadron] and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese
Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 99,312 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 79,080 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$60 million (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.7% (2000)
Transnational Issues Malta
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western
Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Man, Isle of
Introduction Man, Isle of
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 Celtic language.
Geography Man, Isle of
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 572 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
160 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about one-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: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland)
(1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
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 Man, Isle of
Population:
74,261 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 6,637; female 6,337)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 24,373; female 24,165)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,102; female 7,647) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.1 years
male: 37.8 years
female: 40.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.53% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.38 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
11.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
5.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 7.24 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.98 years
male: 74.62 years
female: 81.53 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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), Briton
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society
of Friends
Languages:
English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Man, Isle of
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Douglas
Administrative divisions:
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, 1961, does not
embody the Manx Constitution
Legal system:
English common law and Manx statute
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Ian MACFADYEN (since 26
October 2002)
election results: Richard CORKILL elected chief minister by the
Tynwald
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch for a five-year term; the Chief Minister is elected
by the Tynwald; election last held 6 December 2001 (next to be held
NA December 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Richard CORKILL (since 6 December
2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (an 11-member
body 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 are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Keys - last held 22 November 2001 (next to be
held NA November 2006)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Man
Labor Party 17.3%, Alliance for Progressive Government 14.6%; seats
by party - Man Labor Party 2, Alliance for Progressive Government 3,
independents 19
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:
Man Labor Party [leader NA]; Alliance for Progressive Government
[leader NA]; Man Nationalist Party [leader NA]
note: most members sit as independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
none
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 (Trinacria), 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
Economy Man, Isle of
Economy - overview:
Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the
economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to
high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on
the island 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 shares of GDP.
Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to
EU markets.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.6 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
13.5%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (March 2003 est.)
Labor force:
36,610 (1998)
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%
Unemployment rate:
0.7% (March 2003)
Budget:
revenues: $485 million
expenditures: $463 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY00/01 est.)
Industries:
financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (FY 96/97)
Agriculture - products:
cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
Exports - partners:
UK (2000 est.)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
timber, fertilizers, fish
Imports - partners:
UK (2000)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Manx pound
Currency code:
GBP
Exchange rates:
Manx pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596
(2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); the Manx pound is at par with
the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Man, Isle of
Telephones - main lines in use:
51,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system
international: fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite
earth station, submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)
Televisions:
27,490 (1999)
Internet country code:
.im
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Man, Isle of
Railways:
total: 60 km (35 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 800 km
paved: 800 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey
Merchant marine:
total: 211 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,297,301 GRT/8,703,079 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 45, France 1, Germany 48, Greece 6, Hong Kong
10, Iceland 1, Italy 8, Monaco 7, Netherlands 3, Norway 5, Sweden 4,
Switzerland 2, UK 70, US 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 32, chemical tanker 20, combination
bulk 2, container 22, liquefied gas 38, petroleum tanker 49, roll
on/roll off 16, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Man, Isle of
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Man, Isle of
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Marshall Islands
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 have been home to the US Army Base Kwajalein
(USAKA) since 1964.
Geography Marshall Islands
Location:
Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean,
about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 181.3 sq km
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro,
Rongelap, and Utirik
water: 0 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
Area - comparative:
about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
370.4 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
wet season from May to November; hot and humid; 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: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands;
Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the
famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test
range
People Marshall Islands
Population:
56,429 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.1% (male 11,233; female 10,819)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 16,857; female 16,003)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 726; female 791) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.3 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 19.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
34.18 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.03 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 35.38 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.39 years
male: 67.49 years
female: 71.4 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.12 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
Micronesian
Religions:
Christian (mostly Protestant)
Languages:
English (widely spoken as a second language, both English and
Marshallese are official languages), two major Marshallese dialects
from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)
Government Marshall Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
Capital:
Majuro
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January 2000);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own
members for a four-year term; election last held 15 November 1999
(next to be held NA November 2003)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of
Parliament vote - 100%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held not later
than November 2007)
note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on
matters affecting customary law and practice
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; High 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 - Kabua Party
[Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, ITU, OPCW (signatory), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Honolulu
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. SENKO
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; there is a white star with four large rays
and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
Economy Marshall Islands
Economy - overview:
US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island
economy. Agricultural production is primarily subsistence and 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 Compact of Free Association, the US has
provided more than $1 billion in aid since 1986. Negotiations have
continued for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought,
a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign
investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, 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 - $115 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
28,698
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7%
Unemployment rate:
30.9% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999)
Industries:
copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1% (solar)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Exports:
$9 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Exports - partners:
US, Japan, Australia, China (2000)
Imports:
$54 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners:
US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2000)
Debt - external:
$86.5 million (FY 99/00 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is the legal tender
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Marshall Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,186 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
489 (2001)
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
shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific
Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
(2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television
Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station
on Kwajalein (2002)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
2 (both are US military stations) (2002)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.mh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
900 (2002)
Transportation Marshall Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: 64.5 km
unpaved: NA km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Majuro
Merchant marine:
total: 342 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,471,690 GRT/23,802,896 DWT
note: the ship's register of the Marshall Islands is a flag of
convenience register since essentially none of the vessels on it is
owned domestically; includes the following foreign-owned ships
registered here as a flag of convenience: China 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark
9, Germany 70, Greece 54, Hong Kong 2, Japan 4, Monaco 8,
Netherlands 8, UK 3, US 87, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 86, cargo 18, chemical tanker 31, combination
bulk 4, combination ore/oil 7, container 69, liquefied gas 8,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 6, petroleum tanker
106, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 4
Airports:
15 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Marshall Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Marshall Islands
Disputes - international:
claims US territory of Wake Island
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Martinique
Introduction Martinique
Background:
Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a
French possession except for three brief periods of foreign
occupation.
Geography Martinique
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
14 40 N, 61 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,100 sq km
water: 40 sq km
land: 1,060 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
350 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October);
vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on
average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
Terrain:
mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources:
coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use:
arable land: 9.43%
permanent crops: 11.32%
other: 79.25% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one
major natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 erupted
and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000
inhabitants
People Martinique
Population:
425,966 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.8% (male 49,310; female 47,908)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 142,242; female 142,688)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 19,656; female 24,162) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.7 years
male: 32 years
female: 33.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.85% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.96 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.72 years
male: 79.27 years
female: 78.16 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups:
African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East
Indian, Chinese less than 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%,
other 3.5% (1997)
Languages:
French, Creole patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 97.4%
female: 98.1% (2003 est.)
Government Martinique
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
Dependency status:
overseas department of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995); Prefect Michel CADOT (since 21 June 2000)
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; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred
MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a
unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be
held NA 2006); Regional Assembly - last held on 15 March 1998 (next
to be held by March 2004)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - left-wing candidates 13, PPM 11, RPR 6, right-wing
candidates 5, PCM 3, UDF 3, PMS 2, independents 2; note - the PPM
won a plurality; Regional Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - RPR-UDF 14, MIM 13, PPM 7, left parties 4, PMS 3
note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last
held NA September 2001 (next to be held September 2004); results -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPM 2; Martinique
also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last
held, first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (next
to be held not later than June 2007); results - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, PS 1, MIM 1, left-wing
candidate 1 (candidacy of the left-wing candidate was found invalid
by the Constitutional Council; new elections will be called)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Martinique Communist Party or PCM [Pierre SUEDILLE]; Martinique
Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique
Progressive Party or PPM [Camille DARSIERES]; Martinique Socialist
Party or PMS [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Movement of Democrats and
Ecologists for a Sovereign Martinique or Modemas [Garcin MALSA];
Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; Socialist
Revolution Group or GRS [Philippe PIERRE-CHARLES]; Union for French
Democracy or UDF [Jean MAREN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for
Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle;
League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
International organization participation:
FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:
a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white
cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of
France is used for official occasions
Economy Martinique
Economy - overview:
The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light
industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small
industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most
of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports
are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable,
and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic
trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from
France. Tourism, which employs more than 11,000 people, has become
more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign
exchange.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,700 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 11%
services: 83% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (1990)
Labor force:
165,900 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate:
27.2% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $900 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $140
million (1996)
Industries:
construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.151 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane
Exports:
$250 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples (2001 est.)
Exports - partners:
France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2000)
Imports:
$2 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials,
vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%, Italy 4%, US 3% (2000)
Debt - external:
$180 million (1994)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA; note - substantial annual aid from France
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 euros per US dollar - 1.0626 (2002),
1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US
dollar - 5.8995 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Martinique
Telephones - main lines in use:
170,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15,000 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic facilities are adequate
domestic: NA
international: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and
Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
11 (plus nine repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
5,000 (2000)
Transportation Martinique
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 2,105 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Martinique
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces (Army, Navy,
Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Martinique
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and
Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Mauritania
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. Opposition
parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two
multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as
flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were
generally free and open. Mauritania remains, in reality, a one-party
state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions between
its black minority population and the dominant Maur (Arab-Berber)
populace.
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
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0.48%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.51% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
490 sq km (1998 est.)
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; very limited natural fresh
water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial
river
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and
Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the
country
People Mauritania
Population:
2,912,584 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 671,080; female 668,408)
15-64 years: 51.8% (male 743,573; female 764,358)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 26,669; female 38,496) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.9 years
male: 16.6 years
female: 17.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.91% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
42.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 73.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.62 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.93 years
male: 49.78 years
female: 54.13 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.08 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,600 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
610 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups:
mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (official),
French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 41.7%
male: 51.8%
female: 31.9% (2003 est.)
Government Mauritania
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local short form: Muritaniyah
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Nouakchott
Administrative divisions:
12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*;
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 Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Sghair Ould M'BARECK (since 6
July 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 7 November 2003 (next to be held NA 2009); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected
for a third term with 60.8% of the vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh
(56 seats, a part of the seats up for election every two years;
members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and
the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (81 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 April 2002 (next to be held NA
April 2004); National Assembly - last held 19 and 26 October 2001
(next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - PRDS 54, RFD 1, UNDD 1; National Assembly - percent of vote
by party - PRDS 79%, RDU 3.5%, UDP 3.5%, AC 5%, UFP 3.5%, FP 1.5%;
seats by party - PRDS 64, UDP 3, RDU 3, AC 4, RFD 3, UFP 3, and FP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:
Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Alliance for
Justice and Democracy or AJD [Kebe ABDOULAYE]; Democratic and Social
Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party) [President Maaouya Ould Sid
Ahmed TAYA]; Mauritanian Party for Renewal and Concorde or PMRC
[Molaye El Hassen Ould JIYID]; National Union for Democracy and
Development or UNDD [Tidjane KOITA]; Party for Liberty, Equality and
Justice or PLEJ [Daouda M'BAGNIGA]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould
CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progress Alliance or APP [Mohamed El
Hafed Ould ISMAEL]; Popular Social and Democratic Union or UPSD
[Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH]; Progress Force Union or UFP [Mohamed
Ould MAOULOUD]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould
DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI
BABA]; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]
note: the Action for Change party was banned in January 2002;
parties legalized by constitution ratified 12 July 1991, however,
politics continue to be tribally based
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Arab nationalists; Ba'athists; General Confederation of Mauritanian
Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general];
Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory
Ould BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely
Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending
member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamedou Ould MICHEL
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
embassy: Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish
Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 25-26-60, 25-26-63, 25-11-41, 25-11-45
FAX: [222] 25-25-92
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
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 decline in world demand for
this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. 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.
In the past, 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 in December 2001 received strong support from donor
and lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. In
2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated
potential extraction at current world oil prices. A new investment
code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct
foreign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involve
problems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. Substantial oil
production and exports probably will not begin until 2005.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.891 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 30.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
786,000 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
157.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 85.9%
hydro: 14.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
146.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep
Exports:
$355 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners:
Italy 14.3%, France 14%, Spain 11.7%, Germany 10.9%, Belgium 9.9%,
Japan 7.1% (2002)
Imports:
$360 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 18.5%, Belgium 7.8%, China 7%, Spain 5.9%, Germany 5.2%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$2.5 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$220 million (2000)
Currency:
ouguiya (MRO)
Currency code:
MRO
Exchange rates:
ouguiyas per US dollar - ouguiyas per US dollar - 254.350 (December
2001), 238.923 (2000), 209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853
(1997), 137.222 (1996)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:
26,500 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
35,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines,
minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
stations (improvements being made)
domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed
domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with
regional capitals
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
410,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
98,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.mr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
7,500 (2001)
Transportation Mauritania
Railways:
717 km
standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 7,720 km
paved: 830 km
unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)
Waterways:
note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports and harbors:
Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine:
none (2002)
Airports:
26 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Mauritania
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard,
National Police, Presidential Guard
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 665,112 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 322,288 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$37.11 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Mauritania
Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent
years
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Mauritius
Introduction Mauritius
Background:
Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was subsequently
held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence 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 and declining sugar
prices 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:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 2,040 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
Area - comparative:
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
177 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: 49.26%
permanent crops: 2.96%
other: 47.78% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
200 sq km (1998 est.)
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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, 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
People Mauritius
Population:
1,210,447 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.1% (male 153,401; female 150,399)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 413,660; female 415,534)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 30,673; female 46,780) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.8 years
male: 29.1 years
female: 30.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.84% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 18.98 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.8 years
male: 67.82 years
female: 75.85 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
700 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian
2%
Religions:
Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%),
Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages:
English (official), Creole, French (official), Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
Bhojpuri
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.6%
male: 88.6%
female: 82.7% (2003 est.)
Government Mauritius
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Port Louis
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 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October
2003) and Vice President (vacant; a new Vice President will be
determined by assembly elections on NA December 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 30 September
2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 25 February 2002
(next to be held NA 2007); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Karl OFFMANN elected president and Raouf BUNDHUN
elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly -
NA%; note - Karl OFFMANN and Raouf BUNDHUN stepped down on 30
September 2003
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (66 seats; 62 elected by popular vote,
4 appointed by the election commission from the losing political
parties to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 September 2000 (next to be held by
September 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - MSM/MMM 52.3%, MLP/PMSD
36.9%, OPR 10.8%; seats by party - MSM/MMM 54, MLP/PMSD 6, OPR 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH]; Mauritian Labor Party or MLP
[Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul
BERENGER] - in coalition with MSM; Mauritian Social Democrat Party
or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Militant Socialist Movement or
MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] - governing party; Rodrigues Movement or MR
[Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR
[Serge CLAIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
various labor unions
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Usha JEETAH
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICE
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, 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
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. Sugarcane is
grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25%
of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on
foreign investment. Mauritius has attracted more than 9,000 offshore
entities, many aimed at commerce in India and South Africa, and
investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion.
Mauritius, with its strong textile sector and responsible fiscal
management, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa
Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The government is encouraging
foreign investment in the information technology field.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $12.15 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 33%
services: 61% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
514,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation:
construction and industry 36%, services 24%, agriculture and
fishing 14%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, transportation and
communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
8.8% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing;
chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical
machinery; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.311 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.8%
hydro: 9.2%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.219 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Exports:
$1.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses
Exports - partners:
UK 27.7%, France 25.5%, US 16.4%, Madagascar 6.2%, Belgium 5% (2002)
Imports:
$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum
products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
France 18.4%, South Africa 13.5%, India 7.8%, China 4.5%, UK 4.2%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$2.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$42 million (1997)
Currency:
Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Currency code:
MUR
Exchange rates:
Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 29.96 (2002), 29.13 (2001), 26.25
(2000), 25.19 (1999), 23.99 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Mauritius
Telephones - main lines in use:
280,900 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
180,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system with good service
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay trunk system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several
countries
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:
420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
258,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
158,000 (2002)
Transportation Mauritius
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,926 km
paved: 1,868 km (including 44 km of expressways)
unpaved: 58 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Port Louis
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 23,455 GRT/27,102 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, combination bulk 4, passenger/cargo 1,
refrigerated cargo 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience:, Belgium 1, India 3, Norway 1, Switzerland 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Mauritius
Military branches:
National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile
Force or SMF and National Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 341,029 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 171,556 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.712 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.2% (FY02)
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, but were granted UK citizenship and the right
to repatriation in 2001; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs:
minor 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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Mayotte
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.
Geography Mayotte
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half
of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
12 50 S, 45 10 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 374 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 374 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
185.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: Benara 660 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
cyclones during rainy season
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands
People Mayotte
Population:
178,437 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.5% (male 41,632; female 41,301)
15-64 years: 51.8% (male 50,373; female 42,118)
65 years and over: 1.7% (male 1,502; female 1,511) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.9 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 15.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
4.25% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
42.86 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
7.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 65.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 72.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.6 years
male: 58.49 years
female: 62.78 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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)
Languages:
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by
35% of the population
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Mayotte
Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte
Dependency status:
territorial collectivity of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Mamoutzou
Administrative divisions:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Jacques BROT (since 3 July 2002)
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
head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa
BAMANA (since NA 1977)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 7 October 2000 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last
held 24 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2007); results
- percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Mayotte also
elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last
held 16 June 2002 (next to be held as a special election on NA June
2005); results - percent of vote by party - UMP-RPR 55.08%, UDF
44.92%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement
or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or RPR [Mansour
KAMARDINE]; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar
SALIM]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti
Socialiste) [Ibrahim ABUBACAR]; Union for French Democracy or UDF
[Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
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 - $85 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $600 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
48,800 (2000)
Unemployment rate:
38% (1999)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1991 est.)
Industries:
newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra
Exports:
$3.44 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee,
cinnamon
Exports - partners:
France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion (2000)
Imports:
$141.3 million f.o.b. (1997)
Imports - commodities:
food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11% (2000 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$107.7 million; note - extensive French financial assistance (1995)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854
(2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998),
5.8367 (1997)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mayotte
Telephones - main lines in use:
12,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system administered by French Department
of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA
international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone
communications to Comoros (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
3 (2001)
Televisions:
3,500 (1994)
Internet country code:
.yt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Mayotte
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 93 km
paved: 72 km
unpaved: 21 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Mayotte
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French
forces stationed on the island
Transnational Issues Mayotte
Disputes - international:
claimed by Comoros
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Mexico
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 nation continues to make an impressive recovery.
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.
Elections held in July 2000 marked the first time since the 1910
Mexican Revolution that the opposition defeated the party in
government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente FOX
of the National Action Party (PAN) was sworn in on 1 December 2000
as the first chief executive elected in free and fair elections.
Geography Mexico
Location:
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico,
between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between Guatemala and the US
Geographic coordinates:
23 00 N, 102 00 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 1,972,550 sq km
land: 1,923,040 sq km
water: 49,510 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 13.2%
permanent crops: 1.1%
other: 85.7% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
65,000 sq km (1998 est.)
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
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, Nuclear Test
Ban, 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:
104,907,991 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.3% (male 17,298,964; female 16,617,728)
15-64 years: 63.1% (male 32,217,513; female 33,932,603)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 2,145,252; female 2,695,931) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 23.8 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 24.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.43% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
21.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 26.78 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.3 years
male: 69.26 years
female: 75.49 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.53 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
150,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,200 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly
Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%
Languages:
Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.2%
male: 94%
female: 90.5% (2003 est.)
Government Mexico
Country name:
conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local short form: Mexico
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
Mexico (Distrito Federal)
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 (from 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 Vicente FOX Quesada (since 1 December
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
election results: Vicente FOX Quesada elected president; percent of
vote - Vicente FOX Quesada (PAN) 42.52%, Francisco LABASTIDA Ochoa
(PRI) 36.1%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 16.64%, other 4.74%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA July 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment of
attorney general requires consent of the Senate
head of government: President Vicente FOX Quesada (since 1 December
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the
Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 are elected by popular
vote to serve six-year terms, and 32 are allocated on the basis of
each party's popular vote) and the Federal Chamber of Deputies or
Camara Federal de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are directly
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; remaining 200
members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote,
also for three-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - PRI 60, PAN 46, PRD 15, PVEM 5, PT 1, CD 1; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRI 224,
PAN 153, PRD 95, other 28
elections: Senate - last held 2 July 2000 for all of the seats (next
to be held NA 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 July 2003
(next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are
appointed by the president with consent of the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
Convergence for Democracy or CD [Dante DELGADO Ranauro];
Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI [Dulce Maria SAURI
Riancho]; Mexican Green Ecological Party or PVEM [Jorge Emilio
GONZALEZ Martinez]; National Action Party or PAN [Luis Felipe BRAVO
Mena]; Party of the Democratic Revolution or PRD [Amalia GARCIA
Medina]; Party of the Nationalist Society or PSN [Gustavo RIOJAS
Santana]; Social Alliance Party or PAS [Guillermo CALDERON
Dominguez]; Workers Party or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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; Federation of Unions Providing Goods and
Services or FESEBES; National Chamber of Transformation Industries
or CANACINTRA; National Peasant Confederation or CNC; National Union
of Workers or UNT; Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers or
CROM; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants or CROC;
Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation:
APEC, BCIE, BIS, Caricom (observer), CDB, CE (observer), EBRD,
ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-15, G-19, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM
(observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Jose BREMER Martino
FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698
consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico
(California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas
(Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Indianapolis
(Indiana), Las Vegas, McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Omaha,
Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon),
Presidio (Texas), Raleigh, Saint Louis, Salt Lake City, San
Bernardino, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson, Yuma (Arizona)
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Sacramento, San
Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZA
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-0900
telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000
FAX: [52] (55) 5080-2005, 5080-2834
consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red;
the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its
beak) is centered in the white band
Economy Mexico
Economy - overview:
Mexico has a free market economy with 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, natural gas
distribution, and airports. Income distribution remains highly
unequal. Trade with the US and Canada has tripled since the
implementation of NAFTA in 1994. Following 6.9% growth in 2000, real
GDP fell 0.3% in 2001, recovering to only a plus 1% in 2002, with
the US slowdown the principal cause. Mexico implemented free trade
agreements with Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and the European
Free Trade Area in 2001, putting more than 90% of trade under free
trade agreements. Foreign direct investment reached $25 billion in
2001, of which $12.5 billion came from the purchase of Mexico's
second-largest bank, Banamex, by Citigroup.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $924.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 26%
services: 69% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
53.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
39.8 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20%, industry 24%, services 56% (1998)
Unemployment rate:
urban - 3% plus considerable underemployment (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $136 billion
expenditures: $140 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum,
mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4.9% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
198.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 78.7%
hydro: 14.2%
other: 2.9% (2001)
nuclear: 4.2%
Electricity - consumption:
186.7 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
77 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
2.068 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
3.59 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.507 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
1.881 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
374,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
25.03 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
36.87 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
38.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
254 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.967 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
969.2 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit,
tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Exports:
$158.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits,
vegetables, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
US 82.7%, Canada 5.4%, Japan 1.1% (2002)
Imports:
$168.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
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 70.6%, Germany 3.5%, Japan 2.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$150 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.166 billion (1995)
Currency:
Mexican peso (MXN)
Currency code:
MXN
Exchange rates:
Mexican pesos per US dollar - 9.66 (2002), 9.34 (2001), 9.46
(2000), 9.56 (1999), 9.14 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mexico
Telephones - main lines in use:
12.332 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.02 million (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: low telephone density with about 12 main lines
per 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; the opening to
competition in January 1997 improved prospects for development
domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government,
but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with
120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network;
considerable use of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, and mobile
cellular service
international: satellite earth stations - 32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad
(giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America,
and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications),
numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations; linked to Central American
Microwave System of trunk connections; high capacity Columbus-2
fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands,
Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, and Italy (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 851, FM 598, shortwave 16 (2000)
Radios:
31 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
236 (plus repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
25.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.mx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
51 (2000)
Internet users:
3.5 million (2002)
Transportation Mexico
Railways:
total: 19,510 km
standard gauge: 19,510 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 329,532 km
paved: 108,087 km (including 6,429 km of expressways)
unpaved: 221,445 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
2,900 km
note: navigable rivers and coastal canals
Pipelines:
crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural gas
13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km
Ports and harbors:
Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La Paz,
Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz,
Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz
Merchant marine:
total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 636,271 GRT/933,686 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, combination
ore/oil 1, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 26, roll on/roll off 8,
short-sea passenger 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Canada 2, Denmark 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
1,823 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 231
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 82
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 83
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,592
under 914 m: 1,067 (2002)
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 454
1,524 to 2,437 m: 69
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Mexico
Military branches:
National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA) (including Army and Air
Force), Navy Secretariat (including Naval Air and Marines)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age
note: starting in 2000, females were allowed to volunteer for
military service (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 27,751,539 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 20,123,970 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,093,752 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Mexico
Disputes - international:
prolonged regional drought in the border region with the US has
strained water-sharing arrangements
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 2001 - 4,400
hectares; potential heroin production - 7 metric tons) and of
cannabis (in 2001 - 4,100 hectares); government eradication efforts
have been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major supplier of
heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine
to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for
US-bound cocaine from South America; major drug syndicates control
majority of drug trafficking throughout the country; growing
producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant money-laundering
center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Micronesia, Federated States of
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. 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
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands,
and Kosrae (Kosaie)
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
land: 702 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
6,112 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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:
forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
108,143 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 21,163; female 20,335)
15-64 years: 58.5% (male 31,746; female 31,477)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 1,558; female 1,864) (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.04% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
26.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-20.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 32.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 35.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.97 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.13 years
male: 67.39 years
female: 70.95 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions:
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Languages:
English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese,
Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
Government Micronesia, Federated States of
Country name:
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: FSM
former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands)
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986;
economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated
Capital:
Palikir
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003);
Vice President Redley KILLION; note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May
2003); Vice President Redley KILLION; note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from
among the four senators at large for four-year terms; election last
held 11 May 2003 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - a proposed
constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for
president and vice president failed
election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of
Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent
of Congress vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote;
four - 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)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003
(next to be held NA March 2007); elections for two-year term seats
last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
no formal parties
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate),
IMF, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry M. DINGER
embassy: address NA, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States
of Micronesia 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
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. In
November 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in future
revenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement with
the US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial and
technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. The country's
medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the
reduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of the
private sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed
infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $277 million
note: $277 million $277 million GDP is supplemented by grant aid,
averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26.7%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate:
16% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture,
craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
hydro: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava
(tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Exports:
$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY 99/00 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners:
Japan, US, Guam (2000)
Imports:
$149 million f.o.b. (FY 99/00 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:
US, Australia, Japan (2000)
Debt - external:
$53.1 million (FY 02/03 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3
billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used 1
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Micronesia, Federated States of
Telephones - main lines in use:
11,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
newly installed in Pohnpei and Yap
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
(2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
2,800 (1999)
Internet country code:
.fm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine:
none
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
7 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Micronesia, Federated States of
Military - note:
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governing
state in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent on
the US for its defense
Transnational Issues Micronesia, Federated States of
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Midway Islands
Introduction Midway Islands
Background:
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 national
wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the
public. It is now temporarily closed.
Geography Midway Islands
Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the
way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates:
28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 6.2 sq km
note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 6.2 sq km
Area - comparative:
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
15 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain:
low, nearly level
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 13 m
Natural resources:
wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the
public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife
observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba
diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at
present (2003)
People Midway Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up the
staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services cooperator
living at the atoll (July 2003 est.)
Government Midway Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway Islands
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from
Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering
Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally
closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a
presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the
atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge
system
Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Midway Islands
Economy - overview:
The economy is based on providing support services for the national
wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and
manufactured goods must be imported.
Transportation Midway Islands
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
7.8 km
Ports and harbors:
Sand Island
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Military Midway Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Midway Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Moldova
Introduction Moldova
Background:
Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union
at the close of World War II. Although 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 as its president in
2001.
Geography Moldova
Location:
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 33,843 sq km
water: 472 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 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 River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources:
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 54.08%
permanent crops: 12.1%
other: 33.82% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
3,070 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
landslides (57 cases in 1998)
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, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and
minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
People Moldova
Population:
4,439,502 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.1% (male 477,063; female 459,992)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 1,465,248; female 1,584,402)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 168,068; female 284,729) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 32 years
male: 29.8 years
female: 34.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.31 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 41.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 38.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 44.81 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.88 years
male: 60.63 years
female: 69.35 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.74 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups:
Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%,
Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.)
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: 99.6%
female: 98.7% (2003 est.)
Government Moldova
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local short form: none
former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
local long form: Republica Moldova
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Chisinau
Administrative divisions:
9 counties (judetele, singular - judetul), 1 municipality*
(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit** (unitate teritoriala
autonoma), and 1 territorial unit*** (unitate teritoriala); Balti,
Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Edinet, Gagauzia**, Lapusna, Orhei,
Soroca, Stinga Nistrului***, Tighina, Ungheni
Independence:
27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution:
new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet
constitution of 1979
Legal system:
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of
legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is
unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts
many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) documents
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April
2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasile IOVV (since NA 2002),
Deputy Prime Minister Stefan ODAGIU (since NA 2002)
cabinet: selected by prime minister, subject to approval of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term;
election last held 4 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2005); note -
presidential elections were scheduled for December 2000, but in July
2000, Parliament canceled direct, popular elections; Parliament's
failure to chose a new president in December 2000 led to early
parliamentary elections in February 2001; prime minister designated
by the president, upon consultation with Parliament; note - 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 designated 15 April 2001,
cabinet received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001
election results: Vladimir VORONIN elected president; parliamentary
votes - Vladimir VORONIN 71, Dumitru BRAGHIS 15, Valerian CHRISTEA
3; Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of
confidence - 75 of 101
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and
electoral blocs, as well as independent candidates, elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCM 50.1%, Braghis
Alliance 13.4%, PPCD 8.2%, other parties 28.3%; seats by party - PCM
71, Braghis Alliance 19, PPCD 11
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for
constitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:
Braghis Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Communist Party or PCM
[Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Popular Christian Democratic
Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Social Democratic Union (composed of
Braghis Alliance and the Democratic Party of Moldova) [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mihail MANOLI
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela Hyde SMITH
embassy: 103 Alexei Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72
FAX: [373] (2) 23-30-44
Flag description:
same color scheme as Romania - 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
Economy Moldova
Economy - overview:
Moldova remains a very poor country 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 all of its supplies of oil, coal,
and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed
to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union
in 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort, Moldova introduced a
convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential
credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization,
removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government
entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote
growth and reduce poverty. The economy returned to positive growth,
of 2.1% in 2000, 6.1% in 2001, 7.2% in 2002, and 5.3% in 2003.
Further reforms will come slowly because of strong political forces
backing government controls. The economy remains vulnerable to
higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of
foreign investors.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $11.51 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28%
industry: 23%
services: 49% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.6 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.7 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998)
Unemployment rate:
8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002
est.)
Budget:
revenues: $536 million
expenditures: $594 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment,
refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar,
vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
9% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.394 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
3.216 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
60 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
tobacco; beef, milk
Exports:
$590 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Exports - partners:
Russia 35%, Italy 11.7%, Germany 8.8%, Ukraine 8.5%, Romania 5.7%,
US 5.2%, Belarus 4.5%, Spain 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$980 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products and fuel 32%, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
textiles (2000)
Imports - partners:
Russia 23.9%, Ukraine 13.4%, Germany 12.6%, Italy 8.3%, Romania
8.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.3 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$100 million (2000)
Currency:
Moldovan leu (MDL)
Currency code:
MDL
Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - NA (2002), 12.87 (2001), 12.43 (2000), 10.52
(1999), 5.37 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Moldova
Telephones - main lines in use:
627,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,200 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside
Chisinau; some effort to modernize is under way
domestic: new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile
cellular telephone service being introduced
international: service through Romania and Russia via landline;
satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
3.22 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.26 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.md
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (1999)
Internet users:
15,000 (2000)
Transportation Moldova
Railways:
total: 1,300 km
broad gauge: 1,300 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 12,657 km
paved: 11,012 km
unpaved: 1,645 km (1999)
Waterways:
424 km (1994)
Pipelines:
gas 606 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
36 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 28
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Military Moldova
Military branches:
Ground Forces (includes Air and Air Defense Forces), Republic
Security Forces (includes paramilitary Internal Troops and Border
Troops)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,180,874 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 936,629 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 44,084 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$6.4 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Moldova
Disputes - international:
difficulties with the Transnistria region complicate border
crossing and customs with Ukraine, facilitating smuggling, arms
transfers, and other illegal activities
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Monaco
Introduction Monaco
Background:
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: 1.95 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1.95 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
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) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See);
almost entirely urban
People Monaco
Population:
32,130 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 2,551; female 2,445)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,814; female 10,130)
65 years and over: 22.4% (male 2,937; female 4,253) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 45 years
male: 43 years
female: 47 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
7.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.52 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.27 years
male: 75.37 years
female: 83.37 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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%
Languages:
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Monaco
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Monaco
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 the rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday:
National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November
Constitution:
17 December 1962
Legal system:
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir
Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch
(born 14 March 1958)
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state
appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national
candidates presented by the French Government
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
head of government: Minister of State Patrick LECLERCQ (since 5
January 2000)
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)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UNAM 21, UND 3
elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held NA February
2008)
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:
National and Democratic Union or UND [Jean-Louis CAMPORA]; Union
for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco
or UNAM [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ECE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS,
IHO, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNITAR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Monaco does not have an embassy in the US
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in
Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the
flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is
white (top) and red
Economy Monaco
Economy - overview:
Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular
resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In
2001, a major new construction project will extend the pier used by
cruise ships in the main harbor. The principality 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. 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. Monaco does not publish
national income figures; the estimates below are extremely rough.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $870 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $27,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
30,540 (January 1994)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $518 million
expenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)
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
Agriculture - products:
none
Exports:
$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France
Imports:
$NA; 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:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854
(2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,027 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into
the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)
Radios:
34,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1998)
Televisions:
25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Monaco
Railways:
total: 1.7 km
standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Monaco
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
none; linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service
(2002)
Heliports:
1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice,
France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille) (2002)
Military Monaco
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Monaco
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Mongolia
Introduction Mongolia
Background:
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Genghis KHAN
they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. 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 came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won
its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was
installed in 1924. During the early 1990s, the ex-Communist
Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) gradually yielded its
monopoly on power to the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC), which
defeated the MPRP in a national election in 1996. Over the next four
years, the DUC put forward a number of key reforms to modernize the
economy and to democratize the political system. The former
Communists were a strong opposition that stalled additional
restructuring and made implementation difficult. In 2000, the MPRP
won an overwhelming victory in the legislature - with 72 of the 76
seats - and completely reshuffled the government. While it continues
many of the reform policies, the MPRP has focused on social welfare
and public order priorities.
Geography Mongolia
Location:
Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 1.565 million sq km
water: 9,600 sq km
land: 1,555,400 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 8,162 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,485 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 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources:
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel,
zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron, phosphate
Land use:
arable land: 0.84%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.16% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
840 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
People Mongolia
Population:
2,712,315 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.7% (male 423,081; female 408,119)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 890,482; female 892,140)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 42,292; female 56,201) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.5 years
male: 23.2 years
female: 23.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.42% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
21.39 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 57.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 60.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.81 years
male: 61.63 years
female: 66.09 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups:
Mongol (predominantly Khalkha) 85%, Turkic (of which Kazakh is the
largest group) 7%, Tungusic 4.6%, other (including Chinese and
Russian) 3.4% (1998)
Religions:
Tibetan Buddhist Lamaism 96%, Muslim (primarily in the southwest),
Shamanism, and Christian 4% (1998)
Languages:
Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.2%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Mongolia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
local long form: none
Government type:
parliamentary
Capital:
Ulaanbaatar
Administrative divisions:
21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality*
(singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan
Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay, Govi-Sumber,
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:
12 February 1992
Legal system:
blend of Soviet, German, and US systems of law that combines
aspects of a parliamentary system with some aspects of a
presidential system; 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 Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 26 July
2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural in consultation
with the president
elections: president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural
and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held
20 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2005); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is
usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural; election
last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI reelected president; percent
of vote - Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 58.13%, Radnaasumbereliyn
GONCHIGDORJ (DP) 36.58%, Luvsandamba DASHNYAM (CWP) 3.54%, other
1.75%; Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected prime minister by a vote in the
State Great Hural of 68 to 3
Legislative branch:
unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA July 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
MPRP 72, other 4
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 for approval by the
president)
Political parties and leaders:
Citizens' Will Party or CWP (also called Civil Will Party or Civil
Courage Party) [Sanjaasurengyn OYUN]; Democratic Party or DP [D.
DORLIGJAN]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn
ENKHBAYAR]; Mongolian New Socialist Democratic Party or MNSDP [B.
ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian Republican Party or MRP [B. JARGALSAIHAN]
note: the MPRP is the ruling party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP (provisional),
EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
MONUC, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdangiyn BOLD
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela J. Slutz
embassy: Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [976] (11) 329095
FAX: [976] (11) 320776
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)
Economy Mongolia
Economy - overview:
Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and
breeding of livestock. Mongolia also has extensive mineral deposits;
copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a
large part of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at its
height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990-1991
at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. Mongolia was driven
into deep recession, prolonged by the Mongolian People's
Revolutionary Party's (MPRP) reluctance to undertake serious
economic reform. The Democratic Coalition (DC) government embraced
free-market economics, eased price controls, liberalized domestic
and international trade, and attempted to restructure the banking
system and the energy sector. Major domestic privatization programs
were undertaken, as well as the fostering of foreign investment
through international tender of the oil distribution company, a
leading cashmere company, and banks. Reform was held back by the
ex-Communist MPRP opposition and by the political instability
brought about through four successive governments under the DC.
Economic growth picked up in 1997-1999 after stalling in 1996 due to
a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper
and cashmere. In August and September 1999, the economy suffered
from a temporary Russian ban on exports of oil and oil products, and
Mongolia remains vulnerable in this sector. Mongolia joined the
World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1997. The international donor
community pledged over $300 million per year at the Consultative
Group Meeting, held in Ulaanbaatar in June 1999. The MPRP
government, elected in July 2000, is anxious to improve the
investment climate; it must also deal with a heavy burden of
external debt. Falling prices for Mongolia's mainly primary sector
exports, widespread opposition to privatization, and adverse effects
of weather on agriculture in early 2000 and 2001 restrained real GDP
growth in 2000-2001. Despite drought problems in 2002, GDP rose
4.0%, followed by a solid 5.0% increase in 2003. The first
applications under the land privatization law have been marked by a
number of disputes over particular sites. Russia claims Mongolia
owes it $11 billion from the old Soviet period; any settlement could
substantially increase Mongolia's foreign debt burden.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $5.06 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 23%
services: 45% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
36% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 24.5% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.2 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
primarily herding/agricultural
Unemployment rate:
20% (2000)
Budget:
revenues: $386 million
expenditures: $427 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
construction materials, mining (coal, copper, molybdenum,
fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages, processing of animal
products
Industrial production growth rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.225 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.194 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
25 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
196 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle,
camels, horses
Exports:
$501 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,
fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
Exports - partners:
China 43.8%, US 33.6%, Russia 9.6% (2002)
Imports:
$659 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer
goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Imports - partners:
Russia 32%, China 19.4%, South Korea 12.1%, US 9.1%, Germany 4.7%,
Japan 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$913 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$208.7 million (1999 est.)
Currency:
togrog/tugrik (MNT)
Currency code:
MNT
Exchange rates:
togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,134 (2002), 1,097.7 (2001),
1,076.67 (2000), 1,021.87 (1999), 840.83 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mongolia
Telephones - main lines in use:
104,100 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
110,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: very low density: about 3.5 telephones for each
thousand persons
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:
155,900 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (plus 18 provincial repeaters and many low power repeaters) (1999)
Televisions:
168,800 (1999)
Internet country code:
.mn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
40,000 (2002)
Transportation Mongolia
Railways:
1,815 km
broad gauge: 1,815 km 1.524-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 49,250 km
paved: 1,724 km
unpaved: 47,526 km (2000)
Waterways:
400 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
50 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 40
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Military Mongolia
Military branches:
Mongolian Armed Forces (includes General Purpose Forces, Air and
Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense Troops); note - Border Troops are
under Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs in peacetime
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 796,449 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 516,502 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 32,529 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$23.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Mongolia
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Montserrat
Introduction Montserrat
Background:
Much of this island has been devastated and two-thirds of the
population has fled abroad due to the eruption of the Soufriere
Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 102 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 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: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic
complex) 914 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere
Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1996)
Environment - current issues:
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and contains seven active
volcanoes
People Montserrat
Population:
8,995
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 1,062; female 1,041)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 2,805; female 3,066)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 537; female 484) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.8 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 27.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
4.5% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
34.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.36 years
male: 76.24 years
female: 80.59 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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.)
Government Montserrat
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to 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:
present constitution came into force 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 Anthony LONGRIGG (since NA May 2001)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister
head of government: Chief Minister John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the
finance secretary
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected;
members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney
general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held NA April 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single
constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast
ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NPLM 7, NPP 2
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:
National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS
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 coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow
harp with her arm around a black cross
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 volcano 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.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 81% (1996 est.)
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.)
Labor force:
4,521 ; note - lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4
million (1997 est.)
Industries:
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
2.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.325 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock
products
Exports:
$700,000 (2001)
Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live
plants, cattle
Exports - partners:
US, Antigua and Barbuda
Imports:
$17 million (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured
goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Imports - partners:
US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada
Debt - external:
$8.9 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:
Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending
$122.8 million in British budgetary assistance
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since
1976)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Montserrat
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
70 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
3,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ms
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Montserrat
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 227 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: volcanic eruptions beginning in 1995 destroyed most of the
road system (2003)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing),
Carr's Bay
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
none; only airport was destroyed by volcanic activity; a helicopter
service to Antigua is used (2002)
Military Montserrat
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Morocco
Introduction Morocco
Background:
Morocco's long struggle for independence from France ended in 1956.
The internationalized city of Tangier was turned over to the new
country that same year. Morocco virtually 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 in 1997.
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
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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: Jbel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 20.12%
permanent crops: 2.05%
other: 77.83% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
12,910 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
People Morocco
Population:
31,689,265 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.2% (male 5,360,666; female 5,162,168)
15-64 years: 62% (male 9,766,222; female 9,876,647)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 676,357; female 847,205) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23 years
male: 22.5 years
female: 23.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.64% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 44.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 48.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.04 years
male: 67.77 years
female: 72.41 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.89 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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: 51.7%
male: 64.1%
female: 39.4% (2003 est.)
Government Morocco
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local short form: Al Maghrib
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Rabat
Administrative divisions:
37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni
Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El
Kelaa des Sraghna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim,
Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache,
Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi,
Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata,
Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit; three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued
Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and
Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara
note: as part of a 1997 decentralization/regionalization law passed
by the legislature 16 new regions (provided below) were created
although full details and scope of the reorganization are limited :
Casablanca, Chaouia-Ourdigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulmane,
Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia
El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental,
Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa,
Tadla-Azilal, Tangier-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
Independence:
2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July
(1999)
Constitution:
10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create
bicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of
Supreme Court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 23 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9 October
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of
Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils,
professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year
terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a
lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; members
elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 15 September 2000 (next
to be held NA 2003); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27
September 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
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 - USFP 50, PI 48, PJD 42, RNI
41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, FFD 12, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, MDS 7, PSD
6, Al Ahd 5, ADL 4, GSU 3, PML 3, PRD 3, FC 2, PDI 2, PED 2, CNI 1
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 [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties or
ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF];
Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN];
Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiatives
for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC
[Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI
[Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud
ARCHANE]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI];
Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development
Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD
[Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI [Abbas
El FASSI]; Justice and Development Party (formerly the
Constitutional and Democratic Popular Movement) or PJD [Abdelkrim EL
KHATIB]; 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 [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP
[Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI,
chairman]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI];
Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the
Unified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular
Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or
PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen
MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Abderrahman
EL-YOUSSOUFI]
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, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM,
OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ms. Margaret TUTWILER
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 90718
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
Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional
color of Islam
Economy Morocco
Economy - overview:
Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries -
restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private
activity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable economic
growth. Following structural adjustment programs supported by the
IMF, World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is now fully
convertible for current account transactions, and reforms of the
financial sector have been implemented. Droughts depressed activity
in the key agricultural sector and contributed to a stagnant economy
in 1999 and 2000. During that time, however, Morocco reported large
foreign exchange inflows from the sale of a mobile telephone license
and partial privatization of the state-owned telecommunications
company. Favorable rainfall in 2001 led to a growth of 6.5%. Good
harvest conditions continued to support GDP growth in 2002.
Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the external
debt; modernizing the industrial sector; preparing the economy for
freer trade with the EU and US; and improving education and
attracting foreign investment to boost living standards and job
prospects for Morocco's youth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $121.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 33%
services: 52% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
19% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.5 (1998-99)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
11 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 50%, services 35%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
19% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $13.8 billion
expenditures: $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.1
billion (2001 est.)
Industries:
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather
goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
0.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
13.35 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 95.4%
hydro: 4.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
14.61 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
2.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
167,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
900,000 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
665.4 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Exports:
$7.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals,
fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits,
vegetables
Exports - partners:
France 26.5%, Spain 14.3%, UK 7.9%, Germany 5.8%, Italy 5.6%, US
4.8% (2002)
Imports:
$10.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment,
wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:
France 20.9%, Spain 12.6%, Italy 6.3%, Germany 5.5%, US 4.6%, UK
4.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$17.7 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$565.6 million (1995)
Currency:
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code:
MAD
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.02 (2002), 11.3 (2001), 10.63
(2000), 9.8 (1999), 9.6 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.391 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
116,645 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities;
however density is low with only 4.6 main lines available for each
100 persons
domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and
microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive;
principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national
network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural
service employs microwave radio relay
international: 7 submarine cables; 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 (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:
6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ma
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
400,000 (2002)
Transportation Morocco
Railways:
total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 57,707 km
paved: 32,547 km (including 481 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,160 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 695 km; oil 285 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia,
Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and
Melilla
Merchant marine:
total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 247,591 GRT/268,356 DWT
ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 7, container 6, petroleum
tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea
passenger 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1, Hong Kong 1, Netherlands 2, Norway 2 (2002
est.)
Airports:
63 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 37
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 14
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Morocco
Military branches:
Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie,
Auxiliary Forces
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 8,595,797 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,411,846 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 351,671 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.4 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Morocco
Disputes - international:
claims and administers Western Sahara, but 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 other 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; Morocco also rejected
Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary
Islands in 2002 to set limits to undersea resource exploration and
refugee interdiction; Morocco allowed Spanish fishermen to fish
temporarily off the coast of Western Sahara after an oil spill
soiled Spanish fishing grounds
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of hashish; trafficking increasing for both
domestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostly
directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South
America destined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Mozambique
Introduction Mozambique
Background:
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with
independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic
dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil
war hindered the country's development. The ruling 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 with rebel forces ended the fighting
in 1992. Heavy flooding in both 1999 and 2000 severely hurt the
economy. Political stability and sound economic policies have
encouraged recent foreign investment.
Geography Mozambique
Location:
South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between
South Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 801,590 sq km
water: 17,500 sq km
land: 784,090 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:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 3.98%
permanent crops: 0.29%
other: 95.73% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,070 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur 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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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:
17,479,266
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 and death rates, lower
population and 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 2003
est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 3,634,173; female 3,725,396)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 4,712,891; female 4,945,123)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 189,778; female 271,905) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.82% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
38.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
30.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 199 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 180.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 216.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 31.3 years
male: 30.98 years
female: 31.63 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.87 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
13% 12.6 to 16.4%, estimates vary (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.1 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
60,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:
indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena,
Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians
0.08%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
Government Mozambique
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Maputo
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city*; Cabo
Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Maputo City*, 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6
November 1986); note - before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was
elected president by Frelimo's Central Committee on 4 November 1986
(reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since 17
December 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO reelected president;
percent of vote - Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO 52.29%, Afonso DHLAKAMA
47.71%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secret
ballot to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - Frelimo 48.54%,
Renamo-UE 38.81%; seats by party - Frelimo 133, Renamo-UE 117
note: Renamo-UE ran as a multiparty coalition; none of the other
opposition parties received the 5% required to win parliamentary
seats; in September 2000, Renamo-UE member Raul DOMINGOS was
expelled from the party; he continues to hold his parliamentary seat
as an independent
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, customs
courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts
note: although the constitution provides for the creation of a
separate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in
its absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de
Mocambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, president];
Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional
Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA,
president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e Democracia)
or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa,
chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz e
Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos
Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]; Human Rights and
Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [Artemisia
FRANCO, secretary general]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE
FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone: [258] (1) 492797
FAX: [258] (1) 490448
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
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. Inflation
was brought to single digits during the late 1990s although it
returned to double digits in 2000-02. 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 much 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 workforce. 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. Additional investment
projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment
manufacturing should 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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $19.52 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 23%
services: 55% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.6 (1996-97)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
9.2 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $393.1 million
expenditures: $1.025 billion, including capital expenditures of
$479.4 million (2001 est.)
Industries:
food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum,
petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
3.4% (2000)
Electricity - production:
7.193 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.9%
hydro: 97.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.39 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
5.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
500 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
8,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
63.71 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn,
coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers;
beef, poultry
Exports:
$680 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk
electricity
Exports - partners:
Belgium 24.3%, South Africa 9.1%, Germany 6.2% (2002)
Imports:
$1.18 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
South Africa 27.5%, France 8.9%, US 7%, Australia 6.9%, Japan 6%,
Malaysia 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$966 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$632.8 million (2001)
Currency:
metical (MZM)
Currency code:
MZM
Exchange rates:
meticais per US dollar - 23,678 (2002), 20,703.6 (2001), 15,447.1
(2000), 13,028.6 (1999), 12,110.2 (1998)
note: effective October 2000, the exchange rate is determined as the
weighted average of buying and selling exchange rates of all
transactions of commercial banks and stock exchanges with the public
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mozambique
Telephones - main lines in use:
90,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
287,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system but not available generally
(telephone density is only 16 telephones for each 1,000 persons)
domestic: the system consists of open-wire lines and trunk
connection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic
Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)
Radios:
730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
67,600 (2000)
Internet country code:
.mz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2002)
Internet users:
22,500 (2000)
Transportation Mozambique
Railways:
total: 3,123 km
narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 30,400 km
paved: 5,685 km
unpaved: 24,715 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
3,750 km (navigable routes)
Pipelines:
gas 189 km; refined products 292 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belgium 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
165 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 143
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 91 (2002)
Military Mozambique
Military branches:
Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Special Forces,
Militia
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,142,449 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,373,444 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$35.1 million (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2000 est.)
Transnational Issues Mozambique
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish, South Asian
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Namibia
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 was soon named 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. Independence
came in 1990 following multi-party elections and the establishment
of a constitution. President NUJOMA is currently serving his third
term as president.
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: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 825,418 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc,
salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.01% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
prolonged periods of drought
Environment - current issues:
very 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, 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:
1,927,447
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.5% (male 414,559; female 404,346)
15-64 years: 54% (male 517,469; female 522,549)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 30,038; female 38,486) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 18.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.49% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
34.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
19.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 71.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 42.77 years
male: 44.27 years
female: 41.22 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
22.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
230,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
13,000 (2001 est.)
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 are: 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: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84%
male: 84.4%
female: 83.7% (2003 est.)
Government Namibia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Windhoek
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March
1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August
2002)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held NA
2004)
election results: Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA elected president; percent
of vote - Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA 77%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats;
two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year
terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Council - elections for regional councils, to
determine members of the National Council, held 30 November-1
December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly
- last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by December
2004)
note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1; National Assembly - percent
of vote by party - SWAPO 76%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%, other
1%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1,
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders:
Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle
Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; Monitor
Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People's
Organization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic
Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE
embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone: [264] (61) 221601
FAX: [264] (61) 229792
Flag description:
a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left
section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right
section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is
contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
Economy Namibia
Economy - overview:
The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing
of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. 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 half 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 the great inequality of income distribution; nearly
one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1400 in
constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian
economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar
pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several
enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign
investment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $13.15 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 28%
services: 61% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8% (2001)
Labor force:
725,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
35% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $883 million
expenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998)
Industries:
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond,
lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
26.95 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
603.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
31.15 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Exports:
$1.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed
fish, karakul skins
Exports - partners:
EU 79%, US 4% (2001)
Imports:
$1.38 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
US 50%, EU 31% (2001)
Debt - external:
$517 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $160 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Currency code:
NAD; ZAR
Exchange rates:
Namibian dollars per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94
(2000), 6.11 (1999), 5.53 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Namibia
Telephones - main lines in use:
110,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
82,000 (2000 est.)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for each 100
persons
domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio
relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are
by open wire; 100% digital
international: fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio
relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries;
connected to Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) submarine
cables through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat
(2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:
232,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
60,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.na
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
45,000 (2002)
Transportation Namibia
Railways:
total: 2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 66,467 km
paved: 9,172 km
unpaved: 57,285 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
135 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 114
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 71
under 914 m: 19 (2002)
Military Namibia
Military branches:
National Defense Force (Army, including Air Wing), Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 459,474 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 274,015 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$73.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Namibia
Disputes - international:
commission established with Botswana to resolve small residual
disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands
along the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia's
planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa
Falls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the
boundary in the Orange River; dormant dispute remains where
Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundaries converge; Angolan
rebels and refugees still reside in Namibia
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Nauru
Introduction Nauru
Background:
Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th
century by a German-British consortium; the island was occupied by
Australian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved independence in
1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is 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
water: 0 sq km
land: 21 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
30 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; monsoonal; 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 location along plateau rim 61 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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
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:
12,570 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.9% (male 2,517; female 2,368)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 3,681; female 3,779)
65 years and over: 1.8% (male 116; female 109) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.6 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 20 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
26.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.08 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 13 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.95 years
male: 58.41 years
female: 65.66 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.4 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
Languages:
Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English
widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and
commercial purposes
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Nauru
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island
Government type:
republic
Capital:
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
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
Legal system:
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;
election last held 29 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)
note: Ludwig SCOTTY was removed from the presidency in a
no-confidence vote 8 August 2003; Rene HARRIS became president
election results: Ludwig SCOTTY elected president 29 May 2003;
Ludwig SCOTTY 10 parliamentary votes, Kinza CLODUMAR 7
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of Parliament
head of government: President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held not later than May
2006)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - Nauru First Party
3, independents 15
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru
Party (informal) [leader NA]; Naoero Amo (Nauru First) Party [leader
NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN office
at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone:
(212) 937-0074
consulate(s): Hagatna (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;
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
Economy Nauru
Economy - overview:
Revenues of this tiny island have come from exports of phosphates,
but reserves are expected to be exhausted within a few years.
Phosphate production has declined since 1989, as demand has fallen
in traditional markets and as the marginal cost of extracting the
remaining phosphate increases, making it less internationally
competitive. While phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest
per capita incomes in the Third World, few other resources exist
with most necessities being imported, including fresh water from
Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of
income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. In
anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits,
substantial amounts of phosphate income have been invested in trust
funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's
economic future. The government has been borrowing heavily from the
trusts to finance fiscal deficits. To cut costs the government has
called for a freeze on wages, a reduction of over-staffed public
service departments, privatization of numerous government agencies,
and closure of some overseas consulates. In recent years Nauru has
encouraged the registration of offshore banks and corporations. Tens
of billions of dollars have been channeled through their accounts.
Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist, with
estimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $60 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 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% (1993)
Labor force - by occupation:
employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education,
and transportation
Unemployment rate:
0%
Budget:
revenues: $23.4 million
expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 95/96)
Industries:
phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
30 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
27.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts
Exports:
$27 million f.o.b. (1995)
Exports - commodities:
phosphates
Exports - partners:
India 46.1%, South Korea 18.3%, Australia 10.6%, New Zealand 7.8%,
Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
Imports:
$33 million c.i.f. (1995)
Imports - commodities:
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
Imports - partners:
Australia 59.3%, US 10.1%, Ireland 7.6%, Malaysia 6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$33.3 million
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.)
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2641 (2002) 1.9320 (2001),
1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Nauru
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
450 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone
communication provided via Australian facilities
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
500 (1997)
Internet country code:
.nr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Nauru
Railways:
total: 5 km
note: gauge unknown; used to haul phosphates from the center of the
island to processing facilities on the southwest coast (2001)
Highways:
total: 30 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Nauru
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Nauru
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,190 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,762 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement,
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Nauru
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
broad-based money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Navassa Island
Introduction Navassa Island
Background:
This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its
guano, and 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.
Geography Navassa Island
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way
from Haiti to Jamaica
Geographic coordinates:
18 25 N, 75 02 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 5.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 5.2 sq km
Area - comparative:
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
8 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 location on southwest side 77 m
Natural resources:
guano
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat
herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
People Navassa Island
Population:
uninhabited
note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
(July 2003 est.)
Government Navassa Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Navassa Island
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,
DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior;
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
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Navassa Island
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Transportation Navassa Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Nepal
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. A Maoist
insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening
to bring down the regime. In 2001, the Crown Prince massacred ten
members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then
took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime
minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the
parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of
the ongoing insurgency. The country is now governed by the king and
his appointed cabinet, which has negotiated a cease-fire with the
Maoist insurgents, until elections can be held at some unspecified
future date.
Geography Nepal
Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:
28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 140,800 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km
land: 136,800 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:
Terai 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 (1999)
Natural resources:
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of
lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 20.27%
permanent crops: 0.49%
other: 79.24% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
11,350 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains
eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the
world's tallest - on the border with China
People Nepal
Population:
26,469,569 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 5,424,396; female 5,080,171)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 7,692,134; female 7,320,059)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 468,697; female 484,112) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.7 years
male: 19.6 years
female: 19.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.26% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
32.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 70.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 72.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 68.95 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59 years
male: 59.36 years
female: 58.63 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.39 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
58,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,400 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups:
Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa,
Tharu, and others (1995)
Religions:
Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2%
note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995)
Languages:
Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozen
other languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many in
government and business also speak English (1995)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45.2%
male: 62.7%
female: 27.6% (2003 est.)
Government Nepal
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Kathmandu
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:
Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)
Constitution:
9 November 1990
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: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (succeeded to the
throne 4 June 2001 following the death of his nephew, King DIPENDRA
Bir Bikram Shah)
head of government: Prime Minister Surya Bahadur THAPA (since 4 June
2003); note - Prime Minister CHAND resigned 30 May 2003
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
note: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting at
the royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of most
of the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA, is
believed to have been responsible for the shootings before fatally
wounding himself; immediately following the shootings and while
still clinging to life, DIPENDRA was crowned king; he died three
days later and was succeeded by his uncle
Legislative branch:
: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats;
35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15
elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected
every two years to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
note: Nepal's Parliament was dissolved on 22 May 2002
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP 10.4%, NSP 3.2%, Rastriya Jana
Morcha 1.4%, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 0.8%, NWPP 0.5%, others 14.8%;
seats by party - NC 113, CPN/UML 69, NDP 11, NSP 5, Rastriya Jana
Morcha 5, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 1, NWPP 1
elections: House of Representatives - last held 3 and 17 May 1999
(next election NA)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed by
the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the
other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
the Judicial Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav
Kumar NEPAL, general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP
(also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP) [Surya Bahadur THAPA,
chairman]; National People's Front (Rastriya Jana Morcha) [Chitra
Bahadur, chairman]; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP [Bhadri
Prasad MANDAL, acting party president]; Nepal Workers and Peasants
Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; Nepali
Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president; Sushil
KOIRALA, general secretary]; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [Lila Mani
POKHAREL, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL also known as
Prahanda, chairman; and chief negotiator, Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI,
from Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist]; numerous small, left-leaning
student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese
antimonarchist groups
International organization participation:
AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTSO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Jai Pratap RANA
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. MALINOWSKI
embassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 411179
FAX: [977] (1) 419963
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 bears a white 12-pointed sun
Economy Nepal
Economy - overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the
world with 42% of its population living below the poverty line.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood
for over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP.
Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural
produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Textile and
carpet production, accounting for about 80% of foreign exchange
earnings in recent years, contracted in 2001-02 due to the overall
slowdown in the world economy and pressures by Maoist insurgents on
factory owners and workers. Security concerns in the wake of the
Maoist conflict and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the
US have led to a decrease in tourism, another key source of foreign
exchange. Since 1991, the government has been moving forward with
economic reforms, e.g., by reducing business licenses and
registration requirements to simplify investment procedures,
reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off
civil servants. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its
potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign
investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in
other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size
of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its
landlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to natural
disaster. The international community's role of funding more than
60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of total
budgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient of
growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $37.32 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 20%
services: 40% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
42% (1995-96)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.7 (FY 95/96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
10 million
note: severe lack of skilled labor (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 81%, services 16%, industry 3%
Unemployment rate:
47% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $665 million
expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:
tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed
mills; cigarette; cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate:
8.7% (FY 99/00)
Electricity - production:
1.755 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 8.5%
hydro: 91.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.764 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
95 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
227 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Exports:
$720 million f.o.b., but does not include unrecorded border trade
with India (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
Exports - partners:
India 47.5%, US 27.6%, Germany 7.5% (2002)
Imports:
$1.6 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer
Imports - partners:
India 21.2%, China 13%, UAE 11.1%, Singapore 8.5%, Hong Kong 5.9%,
Saudi Arabia 4.9%, Kuwait 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.55 billion (FY 00/01)
Economic aid - recipient:
$424 million (FY 00/01)
Currency:
Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Currency code:
NPR
Exchange rates:
Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 77.88 (2002), 74.95 (2001), 71.09
(2000), 68.24 (1999), 65.98 (1998)
Fiscal year:
16 July - 15 July
Communications Nepal
Telephones - main lines in use:
236,816 (January 2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair
radiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephone
network
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to
India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)
Radios:
840,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:
130,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.np
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
60,000 (2002)
Transportation Nepal
Railways:
total: 59 km
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 13,223 km
paved: 4,073 km
unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
45 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 28 (2002)
Military Nepal
Military branches:
Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service),
Nepalese Police Force
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,674,014 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,467,511 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 303,222 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$57.22 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Nepal
Disputes - international:
joint border commission continues to work on small disputed
sections of boundary with India; India has instituted a stricter
border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international
drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the
West
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Netherlands
Introduction Netherlands
Background:
The 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 EC (now the EU), and
participated in the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union
(EMU) in 1999.
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: 41,526 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km
land: 33,883 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:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: Vaalserberg 322 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 26.53%
other: 72.44% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 1.03%
Irrigated land:
5,650 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or
Meuse, and Schelde)
People Netherlands
Population:
16,150,511 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.2% (male 1,501,127; female 1,436,453)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,576,141; female 5,389,764)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 929,087; female 1,317,939) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.6 years
male: 37.7 years
female: 39.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.5% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.31 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.74 years
male: 75.85 years
female: 81.76 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
17,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
110 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups:
Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly
Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%,
unaffiliated 40% (1998)
Languages:
Dutch (official language), Frisian (official language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
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:
Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe,
Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant,
Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
Dependent areas:
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence:
1579 (from Spain); note - the northern provinces of the Low Country
concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finally
recognized their independence
National holiday:
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession
to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Constitution:
adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983
Legal system:
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 Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22
July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May
2003) and Thom DE GRAAF (since 27 May 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following Second
Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch; vice 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 prime
minister 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 for four-year terms) and the Second
Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held NA
May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be
held NA January 2007)
election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, Socialist
Party 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party -
CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim
Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44,
PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party
8, D66 6, other 5
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 Jacques Marcel
VERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or
D66 [Boris DITTRICH]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or
PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Mat HERBEN]; People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Gerrit ZALM]; Socialist
Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; a host of minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising
Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union;
Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations;
Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the
nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM
consulate(s): Boston
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430
telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209
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;
one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with William I,
Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century
Economy Netherlands
Economy - overview:
The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending heavily
on foreign trade. The 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 no more than 4% 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
continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting
foreign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in
2001-03, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four
years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the
EU average. The government is wrestling with a deteriorating budget
position, and is moving toward the EU 3% limit.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $437.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $27,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 25.7%
services: 71.2% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.6 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
7.2 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $134 billion
expenditures: $134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical
machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction,
microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
88.32 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.9%
hydro: 0.1%
other: 5.7% (2001)
nuclear: 4.3%
Electricity - consumption:
99.42 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
4.209 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
21.49 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
46,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
895,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
2.284 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
88.06 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
77.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
49.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
49.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
20.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.693 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports:
$243.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 25.1%, Belgium 12.7%, UK 10.7%, France 10.2%, Italy 6%, US
4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$201.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs,
clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.8%, Belgium 9.7%, US 9.1%, UK 6.9%, France 5.5%, China
5.1%, Japan 4% (2002)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 est.)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Netherlands
Telephones - main lines in use:
9,132,400 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4,081,891 (April 1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and well maintained
domestic: the existing system of multi-conductor cables is gradually
being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of cellular
telephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further modernization of
the system is expected in 2001, with the introduction of the third
generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
15.3 million (1996)
Television broadcast stations:
21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
8.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.nl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
52 (2000)
Internet users:
9.73 million (2002)
Transportation Netherlands
Railways:
total: 2,808 km
standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 116,500 km
paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)
Waterways:
5,046 km (of which 3,745 km are canals)
note: 47% of total route length is usable by craft of
1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger
Pipelines:
condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined products 716
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem,
IJmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen
Merchant marine:
total: 616 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,664,711 GRT/5,226,912 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belgium 1, Canada 1, Denmark 5, Finland 5, Germany 55,
Ireland 12, Norway 12, Sweden 17, UK 33, US 12 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 371, chemical tanker 51, container 70,
liquefied gas 13, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large-load
carrier 15, passenger 10, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo
34, roll on/roll off 16, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 6
Airports:
28 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Netherlands
Military branches:
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air
Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal
Constabulary
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (note - age 17 for cadets and midshipmen) (2003
est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,071,891 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,536,586 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 94,034
note: Netherlands has an all-volunteer, 74,100 force in 2001 (2003
est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$6.5 billion (FY00/01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (FY00/01 est.)
Transnational Issues Netherlands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major European producer of illicit amphetamine and other synthetic
drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering
Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector
vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Netherlands Antilles
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 the newly
discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is
shared with France; its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and
is part of Guadeloupe, and its southern portion is named Sint
Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles.
Geography Netherlands Antilles
Location:
Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes
Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of the
Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates:
12 15 N, 68 45 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 960 sq km
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
water: 0 sq km
land: 960 sq km
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 10.2 km
border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are
rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are
subject to hurricanes from July to October
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)
People Netherlands Antilles
Population:
216,226 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 27,383; female 26,122)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 69,233; female 75,956)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 7,244; female 10,288) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.8 years
male: 30.3 years
female: 33.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
15.76 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 11.54 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.38 years
male: 73.16 years
female: 77.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English
dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 96.7%
female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
Government Netherlands Antilles
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
former: Curacao and Dependencies
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
Dependency status:
part of 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:
Willemstad
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 in 1909 and accession
to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
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 Mirna LOUISA-GODETT (since 11
August 2003)
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 Staten; election last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held
by NA 2006)
note: government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
Legislative branch:
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
FOL 5, PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP-St.M 2, UPB 2, DP 1, MAN 1, PDB 1,
WIPM 1
note: the government of Prime Minister Mirna LOUISA-GODETT is a
coalition of several parties; current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3,
FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M 2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4
elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Miguel POURIER]; C 93
[Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];
Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic
Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic
Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS];
Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric
LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA];
National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New
Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of
Bonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or
SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi]; Pro
Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor
Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St.
Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative
People's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS
[Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will
JOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald
LAK, Editha WRIGHT]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO
(associate), WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Deborah A. BOLTON
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 4613066
FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
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
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 remained even in each of the past six
years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a
well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the
region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US
and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate
water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
89,000
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $710.8 million
expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
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:
1.061 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
986.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Exports:
$553 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US 20.9%, Guatemala 12%, Venezuela 10.5%, Guyana 6.6%, Singapore
4.4%, Cuba 4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.43 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Venezuela 60.8%, Mexico 11.7%, US 9.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.35 billion (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:
IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its
support with $40 million
Currency:
Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Currency code:
ANG
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79
(2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999), 1.79 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Netherlands Antilles
Telephones - main lines in use:
76,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13,977 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
217,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received
from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels)
(1997)
Televisions:
69,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.an
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Netherlands Antilles
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 600 km
paved: 300 km
unpaved: 300 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
Merchant marine:
total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,122,189 GRT/1,398,649 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 56, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
1, combination ore/oil 3, container 27, liquefied gas 5,
multi-functional large-load carrier 15, passenger 1, refrigerated
cargo 27, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 1
note: includes foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belgium 3, Denmark 2, Germany 43, Monaco 8, Netherlands
52, New Zealand 1, Norway 3, Peru 1, Spain 1, Sweden 3, UK 5 (2002
est.)
Airports:
5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2038 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Netherlands Antilles
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy,
Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police
Force
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 55,155 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 30,840 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,643 (2003 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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@New Caledonia
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 seems to have
dissipated.
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: 19,060 sq km
water: 485 sq km
land: 18,575 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,254 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 0.38%
permanent crops: 0.33%
other: 99.29% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
160 sq km (1991)
Natural hazards:
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
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:
210,798 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 31,990; female 30,695)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 68,093; female 67,205)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 6,016; female 6,799) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.9 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 27.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.38% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 8.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.52 years
male: 70.57 years
female: 76.62 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.39 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,
Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
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: 91%
male: 92%
female: 90% (1976 est.)
Government New Caledonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
Dependency status:
overseas territory of France since 1956
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Noumea
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 Iles Loyaute, Nord, and 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:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the
islands; formerly under French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Commissioner Daniel CONSTANTIN (since 3
July 2002)
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; note
- last election held 28 November 2002 when Pierre FROGIER was
reelected
head of government: President of the Government Pierre FROGIER
(since 5 April 2001)
cabinet: Consultative Committee
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats;
members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees
Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RPCR 24, FLNKS 12, UNI 6, FCCI 4, FN 4, Alliance pour la Caledonie
3, LKS 1
note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections
last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2007);
results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; New
Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly;
elections last held 9 and 16 June 2002 (next to be held by June
2007); 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:
Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; Federation des
Comites de Coordination des Independantistes or FCCI [Francois
BURCK]; Front National or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation
Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Kanak Socialist Front for National
Liberation or FLNKS [leader NA] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM);
Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie
POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (anti independent) or
RPCR [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI
[Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist, but Paul NEAOUTYINE
has since become a president of Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA;
Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Victor TUTUGORO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
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
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
one-fourth 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 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $14,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 30%
services: 65% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.6% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
79,395 (including 15,018 unemployed, 1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
19% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $861.3 million
expenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52
million (1996 est.)
Industries:
nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.6% (1996)
Electricity - production:
1.613 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 76.3%
hydro: 23.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.5 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products
Exports:
$400 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:
Japan 20.6%, France 20.4%, Taiwan 16.3%, South Africa 11.3%, Spain
7.7%, South Korea 5.4%, Australia 5.4%, Italy 5.3% (2002)
Imports:
$1 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 52.8%, Australia 12.7%, Singapore 9.8% (2002)
Debt - external:
$79 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$880 million annual subsidy from France
Currency:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the
euro in 2003
Currency code:
XPF
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 135.04
(January 2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25
(1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications New Caledonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13,040 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.nc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
24,000 (2001)
Transportation New Caledonia
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 4,825 km
paved: 2,287 km
unpaved: 2,538 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Malaysia 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Heliports:
5 (2002)
Military New Caledonia
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces
(including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$192.3 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.3% (FY96)
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@New Zealand
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: 268,680 sq km
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
water: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
15,134 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: 5.8%
permanent crops: 6.44%
other: 87.76% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,850 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by
species introduced from outside
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the
southernmost national capital in the world
People New Zealand
Population:
3,951,307 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 443,837; female 423,118)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,318,751; female 1,307,796)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 199,722; female 258,083) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.1 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 33.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.09% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.14 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.32 years
male: 75.34 years
female: 81.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups:
New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%,
Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions:
Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%,
Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Languages:
English (official), Maori (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government New Zealand
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Wellington
Administrative divisions:
16 regions; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's
Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki,
Tasman, Waikato, Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas:
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:
26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:
consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of
the UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986
which is the principal formal charter
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 Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4
April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December
1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is 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
(120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member
constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional
seats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 27 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NZLP 52, NP 27, NZFP 13, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 9, UF 8,
other 2
Judicial branch:
High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
ACT New Zealand [Richard PREBBLE]; Alliance (a coalition of the New
Labor Party, Democratic Party, New Zealand Liberal Party, and Mana
Motuhake) [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS
and Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [Don BRASH]; New Zealand First
Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP
[Helen CLARK]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August
1986), APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
Australia Group, C, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD,
OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador L. John WOOD
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLS
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) 472-3478
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
Economy New Zealand
Economy - overview:
Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic
restructuring, transforming 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 many at the
bottom of the ladder), broadened and deepened the technological
capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary
pressures. While per capita incomes have been rising, however, they
remain below the level of the four largest EU economies, and there
is some government concern that New Zealand is not closing the gap.
New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly in
agricultural products - to drive growth, and it has been affected by
the global economic slowdown and the slump in commodity prices. Thus
far the New Zealand economy has been relatively resilient, although
growth may slow to 2.5% in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $78.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 23%
services: 69% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.92 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
5.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $29.2 billion
expenditures: $31.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002)
Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,
transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
37.51 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 31.6%
hydro: 57.8%
other: 10.7% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
34.88 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
42,160 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
132,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
30,220 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
119,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
89.62 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
58.94 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef,
dairy products; fish
Exports:
$15 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:
Australia 20.3%, US 15.5%, Japan 11.5%, UK 4.8%, China 4.6%, South
Korea 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$12.5 billion (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum,
electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:
Australia 22.1%, US 13.6%, Japan 12%, China 8%, Germany 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$33 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $99.7 million
Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.16 (2002), 2.38 (2001), 2.2
(2000), 1.89 (1999), 1.87 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications New Zealand
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.92 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.2 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
3.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
1.926 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.nz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
36 (2000)
Internet users:
2.06 million (2002)
Transportation New Zealand
Railways:
total: 3,898 km
narrow gauge: 3,898 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 92,053 km
paved: 57,809 km (including at least 190 km of expressways)
unpaved: 34,244 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,609 km
note: of little importance in satisfying total transportation
requirements
Pipelines:
gas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km; refined
products 304 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington
Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 69,685 GRT/106,627 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 2,
roll on/roll off 1
Airports:
113 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 46
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 67
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 39 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military New Zealand
Military branches:
New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air
Force
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,021,770 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 859,505 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 26,803 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$605.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues New Zealand
Disputes - international:
territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Nicaragua
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 again in 2001
saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its
economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in
1998.
Geography Nicaragua
Location:
Middle 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: 129,494 sq km
water: 9,240 sq km
land: 120,254 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries:
total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline:
910 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: natural prolongation
territorial sea: 200 NM
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: 20.24%
permanent crops: 2.38%
other: 77.38% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
880 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely
susceptible to hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater
body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
People Nicaragua
Population:
5,128,517 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 984,719; female 949,282)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,510,352; female 1,527,991)
65 years and over: 3% (male 68,332; female 87,841) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.4 years
male: 20 years
female: 20.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
26.29 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.69 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 35.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.68 years
male: 67.68 years
female: 71.79 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
400 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%,
Amerindian 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
Languages:
Spanish (official)
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.)
Government Nicaragua
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Managua
Administrative divisions:
15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2
autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region
autonomista); 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, with reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January
2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10
January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January
2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 November
2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president -
56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PC)
1.4%; Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats;
members are elected by proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance
(ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN
36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party - Liberal
Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PC 1,
PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-year
terms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha];
Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Virgilio GODOY]; Liberal Alliance
(ruling alliance including Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC, New
Liberal Party or PALI, Independent Liberal Party for National Unity
or PLIUN, and Central American Unionist Party or PUCA) [leader NA];
National Conservative Party or PC [Pedro SOLARZANO, Noel VIDAURRE];
National Project or PRONAL [Benjamin LANZAS]; Nicaraguan Party of
the Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ];
Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista
National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra];
Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Sergio RAMIREZ]; Unity
Alliance or AU [Alejandro SERRANO]; Union Nacional Opositora 96 or
UNO-96 [Alfredo CESAR Aguirre]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Workers Front or FNT is 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 is 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 is an independent labor union; Superior
Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of
business groups
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN (since 5 December
2003)
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New
York
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6542
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE
embassy: Apartado Postal 327, Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] 266-6010, 266-2298, 266-6013
FAX: [505] 266-9074
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; 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
Economy Nicaragua
Economy - overview:
Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per
capita income, flagging socio-economic indicators, and huge external
debt. Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the
globe. While the country has made progress toward macroeconomic
stability over the past few years, a banking crisis and scandal has
shaken the economy. Nicaragua will continue to be dependent on
international aid and debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) initiative. Donors have made aid conditional on the
openness of government financial operation, poverty alleviation, and
human rights. Nicaragua met the conditions for additional debt
service relief in December 2000. Growth should move up moderately in
2003 because of increased private investment and exports.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $11.16 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 26%
services: 44% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 48.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
60.3 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.7 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 43%, agriculture 42%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
24% plus considerable underemployment (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $726 million
expenditures: $908 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,
wood
Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.549 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 83.9%
hydro: 7.7%
other: 8.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.388 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
17 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
24,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,
soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Exports:
$637 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, bananas, beef, sugar,
gold
Exports - partners:
US 59.4%, El Salvador 7.5%, Honduras 4.8% (2002)
Imports:
$1.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products,
consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 23.7%, Costa Rica 10.3%, Venezuela 10.1%, Guatemala 7.8%, Mexico
6.7%, El Salvador 6%, South Korea 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Substantial foreign support
Currency:
gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency code:
NIO
Exchange rates:
gold cordobas per US dollar - 14.25 (2002), 13.37 (2001), 12.68
(2000), 11.81 (1999), 10.58 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Nicaragua
Telephones - main lines in use:
140,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7,911 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreign
investment
domestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being
expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
320,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ni
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
20,000 (2000)
Transportation Nicaragua
Railways:
total: 6 km
narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 19,032 km
paved: 2,094 km
unpaved: 16,938 km (2000)
Waterways:
2,220 km (including 2 large lakes)
Pipelines:
oil 54 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino,
Rama, San Juan del Sur
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
176 (2002)
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 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 165
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 141 (2002)
Military Nicaragua
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,347,033 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 825,906 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 59,903 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$26 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Nicaragua
Disputes - international:
territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San
Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank region; with respect to
the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJ
referred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed
Boundary Commission and advised that some tripartite resolution
among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required;
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Niger
Introduction Niger
Background:
Not until 1993, 33 years after independence from France, did Niger
hold it's first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended a
five-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999
were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Council
that effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999.
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
water: 300 sq km
land: 1,266,700 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: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources:
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 3.94%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 96.06% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
660 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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:
11,058,590 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.6% (male 2,686,169; female 2,581,785)
15-64 years: 50.2% (male 2,710,554; female 2,842,319)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 125,505; female 112,258) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.1 years
male: 15.6 years
female: 16.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.71% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
49.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
21.71 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 123.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 119.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 127.99 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 42.21 years
male: 42.29 years
female: 42.12 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
6,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups:
Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri)
4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French
expatriates
Religions:
Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian
Languages:
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 17.6%
male: 25.8%
female: 9.7% (2003 est.)
Government Niger
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Niamey
Administrative divisions:
7 departments (departements, singular - departement) and 1 capital
district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi,
Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:
3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution:
the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendum
on 12 May 1996 and again by referendum on 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: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December
1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government; Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) was
appointed by the president and shares some executive
responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 23-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
last held 24 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: TANDJA Mamadou elected president; percent of vote
- TANDJA Mamadou 59.9%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 40.1%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (83 seats, members elected by popular
vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
MNSD-Nassara 38, CDS-Rahama 17, PNDS-Tarayya 16, RDP-Jama'a 8,
ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 4
Judicial branch:
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Rally of the People-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a [Hamid
ALGABID]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama
[Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing
Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Mamadou TANDJA, chairman]; Nigerien
Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or
ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for
Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya [Mahamadou
ISSOUFOU]; Union of Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua or
UPDP-Chamoua [Professor Andre' SALIFOU, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA
FAX: [1] (202)483-3169
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gail Dennise Thomas MATHIEU
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64
FAX: [227] 73 31 67, 72-31-46
Flag description:
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
Economy Niger
Economy - overview:
Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy
centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and reexport
trade, and increasingly less on uranium, because of declining world
demand. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January
1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products
of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral
and multilateral aid - which was suspended following the April 1999
coup d'etat - for operating expenses and public investment. In
2000-01, the World Bank approved a structural adjustment loan of
$105 million to help support fiscal reforms. However, reforms could
prove difficult given the government's bleak financial situation.
The IMF approved a $73 million poverty reduction and growth facility
for Niger in 2000 and announced $115 million in debt relief under
the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Further
disbursements of aid occurred in 2002. Future growth may be
sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral
resources.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $8.713 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
63% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
70,000 receive regular wages or salaries
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $320 million - including $134 million from foreign sources
expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $178
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
uranium mining, cement, brick, textiles, food processing,
chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
242 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
325.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
100 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice;
cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Exports:
$293 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners:
France 39%, Nigeria 33.2%, Japan 17.1% (2002)
Imports:
$368 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners:
France 16.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 14.9%, China 9.8%, Nigeria 7.4%, US
5.2%, Japan 4.6%, India 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.6 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$341 million (1997)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Niger
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6,700 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system of wire, radio telephone
communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the
southwestern area of Niger
domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio
relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:
680,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)
Televisions:
125,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ne
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
12,000 (2002)
Transportation Niger
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 10,100 km
paved: 798 km
unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
300 km
note: the Niger River is navigable from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin
frontier from mid-December through March
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
27 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Niger
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Intervention and Security
Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,379,485 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,288,396 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 119,367 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$20.54 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Niger
Disputes - international:
Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute;
much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria,
remains undemarcated but states accept 2001 arbitration over
disputed Niger River islands; Lake Chad Commission continues to urge
signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria to ratify
delimitation treaty over the lake region, which remains the site of
armed clashes among local populations and militias
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Nigeria
Introduction Nigeria
Background:
Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was
adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government
was completed. The president faces the daunting task of rebuilding a
petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through
corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In
addition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstanding
ethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation
for economic growth and political stability. Despite some
irregularities the April 2003 elections marked the first civilian
transfer of power in Nigeria's history.
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
water: 13,000 sq km
land: 910,768 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:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone,
lead, zinc, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 30.96%
permanent crops: 2.79%
other: 66.25% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,330 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, 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:
133,881,703
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 29,322,774; female 28,990,702)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 36,513,700; female 35,254,333)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 1,890,043; female 1,910,151) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 17.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.53% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
38.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 71.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 74.44 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.01 years
male: 50.89 years
female: 51.14 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.4 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3.5 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
170,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups:
Nigeria, which is 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
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6% (2003 est.)
Government Nigeria
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria
Government type:
republic transitioning from military to civilian rule
Capital:
Abuja; note - on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially
transferred from Lagos to Abuja; most federal government offices
have now made the move to Abuja
Administrative divisions:
36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Federal Capital Territory*,
Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross
River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, 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 UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Constitution:
new constitution adopted May 1999
Legal system:
based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (only in some
northern states), and traditional law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: president is elected by popular vote for no more than two
four-year terms; election last held 19 April 2003 (next to be held
NA 2007)
election results: Olusegun OBASANJO elected president; percent of
vote - Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) 61.9%, Muhammadu BUHARI (ANPP) 31.2%,
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu OJUKWU (APGA) 3.3%, other 3.6%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (107 seats, three
from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of
Representatives (346 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held NA
2007); House of Representatives - last held 12 April 2003 (next to
be held NA 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.6%,
ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%; seats by party - PDP 73, ANPP 28, AD 6; House
of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP
27.4%, AD 9.3%, other 8.8%; seats by party - PDP 213, ANPP 95, AD
31, other 7; note - two constituencies are not reported
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the President); Federal Court of
Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice
of the Advisory Judicial Committee)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AD [Alhaji Adamu ABDULKADIR]; All Nigeria
Peoples' Party or ANPP [Don ETIEBET]; All Progressives Grand
Alliance or APGA [Chekwas OKORIE]; National Democratic Party or NDP
[Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Audu OGBEH];
Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA]; Peoples
Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United Nigeria Peoples
Party or UNPP [Saleh JAMBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC [Adams OSHIOMOLE]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNMOVIC, UNU, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jibril Muhammad AMINU
consulate(s) general: Atlanta and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385
telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400
chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard Franklin JETER
embassy: 7 Mambilla Drive, Abuja
mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos
telephone: [234] (9) 523-0916/0906/5857/2235/2205
FAX: [234] (9) 523-0353
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
Economy Nigeria
Economy - overview:
The oil-rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by political
instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, is
undergoing substantial reform under the new civilian administration.
Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy
away from overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which
provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65%
of budgetary revenues. The largely subsistence agricultural sector
has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria,
once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. 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.
The agreement was allowed to expire by the IMF in November 2001,
however, and Nigeria apparently received much less multilateral
assistance than expected in 2002. Nonetheless, increases in foreign
oil investment and oil production kept growth at 3% in 2002. The
government lacks the strength to implement the market-oriented
reforms urged by the IMF, such as modernization of the banking
system; to curb inflation by blocking excessive wage demands; and to
resolve regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from the
oil industry. When the uncertainties in the global economy are added
in, estimates of Nigeria's prospects for 2003 must have a wide
margin of error.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $112.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 20%
services: 35% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.8% (1996-97)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.6 (1996-97)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
66 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 70%, industry 10%, services 20% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
28% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.4 billion
expenditures: $3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber,
wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction
materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing,
ceramics, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
0.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
15.67 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.9%
hydro: 38.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
14.55 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
20 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2.256 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
27 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
15.68 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
7.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
7.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.007 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava
(tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish
Exports:
$17.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
Exports - partners:
US 32.3%, Brazil 8.3%, Spain 7.2%, Indonesia 5.9%, France 5.6%,
India 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$13.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food
and live animals
Imports - partners:
UK 9.6%, US 9.4%, China 9.3%, France 8.7%, Germany 6.8%, South
Korea 6.1%, Netherlands 5.2%, Italy 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$29.7 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $250 million (1998)
Currency:
naira (NGN)
Currency code:
NGN
Exchange rates:
nairas per US dollar - NA (2002), 111.23 (2001), 101.7 (2000),
92.34 (1999), 21.89 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Nigeria
Telephones - main lines in use:
500,000 (2000 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
200,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: an inadequate system, further limited by poor
maintenance; major expansion is required and a start has been made
domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave
radio relay, a domestic communications satellite system with 19
earth stations, and a coastal submarine cable; mobile cellular
facilities and the Internet are available
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); coaxial submarine cable SAFE (South
African Far East)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)
Radios:
23.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15
repeater stations) (2002)
Televisions:
6.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ng
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2000)
Transportation Nigeria
Railways:
total: 3,557 km
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 194,394 km
paved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways)
unpaved: 134,326 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
8,575 km
note: consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers
and creeks
Pipelines:
condensate 105 km; gas 1,660 km; oil 3,634 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri
Merchant marine:
total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 327,689 GRT/607,560 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Bulgaria 1, Greece 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Togo 1, US
1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, petroleum tanker
29, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
70 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Nigeria
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 31,790,482 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 18,259,696 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,418,099 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$417.9 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Nigeria
Disputes - international:
ICJ ruled in 2002 on the Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime
boundary by awarding the potentially petroleum-rich Bakassi
Peninsula and offshore region to Cameroon; Nigeria rejected the
cession of the peninsula but the parties formed a Joint Border
Commission to peaceably resolve the dispute and commence with
demarcation in other less-contested sections of the boundary;
several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Benin;
Lake Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad,
Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over lake region,
which remains the site of armed clashes among local populations and
militias; Nigeria agreed to ratify the treaty and relinquish
sovereignty of disputed lands to Cameroon by December 2003
Illicit drugs:
a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East
Asian, and North American markets; safehaven for Nigerian
narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center;
massive corruption and criminal activity, along with unwillingness
of the government to address the deficiencies in its
anti-money-laundering regime make money laundering a major problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Niue
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 about 2,100 in 2002), 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
water: 0 sq km
land: 260 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
64 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources:
fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 19.23%
permanent crops: 7.69%
other: 73.08% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
one of world's largest coral islands
People Niue
Population:
2,145 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)
Religions:
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related
to the London Missionary Society) 75%, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other
15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day
Adventist)
Languages:
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan;
English
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Niue
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
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:
Alofi
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:
on 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 own laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner
John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)
election results: Young VIVIAN elected premier; percent of
Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 70%, Hunukitama
HUNUKI (AI) 30%
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 1 May
2002 (next to be held NA May 2005)
head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
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)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NPP 9, independents 11; note - all 20 seats were reelected
elections: last held 21 March 2002 (next to be held in March 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders:
Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance of
Independents or AI [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ESCAP (associate), FAO, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, 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
one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of
the bold red cross
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 migration
of Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the
promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although
Premier LAKATANI announced in February 2002 that Niue will shut down
the offshore banking industry. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002
was about $2.6 million.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.6 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.3% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 55%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (1995)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in
government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
tourism, handicrafts, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.79 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava
(tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Exports:
$137,200 (1999)
Exports - commodities:
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit
products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Exports - partners:
NZ mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2000)
Imports:
$2.38 million (1999)
Imports - commodities:
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels,
lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Imports - partners:
NZ mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2000)
Debt - external:
$418,000 (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)
Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.162 (2002), 2.3776 (2001),
2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8629 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Niue
Telephones - main lines in use:
376 (1991)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1991)
Telephone system:
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.nu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Niue
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 234 km
paved: 86 km
unpaved: 148 km (2001)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Norfolk Island
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: 34.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 34.6 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
32 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
1,853 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
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,
Polynesians
Religions:
Anglican 37.4%, Uniting Church in Australia 14.5%, Roman Catholic
11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, none 12.2%, unknown 17.4%, other
3.9% (1996)
Languages:
English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and
ancient Tahitian
Literacy:
NA
Government Norfolk Island
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth
responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of
Environment, Sport, and Territories
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Kingston
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
Pitcairners Arrival Day, 8 June (1856)
Constitution:
Norfolk Island Act of 1979
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); the UK
and Australia are represented by Administrator Anthony J. MESSNER
(since 4 August 1997)
election results: Geoffrey Robert GARDNER elected chief minister;
percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA%
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years;
election last held 29 November 2001 (next to be held by December
2004)
head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister Geoffrey
Robert GARDNER (since 5 December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of
the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and
acts as an advisor to the administrator
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 serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 29 November 2001 (next to be held by December
2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
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:
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
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
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 92/93)
Industries:
tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2002)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables,
fruit; cattle, poultry
Exports:
$1.5 million f.o.b. (FY 91/92)
Exports - commodities:
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm,
small quantities of avocados
Exports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe
Imports:
$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY 91/92)
Imports - commodities:
NA
Imports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.8406 (2002), 1.9320 (2001),
1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Norfolk Island
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,087 (1983)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1983)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
2,500 (1996)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that bring in
Australian programs by satellite) (1998)
Televisions:
1,200 (1996)
Internet country code:
.nf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Norfolk Island
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 80 km
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km (2001)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Norfolk Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Norfolk Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Northern Mariana Islands
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. 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: 477 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
water: 0 sq km
land: 477 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,482 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 15.22%
permanent crops: 6.52%
other: 78.26% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
80,006 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 9,483; female 9,168)
15-64 years: 74.8% (male 27,839; female 32,041)
65 years and over: 1.8% (male 748; female 727) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 31 years
female: 30.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.37% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.97 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
2.44 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
16.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.16 years
male: 73.06 years
female: 79.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.75 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese,
Chinese, Filipino, Korean
Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs
and taboos may still be found)
Languages:
English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)
Government Northern Mariana Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
former: Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)
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:
Saipan
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:
Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution
of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1
January 1978
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 George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
head of government: Governor Juan N. BABAUTA (since NA January
2002); Lieutenant Governor Diego T. BENEVENTE (since NA January 2002)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
last held NA November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005)
election results: Juan N. BABAUTA elected governor in a four-way
race; percent of vote - Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican Party) 49%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the
House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Republican Party 4, Democratic Party 3, Reform Party 1,
independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 9, Republican Party 7,
Democratic Party 1, independent 1
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting
delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or
"resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party
- Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)
elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2001 (next to be held NA
November 2003); House of Representatives - last held 1 November 2003
(next to be held NA November 2005)
Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Benigno
R. FITIAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC
Flag description:
blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray
silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in
building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath
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 employment of
17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under
duty and quota exemptions.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $900 million
note: $900 million $900 million GDP estimate includes US subsidy
(2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717
foreign workers
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY
01/02 est.)
Industries:
tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
garments
Exports - partners:
US (2000)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
US, Japan (2000)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
extensive funding from US
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Northern Mariana Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,200 (1995)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two
cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite
networks) (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.mp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Northern Mariana Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 362 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1991)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Saipan, Tinian
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Northern Mariana Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Northern Mariana Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Norway
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 was to last
for 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. Norway remained neutral in
World War I and proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War
II. Nevertheless, it was not able to avoid a five-year occupation by
Nazi Germany (1940-1945). 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: 324,220 sq km
land: 307,860 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,544 km
border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km
Coastline:
21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long
fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 10 NM
territorial sea: 4 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 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, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc,
lead, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 2.94%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.06% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,270 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
rockslides, avalanches
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-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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 most rugged and longest coastlines
in world
People Norway
Population:
4,546,123 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.9% (male 465,320; female 439,095)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 1,501,608; female 1,462,590)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 281,554; female 395,956) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.7 years
male: 36.7 years
female: 38.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.46% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.17 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.09 years
male: 76.15 years
female: 82.22 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups:
Norwegian, Sami 20,000
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 86% (state church), other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, other 1%, none and unknown 10% (1997)
Languages:
Norwegian (official)
note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Norway
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local short form: Norge
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Oslo
Administrative divisions:
19 provinces (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); note - on 14 January 1814 Denmark
ceded Norway to Sweden; resisting Swedish domination, Norwegians
adopted a new constitution four months later; on 14 August 1814
Norway was proclaimed independent but in union with Sweden; on 7
June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved
Constitution:
17 May 1814, modified in 1884
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 Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 19
October 2001)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch with the approval of the Parliament
Legislative branch:
modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (165 seats; members are
elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 September 2001 (next to be held NA September
2005)
note: for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house
or Lagting
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 24.3%,
Conservative Party 21.2%, Progress Party 14.6%, Socialist Left Party
12.5%, Christian People's Party 12.4%, Center Party 5.6%, Liberal
Party 3.9%, Coastal Party 1.7%, other 3.8%; seats by party - Labor
Party 43, Conservative Party 38, Progress Party 26, Socialist Left
Party 23, Christian People's Party 22, Center Party 10, Liberal
Party 2, Coastal Party 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Valgerd
Svarstad HAUGLAND]; Coastal Party [Steinar BASTESEN]; Conservative
Party [Jan PETERSEN]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party
[Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Carl I. HAGEN]; Socialist Left
Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Knut VOLLEBAEK
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San
Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John D. ONG
embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50
FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63
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)
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 enterprises).
The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum,
hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on
its oil production and international oil prices; in 1999, oil and
gas accounted for 35% of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia
export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU
during a referendum in November 1994. The government has moved ahead
with privatization. With arguably the highest quality of life
worldwide, Norwegians still worry about that time in the next two
decades when the oil and gas begin to run out. Accordingly, Norway
has been saving its oil-boosted budget surpluses in a Government
Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more
than $43 billion. GDP growth was a lackluster 1% in 2002 and 2003
against the background of a faltering European economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $149.1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $33,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.9%
industry: 30.8%
services: 67.3% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25.8 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
2.4 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 74%, industry 22%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4%
(1995)
Unemployment rate:
3.9% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $71.7 billion
expenditures: $57.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper
products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
120.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.4%
hydro: 99.3%
other: 0.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
115.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
7.162 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
10.76 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
3.408 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
171,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
3.466 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
88,870 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
9.859 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
54.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
50.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.716 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish
Exports:
$68.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals,
chemicals, ships, fish
Exports - partners:
UK 18.1%, Germany 13.8%, France 11%, US 9.2%, Netherlands 8.2%,
Sweden 8% (2002)
Imports:
$37.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Sweden 17.7%, Germany 13.4%, UK 7.8%, Denmark 7.7%, US 5.7%,
Netherlands 5.3%, France 4.2%, Italy 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$0 (Norway is a net external creditor)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)
Currency:
Norwegian krone (NOK)
Currency code:
NOK
Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 7.98 (2002), 8.99 (2001), 8.8
(2000), 7.8 (1999), 7.55 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Norway
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.735 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,080,408 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most
advanced telecommunications networks in Europe
domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the
prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular mobile
systems instead of fixed-wire systems
international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine
cables; 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
4.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
2.03 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.no
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2000)
Internet users:
2.68 million (2002)
Transportation Norway
Railways:
total: 4,178 km
standard gauge: 4,178 km 1.435-m gauge (2,518 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 91,454 km
paved: 69,505 km (including 143 km of expressways)
unpaved: 21,949 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,577 km (along west coast)
note: navigable by 2.4 m maximum draft vessels
Pipelines:
condensate 411 km; gas 6,199 km; oil 2,213 km; oil/gas/water 746
km; unknown (oil/water) 38 km; water 96 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad, Haugesund,
Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger, Tromso,
Trondheim
Merchant marine:
total: 714 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,247,207 GRT/30,860,236 DWT
ships by type: bulk 68, cargo 136, chemical tanker 125, combination
bulk 5, combination ore/oil 32, container 19, liquefied gas 86,
multi-function large load carrier 1, passenger 6, petroleum tanker
127, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 44, short-sea passenger
20, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 34
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Denmark 14, Germany 11, Greece 10, Hong
Kong 7, Iceland 2, Japan 11, Lithuania 1, Monaco 42, Poland 1, Saudi
Arabia 3, Singapore 10, Sweden 42, Switzerland 2, UK 4, US 5 (2002
est.)
Airports:
102 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 66
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 29 (2002)
Military Norway
Military branches:
Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (including Coast Artillery and
Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,099,314 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 910,628 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 27,249 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.113 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.13% (2002)
Transnational Issues Norway
Disputes - international:
Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land
and its continental shelf); despite recent discussions, Russia and
Norway continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea
and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits
within the Svalbard Treaty zone
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Oman
Introduction Oman
Background:
In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as
sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened
the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing
political and military relationship 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: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 212,460 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 0.08%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 99.7% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
620 sq km (1998 est.)
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; very limited
natural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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:
2,807,125
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 603,664; female 580,469)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 934,621; female 620,158)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 36,504; female 31,709) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.4 years
male: 22.3 years
female: 16.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.38% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
37.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
3.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 24.03 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.58 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 74.86 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups:
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi), African
Religions:
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (2003 est.)
Government Oman
Country name:
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
local short form: Uman
Government type:
monarchy
Capital:
Muscat
Administrative divisions:
6 regions (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah) and 2 governorates*
(muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al
Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*; note -
the US Embassy in Oman reports that Masqat is a governorate, but
this has not been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
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 new basic law 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:
in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately
175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the
Majlis al-Shura
Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said
(since 23 July 1970); 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 (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:
bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis
al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory
powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats;
members elected by limited suffrage for three-year term, however,
the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results;
body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise
has only advisory powers)
elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has
non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic judges
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Ali bin Thani AL-KHUSSAIBY
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos,
Muscat
telephone: [968] 698989, extension 203
FAX: [968] 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
Economy Oman
Economy - overview:
Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due
largely to the upturn in oil prices. The government is moving ahead
with privatization of its utilities, the development of a body of
commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased
budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and
joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in November 2000. GDP
growth improved in 2001 despite the global slowdown and then fell
back to 2.2% in 2002. In order to reduce unemployment, the
government is trying to replace expatriate workers with local
workers. Another government objective is the development of the
nation's gas resources.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $22.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 55%
services: 42% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
920,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $9.2 billion
expenditures: $6.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, natural gas production,
construction, cement, copper
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
9.274 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
8.625 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
963,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
53,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
5.703 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
13.77 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
6.34 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
7.43 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
846.4 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Exports:
$10.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners:
Japan 20.5%, South Korea 18.5%, China 14.1%, Thailand 11.7%, UAE
9.2%, Singapore 4.3%, US 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$5.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners:
UAE 27.5%, Japan 16.7%, UK 7.4%, US 6.9%, Germany 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.7 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$76.4 million (1995)
Currency:
Omani rial (OMR)
Currency code:
OMR
Exchange rates:
Omani rials per US dollar - 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38 (2000),
0.38 (1999), 0.38 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Oman
Telephones - main lines in use:
201,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
59,822 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire,
microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited
coaxial cable
domestic: open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a
domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:
1.4 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)
Televisions:
1.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.om
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
120,000 (2002)
Transportation Oman
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 3,599 km; oil 3,187 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 17,291 GRT/9,457 DWT
ships by type: container 1, passenger 2
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Singapore 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
139 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 133
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 32 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 55
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Oman
Military branches:
Royal Omani Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Royal Omani Police
Military manpower - military age:
14 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 788,429 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 438,326 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 29,485 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.424 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
12.2% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Oman
Disputes - international:
boundary agreement signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire
border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Pacific Ocean
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.
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; larger than 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 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 slowed but not stopped new
drillings.
Transportation Pacific Ocean
Ports and harbors:
Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, 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:
Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast Alaska to
Puget Sound (Washington state)
Transnational Issues Pacific Ocean
Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Pakistan
Introduction Pakistan
Background:
The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of
Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India
was never satisfactorily resolved. A third war between these
countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming
the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of
Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing,
Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998.
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: 803,940 sq km
land: 778,720 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: 27.81%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 71.4% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
180,000 sq km (1998 est.)
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; a
majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes
between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
People Pakistan
Population:
150,694,740 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.3% (male 30,463,958; female 28,726,776)
15-64 years: 56.5% (male 43,571,093; female 41,651,872)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 3,051,674; female 3,229,367) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
29.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.79 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 76.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 76.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.95 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.2 years
male: 61.3 years
female: 63.14 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.1 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
78,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,500 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups:
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from
India at the time of partition and their descendants)
Religions:
Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%
Languages:
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu
8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English
(official and 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: 45.7%
male: 59.8%
female: 30.6% (2003 est.)
Government Pakistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
Islamabad
Administrative divisions:
4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan,
Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**,
North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
Independence:
14 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 23 March (1956)
Constitution:
10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30
December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored on 31 December
2002
note: selected provisions of the Constitution pertaining to changes
President MUSHARRAF made while the Constitution was suspended,
remain contested by political opponents
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:
note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of
Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee,
General Pervez MUSHARRAF, suspended Pakistan's constitution and
assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; exercising the
powers of the head of the government, he appointed an eight-member
National Security Council to function as Pakistan's supreme
governing body; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously
validated the October 1999 coup and granted MUSHARRAF executive and
legislative authority for three years from the coup date; on 20 June
2001, MUSHARRAF named himself as president and was sworn in,
replacing Mohammad Rafiq TARAR; in a referendum held on 30 April
2002, MUSHARRAF's presidency was extended by five more years
chief of state: President Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 20 June 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan JAMALI (since
23 November 2002)
elections: the president is elected by Parliament for a five-year
term; note - in a referendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF's
presidency was extended by five more years (next to be held NA
2007); the prime minister is selected by the National Assembly for a
four-year term (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: results are for the 10 October 2002 election for
prime minister - Mir Zafarullah Khan JAMALI elected prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100
seats - formerly 87; members indirectly elected by provincial
assemblies to serve four-year terms; and the National Assembly (342
seats - formerly 217; 60 seats represent women; 10 seats represent
minorities; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PML/Q 40, PPPP 11, MMA 21, MQM/A 6, PML/N 4, NA 3,
PML/F 1, PkMAP 2, ANP 2, PPP/S 2, JWP 1, BNP-Awami 1, BNP-Mengal 1,
BNM/H 1, independents 4; National Assembly results - percent of
votes by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/Q 126, PPPP 81, MMA 63,
PML/N 19, MQM/A 17, NA 16, PML/F 5, PML/J 3, PPP/S 2, BNP 1, JWP 1,
PAT 1, PML/Z 1, PTI 1, MQM/H 1, PkMAP 1, independents 3
elections: Senate - last held 24 and 27 February 2003 (next to be
held by February 2007); National Assembly - last held 10 October
2002 (next to be held by October 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal
Islamic or Shari'a Court
Political parties and leaders:
Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National
Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. Hayee BALUCH]; Baluch National
Party or BNP [Sardar Akhtar MENGAL]; Baluch National Party/Awami or
BNP/Awami [Moheem Kahn BALOCH]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP [Akbar
Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur REHMAN];
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-HAQ faction or JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ];
Jamiat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan,
Noorani faction or JUP/NO [Shah Ahmad NOORANI]; Millat Party or MP
[Farooq LEGHARI]; Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A
[Altaf HUSSAIN]; Muhajir Quami Movement, Haqiqi faction or MQM/H
[Afaq AHMAD]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan or MMA [leader NA];
National Alliance or NA [Farooq Ahmad Khan LEGHARI]; National
People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun Khwa Milli
Awami Party or PkMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or
PQP [Mohammed Afzal KHAN]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul
QADRI]; Pakistan Democratic Party or PDP [Nawabadzada KHAN];
Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO];
Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction or PML/J [Hamid Nasir
CHATTHA]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N
[Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League, Quaid-l-Azam faction or
PML/Q [Chaudhry Shujjat HUSSEIN]; Pakistan Muslim League, Zia-ul-HAQ
or PML/Z [Ejaz ul-Haq]; Pakistan National Party or PNP [Hasil
BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan
People's Party/Sherpao or PPP/S [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan
People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto or PPP/SB [Ghinva BHUTTO]; Pakistan
People's Party Parliamentarians or PPPP [Amin FAHIM]; Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]; Tehrik-i-Islami [Allama Sajid
NAQVI]; Tehrik-i-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
Political pressure groups and leaders:
military remains most important political force; ulema (clergy),
landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential
International organization participation:
AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), C (suspended), CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO,
G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir QAZI
chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0484
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York, and Sunnyvale
(California)
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6205
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 2080-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s): Karachi, 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
Economy Pakistan
Economy - overview:
Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, suffers from
internal political disputes, low levels of foreign investment, and a
costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring India. Pakistan's
economic prospects, although still marred by poor human development
indicators, continued to improve in 2002 following unprecedented
inflows of foreign assistance beginning in 2001. Foreign exchange
reserves have grown to record levels, supported largely by fast
growth in recorded worker remittances. Trade levels rebounded after
a sharp decline in late 2001. The government has made significant
inroads in macroeconomic reform since 2000, but progress is
beginning to slow. Although it is in the second year of its $1.3
billion IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, Islamabad
continues to require waivers for politically difficult reforms.
Long-term prospects remain uncertain as development spending remains
low, regional tensions remain high, and political tensions weaken
Pakistan's commitment to lender-recommended economic reforms. GDP
growth will continue to hinge on crop performance; dependence on
foreign oil leaves the import bill vulnerable to fluctuating oil
prices; and efforts to open and modernize the economy remain uneven.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $295.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (FY01/02 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (FY01/02 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 25%
services: 51% (FY01/02 est.)
Population below poverty line:
35% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 27.6% (1996-97)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41 (FY98/99)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
40.4 million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use
of child labor (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.8% plus substantial underemployment (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $12.6 billion
expenditures: $14.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY02/03 est.)
Industries:
textiles, and apparel, food processing, beverages, construction
materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (FY01/02 est.)
Electricity - production:
66.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 68.8%
hydro: 28.2%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 3%
Electricity - consumption:
62.27 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
62,870 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
365,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
297.1 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
23.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
23.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
695.6 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef,
mutton, eggs
Exports:
$9.8 billion f.o.b. (FY02/03 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles (garments, cotton cloth, and yarn), rice, leather, sports
goods, and carpets and rugs
Exports - partners:
US 24.5%, UAE 8.5%, UK 7.2%, Germany 4.9%, Hong Kong 4.8% (2002)
Imports:
$11.1 billion f.o.b. (FY02/03 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, transportation
equipment, edible oils, pulses, iron an steel, tea
Imports - partners:
UAE 11.7%, Saudi Arabia 11.7%, Kuwait 6.7%, US 6.4%, China 6.2%,
Japan 6%, Malaysia 4.5%, Germany 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$32.3 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.4 billion (FY01/02)
Currency:
Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Currency code:
PKR
Exchange rates:
Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 59.72 (2002), 61.93 (2001), 53.65
(2000), 49.12 (1999), 44.94 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Pakistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.861 million (March 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
158,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;
service is adequate for government and business use, in part because
major businesses have established their own private systems; since
1988, the government has promoted investment in the national
telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly
increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and
urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily
available to the majority of the rural population
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,
cellular, and satellite networks
international: 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 (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)
Radios:
13.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
22 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.pk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
30 (2000)
Internet users:
1.2 million (2000)
Transportation Pakistan
Railways:
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 254,410 km
paved: 109,396 km (including 339 km of expressways)
unpaved: 145,014 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 9,945 km; oil 1,821 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim
Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 247,675 GRT/375,435 DWT
ships by type: cargo 14, container 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
124 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 87
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 19 (2002)
Heliports:
13 (2002)
Military Pakistan
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 38,133,733 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 23,328,575 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,767,502 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.964 billion (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.6% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Pakistan
Disputes - international:
thousands of Afghan refugees still reside in Pakistan; isolating
terrain and close ties among Pashtuns in Pakistan make cross-border
activities difficult to control; armed stand-off with India over the
status and sovereignty of Kashmir continues - India objects to
Pakistan ceding lands to China in 1965 boundary agreement that India
believes are part of disputed Kashmir; disputes with India over
Indus River water sharing and the terminus of the Rann of Kutch,
which prevents maritime boundary delimitation
Illicit drugs:
opium poppy cultivation practically eliminated; key transit point
for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western markets; Afghan
narcotics continue to transit Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
Balochistan Province, and Karachi; financial crimes related to drug
trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Palau
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: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 458 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:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
extended fishing zone: 200 NM
Climate:
wet season May to November; hot and humid
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: 21.74%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 78.26% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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
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:
19,717 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 2,714; female 2,552)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 7,352; female 6,197)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 429; female 473) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 31.8 years
female: 29.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.54% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 17.55 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.5 years
male: 66.37 years
female: 72.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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) 70%,
Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and
Vietnamese) 28%, white 2% (2000 est.)
Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and
Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population
observes this religion, which is indigenous to Palau)
Languages:
English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral
(Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are
official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)
Government Palau
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local short form: Belau
former: Palau District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Capital:
Koror; note - a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of
Koror
Administrative divisions:
16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror,
Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar,
Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsoral
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19
January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19
January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19
January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19
January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 November
2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. elected president;
percent of vote - Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 53%, Peter SUGIYAMA
46%; Sandra PIERANTOZZI elected vice president; percent of vote -
Sandra PIERANTOZZI 52%, Alan SEID 45%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament 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 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA
November 2004); House of Delegates - last held 7 November 2000 (next
to be held NA November 2004)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 16
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
chancery: 1800 K Street NW, Suite 714, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the Ambassador to the Philippines is accredited
to Palau
embassy: address NA, Koror
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 (representing the moon) shifted
slightly to the hoist side
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. Business and
tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in FY00/01. The population enjoys a
per capita income twice 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 - $174 million
note: $174 million $174 million GDP estimate includes US subsidy
(2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
9,845 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20%, industry NA%, services NA% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
2.3% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $57.7 million
expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital expenditures of $17.1
million (FY 98/99 est.)
Industries:
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction,
garment making
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production by source:
0%
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes
Exports:
$18 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments
Exports - partners:
US, Japan, Singapore (2000)
Imports:
$99 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
US, Guam, Japan, Singapore, Korea (2000)
Debt - external:
$0 (FY 99/00)
Economic aid - recipient:
$155.8 million ; note - the Compact of Free Association with the
US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October
1994, provides Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years
in return for furnishing military facilities
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Palau
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:
12,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.pw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Transportation Palau
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Koror
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Military Palau
Military branches:
NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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
Transnational Issues Palau
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Palmyra Atoll
Introduction Palmyra Atoll
Background:
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 privately owned by the Nature
Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature
preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical
mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and
Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in
January 2001.
Geography Palmyra Atoll
Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates:
5 52 N, 162 06 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 11.9 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 11.9 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
14.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
equatorial, hot, and very rainy
Terrain:
very low
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m
Natural resources:
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and
balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall
People Palmyra Atoll
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US
Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2003 est.)
Government Palmyra Atoll
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll
Dependency status:
incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but 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
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Palmyra Atoll
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Transportation Palmyra Atoll
Highways:
most of the roads and many causeways built during World War II are
unserviceable and overgrown (2001)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
West Lagoon
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Palmyra Atoll
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Palmyra Atoll
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Panama
Introduction Panama
Background:
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. On 7 September
1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal
from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the
Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over
in the intervening years. 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 turned over to Panama by
or on 31 December 1999.
Geography Panama
Location:
Middle 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: 78,200 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km
land: 75,990 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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 de Chiriqui 3,475 m
Natural resources:
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 6.72%
permanent crops: 2.08%
other: 91.2% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
320 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
2,960,784 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.6% (male 461,670; female 443,671)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 950,089; female 924,038)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 86,006; female 95,310) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.6 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 25.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.36% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
20.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.25 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.32 years
male: 69.97 years
female: 74.79 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.53 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
25,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,900 (2001 est.)
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: 92.6%
male: 93.2%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
Government Panama
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Panama
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory*
(comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera,
Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, 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; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983 and 1994
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 Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1
September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since
1 September 1999); Second Vice President Dominador "Kaiser"
Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez (since 1 September 1999); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since
1 September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO
(since 1 September 1999); Second Vice President Dominador "Kaiser"
Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez (since 1 September 1999); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 1999
(next to be held NA May 2004)
note: government coalition - PA, MOLIRENA, Democratic Change,
MORENA, PLN, PS
election results: Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez elected president;
percent of vote - Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (PA) 44%, Martin
TORRIJOS (PRD) 37%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (71 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PRD 34, PA 18, PDC 5, PS 4, MOLIRENA 3, PLN 3, Democratic Change 2,
PRC 1, MORENA 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula
elections: last held 2 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004)
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:
Arnulfista Party or PA [Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Civic
Renewal Party or PRC [Serguei DE LA ROSA]; Democratic Change
[Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Martin
TORRIJOS]; National Liberal Party or PLN [Raul ARANGO Gasteazopo];
National Renovation Movement or MORENA [Pedro VALLARINO Cox];
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Ramon MORALES];
Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
[Ruben AROSEMENA]; Solidarity Party or PS [Samuel LEWIS Galindo]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of
Organized Workers or CONATO; National Union of Construction and
Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); National Council of Private Enterprise
or CONEP; Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE;
Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of
the Republic of Panama or CTRP
International organization participation:
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto ALFARO Estripeaut
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda Ellen WATT
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561,
Zona 5, Panama City 5
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 207-7000
FAX: [507] 227-1964
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
Economy Panama
Economy - overview:
Panama's economy is based primarily on a well-developed services
sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Services include
operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance,
container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in Colon
Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the
withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in
2000-02. The government has been backing public works programs, tax
reforms, new regional trade agreements, and development of tourism
in order to stimulate growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $18.06 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 17%
services: 76% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
37% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.5 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
1.1 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled
labor (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $471
million (2000 est.)
Industries:
construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other
construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate:
0.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.039 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 37%
hydro: 61.3%
other: 1.7% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
3.681 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
118 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
43 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
52,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock;
shrimp
Exports:
$5.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing (1999)
Exports - partners:
US 47.8%, Sweden 5.8%, Costa Rica 4.8%, Honduras 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$6.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
(1999)
Imports - partners:
US 34.3%, Colombia 5.9%, Japan 5.4%, Costa Rica 4.2%, Venezuela
4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$7 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$197.1 million (1995)
Currency:
balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
PAB; USD
Exchange rates:
balboas per US dollar - 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1 (1999), 1
(1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Panama
Telephones - main lines in use:
396,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,000 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic and international facilities well
developed
domestic: NA
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations -
2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American
Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
815,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
38 (including repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:
510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.pa
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
45,000 (2000)
Transportation Panama
Railways:
total: 355 km
broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 11,400 km
paved: 3,944 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,456 km (1999)
Waterways:
882 km
note: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal
Pipelines:
crude oil 130 km (2001)
Ports and harbors:
Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part of Colon area),
Vacamonte
Merchant marine:
total: 4,860 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 122,543,755 GRT/184,910,607
DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 5, bulk 1,443, cargo 846, chemical
tanker 376, combination bulk 72, combination ore/oil 17, container
588, liquefied gas 207, livestock carrier 6, multi-functional
large-load carrier 12, passenger 38, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum
tanker 537, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 287, roll on/roll
off 107, short-sea passenger 41, specialized tanker 33, vehicle
carrier 240
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 2, Angola 1, Antigua and Barbuda 1, Argentina
11, Australia 13, Austria 2, The Bahamas 5, Belgium 2, Belize 6,
Brazil 6, British Virgin Islands 8, Cambodia 1, Canada 9, Chile 12,
China 259, Colombia 14, Croatia 2, Cuba 20, Cyprus 3, Denmark 3,
Dominican Republic 1, Ecuador 3, Egypt 16, Equatorial Guinea 1,
France 9, Germany 72, Greece 523, Haiti 1, Honduras 3, Hong Kong
299, Iceland 1, India 18, Indonesia 48, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy
9, Japan 1,642, Kenya 1, Kuwait 2, Latvia 8, Liberia 5, Lithuania 1,
Malaysia 18, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Mexico 8, Monaco 112,
Netherlands 19, Netherlands Antilles 1, Nigeria 3, Norway 98,
Paraguay 1, Peru 15, Philippines 49, Poland 5, Portugal 7, Puerto
Rico 2, Romania 7, Russia 12, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 5, Saudi Arabia 4, Seychelles 1, Singapore 112,
South Africa 3, South Korea 342, Spain 52, Sri Lanka 3, Sudan 1,
Sweden 2, Switzerland 81, Taiwan 334, Thailand 14, Trinidad and
Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 4, Ukraine 1, UAE 54, UK 73, US 115,
Venezuela 6 (2002 est.)
Airports:
103 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 62
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 50 (2002)
Military Panama
Military branches:
an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but
there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes
the Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and
National Air Service)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 797,456 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 544,967 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$128 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (FY99)
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:
none
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Papua New Guinea
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
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: 0.13%
permanent crops: 1.35%
other: 98.52% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the
country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud
slides; tsunamis
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,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest
swamps along southwest coast
People Papua New Guinea
Population:
5,295,816 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 1,034,219; female 1,000,505)
15-64 years: 57.8% (male 1,582,983; female 1,479,436)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 93,604; female 105,069) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.8 years
male: 21 years
female: 20.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
31.07 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 54.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 59.14 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.19 years
male: 62.07 years
female: 66.42 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.13 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
17,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
880 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London
Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs
34%
Languages:
English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in
Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66%
male: 72.3%
female: 59.3% (2003 est.)
Government Papua New Guinea
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Port Moresby
Administrative divisions:
20 provinces; 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Albert KIPALAN (since 13
November 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2
August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Andrew BAING (since 15 November
2003)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the
governor general
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House
of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from
provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003;
completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not
completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not
later than June 2007
election results: percent of vote by party - PPP 15%, Pangu Pati
14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%,
independents 33%; seats by party - PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM
9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note -
association with political parties is very fluid (2002)
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:
Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Bernard NAROKOBI]; National
Alliance or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; George MANOA, party
president]; National Front Party [leader NA]; National Party or NP
[leader NA]; Papua New Guinea Revival Party [John PUNDARI]; Papua
New Guinea United Party or Pangu Pati [Pate WAMP, party leader;
Chris HAIVETA, parliamentary leader]; People's Action Party or PAP
[Ted DIRO]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sir Mekere
MORAUTA]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Peter YAMA]; People's
National Congress or PNC [Bill SKATE]; People's Progress Party or
PPP [Michael NALI]; People's Unity Party or PUP [leader NA]; United
Party or UP [Rimbiuk PATO]
note: 43 political parties registered to participate in the June
2002 elections
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (associate member),
C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC
20036
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. Fitts
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
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
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
oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. The
economy has faltered over the past three years but will probably
improve slightly in 2003. Former Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA had
tried to restore integrity to state institutions, stabilize the
kina, restore stability to the national budget, privatize public
enterprises where appropriate, and ensure ongoing peace on
Bougainville. The government has had considerable success in
attracting international support, specifically gaining the backing
of the IMF and the World Bank in securing development assistance
loans. Significant challenges face Prime Minister Michael SOMARE,
including gaining further investor confidence, continuing efforts to
privatize government assets, and maintaining the support of members
of Parliament.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.86 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-3.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32.1%
industry: 35.8%
services: 32.1% (2001 est.)
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)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 85%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $894 million
expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $344
million (2000 est.)
Industries:
copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip
production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil
production; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
1.496 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 54.1%
hydro: 45.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.391 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
67,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
345.2 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
110 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
110 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
385.5 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes,
fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork
Exports:
$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish,
prawns
Exports - partners:
Australia 23.7%, Japan 9.3%, China 5.3% (2002)
Imports:
$1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Australia 49.3%, Singapore 18.8%, New Zealand 4.4%, Japan 4.2%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$400 million (1999 est.)
Currency:
kina (PGK)
Currency code:
PGK
Exchange rates:
kina per US dollar - 3.8 (2002), 3.39 (2001), 2.78 (2000), 2.57
(1999), 2.07 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Papua New Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
61,152 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,053 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: services are adequate and being improved;
facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio,
aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone
international: submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio
communication service
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Radios:
410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (all in the Port Moresby area)
note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are
planned (2002)
Televisions:
59,841 (1999)
Internet country code:
.pg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
135,000 (2001)
Transportation Papua New Guinea
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
10,940 km
Pipelines:
oil 264 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 45,203 GRT/63,238 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Singapore 2, UK 7 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 1, combination
ore/oil 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3
Airports:
491 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 470
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 56
under 914 m: 403 (2002)
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Papua New Guinea
Military branches:
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground Force, Maritime
Operations Element, and Air Operations Element)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,370,419 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 757,421 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$40.21 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Papua New Guinea
Disputes - international:
Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create
repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Paracel Islands
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. The islands
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
water: 0 sq km
land: NA 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
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 (July 2003 est.)
Government Paracel Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Economy Paracel Islands
Economy - overview:
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
Transportation Paracel Islands
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
being expanded
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Paracel Islands
Military - note:
occupied by China
Transnational Issues Paracel Islands
Disputes - international:
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Paraguay
Introduction Paraguay
Background:
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay
lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It
stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War
of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from
Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was
overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political
infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential
elections have been held 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: 406,750 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 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 (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 5.54%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 94.25% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (1998 est.)
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
present 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: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population
concentrated in southern part of country
People Paraguay
Population:
6,036,900 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 1,179,084; female 1,141,420)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 1,721,867; female 1,707,918)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 132,145; female 154,466) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.9 years
male: 20.7 years
female: 21.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.54% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
30.14 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 27.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 32.63 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.4 years
male: 71.89 years
female: 77.03 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.11% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
220 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant
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.)
Government Paraguay
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
Asuncion
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)
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August
2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI (since 15 August 2003); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August
2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI (since 15 August 2003); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 April
2003 (next to be held NA April 2008)
election results: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS elected president; percent
of vote - Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCO
Gomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, Guillermo
SANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators
or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara
de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be
held NA May 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003
(next to be held NA May 2008)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, MPQ 7,
PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - Colorado Party 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, MPQ 10, PPS 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges
appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates or Consejo
de la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:
Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Nicanor
DUARTE FRUTOS]; Movimiento Patria Querida or MPQ [Pedro Nicolas
Maraa FADUL Niella]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Colorados Eticos
or UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or
PEN [Diego ABENTE Brun]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA
[Julio Cesar FRANCO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto
FILIZZOLA Pallares]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Workers Central or CNT;
Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church;
Unitary Workers Central or CUT
International organization participation:
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MONUC, NAM (observer),
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Leila Teresa RACHID COWLES
consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans,
New York
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. KEANE
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) 213-728
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 the seal
of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the
words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
Economy Paraguay
Economy - overview:
Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector.
The informal sector features both reexport of imported consumer
goods to neighboring countries as well as the activities of
thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of
the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures
are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population
derives their living from agricultural activity, often on a
subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3%
annually in 1995-97; but GDP declined slightly in 1998, 1999, and
2000, rose slightly in 2001, only to fall again in 2002. On a per
capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most
observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to
political uncertainty, corruption, lack of progress on structural
reform, substantial internal and external debt, and deficient
infrastructure.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $25.19 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 27%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
36% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
57.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 45%
Unemployment rate:
18.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.3 billion
expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700
million (1999 est.)
Industries:
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products
Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
44.89 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 99.9%
other: 0.1% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.637 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
39.11 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
25,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava
(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Exports:
$2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity
Exports - partners:
Brazil 25.1%, Argentina 23%, Chile 5.5%, Bermuda 4% (2002)
Imports:
$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,
electrical machinery
Imports - partners:
Brazil 32.7%, Argentina 22.7%, US 18.1%, Hong Kong 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.2 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
guarani (PYG)
Currency code:
PYG
Exchange rates:
guarani per US dollar - 5,720.44 (2002), 4,105.92 (2001), 3,486.35
(2000), 3,119.07 (1999), 2,726.49 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Paraguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
290,475 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
510,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching
center is Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)
Radios:
925,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (2001)
Televisions:
990,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.py
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2000)
Internet users:
20,000 (2000)
Transportation Paraguay
Railways:
total: 441 km
standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 29,500 km
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est)
Waterways:
3,100 km
Ports and harbors:
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 32,475 GRT/36,101 DWT
ships by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll
on/roll off 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Argentina 2, Japan 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
879 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 868
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 323
under 914 m: 518 (2002)
Military Paraguay
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,465,781 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,056,437 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 61,706 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$125 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Paraguay
Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders
is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking,
and harbors Islamist militants
Illicit drugs:
major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is
consumed in South America; transshipment country for Andean cocaine
headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, Europe, and US;
corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the
Tri-Border Area
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Peru
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 conquistadores 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. FUJIMORI
won reelection to a third term in the spring of 2000, but
international pressure and corruption scandals led to his ouster by
Congress in November of that year. A caretaker government oversaw
new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro
TOLEDO as the new head of government.
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: 1,285,220 sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 5,536 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:
2,414 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM
territorial sea: 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: 2.85%
permanent crops: 0.38%
other: 96.77% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
11,950 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
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,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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:
28,409,897 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.5% (male 4,828,531; female 4,678,008)
15-64 years: 61.5% (male 8,794,799; female 8,689,072)
65 years and over: 5% (male 652,375; female 767,112) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.5 years
male: 23.2 years
female: 23.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.61% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
22.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 36.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 42.04 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.88 years
male: 68.45 years
female: 73.43 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.81 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
53,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,900 (2001 est.)
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 90%
Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.9%
male: 95.2%
female: 86.8% (2003 est.)
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:
Lima
Administrative divisions:
24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
constitutional province* (provincia constitucional); Amazonas,
Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco,
Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima,
Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin,
Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
note: some reports indicate that the 24 departments and 1
constitutional province are now being referred to as regions; Peru
is implementing a decentralization program whereby these 25
administrative divisions will begin to exercise greater governmental
authority over their territories; in November 2002, voters chose
their new regional presidents and other regional leaders; the
authority that the regional government will exercise has not yet
been clearly defined, but it will be devolved to the regions over
the course of several years
Independence:
28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution:
31 December 1993
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 Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since 28 July
2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; additionally two vice presidents are provided for by the
constitution, First Vice President Raul DIEZ Canseco (since 28 July
2001) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN (since 28 July 2001)
head of government: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since 28
July 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government; additionally two vice presidents are provided for by
the constitution, First Vice President Raul DIEZ Canseco (since 28
July 2001) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN (since 28 July
2001)
note: Prime Minister Carlos FERRERO Costa (since 15 December 2003)
does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the
president; note - Beatriz MERINO was asked to resign on 12 December
2003 and was replaced by Carlos FERRERO Costa three days later
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
special presidential and congressional elections held 8 April 2001,
with runoff election held 3 June 2001; next to be held 9 April 2006
election results: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique elected
president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alejandro TOLEDO
Manrique 53.1%, Alan GARCIA 46.9%
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
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)
election results: percent of vote by party - Peru Posible 26.3%,
APRA 19.7%, Unidad Nacional 13.8%, FIM 11.0%, others 29.2%; seats by
party - Peru Posible 47, APRA 28, Unidad Nacional 17, FIM 11, others
17
elections: last held 8 April 2001 (next to be held 9 April 2006)
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:
Peruvian Aprista Party or PAP [Alan GARCIA]; Independent Moralizing
Front or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega]; National Unity (Unidad
Nacional) or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Peru Posible or PP [Luis
SOLARI]; Popular Action or AP [Javier DIAZ Orihuela]; Solucion
Popular [Carlos BOLANA]; Somos Peru or SP [Alberto ANDRADE]; Union
for Peru or UPP [Roger GUERRA Garcia]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael GUZMAN
Reynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO (top leader at-large)]; Tupac
Amaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned),
Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, APEC, CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA,
MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington
(DC)
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. DAWSON
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) 434-3037
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, cinchona tree (the source of
quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all
framed by a green wreath
Economy Peru
Economy - overview:
Thanks to foreign investment and the cooperation between the
government and the IMF and World Bank, growth was strong in 1994-97
and inflation was brought under control. In 1998, El Nino's impact
on agriculture, the financial crisis in Asia, and instability in
Brazilian markets undercut growth. The following year was again lean
year for Peru, with the aftermath of El Nino and the Asian financial
crisis working its way through the economy. Political instability
resulting from the presidential election and FUJIMORI's subsequent
departure from office limited growth in 2000. The downturn in the
global economy further curtailed growth in 2001. President TOLEDO,
who assumed the presidency in July 2001, has been working to
reinvigorate the economy and reduce unemployment. Economic growth in
2002 is estimated at 4.8%, led by construction in the retail and gas
sectors.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $138.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 27%
services: 63% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
46.2 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
7.5 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction,
transport, services
Unemployment rate:
9.4%; widespread underemployment (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $10.4 billion
expenditures: $10.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food
processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal
fabrication
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
20.59 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
other: 0.8% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
19.15 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
95,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
161,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
614.7 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
370 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
370 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
245.1 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, plantains,
coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish
Exports:
$7.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products, gold, copper, zinc, crude petroleum and
byproducts, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton
Exports - partners:
US 28.1%, China 10.5%, UK 7%, Switzerland 6.1%, Japan 5.6% (2002)
Imports:
$7.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and
steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
US 26.1%, Chile 7.9%, Spain 5.1%, Colombia 5%, Brazil 4.7%,
Venezuela 4.7%, Argentina 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$29.2 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$895.1 million (1995)
Currency:
nuevo sol (PEN)
Currency code:
PEN
Exchange rates:
nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.52 (2002), 3.51 (2001), 3.49 (2000),
3.38 (1999), 2.93 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Peru
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.8 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
504,995 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate for most requirements
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); Pan American submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)
Radios:
6.65 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
3.06 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.pe
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
10 (2000)
Internet users:
3 million (2002)
Transportation Peru
Railways:
total: 1,829 km
standard gauge: 1,515 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 314 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 72,900 km
paved: 9,331 km
unpaved: 63,569 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km
of Lago Titicaca
Pipelines:
gas 388 km; oil 1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Callao, Chimbote, Ilo, Matarani, Paita, Puerto Maldonado,
Salaverry, San Martin, Talara, Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas
note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are all on the upper reaches
of the Amazon and its tributaries
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,470 GRT/45,451 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: US 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1
Airports:
233 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 49
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 184
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 100 (2002)
Military Peru
Military branches:
Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes
Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del
Peru; FAP), National Police (includes General Police, Security
Police, and Technical Police)
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 7,510,882 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,045,619 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 281,717 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Peru
Disputes - international:
Bolivia continues to press Chile and Peru to restore the Atacama
corridor ceded to Chile in 1884
Illicit drugs:
until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; emerging opium
producer; cultivation of coca in Peru increased by 8% to 36,600
hectares between 2001 and the end of 2002; much of the cocaine base
is shipped to neighboring Colombia for processing into cocaine,
while 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 and Bolivia for use in
the Southern Cone or transshipped to Europe and Africa
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Philippines
Introduction Philippines
Background:
The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the
Spanish-American War. They attained independence in 1946 after
Japanese occupation in World War II. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand
MARCOS ended in 1986, when a widespread popular rebellion forced him
into exile. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the
islands. The Philippines has had two electoral presidential
transitions since the removal of MARCOS. In January 2001, the
Supreme Court declared Joseph ESTRADA unable to rule in view of mass
resignations from his government and administered the oath of office
to Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO as his constitutional
successor. The government continues to struggle with Muslim
insurgencies in the south.
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
water: 1,830 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
36,289 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
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
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: 18.45%
permanent crops: 14.76%
other: 66.79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (1998 est.)
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
Environment - current issues:
uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air
and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal
mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
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:
84,619,974 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.2% (male 15,625,480; female 15,028,498)
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 25,206,467; female 25,485,482)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,427,238; female 1,846,809) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 22.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.92% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
26.3 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 27.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.29 years
male: 66.44 years
female: 72.28 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.29 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
720 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups:
Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
Languages:
two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English;
eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or
Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.9%
male: 96%
female: 95.8% (2003 est.)
Government Philippines
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local short form: Pilipinas
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Manila
Administrative divisions:
73 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte,
Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*,
Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes,
Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan,
Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*,
Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*,
Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*,
Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City*, Davao del Norte,
Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar,
General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos
Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La
Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*,
Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao,
Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental,
Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain,
Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern
Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*,
Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*,
Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon,
Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in
Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon,
South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*,
Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*,
Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*,
Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
Independence:
12 June 1898 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day (from Spain), 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898
is the date of independence from Spain, 4 July 1946 is the date of
independence from the 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 Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January
2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20 January 2001);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20
January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20 January
2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the
Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1998
(next to be held 16 May 2004)
election results: results of the last presidential election - Joseph
Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent of vote - approximately
40%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent of vote
- 55%; note - on 20 January 2001, Vice President Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was sworn in as the constitutional successor to
President Joseph ESTRADA after the Supreme Court declared that
ESTRADA was unable to rule in view of the mass resignations from his
government; according to the Constitution, only in cases of death,
permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the
president, can the vice president serve for the unexpired term
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24
seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected by
popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (214 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - additional
members may be appointed by the president but the Constitution
prohibits the House of Representatives from having more than 250
members)
elections: Senate - last held 14 May 2001 (next to be held 16 May
2004); House of Representatives - elections last held 14 May 2001
(next to be held 16 May 2004)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Lakas 13, PDP-Laban/LDP 11; House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Lakas 86, NPC 51,
LDP 21, LP 20, independents 10, other 26
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices are appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70
years of age)
Political parties and leaders:
Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or
LDP [Edgardo ANGARA, president, Agapito AQUINO, secretary general];
Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose
DE VENECIA, president]; Liberal Party or LP [Florencio ABAD,
president; Franklin DRILON, chairman]; National People's Coalition
or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO, chairman emeritus; Frisco SAN JUAN,
president; Faustino DY, chairman]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL,
chairman; Jejomar BINAY, president]; PMP [Horacio MORALES,
president]; Aksyon Demokratiko Party [Raul ROCO, president]; Reporma
[Renato DE VILLA, chairman]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS
(observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UNU,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO
consulate(s): San Diego
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 523-1001
FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white
equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the
triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing
three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small
yellow five-pointed star
Economy Philippines
Economy - overview:
In 1998, the Philippine economy - a mixture of agriculture, light
industry, and supporting services - deteriorated as a result of
spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor weather
conditions. Growth fell to 0.6% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but
recovered to about 3.3% in 1999, 4.5% in 2000, and 4.5% in 2001. In
2002, the Philippines recorded GDP growth of 4.4% but also incurred
a record budget deficit. As a result, the Philippines is burdened
with a public sector debt equal to more than 100% of GDP. Growth
eased to 3.8% in 2003. The government has promised economic reforms
including going forward with privatization, reforming the tax
system, and promoting additional trade integration within its
region. Considerable drive is required to update the educational
system and the road network.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $379.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 31%
services: 54% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 39.3% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
46.2 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
33.7 million (2002)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 45%, industry 15%, services 40% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.2% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $10.9 billion
expenditures: $15 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food
processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
45.21 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 55.6%
hydro: 17.5%
other: 26.9% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
42.04 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
8,460 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
343,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
164 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
10 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
10 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
104.6 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes;
pork, eggs, beef; fish
Exports:
$35.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments,
coconut products, chemicals
Exports - partners:
US 26.2%, Japan 14.9%, China 7.4%, Taiwan 5.8%, Singapore 5.7%,
Hong Kong 5.3%, Malaysia 5.3%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 4.6%, South
Korea 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$33.5 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Japan 21.6%, US 18.6%, Singapore 7.8%, South Korea 7.5%, China
5.2%, Hong Kong 4.5%, Taiwan 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$60.3 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $1.1 billion (1998)
Currency:
Philippine peso (PHP)
Currency code:
PHP
Exchange rates:
Philippine pesos per US dollar - 51.67 (2002), 50.99 (2001), 44.19
(2000), 39.09 (1999), 40.89 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Philippines
Telephones - main lines in use:
6.98 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.35 million (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine
cable services; domestic and inter-island service adequate
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: 9 international gateways; satellite earth stations -
3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to
Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 366, FM 290, shortwave 5
note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the
language of the target audience (2002)
Radios:
11.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
75 (2000)
Televisions:
3.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ph
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
33 (2000)
Internet users:
4.5 million (2002)
Transportation Philippines
Railways:
total: 897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (405 km are not in operation)
(2002)
Highways:
total: 201,994 km
paved: 42,419 km
unpaved: 159,575 km (2000)
Waterways:
3,219 km
note: limited to vessels with a draft of less than 1.5 m
Pipelines:
gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras Island, Iligan,
Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando,
Subic Bay, Zamboanga
Merchant marine:
total: 393 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,664,718 GRT/6,699,666 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 2, Canada 1, Germany 3, Greece 8, Hong Kong
13, Japan 47, Malaysia 19, Netherlands 14, Norway 8, Panama 3,
Singapore 12, South Korea 1, Taiwan 2, UK 7 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 111, cargo 105, chemical tanker 4, combination
bulk 8, container 8, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 9, passenger
5, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 42, refrigerated cargo 21,
roll on/roll off 16, short-sea passenger 27, specialized tanker 2,
vehicle carrier 18
Airports:
257 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 175
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 71
under 914 m: 99 (2002)
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Philippines
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force,
paramilitary units
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 21,923,324 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 15,428,043 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 846,994 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$995 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Philippines
Disputes - international:
involved in complex dispute over Spratly Islands with China,
Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and possibly Brunei; claimants in November
2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South
China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a
legally binding "code of conduct"; Sultanate of Sulu granted
Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue its sovereignty
claim over Malaysia's Sabah State but Malaysia rejects claim
Illicit drugs:
exports locally-produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the
US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin
and crystal methamphetamine
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Pitcairn Islands
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 47 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
51 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:
tropical, hot, 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: Pawala Valley 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
47 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
NA%
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
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), Pitcairnese (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:
Adamstown
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:
1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940; further
refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964
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 Richard FELL (since NA
December 2001); Commissioner (nonresident) Leon SALT (since NA);
serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council
election results: Steve CHRISTIAN elected mayor; percent of vote -
NA%
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner and
commissioner appointed by the monarch; island magistrate elected by
popular vote for a three-year term; election last held NA December
1999 (next to be held NA December 2002)
head of government: Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Steve
CHRISTIAN (since 7 December 1999)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Island Council (10 seats - 6 elected by popular vote, 1
appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor, and
1 seat for the Island Secretary; members serve one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December
2003)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:
Island Court (island magistrate presides over the court and is
elected every three years)
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
SPC
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 coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a
shield featuring a yellow anchor
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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
12 able-bodied men (1997)
Labor force - by occupation:
no business community in the usual sense; some public works;
subsistence farming and fishing
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $729,884
expenditures: $878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY
94/95 est.)
Industries:
postage stamps, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-powered
generator
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
wide variety of fruits and vegetables, goats, chickens
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps
Exports - partners:
NA (2000)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other
foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
NA (2000)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.162 (2002), 2.3776 (2001),
2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Pitcairn Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line) (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: only party line telephone service is available
for this small, closely related community
domestic: party line service only
international: radiotelephone
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.pn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Pitcairn Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 6.4 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 6.4 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
none (2002)
Military Pitcairn Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Pitcairn Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Poland
Introduction Poland
Background:
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived around 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, until an agreement in 1772
between Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland. 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 currently suffers low GDP
growth and high unemployment. 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 is scheduled
to accede to the European Union along with nine other states on 1
May 2004.
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
water: 8,220 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,788 km
border countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456
km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia
444 km, Ukraine 526 km
Coastline:
491 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: 45.81%
permanent crops: 1.23%
other: 52.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,000 sq km (1998 est.)
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 European Union 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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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:
38,622,660 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 3,458,844; female 3,284,995)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 13,407,012; female 13,547,728)
65 years and over: 12.7% (male 1,879,445; female 3,044,636) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 36 years
male: 34.1 years
female: 38 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.96 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 10.04 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.91 years
male: 69.77 years
female: 78.28 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups:
Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Belarusian 0.5% (1990
est.)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox,
Protestant, and other 5%
Languages:
Polish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
Government Poland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form: Poland
local short form: Polska
local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Warsaw
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie,
Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie,
Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie,
Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie,
Zachodniopomorskie
Independence:
11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution:
16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997;
passed by national referendum 23 May 1997
Legal system:
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December
1995)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2005);
prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
and confirmed by the Sejm
head of government: Prime Minister Leszek MILLER (SLD) (since 19
October 2001), Deputy Prime Ministers Marek POL (since 19 October
2001), Jerzy HAUSNER (since 11 June 2003)
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
election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI reelected president;
percent of popular vote - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 53.9%, Andrzej
OLECHOWSKI 17.3%, Marian KRZAKLEWSKI 15.6%, Lech WALESA 1%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe consists of
the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of
proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Senate
or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a
provincial basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Sejm elections last held 23 September 2001 (next to be
held by September 2005); Senate - last held 23 September 2001 (next
to be held by September 2005)
election results: Sejm - percent of vote by party - SLD-UP 41%, PO
12.7%, Samoobrona 10.2%, PiS 9.5%, PSL 9%, LPR 7.9%, AWSP 5.6% UW
3.1%, other 1%; seats by party (as of 25 April 2003) - SLD 193, PO
57, Samoobrona 39, PiS 43, PSL 39, LPR 28, UP 16, SKL 8, PLD 6, PBL
5, RKN 5, PP 3, ROP 3, German minorities 2, independents 13; note -
SLD and UP ran together on electoral lists in the 2001 elections,
but constitute separate parliamentary clubs in the Sejm; several
other deputies have left their parties and set up other
parliamentary factions; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - SLD-UP 75, AWSP (an electoral alliance of some 36
parties) 15, PSL 4, Samoobrona 2, LPR 2, independents 2
note: two seats are assigned to ethnic minority parties
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:
Catholic-National Movement or RKN [Antoni MACIEREWICZ]; Citizens
Platform or PO [Donald TUSK]; Conservative Peasants Party or SKL-RNP
[Artur BALAZS]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Leszek MILLER];
Freedom Union or UW [Wladyslaw FRASYNIUK]; German Minority of Lower
Silesia or MNSO [Henryk KROLL]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw
KACZYNSKI]; League of Polish Families or LPR [Marek KOTLINOWSKI];
Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI];
Peasant-Democratic Party or PLD [Roman JAGIELINSKI]; Polish Accord
or PP [Jan LOPUSZANSKI]; Polish Peasant Bloc or PBL [Wojciech
MOJZESOWICZ]; Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Jaroslaw KALINOWSKI];
Samoobrona [Andrzej LEPPER]; Social Movement or RS [Krzysztof
PIESIEWICZ]; Union of Labor or UP [Marek POL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Maciej
MANICKI]; Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Jozef GLEMP]; Solidarity
Trade Union [Janusz SNIADEK]
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CE,
CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest),
NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Przemyslaw GRUDZINSKI
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
FAX: [1] (202) 328-6270
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw P1
mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State,
5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000
FAX: [48] (22) 504-2951
consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the
flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
Economy Poland
Economy - overview:
Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalization
throughout the 1990s and today stands out as a success story among
transition economies. Even so, much remains to be done. The
privatization of small and medium state-owned companies and a
liberal law on establishing new firms has encouraged the development
of the private business sector, but legal and bureaucratic obstacles
alongside persistent corruption are hampering its further
development. Poland's agricultural sector remains handicapped by
structural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and
lack of investment. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive
sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railroads, and energy), while recently
initiated, have stalled due to a lack of political will on the part
of the government. Structural reforms in health care, education, the
pension system, and state administration have resulted in larger
than expected fiscal pressures. Further progress in public finance
depends mainly on privatization of Poland's remaining state sector,
the reduction of state employment, and an overhaul of the tax code
to incorporate the growing gray economy and farmers most of whom pay
no tax. The government's determination to enter the EU has shaped
most aspects of its economic policy and new legislation; in June
2003, 77% of the voters approved membership, now scheduled for May
2004. Improving Poland's export competitiveness and containing the
internal budget deficit are top priorities. Due to political
uncertainty, the zloty has recently depreciated in relation to the
euro and the dollar while currencies of the other euro-zone
aspirants have been appreciating. GDP per capita equals that of the
3 Baltic states.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $373.2 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 35%
services: 61.2% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
18.4% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 24.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.6 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
17.6 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 22.1%, agriculture 27.5%, services 50.4% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
18.1% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $49.6 billion
expenditures: $52.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999)
Industries:
machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals,
shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
0.3% (2001)
Electricity - production:
135 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.1%
hydro: 1.5%
other: 0.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
118.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
11.04 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
4.306 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
17,180 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
424,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
53,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
413,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
116.4 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
5.471 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
13.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
41 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
8.782 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
154.4 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork
Exports:
$32.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 30.2%, intermediate manufactured
goods 25.5%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 20.9%, food and live
animals 8.5% (1999)
Exports - partners:
Germany 33%, Italy 5.7%, France 5%, UK 4.8%, Czech Republic 4.3%
(2002)
Imports:
$43.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 38.2%, intermediate manufactured
goods 20.8%, chemicals 14.3%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 9.5%
(1999)
Imports - partners:
Germany 29.9%, Italy 8.1%, Russia 7.4%, France 7.2%, Netherlands
5.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$64 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
EU structural adjustment funds
Currency:
zloty (PLN)
Currency code:
PLN
Exchange rates:
zlotych per US dollar - 3.99 (2002), 4.09 (2001), 4.35 (2000), 3.97
(1999), 3.48 (1998)
note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Poland
Telephones - main lines in use:
8.07 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13 million (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: underdeveloped and outmoded system in the
process of being overhauled; partial privatization of the
state-owned telephone monopoly is underway; the long waiting list
for main line telephone service has resulted in a boom in mobile
cellular telephone use
domestic: cable, open-wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellular
networks; local exchanges 56.6% digital
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), and 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
20.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
179 (plus 256 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
13.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.pl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
19 (2000)
Internet users:
6.4 million (2001)
Transportation Poland
Railways:
total: 23,420 km
broad gauge: 646 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 21,639 km 1.435-m gauge (11,626 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,135 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m,
0.750-m, and 0.600-m (2002)
Highways:
total: 364,656 km
paved: 249,060 km (including 358 km of expressways)
unpaved: 115,596 km (2000)
Waterways:
3,812 km (navigable rivers and canals) (1996)
Pipelines:
gas 12,901 km; oil 737 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin, Swinoujscie, Ustka,
Warsaw, Wroclaw
Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 199,186 GRT/275,476 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, roll on/roll off
1, short-sea passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
150 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 88
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 62
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 43 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 15
Heliports:
3 (2002)
Military Poland
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 10,354,978 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,077,706 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 343,500 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.5 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.71% (2002)
Transnational Issues Poland
Disputes - international:
small boundary changes made with Slovakia in 2003
Illicit drugs:
major illicit producer of amphetamine for the international market;
minor transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs
to Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Portugal
Introduction Portugal
Background:
Following its heyday as a world 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 in 1822 of Brazil as a colony.
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 entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
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: 92,391 sq km
land: 91,951 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
water: 440 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,214 km
border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline:
1,793 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble,
arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 20.57%
permanent crops: 7.74%
other: 71.69% (1999 est.)
Irrigated land:
6,320 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
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
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental
Modification, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western
sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People Portugal
Population:
10,102,022 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 874,198; female 825,742)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 3,326,957; female 3,461,425)
65 years and over: 16% (male 651,697; female 962,003) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.6 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 39.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.17% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.35 years
male: 72.86 years
female: 80.07 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.49 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
27,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,000 (2001 est.)
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 94%, Protestant (1995)
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.)
Government Portugal
Country name:
conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Lisbon
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, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto,
Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence:
1143 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
National holiday:
Portugal Day, 10 June (1580)
Constitution:
25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5 November
1992, and 3 September 1997
Legal system:
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 Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative
body to the president
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO (since
6 April 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA January
2006); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president
election results: Jorge SAMPAIO reelected president; percent of vote
- Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 55.8%, Joaquim FERREIRA Do Amaral
(Social Democrat) 34.5%, Antonio ABREU (Communist) 5.1%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - PSD 40.1%, PS 37.8%, PP
8.7%, PCP/PEV 6.9%, The Left Bloc 2.7%; seats by party - PSD 105, PS
96, PP 14, PCP/PEV 12, The Left Bloc 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges appointed for
life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:
The Greens or PEV [no leader]; Popular Party or PP [Paulo PORTAS];
Portuguese Communist Party/The Greens or PCP/PEV [Carlos CARVALHAS];
Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Eduardo Ferro RODRIGUES]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO]; United
Democratic Coalition or CDU [Carlos CARVALHAS]; The Left Bloc [no
leader]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Manuel Dos Reis Alves CATARINO
consulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence
(Rhode Island)
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San
Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John N. PALMER
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: 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 Portuguese coat of arms centered on the
dividing line
Economy Portugal
Economy - overview:
Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based
economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past
decade, 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 has been above the EU average for much of the past
decade, but fell back in 2001-03. GDP per capita stands at 70% of
that of the leading EU economies. A poor educational system, in
particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth.
Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers
in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct
investment. The coalition government faces tough choices in its
attempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness and to keep
the budget deficit within the 3% EU ceiling.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $195.2 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 28.7%
services: 67.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35.6 (1994-95)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
5.1 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 60%, industry 30%, agriculture 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.7% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $45 billion
expenditures: $48 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking;
oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
44.32 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 64.5%
hydro: 31.3%
other: 4.1% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
41.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
3.479 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
3.743 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
339,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
28,830 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
357,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.542 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.553 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry,
beef, dairy products
Exports:
$25.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper
products, hides
Exports - partners:
Spain 20.3%, Germany 18.4%, France 12.6%, UK 10.5%, US 5.8%, Italy
4.8%, Belgium 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$39 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles,
agricultural products
Imports - partners:
Spain 28.1%, Germany 15%, France 10.2%, Italy 6.5%, UK 5.2%,
Netherlands 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$13.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $271 million (1995)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.3 million (yearend 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,074,194 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: undergoing rapid development in recent years,
Portugal's telephone system, by the end of 1998, achieved a
state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities and
a main line telephone density of 53%
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave
radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: 6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;
tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth station for Inmarsat
(Atlantic Ocean region) is planned
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
62 (plus 166 repeaters)
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)
Televisions:
3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.pt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
4.4 million (2002)
Transportation Portugal
Railways:
total: 2,850 km
broad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 68,732 km
paved: 59,110 km (including 1441 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,622 km (2000)
Waterways:
820 km
note: relatively unimportant to national economy, used by
shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton or less cargo capacity
Pipelines:
gas 482 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores), Leixoes, Lisbon,
Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria (Azores), Setubal,
Viana do Castelo
Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 993,325 GRT/1,533,255 DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 62, chemical tanker 18, container 7,
liquefied gas 8, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 4,
petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 5,
short-sea passenger 3, vehicle carrier 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark
6, Germany 20, Greece 1, Iceland 1, Italy 16, Lebanon 1, Liberia 1,
Monaco 2, Norway 5, Panama 5, Spain 22, Switzerland 8, UK 1, Virgin
Islands (UK) 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
66 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 40
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 25 (2002)
Military Portugal
Military branches:
Army, Navy (PON) (includes Marines), Air Force, Republican Guard
(includes Fiscal Guard)
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,520,852 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,017,678 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 67,816 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.286 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.2% (FY99/00)
Transnational Issues Portugal
Disputes - international:
Portugal has periodically reasserted claims to territories around
the town of Olivenza, Spain
Illicit drugs:
gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian
heroin entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish
from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Puerto Rico
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 and 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 to retain commonwealth 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: 9,104 sq km
water: 145 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
501 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 3.72%
permanent crops: 5.07%
other: 91.21% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (1998 est.)
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:
3,885,877 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.9% (male 454,908; female 434,555)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 1,212,764; female 1,322,356)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male 200,669; female 260,625) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.3 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 34.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.58% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.26 years
male: 73.27 years
female: 81.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,397 (1997)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%,
Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:
Spanish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 93.7%
female: 94% (2001)
Government Puerto Rico
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:
commonwealth associated with the US
Government type:
commonwealth
Capital:
San Juan
Administrative divisions:
none (commonwealth associated with the US); 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 (commonwealth associated with the US)
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; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens
but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
election results: Sila M. CALDERON (PPD) elected governor; percent
of vote - 48.6%
note: residents of Puerto Rico do not vote for US president and vice
president
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held
2 November 2004)
head of government: Governor Sila M. CALDERON (since 2 January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the
legislature
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (28 seats;
members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are
directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - PPD 19, PNP 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPD 30, PNP 20, PIP 1
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 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results -
percent of vote by party - PPD 49.3%; seats by party - PPD 1; Anibal
ACEVEDO-VILA elected resident commissioner
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2
November 2004); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2000
(next to be held 2 November 2004)
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 [Celeste BENITEZ]; National Republican
Party of Puerto Rico [Luis FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP
(pro-US statehood) [Carlos PESQUERA]; Popular Democratic Party or
PPD (pro-commonwealth) [Sila M. CALDERON]; Puerto Rican Independence
Party or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN; Armed Forces of
Popular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known as the
Macheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU,
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WToO
(associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
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; design initially
influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the
colors of the bands and triangle reversed
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 nearly 5 million
tourists in 1999. Growth fell off in 2001-02, largely due to the
slowdown in the US economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $43.01 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 99/00)
Industries:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
20.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.2%
hydro: 0.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
19.44 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
190,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
630 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
630 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock
products, chickens
Exports:
$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage
concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners:
US 88.2%, UK 1.5%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2001)
Imports:
$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
US 53.5%, Ireland 16.3%, Japan 4.5% (2001)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.322 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
169,265 (1996)
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; cellular telephone service
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; submarine cable
to US
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
2.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
18 (plus three stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and Television
Service) (1997)
Televisions:
1.021 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.pr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
76 (2000)
Internet users:
600,000 (2002)
Transportation Puerto Rico
Railways:
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 14,400 km
paved: 14,400 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Aguadilla, Arecibo, Fajardo, Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama,
Mayaguez, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 19,203 GRT/20,904 DWT
ships by type: container 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
31 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Puerto Rico
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard,
Police Force
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Puerto Rico
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Qatar
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. He was overthrown by
his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless
coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border
disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas
revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the
leading industrial countries of Western Europe.
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: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:
563 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or
the median line
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1.27%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
130 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum
deposits
People Qatar
Population:
817,052 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 102,938; female 98,934)
15-64 years: 72.4% (male 415,302; female 176,183)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 17,199; female 6,496) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 21.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.87% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
15.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.43 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
17.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.36 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.65 male(s)/female
total population: 1.9 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.14 years
male: 70.65 years
female: 75.76 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups:
Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:
Muslim 95%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.5%
male: 81.4%
female: 85% (2003 est.)
Government Qatar
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls
between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
Government type:
traditional monarchy
Capital:
Doha
Administrative divisions:
10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al
Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan
al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal
Independence:
3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution:
provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir
HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent
constitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari
voters approved the new constitution
Legal system:
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil
codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and
personal matters
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995
when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad
Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASIM bin Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by
the monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed
forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani,
brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime
Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch
(since 20 January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member
Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has 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 four years since; the new constitution provides
for a 45-member Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public
would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir would
appoint the remaining members
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600
consulate(s) general: Houston
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maureen E. QUINN
embassy: Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4101
FAX: [974] 488 4298
Flag description:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the
hoist side
Economy Qatar
Economy - overview:
Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export
earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given
Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of the leading West
European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 14.5 billion
barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23
years. Production and export of natural gas are becoming
increasingly important to the economy. Qatar's proved reserves of
natural gas exceed 17.9 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the
world total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals feature
the development of offshore natural gas reserves. Since 2000, Qatar
has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil
prices and increased natural gas exports, and Qatar's economy is
expected to receive an added boost as it begins to increase liquid
natural gas exports.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $15.91 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 67.6%
services: 32% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002)
Labor force:
280,122 (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.7% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $5 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2
billion (FY 02/03 est.)
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals,
steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
9.264 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
8.616 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
864,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
14.51 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
16.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
17.93 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Exports:
$10.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners:
Japan 40.1%, South Korea 16.6%, Singapore 8.2%, US 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
France 17.8%, Japan 10.1%, US 8.5%, UK 8.3%, Germany 8%, Italy
6.7%, UAE 5.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$15.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Qatari rial (QAR)
Currency code:
QAR
Exchange rates:
Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000),
3.64 (1999), 3.64 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Qatar
Telephones - main lines in use:
142,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
43,476 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio
relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
256,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
230,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.qa
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
75,000 (2001)
Transportation Qatar
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,230 km
paved: 1,107 km
unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 90 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 902 km; liquid
petroleum gas 87 km; oil 722 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 638,815 GRT/995,096 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 2,
container 7, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Kuwait 1, UAE 3 (2002 est.)
Airports:
4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 1
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Qatar
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 320,835
note: includes non-nationals (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 168,416 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 7,192 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$723 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
10% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Qatar
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Reunion
Introduction Reunion
Background:
The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the
17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration, supplemented by
influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians, gave the
island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost
the island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade
route.
Geography Reunion
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references:
World
Area:
total: 2,517 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,507 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
207 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry
from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources:
fish, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 13.2%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 84.8% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la
Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
this mountainous, volcanic island has an active volcano, Piton de
la Fournaise; there is a tropical cyclone center at Saint-Denis,
which is the monitoring station for the whole of the Indian Ocean
People Reunion
Population:
755,171 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.3% (male 121,119; female 115,501)
15-64 years: 62.8% (male 233,607; female 240,502)
65 years and over: 5.9% (male 18,036; female 26,406) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 25.2 years
female: 27.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.47% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
20.17 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 8.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.43 years
male: 70.03 years
female: 77 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.53 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective: Reunionese
Ethnic groups:
French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995)
Languages:
French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.9%
male: 87%
female: 90.8% (2003 est.)
Government Reunion
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Reunion
conventional short form: Reunion
local short form: Ile de la Reunion
local long form: none
former: Bourbon Island
Dependency status:
overseas department of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Gonthier FRIEDERICI (since NA)
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; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
head of government: President of the General Council Jean-Luc
POUDROUX (since NA March 1998) and President of the Regional Council
Paul VERGES (since NA March 1993)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council (49 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral
Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct, popular
vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held 15 and 22 March 1998 (next to
be held NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next
to be held NA 2004)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - various right-wing candidates 13, PCR 10, PS 10,
UDF 8, RPR 6, other left-wing candidates 2; Regional Council -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 19, UDF 9, RPR
8, various right-wing candidates 4, various left-wing candidates 5
note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held NA 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); results -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Reunion also
elects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last
held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, UMP 1,
PCR 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; Rally for the
Republic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Socialist Party or PS
[Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Gilbert
GERARD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ, InOC, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Reunion
Economy - overview:
The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, but
services now dominate. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more
than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports.
The government has been pushing the development of a tourist
industry to relieve high unemployment, which amounts to one-third of
the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the
poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social
tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better
off than other segments of the population, often approaching
European standards, whereas minority groups suffer the poverty and
unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent.
The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the
seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of
Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from
France.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.174 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 19%
services: 73% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
309,900 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 13%, industry 12%, services 75% (2000)
Unemployment rate:
36% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.26 billion
expenditures: $2.62 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998)
Industries:
sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil extraction
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.08 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 55.5%
hydro: 44.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.005 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn
Exports:
$214 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:
sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%,
(1993)
Exports - partners:
France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (2000)
Imports:
$2.5 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and
transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
Imports - partners:
France 64%, Bahrain 3%, Germany 3%, Italy 3% (2000)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA; note - substantial annual subsidies from France
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854
(2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Reunion
Telephones - main lines in use:
268,500 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
197,000 (September 2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis
domestic: modern open-wire and microwave radio relay network
international: radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France,
Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 55, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:
173,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
35 (plus 18 low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
127,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.re
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
10,000 (2000)
Transportation Reunion
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 2,724 km
paved: 1,300 km (including 73 km of four-lane road)
unpaved: 1,424 km (1994)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Le Port, Pointe des Galets
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Reunion
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French forces (including
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 198,341 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 101,116 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 6,795 (2003 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Reunion
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Romania
Introduction Romania
Background:
Soviet occupation following World War II led to the formation of a
Communist "peoples 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 by a
fractious coalition of centrist parties. Currently, the Social
Democratic Party forms a nominally minority government, which
governs with the support of the opposition Democratic Union of
Hungarians in Romania. Bucharest must address rampant corruption,
while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms, before
Romania can achieve its hope of joining the European Union.
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: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water: 7,160 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 and Montenegro 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east)
169 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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 Plain of Moldavia
on the east by the 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: 40.57%
permanent crops: 2.4%
other: 57.03% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
28,800 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note:
controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,
Moldova, and Ukraine
People Romania
Population:
22,271,839 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 1,932,204; female 1,838,240)
15-64 years: 69% (male 7,634,481; female 7,739,232)
65 years and over: 14% (male 1,290,343; female 1,837,339) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.4 years
male: 34 years
female: 37.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.21% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 20.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.62 years
male: 66.88 years
female: 74.59 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.36 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
350 (2001 est.)
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)
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 87%, Protestant
6.8%, Catholic 5.6%, other (mostly Muslim) 0.4%, unaffiliated 0.2%
(2002)
Languages:
Romanian (official), Hungarian, German
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.7% (2003 est.)
Government Romania
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local short form: Romania
local long form: none
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Bucharest
Administrative divisions:
41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality*
(municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,
Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, 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 Turkey; independence
recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed
26 March 1881; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
National holiday:
Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution:
8 December 1991
Legal system:
former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is
now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 December 2000)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 26 November 2000, with runoff between the top two
candidates held 10 December 2000 (next to be held NA
November/December 2004); prime minister appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Adrian NASTASE (since 29 December
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
election results: percent of vote - Ion ILIESCU 66.84%, Corneliu
Vadim TUDOR 33.16%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat
(140 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a
proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (345 seats; members are
elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation
basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held in
the fall of 2004); Chamber of Deputies - last held 26 November 2000
(next to be held in the fall of 2004)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDSR (now PSD)
37.1%, PRM 21.0%, PD 7.6%, PNL 7.5%, UDMR 6.9%; seats by party - PSD
65, PRM 36, PNL 13, UDMR 12, PD 9, independents 5; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - PDSR (now PSD) 36.6%, PRM
19.5%, PD 7.0%, PNL, 6.9%, UDMR 6.8%; seats by party - PSD 171, PRM
69, PD 29, PNL 27, UDMR 27, ethnic minorities 18, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the president on
the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or PD [Traian BASESCU]; Democratic Union of
Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party
or PNL [Theodor STOLOJAN]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian
Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD
[Adrian NASTASE], formerly known as the Party of Social Democracy in
Romania or PDSR
Political pressure groups and leaders:
various human rights and professional associations
International organization participation:
ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sorin Dumitru DUCARU
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. GUEST
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State,
5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone: [40] (21) 210-4042
FAX: [40] (21) 210-0395
branch office(s): Cluj-Napoca
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow
band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also
resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
Economy Romania
Economy - overview:
Romania 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.
Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in
construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept growth above
4%. An IMF Standby Agreement, signed in 2001, has been accompanied
by slow but palpable gains in privatization, deficit reduction, and
the curbing of inflation. Nonetheless, recent macroeconomic gains
have done little to address Romania's widespread poverty, while
corruption and red tape hinder foreign investment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $169.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 35%
services: 50% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
44.5% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 25% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
22.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
9.9 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 40%, industry 25%, services 35% (1998)
Unemployment rate:
8.3% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $11.7 billion
expenditures: $12.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining,
timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food
processing, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002)
Electricity - production:
50.86 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.5%
hydro: 27.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 9.9%
Electricity - consumption:
46.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
400 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
127,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
215,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.055 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
14.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
19.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
5.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
111.1 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes;
eggs, sheep
Exports:
$13.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and
equipment, minerals and fuels
Exports - partners:
Italy 24.4%, Germany 15.5%, France 7.7%, UK 5.4%, US 5%, Turkey
4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$16.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and minerals 12%, chemicals 9%,
textile and products 19% (1999)
Imports - partners:
Italy 20.2%, Germany 18.1%, France 6.6%, Russia 5.6%, Austria 4.9%,
Hungary 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$13.7 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:
leu (ROL)
Currency code:
ROL
Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - 33,055.4 (2002), 29,060.8 (2001), 21,708.7
(2000), 15,332.8 (1999), 8,875.58 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Romania
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.777 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
645,500 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor domestic service, but improving
domestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network is
mostly microwave radio relay, with some fiber-optic cable; about
one-third of exchange capacity is digital; roughly 3,300 villages
have no service
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; new digital,
international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest; note -
Romania is an active participant in several international
telecommunication network projects (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
7.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
5.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ro
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
38 (2000)
Internet users:
1 million (2002)
Transportation Romania
Railways:
total: 11,385 km (3,888 km electrified)
standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2002)
broad gage: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
Highways:
total: 198,603 km
paved: 98,308 km (including 113 km of expressways)
unpaved: 100,295 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,724 km (1984)
Pipelines:
gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea
Merchant marine:
total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 494,670 GRT/650,863 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 1, Italy 5 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 39, container 1, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, railcar carrier 2, roll
on/roll off 4
Airports:
65 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 39
under 914 m: 25 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 12
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Romania
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (AMR), Paramilitary Forces,
Civil Defense, Border Guards
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 5,912,284 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,974,240 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 157,840 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$985 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.47% (2002)
Transnational Issues Romania
Disputes - international:
has not resolved claims to Ukrainian-administered Zmyinyy (Snake)
Island and Black Sea maritime boundary despite ongoing talks based
on 1997 friendship treaty to find a solution in two years; joint
boundary commission is rectifying boundary with Bulgaria based on
shifts in Danube since last delimitation in 1920; Hungary has yet to
amend status law extending special social and cultural benefits to
ethnic Hungarians in Romania, who protest the law
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the
Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for
Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Russia
Introduction Russia
Background:
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 300-year old Romanov Dynasty. The
Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed
the USSR. The brutal rule of Josef STALIN (1928-53) strengthened
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 15
independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its
efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to
replace the strict social, political, and economic controls of the
Communist period. A determined guerrilla conflict still plagues
Russia in Chechnya.
Geography Russia
Location:
Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is included with
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: 17,075,200 sq km
water: 79,400 sq km
land: 16,995,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 19,990 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China
(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland
1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km,
Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,485
km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576
km
Coastline:
37,653 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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, timber
note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder
exploitation of natural resources
Land use:
arable land: 7.46%
permanent crops: 0.11%
other: 92.43% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
46,630 sq km (1998 est.)
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
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-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Persistent Organic Pollutants
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 Elbrus is Europe's
tallest peak
People Russia
Population:
144,526,278 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 11,815,360; female 11,335,715)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 49,399,322; female 52,367,194)
65 years and over: 13.6% (male 6,394,411; female 13,214,276) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 37.6 years
male: 34.7 years
female: 40.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 21.53 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.66 years
male: 62.46 years
female: 73.11 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.33 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
700,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Russian(s)
adjective: Russian
Ethnic groups:
Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir
0.9%, Belarusian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1% (1989)
Religions:
Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other
Languages:
Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
Government Russia
Country name:
conventional long form: Russian Federation
conventional short form: Russia
local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
local short form: Rossiya
Government type:
federation
Capital:
Moscow
Administrative divisions:
49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast), 21 republics* (respublik,
singular - respublika), 10 autonomous okrugs**(avtonomnykh okrugov,
singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 6 krays*** (krayev, singular - kray),
2 federal cities (singular - gorod)****, and 1 autonomous
oblast*****(avtonomnaya oblast'); Adygeya (Maykop)*, Aginskiy
Buryatskiy (Aginskoye)**, Altay (Gorno-Altaysk)*, Altayskiy
(Barnaul)***, Amurskaya (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'skaya,
Astrakhanskaya, Bashkortostan (Ufa)*, Belgorodskaya, Bryanskaya,
Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude)*, Chechnya (Groznyy)*, Chelyabinskaya,
Chitinskaya, Chukotskiy (Anadyr')**, Chuvashiya (Cheboksary)*,
Dagestan (Makhachkala)*, Evenkiyskiy (Tura)**, Ingushetiya
(Nazran')*, Irkutskaya, Ivanovskaya, Kabardino-Balkariya
(Nal'chik)*, Kaliningradskaya, Kalmykiya (Elista)*, Kaluzhskaya,
Kamchatskaya (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya
(Cherkessk)*, Kareliya (Petrozavodsk)*, Kemerovskaya,
Khabarovskiy***, Khakasiya (Abakan)*, Khanty-Mansiyskiy
(Khanty-Mansiysk)**, Kirovskaya, Komi (Syktyvkar)*, Koryakskiy
(Palana)**, Kostromskaya, Krasnodarskiy***, Krasnoyarskiy***,
Kurganskaya, Kurskaya, Leningradskaya, Lipetskaya, Magadanskaya,
Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola)*, Mordoviya (Saransk)*, Moskovskaya, Moskva
(Moscow)****, Murmanskaya, Nenetskiy (Nar'yan-Mar)**,
Nizhegorodskaya, Novgorodskaya, Novosibirskaya, Omskaya,
Orenburgskaya, Orlovskaya (Orel), Penzenskaya, Permskaya,
Komi-Permyatskiy (Kudymkar)**, Primorskiy (Vladivostok)***,
Pskovskaya, Rostovskaya, Ryazanskaya, Sakha (Yakutiya)*,
Sakhalinskaya (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samarskaya, Sankt-Peterburg
(Saint Petersburg)****, Saratovskaya, Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya
[North Ossetia] (Vladikavkaz)*, Smolenskaya, Stavropol'skiy***,
Sverdlovskaya (Yekaterinburg), Tambovskaya, Tatarstan (Kazan')*,
Taymyrskiy (Dudinka)**, Tomskaya, Tul'skaya, Tverskaya, Tyumenskaya,
Tyva (Kyzyl)*, Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)*, Ul'yanovskaya, Ust'-Ordynskiy
Buryatskiy (Ust'-Ordynskiy)**, Vladimirskaya, Volgogradskaya,
Vologodskaya, Voronezhskaya, Yamalo-Nenetskiy (Salekhard)**,
Yaroslavskaya, Yevreyskaya*****; note - when using a place name with
an adjectival ending 'skaya' or 'skiy,' the word Oblast' or
Avonomnyy Okrug or Kray should be added to the place name
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 Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
Constitution:
adopted 12 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (acting
president since 31 December 1999, president since 7 May 2000)
head of government: Premier Mikhail Mikhaylovich KASYANOV (since 7
May 2000); Deputy Premiers Viktor Borisovich KHRISTENKO (since 31
May 1999), Aleksey Leonidovich KUDRIN (since 18 May 2000), Aleksey
Vasilyevich GORDEYEV (since 20 May 2000), Boris Sergeyevich ALESHIN
(since 24 April 2003), Galina Nikolayevna KARELOVA (since 24 April
2003), Vladimir Anatolyevich YAKOVLEV (since 16 June 2003)
cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" composed of
the premier and his deputies, ministers, and selected other
individuals; all are appointed by the president
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
election results: Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN elected president;
percent of vote - Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN 52.9%, Gennadiy
Andreyevich ZYUGANOV 29.2%, Grigoriy Alekseyevich YAVLINSKIY 5.8%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 26 March 2000 (next to be held March 2004); note
- no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot
exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns,
the premier succeeds him; 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
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists of the
Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (178 seats; as of July 2000,
members appointed by the top executive and legislative officials in
each of the 89 federal administrative units - oblasts, krays,
republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the federal cities of
Moscow and Saint Petersburg; members serve four-year terms) and the
State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats; 225 seats elected by
proportional representation from party lists winning at least 5% of
the vote, and 225 seats from single-member constituencies; members
are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: State Duma - percent of vote received by parties
clearing the 5% threshold entitling them to a proportional share of
the 225 party list seats - United Russia 37.1%, KPRF 12.7%, LDPR
11.6%, Motherland 9.1%; seats by party - United Russia 222, KPRF 53,
LDPR 38, Motherland 37, People's Party 19, Yabloko 4, Union of
Rightist Forces 2, other 7, independents 65, repeat election
required 3
elections: State Duma - last held 7 December 2003 (next to be held
NA December 2007)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Superior Court of Arbitration;
judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation
Council on the recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of the Russian Federation or KPRF [Gennadiy
Andreyevich ZYUGANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR
[Vladimir Volfovich ZHIRINOVSKIY]; Motherland Bloc (Rodina) [Sergey
GLAZYEV and Dmitriy ROGOZIN]; People's Party [Gennadiy RAYKOV];
Union of Rightist Forces or SPS [Anatoliy Borisovich CHUBAYS, Yegor
Timurovich GAYDAR, Irina Mutsuovna KHAKAMADA, Boris Yefimovich
NEMTSOV]; United Russia [Boris Vyacheslavovich GRYZLOV]; Yabloko
Party [Grigoriy Alekseyevich YAVLINSKIY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC,
CBSS, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, G- 8, GEF,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNDP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET,
UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy Viktorovich USHAKOV
chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700, 5701, 5704, 5708
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander VERSHBOW
embassy: Bolshoy Devyatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow
mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721
telephone: [7] (095) 728-5000
FAX: [7] (095) 728-5090
consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
Economy Russia
Economy - overview:
A decade after the implosion of the Soviet Union in December 1991,
Russia is still struggling to establish a modern market economy and
achieve strong economic growth. In contrast to its trading partners
in Central Europe - which were able within 3 to 5 years to overcome
the initial production declines that accompanied the launch of
market reforms - Russia saw its economy contract for five years, as
the executive and legislature dithered over the implementation of
many of the basic foundations of a market economy. Russia achieved a
slight recovery in 1997, but the government's stubborn budget
deficits and the country's poor business climate made it vulnerable
when the global financial crisis swept through in 1998. The crisis
culminated in the August depreciation of the ruble, a debt default
by the government, and a sharp deterioration in living standards for
most of the population. The economy subsequently has rebounded,
growing by an average of more than 6% annually in 1999-2002 on the
back of higher oil prices and the 60% depreciation of the ruble in
1998. These GDP numbers, along with a renewed government effort to
advance lagging structural reforms, have raised business and
investor confidence over Russia's prospects in its second decade of
transition. Yet serious problems persist. Oil, natural gas, metals,
and timber account for more than 80% of exports, leaving the country
vulnerable to swings in world prices. Russia's industrial base is
increasingly dilapidated and must be replaced or modernized if the
country is to maintain vigorous economic growth. Other problems
include a weak banking system, a poor business climate that
discourages both domestic and foreign investors, corruption, local
and regional government intervention in the courts, and widespread
lack of trust in institutions. In 2003 President PUTIN further
tightened his control over the "oligarchs," especially in the realm
of political expression.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.409 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 34.6%
services: 59.6% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (37622 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 5.9%
highest 10%: 47% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.9 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
71.8 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 12.3%, industry 22.7%, services 65% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% plus considerable underemployment (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $70 billion
expenditures: $62 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
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;
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:
3.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
846.5 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 64.3%
hydro: 20.5%
other: 0.4% (2001)
nuclear: 14.8%
Electricity - consumption:
773 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
21.16 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
7 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
7.286 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.595 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
51.22 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
580.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
408.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
205.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
32.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
47.86 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef, milk
Exports:
$104.6 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood
products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and
military manufactures
Exports - partners:
Germany 7.5%, Italy 6.9%, Netherlands 6.7%, China 6.3%, US 6.1%,
Ukraine 5.5%, Belarus 5.4%, Switzerland 5% (2002)
Imports:
$60.7 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, sugar,
semifinished metal products
Imports - partners:
Germany 14.3%, Belarus 8.9%, Ukraine 7.1%, US 6.4%, China 5.2%,
Italy 4.8%, Kazakhstan 4.3%, France 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$153.5 billion (yearend 2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
in FY01 from US, $979 million (including $750 million in
non-proliferation subsidies); in 2001 from EU, $200 million
Currency:
Russian ruble (RUR)
Currency code:
RUR
Exchange rates:
Russian rubles per US dollar - 31.27 (2002), 29.17 (2001), 28.13
(2000), 24.62 (1999), 9.71 (1998)
note: the post-1 January 1998 ruble is equal to 1,000 of the pre-1
January 1998 rubles
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Russia
Telephones - main lines in use:
30 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
19 million (January 2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telephone system has undergone significant
changes in the 1990s; 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;
however, a large demand for main 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: Russia is connected internationally by three 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 420, FM 447, shortwave 56 (1998)
Radios:
61.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
7,306 (1998)
Televisions:
60.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ru; Russia also has responsibility for a legacy domain ".su" that
was allocated to the Soviet Union, its legal status and ownership
are contested by the Russian Government, ICANN, and several Russian
commercial entities
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
300 (June 2000)
Internet users:
18 million (2002)
Transportation Russia
Railways:
total: 87,157 km
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 carrrier lines serve
industries (2002)
Highways:
total: 532,393 km
paved: 358,833 km
unpaved: 173,560 km (2000)
Waterways:
95,900 km (total routes in general use)
note: routes with navigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet
- 95,900 km; routes with night navigational aids - 60,400 km;
man-made navigable routes - 16,900 km (January 1994)
Pipelines:
gas 135,771 km; oil 70,833 km; refined products 11,536 km; water 23
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', De-Kastri,
Indigirskiy, Kaliningrad, Kandalaksha, Kazan', Khabarovsk, Kholmsk,
Krasnoyarsk, Lazarev, Mago, Mezen', Moscow, Murmansk, Nakhodka,
Nevel'sk, Novorossiysk, Onega, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Rostov,
Shakhtersk, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Taganrog, Tuapse, Uglegorsk,
Vanino, Vladivostok, Volgograd, Vostochnyy, Vyborg
Merchant marine:
total: 933 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,495,122 GRT/5,490,103 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 22, cargo 553, chemical tanker
12, combination bulk 21, combination ore/oil 36, container 30,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 38, passenger/cargo
3, petroleum tanker 167, refrigerated cargo 21, roll on/roll off 20,
short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 9, Denmark 1, Estonia 4,
Greece 3, Honduras 1, Latvia 4, Lithuania 3, Moldova 3, Netherlands
1, South Korea 1, Turkey 18, Turkmenistan 2, Ukraine 10, UK 5, US 1
(2002 est.)
Airports:
2,743 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 471
over 3,047 m: 56
2,438 to 3,047 m: 178
1,524 to 2,437 m: 76
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 92 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2,272
over 3,047 m: 28
2,438 to 3,047 m: 118
1,524 to 2,437 m: 204
914 to 1,523 m: 324
under 914 m: 1,598 (2002)
Military Russia
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces; Airborne troops, Strategic Rocket
Forces, and Military Space Forces are classified as independent
combat arms, not subordinate to any of the three branches
:
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 36 million (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 24 million (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1.243 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Russia
Disputes - international:
China continues to seek a mutually acceptable solution to the
disputed alluvial islands at the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri
rivers and a small island on the Argun River as part of the 2001
Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation; the
islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group
identified by the Russians as the "Southern Kurils" and by Japan as
the "Northern Territories" occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now
administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; boundary with Georgia has
been largely delimited but not demarcated with several small,
strategic segments remaining in dispute and OSCE observers
monitoring volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti
region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; equidistant seabed treaties
have been signed with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the Caspian Sea
but no resolution on dividing the water column among any of the
littoral states; 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; Russia continues
to reject signing and ratifying the joint 1996 technical border
agreement with Estonia; the Russian Parliament refuses to consider
ratification of the boundary treaties with Estonia and Latvia, but
in May 2003, ratified land and maritime boundary treaty with
Lithuania, which ratified the 1997 treaty in 1999, legalizing limits
of former Soviet republic borders; discussions are still ongoing
among Russia, Lithuania and the EU concerning a simplified transit
document for residents of the Kaliningrad coastal exclave to transit
through Lithuania to Russia; land delimitation with Ukraine is
ratified, but maritime regime of the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait is
unresolved; delimitation with Kazakhstan is scheduled for completion
in 2003; Russian Duma has not yet ratified 1990 Maritime Boundary
Agreement with the US in the Bering Sea
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; heroin increasingly popular in domestic market
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Rwanda
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, 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. Despite substantial international
assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's first local
elections in March 1999 - the country continues to struggle to boost
investment and agricultural output and to foster reconciliation. A
series of massive population displacements, a nagging Hutu extremist
insurgency, and Rwandan involvement in two wars over the past four
years in the neighboring DROC continue to hinder Rwanda's efforts.
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
water: 1,390 sq km
land: 24,948 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: 32.43%
permanent crops: 10.13%
other: 57.44% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
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:
7,810,056
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.5% (male 1,667,128; female 1,651,422)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 2,128,495; female 2,148,694)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 85,576; female 128,741) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.84% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
40.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
21.72 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 102.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 97.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 107.66 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 39.33 years
male: 38.51 years
female: 40.18 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.6 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
8.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
500,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
49,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic groups:
Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 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
female: 64.7% (2003 est.)
male: 76.3%
total population: 70.4%
People - note:
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa
Government Rwanda
Country name:
conventional long form: Rwandese Republic
conventional short form: Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
Government type:
republic; presidential, multiparty system
Capital:
Kigali
Administrative divisions:
12 prefectures (in French - prefectures, singular - prefecture; in
Kinyarwanda - plural - NA, singular - prefegitura); Butare, Byumba,
Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali
Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri
Independence:
1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:
on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted as
Fundamental Law the constitution of 18 June 1991, provisions of the
1993 Arusha peace accord, the July 1994 Declaration by the Rwanda
Patriotic Front, and the November 1994 multiparty protocol of
understanding
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 adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (FPR) (since 22
April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: last held 25 August 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first direct
popular vote; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%,
Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (53 seats;
members elected by direct vote)
elections: last held 29 September 2003 (next to be held NA)
election results: seats by party under the Arusha peace accord - FPR
40, PSD 7, PL 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; communal courts; appeals courts
Political parties and leaders:
Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Jean-Nipomuscene NAYINZIRA];
Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [J. Damascene NTAWUKURIRYAYO];
Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [leader NA]; Democratic
Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA]; Islamic Democratic
Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Pie MUGABO]; Party
for Democratic Renewal (officially banned) [Pasteur BIZIMUNGU and
Charles NTAKARUTINKA]; Rwanda Patriotic Front or FPR [Maj. Gen. Paul
KAGAME]; Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
IBUKA - association of genocide survivors
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zac NSENGA
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret K. McMILLION
embassy: #337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03
FAX: [250] 57 2128
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
Economy Rwanda
Economy - overview:
Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population
engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely
populated country in Africa; landlocked with few natural resources
and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners are coffee
and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base,
severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded
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, although poverty
levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded, and inflation has been
curbed. Export earnings, however, have been hindered by low beverage
prices, depriving the country of much needed hard currency. Attempts
to diversify into non-traditional agriculture exports such as
flowers and vegetables have been stymied by a lack of adequate
transportation infrastructure. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem,
food production often does not keep pace with population growth,
requiring food to be imported. Rwanda continues to receive
substantial amounts of aid money and was approved for IMF-World Bank
Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in late
2000. But Kigali's high defense expenditures cause tension between
the government and international donors and lending agencies.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $8.92 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 20%
services: 35% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 24.2% (1985)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.9 (1985)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.6 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 90%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $199.3 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap,
furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
96.78 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.3%
hydro: 97.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
140 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
50 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums),
bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Exports:
$68 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, tea, hides, tin ore
Exports - partners:
Indonesia 30.8%, Germany 14.6%, Hong Kong 9%, South Africa 5.5%
(2002)
Imports:
$253 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products,
cement and construction material
Imports - partners:
Kenya 21.8%, Germany 8.4%, Belgium 7.9%, Israel 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.3 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$372.9 million (1999)
Currency:
Rwandan franc (RWF)
Currency code:
RWF
Exchange rates:
Rwandan francs per US dollar - 475.37 (2002), 442.99 (2001), 389.7
(2000), 333.94 (1999), 312.31 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Rwanda
Telephones - main lines in use:
600,000 note - 90% in Kigali (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
81,000 (2001)
note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and several
prefecture capitals (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone system primarily serves business and
government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the
prefectures by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular
telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF
radiotelephone
international: 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of
repeaters and the third FM program is a 24 hour BBC program),
shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:
601,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
NA; probably less than 1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.rw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2002)
Internet users:
20,000 (2002)
Transportation Rwanda
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 12,000 km
paved: 996 km
unpaved: 11,004 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
note: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
Ports and harbors:
Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
Airports:
9 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Rwanda
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,932,637 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 982,909 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$59.57 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Rwanda
Disputes - international:
Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associated
political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces
continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries
of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to
gain control over populated areas and natural resources - government
heads pledge to end conflicts, but localized violence continues
despite UN peacekeeping efforts
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Saint Helena
Introduction Saint Helena
Background:
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. Ascension
Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Gough
Island has a meteorological station.
Geography Saint Helena
Location:
islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South
America and Africa
Geographic coordinates:
15 56 S, 5 42 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 410 sq km
note: includes Saint Helena Island, Ascension, and the island group
of Tristan da Cunha, which consists of Tristan da Cunha Island,
Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, and the three Nightingale Islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 410 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
60 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds;
Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade winds
(tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain:
Saint Helena - rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 12.9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.1% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the
world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
People Saint Helena
Population:
7,367 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 704; female 685)
15-64 years: 71.6% (male 2,732; female 2,545)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 309; female 392) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.2 years
male: 34.4 years
female: 33.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.67% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.9 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 24.66 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.38 years
male: 74.49 years
female: 80.42 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.54 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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
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.)
Government Saint Helena
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Helena
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Jamestown
Administrative divisions:
1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; 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:
1 January 1989
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
NA years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by
the monarch
head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief Michael CLANCY
(since NA October 2003)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio
officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, 3
ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court; Small Debts Court; Juvenile Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ICFTU
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 shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
Economy Saint Helena
Economy - overview:
The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK,
which amounted to about $5 million in 1997 or almost one-half of
annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from
fishing, the raising of 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.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
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.)
Labor force:
3,500
note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%,
services 46% (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $11.2 million
expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY92)
Industries:
construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
4.65 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da
Cunha)
Exports:
$704,000 f.o.b. (1995)
Exports - commodities:
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee,
handicrafts
Exports - partners:
US 23.7%, Japan 20.5%, Netherlands 16%, Tanzania 15.4%, Spain 6.4%,
UK 5.1%, Indonesia 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$14.434 million c.i.f. (1995)
Imports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building
materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Imports - partners:
UK 47.6%, Tanzania 14.6%, Italy 12.1%, South Africa 10.9%, US 5.3%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997)
Currency:
Saint Helenian pound (SHP)
Currency code:
SHP
Exchange rates:
Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001),
0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998),
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Saint Helena
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: can communicate worldwide
domestic: automatic network
international: HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to Ascensionm,
which is a major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South
Africa, Portugal, and UK; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
3,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0
note: television programs are received in Saint Helena via satellite
and distributed by cable (2002)
Televisions:
2,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Communications - note:
Gough Island has a meteorological station
Transportation Saint Helena
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da
Cunha 20 km)
paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha
10 km)
unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha
10 km) (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Helena
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Saint Helena
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Saint Kitts and Nevis
Introduction Saint Kitts and Nevis
Background:
First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became an
associated state 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.
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)
water: 0 sq km
land: 261 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
135 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 16.67%
permanent crops: 2.78%
other: 80.55% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (July to October)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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 three-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:
38,763 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 5,754; female 5,499)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 12,098; female 12,105)
65 years and over: 8.5% (male 1,365; female 1,942) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.1 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 27.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-8.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.57 years
male: 68.76 years
female: 74.56 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1980 est.)
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:
constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament
Capital:
Basseterre
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 UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution:
19 September 1983
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 Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN
(since 1 January 1996)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation
with the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11
popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve
five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
SKNLP 8, CCM 2, NRP 1
elections: last held 6 March 2000 (next to be held by July 2005)
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of
the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Political parties and leaders:
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation
Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM
[Lindsey GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr.
Denzil DOUGLAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS,
OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. 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 in 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
Economy Saint Kitts and Nevis
Economy - overview:
Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy until
the 1970s. Although the crop still dominates the agricultural
sector, activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing,
and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy. As
tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreign
exchange, a decline in stopover tourist arrivals following the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks has eroded government finances.
The opening of a 1,000+ bed Marriott hotel in February 2003 is
expected to bring in much-needed revenue.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $339 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
18,172 (June 1995)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
4.5% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $89.7 million
expenditures: $128.2 million, including capital expenditures of
$19.5 million (2003 est.)
Industries:
sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear,
beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
100.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
93.26 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
710 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Exports:
$47 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:
US 66.5%, UK 7.6%, Canada 6.8%, Portugal 6% (2002)
Imports:
$152 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 41.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 16.2%, Canada 9.8%, UK 6.9%, Japan 4%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$171 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$8 million (2001)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Saint Kitts and Nevis
Telephones - main lines in use:
17,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
205 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good interisland and international connections
domestic: inter island links to Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin
(Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF
radiotelephone
international: international calls are carried by radiotelephone to
Antigua and Barbuda and switched there to submarine cable or to
Intelsat; or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands
Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
28,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Saint Kitts and Nevis
Railways:
total: 50 km
narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane
plantations during harvest season (2002)
Highways:
total: 320 km
paved: 136 km
unpaved: 184 km (1999 est)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Basseterre, Charlestown
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Kitts and Nevis
Military branches:
Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (including Coast Guard), Royal
Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force (including Special Service Unit)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Saint Kitts and Nevis
Disputes - international:
protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,
which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a
large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
and Europe; some money-laundering activity
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Saint Lucia
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. 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 68 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 616 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 606 sq km
Area - comparative:
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
158 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 from
January to April, rainy season from 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: 4.92%
permanent crops: 22.95%
other: 72.13% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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:
162,157 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.1% (male 25,883; female 24,569)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 50,711; female 52,508)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,147; female 5,339) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.1 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 24.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.25% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
20.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 15.51 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.08 years
male: 69.52 years
female: 76.9 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.29 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 3%, other Protestant 7%
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 67%
male: 65%
female: 69% (1980 est.)
Government Saint Lucia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Government type:
Westminster-style parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Castries
Administrative divisions:
11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery,
Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence:
22 February 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution:
22 February 1979
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 Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September
1997)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24
May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)
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 are elected by popular vote from single-member
constituencies to serve five-year terms)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP
55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3
elections: House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to be
held NA December 2006)
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla,
Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada,
Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines)
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 [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY
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 and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador
in 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
Economy Saint Lucia
Economy - overview:
The recent changes in the EU import preference regime and the
increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic
diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. The island
nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment,
especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. The
manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean
area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana
industry. Economic fundamentals remain solid.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $866 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 20%
services: 73% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
43,800
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 21.7%, services 53.6%, industry, commerce, and
manufacturing 24.7% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16.5% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of
$25.1 million (2000 est.)
Industries:
clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated
cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:
-8.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
120.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
111.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Exports:
$68.3 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
UK 48.6%, US 27.8%, Barbados 7.6% (2002)
Imports:
$319.4 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation
equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners:
Brazil 41.7%, US 21.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$214 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$51.8 million (1995)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Saint Lucia
Telephones - main lines in use:
37,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,600 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: system is automatically switched
international: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados;
international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat
from Martinique
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
111,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (of which two are commercial stations and one is a community
antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)
Televisions:
32,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.lc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
15 (2000)
Internet users:
3,000 (2000)
Transportation Saint Lucia
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,210 km
paved: 63 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Castries, Vieux Fort
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Lucia
Military branches:
Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and
Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
$NA
Transnational Issues Saint Lucia
Disputes - international:
protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,
which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a
large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon
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
note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the
Miquelon groups
water: 0 sq km
land: 242 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
120 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are 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: 13.04%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 86.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
6,976 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 891; female 851)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,306; female 2,210)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 310; female 408) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.9 years
male: 32.7 years
female: 33.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.62 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.11 years
male: 75.82 years
female: 80.51 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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%
Languages:
French (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)
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 short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Dependency status:
self-governing territorial collectivity of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions:
none (territorial 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:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as
housing and taxation
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Claude VALLEIX (since 9 October 2002)
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held, first round - 21 April 2002, second round
- 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prefect appointed by the
French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior;
president of the General Council is elected by the members of the
council
head of government: President of the General Council Marc
PLANTAGENEST (since NA)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats - 15 from
Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular
vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 19 and 26 March 2000 (next to be held
NA April 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PS 12, PRG 2, UDF-RPR 5
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French
National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002,
second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 1
Judicial branch:
Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
PRG [leader NA]; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP)
[leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union pour la
Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag description:
a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark blue
background with a black wave line under the ship; 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 flag of France is used
for official occasions
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. The islands are
heavily subsidized by France to the great betterment of living
standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost
economic prospects. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way
for development of the energy sector.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $74 million - supplemented by annual
payments from France of about $60 million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (1991-96 average)
Labor force:
3,261 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
fishing 18%, industry (mainly fish-processing) 41%, services 41%
(1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24
million (1996 est.)
Industries:
fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
42.03 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
39.08 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports:
$12 million f.o.b. (1999)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and
crustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Exports - partners:
US 33.3%, Zambia 30.3%, Ecuador 16.2%, France 5.1%, Canada 4%,
Spain 4% (2002)
Imports:
$55 million f.o.b. (1999)
Imports - commodities:
meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building
materials
Imports - partners:
Zambia 61.5%, France 21.8%, Canada 13% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
approximately $60 million in annual grants from France
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in
the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
4,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs
from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
Televisions:
4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.pm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 114 km
paved: 69 km
unpaved: 45 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Saint Pierre
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Introduction Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Background:
Disputed between France and the United Kingdom in the 18th century,
Saint Vincent was ceded to the latter in 1783. 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)
water: 0 sq km
land: 389 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
84 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, cropland
Land use:
arable land: 10.26%
permanent crops: 17.95%
other: 71.79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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:
116,812 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.2% (male 16,755; female 16,163)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 39,308; female 37,149)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,215; female 4,222) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 25.1 years
female: 25.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.08 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-7.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 17.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.08 years
male: 71.3 years
female: 74.92 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.95 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 7%
Religions:
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, Hindu Seventh-Day
Adventist, other Protestant
Languages:
English, French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
Government Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government type:
parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the
Commonwealth
Capital:
Kingstown
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint
George, Saint Patrick
Independence:
27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution:
27 October 1979
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 Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE
(since 2 September 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29
March 2001)
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives
and 6 appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular
vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
ULP 12, NDP 3
elections: last held 28 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006)
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of
the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:
National Reform Party or NRP [Joel MIGUEL]; New Democratic Party or
NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Ken
BOYEA]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [leader NA]; United People's
Movement or UPM [Adrian SAUNDERS]; 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, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ellsworth I. A. JOHN
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 in 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
Economy Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Economy - overview:
Bananas and other agricultural products remain the staple of this
lower-middle income country's economy. Although tourism and other
services have been growing moderately in recent years, the
government has been ineffective at introducing new industries.
Unemployment remains high, and economic growth hinges upon seasonal
variations in the agricultural and tourism sectors. Tropical storms
wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002, and
tourism in the Eastern Caribbean has suffered low arrivals following
11 September 2001. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking
sector, but its restrictive secrecy laws have come under
international review. As of June 2001, it remained on the Financial
Action Task Force's list of noncooperative jurisdictions. Saint
Vincent is also the largest producer of marijuana in the Eastern
Caribbean and is increasingly being used as a transshipment point
for illegal narcotics from South America.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $339 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:
22% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $94.6 million
expenditures: $85.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
92.48 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 69.3%
hydro: 30.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
86 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,250 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle,
sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Exports:
$53.7 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis
racquets
Exports - partners:
France 25.2%, Greece 19.1%, Spain 16.4%, UK 9.5%, US 7.1% (2002)
Imports:
$185.6 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers,
minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:
France 32.7%, US 11.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.4%, Singapore 10.1%,
Spain 7.9%, Greece 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$167.2 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$47.5 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (1998)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
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
international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to
Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia;
access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
77,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.vc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
15 (2000)
Internet users:
3,500 (2001)
Transportation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,040 km
paved: 320 km
unpaved: 720 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Kingstown
Merchant marine:
total: 769 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,365,887 GRT/9,665,937 DWT
ships by type: bulk 133, cargo 376, chemical tanker 21, combination
bulk 7, container 58, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 4,
multi-functional large-load carrier 2, passenger 5, petroleum tanker
43, refrigerated cargo 46, roll on/roll off 45, short-sea passenger
10, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 1, Anguilla 1, Argentina 1, Australia 2, The
Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Barbados 2, Belgium 4, Bulgaria 14, Canada
1, Cayman Islands 1, China 135, Colombia 1, Croatia 12, Cyprus 6,
Denmark 16, Egypt 7, Estonia 6, France 27, Germany 12, Greece 156,
Guyana 7, Hong Kong 23, Iceland 1, India 11, Indonesia 3, Israel 2,
Italy 19, Japan 1, Kenya 4, Latvia 5, Lebanon 9, Liberia 5,
Lithuania 1, Malta 1, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall Islands 3, Mexico 1,
Monaco 6, Netherlands 14, Netherlands Antilles 1, Nigeria 3, Norway
33, Pakistan 5, Panama 2, Poland 2, Portugal 2, Puerto Rico 2,
Russia 8, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 4,
Slovenia 7, South Korea 4, Spain 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 10, Syria
2, Taiwan 1, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey
15, Ukraine 8, UAE 45, UK 16, US 25, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Military branches:
Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (includes
Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Disputes - international:
protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,
which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a
large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Samoa
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
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 2,944 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
403 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to
October)
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in
interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 19.43%
permanent crops: 23.67%
other: 56.9% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
People Samoa
Population:
178,173 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.4% (male 26,613; female 25,715)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 72,135; female 42,903)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 4,980; female 5,827) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.7 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 20.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.27% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
15.41 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-11.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.68 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 29.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 34.98 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.11 years
male: 67.35 years
female: 73 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.21 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
12
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3
Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups:
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian
blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions:
Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the
London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic,
Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
Government Samoa
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
Government type:
constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital:
Apia
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, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is celebrated
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: Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA (cochief of state from
1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA
(since 1996); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister from
1992 until he assumed the prime ministership in 1996, when former
Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health;
TUILA'EPA was confirmed as prime minister after TOFILAU died; the
post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of
state with the prime minister's advice
elections: upon the death of Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA, a new
chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve
a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of
state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected by
voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral
districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly Eurasian, voters who
cannot, (or choose not to) establish a village affiliation; only
chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: election last held 3 March 2001 (next election to be held
not later than March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
HRPP 30, SNDP 13, independents 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Land and Titles Court
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party [leader NA]; Human Rights Protection
Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA, chairman]; Samoa All
People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua MAIMOANA]; Samoan National
Development Party or SNDP [LE MAMEA Ropati, chairman] (opposition);
Samoa National Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary]; Samoan
Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]; Samoan United
Independents Party or SUIP [Dr. Saleimoa VAAI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Feturi ELISAIA
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to
Samoa
embassy: Vailima
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone: [685] 21631/22696
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
Economy Samoa
Economy - overview:
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on
development aid, family remittances from overseas, and 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. The
decline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem. Tourism
is an expanding sector, accounting for 25% of GDP; about 88,000
tourists visited the islands in 2001. The Samoan Government has
called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of
investment, and continued fiscal discipline, meantime 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 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 23%
services: 63% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
90,000 (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%; note - substantial underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $105 million
expenditures: $119 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001/2002)
Industries:
food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2000)
Electricity - production:
105.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 42%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
97.74 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Exports:
$15.5 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,
garments, beer
Exports - partners:
Australia 66.1%, US 10%, Japan 3.7% (2002)
Imports:
$130.1 million f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
New Zealand 23.3%, Fiji 20.2%, Australia 15.7%, Japan 13.1%, Taiwan
6.4%, US 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$197 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$42.9 million (1995)
Currency:
tala (SAT)
Currency code:
SAT (former WST code is still in wide use)
Exchange rates:
tala per US dollar - 3.37 (2002), 3.48 (2001), 3.29 (2000), 3.01
(1999), 2.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
June 1 - May 31
Communications Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,183 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,545 (February 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
174,849 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2002)
Televisions:
8,634 (1999)
Internet country code:
.ws
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
3,000 (2002)
Transportation Samoa
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 790 km
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 458 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 7,091 GRT/8,127 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Samoa
Military branches:
no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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; note - some EEZ demarcations, including the one with American
Samoa, are undefined
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@San Marino
Introduction San Marino
Background:
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco)
also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to
tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus in
301 A.D. 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: 61.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 61.2 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.3 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Nuclear
Test Ban
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:
28,119 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 2,364; female 2,220)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 9,149; female 9,731)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 2,009; female 2,646) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.6 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 40 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.38% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.49 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
11.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.41 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.43 years
male: 77.9 years
female: 85.26 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.31 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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% (1976 est.)
Government San Marino
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
Government type:
independent republic
Capital:
San Marino
Administrative divisions:
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo
Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte
Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
Independence:
3 September 301
National holiday:
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (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: cochiefs of state Captain Regent Giovanni
LONFERNINI and Captain Regent Valeria CIAVATTA (for the period 1
October 2003-31 March 2004)
elections: cochiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great
and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA
September 2003 (next to be held NA March 2004); secretary of state
for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held 17 December 2002
(next to be held NA June 2007)
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council)
selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (cochiefs
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 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 of the
prerogatives of a prime minister
election results: Giovanni LONFERNINI and Valeria CIAVATTA elected
captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA%; Fiorenzo STOLFI
elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs;
percent of legislative vote - 40%
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
for a five-year term
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Fiorenzo STOLFI (since 17 December 2002)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale
(60 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 10 June 2001 (next to be held by June 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDCS 41.4%, PSS 24.2%,
PD 20.8%, APDS 8.2%, RC 3.4%, AN 1.9%; seats by party - PDCS 25, PSS
15, PD 12, APDS 5, RC 2, AN 1
Judicial branch:
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Ideas in Movement or IM
[Alessandro ROSSI]; National Alliance or AN [leader NA]; Party of
Democrats or PD [Claudio FELICI]; San Marino Christian Democratic
Party or PDCS [Giovanni LONFERNINI]; San Marino Popular Alliance of
Democrats or APDS [Roberto GIORGETTI]; San Marino Socialist Party or
PSS [Alberto CECCHETTI]; Socialists for Reform or SR [Renzo GIARDI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
San Marino does not have an embassy in the US
honorary consulate(s) general: Washington, DC and New York
honorary consulate(s): Detroit and Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul
General in Florence (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 coat of arms
has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a
wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS
(Liberty)
Economy San Marino
Economy - overview:
The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 2000 more than 3
million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking,
wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural
products are wine and cheeses. 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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $940 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $34,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2001)
Labor force:
18,500 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 57%, industry 42%, agriculture 1% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.6% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
NA
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 41.18%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0%
hydro: 58.82%
Electricity - consumption:
NA (2000)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
note: electric power supplied by Italy
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
note: electricity supplied by Italy
Agriculture - products:
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese,
hides
Exports:
trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Exports - commodities:
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods,
hides, ceramics
Imports:
trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Imports - commodities:
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications San Marino
Telephones - main lines in use:
18,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,010 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate connections
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into
Italian system
international: connected to Italian international network
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
16,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)
Televisions:
9,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation San Marino
Railways:
0 km; note - there is a 1.5-km cable railway connecting the city of
San Marino to Borgo Maggiore
Highways:
total: 220 km
paved: 220 km
unpaved: 0 km (2001)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
none (2002)
Military San Marino
Military branches:
Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari Voluntar), Gendarmerie;
note - the Voluntary Military Force performs ceremonial duties and
limited police assistance
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$700,000 (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues San Marino
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Sao Tome and Principe
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. Although independence was
achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the
late 1980s. Though the first free elections were held in 1991, the
political environment has been one of continued instability with
frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003.
The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is likely to have
a significant impact on the country's economy.
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: 1,001 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,001 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: 2%
permanent crops: 41%
other: 57% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
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 fairly mountainous
People Sao Tome and Principe
Population:
175,883 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.7% (male 42,480; female 41,411)
15-64 years: 48.3% (male 41,043; female 43,986)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,197; female 3,766) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.1 years
male: 15.5 years
female: 16.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.18% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
41.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 46.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 48.07 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.28 years
male: 64.79 years
female: 67.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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:
Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day
Adventist)
Languages:
Portuguese (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.3%
male: 85%
female: 62% (1991 est.)
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 short form: Sao Tome e Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Sao Tome
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 DE MENEZES (since 3 September
2001)
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president in Sao
Tome's third multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 July 2001 (next to be held NA July 2006);
prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the
president
head of government: Prime Minister Maria das NEVES (since 7 October
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
proposal of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP 39.6%, Force for
Change Democratic Movement 39.4%, Ue-Kedadji coalition 16.2%; seats
by party - MLSTP 24, Force for Change Democratic Movement 23,
Ue-Kedadji coalition 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; Force for Change
Democratic Movement [leader NA]; Independent Democratic Action or
ADI [Carlos NEVES]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and
Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Manuel Pinto Da
COSTA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Aldo BANDEIRA];
Ue-Kedadji coalition [leader NA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does
have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary
Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor,
New York, NY 10022, telephone [1] (212) 317-0580
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; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Sao Tome and Principe
Economy - overview:
This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on
cocoa since independence 28 years ago. Cocoa production has
substantially declined in recent years because of drought and
mismanagement, but strengthening prices brighten prospects for 2003.
Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer
goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has been
unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on
concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200
million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC) program. Sao Tome's success in implementing
structural reforms has been rewarded by international donors, who
pledged increased assistance in 2001. 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. Sao Tome is
optimistic that substantial petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in
its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea;
production could begin as early as 2004.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $200 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 10%
services: 65% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing
note: shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $58 million
expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54
million (1993 est.)
Industries:
light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
17 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 41.2%
hydro: 58.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
15.81 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee,
bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Exports:
$5.5 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 30.1%, Poland 11.8%, Canada 9.7%, Germany 7.5%,
Philippines 7.5%, Spain 7.5%, Belgium 6.5%, France 4.3%, Portugal
4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$24.8 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
Portugal 51.4%, Germany 10.1%, UK 7.6%, Belgium 6.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$253.8 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program
Currency:
dobra (STD)
Currency code:
STD
Exchange rates:
dobras per US dollar - NA (2002), 8,842.11 (2001), 7,978.17 (2000),
7,118.96 (1999), 6,883.24 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Sao Tome and Principe
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,600 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6,942 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate facilities
domestic: minimal system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:
38,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2002)
Televisions:
23,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.st
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
9,000 (2002)
Transportation Sao Tome and Principe
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 320 km
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 78,595 GRT/99,873 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, livestock
carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll
off 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 1, Kenya 1, Portugal 1, Syria 1, Turkey
1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Sao Tome and Principe
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Security Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 36,905 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 19,443 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$400,000 (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Sao Tome and Principe
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Saudi Arabia
Introduction Saudi Arabia
Background:
In 1902, ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al Saud captured Riyadh and
set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula. In the
1930s, the discovery of oil transformed the country. 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. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an
economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all
major 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: 1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,960,582 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:
contiguous zone: 18 NM
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: 1.72%
permanent crops: 0.06%
other: 98.22% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
16,200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
frequent sand and dust storms
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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:
24,293,844
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 5,245,413; female 5,028,595)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 7,700,121; female 5,622,099)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 393,173; female 304,443) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.8 years
male: 20.9 years
female: 16.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.27% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
37.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.79 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.37 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.29 male(s)/female
total population: 1.22 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 47.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 50.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.73 years
male: 66.99 years
female: 70.55 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.15 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.)
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
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
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:
Riyadh
Administrative divisions:
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud
ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash
Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran,
Tabuk
Independence:
23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)
National holiday:
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution:
governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that
articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was
introduced in 1993
Legal system:
based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced;
commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime
Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the
monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1
January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief
of state and head of government
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime
Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the
monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1
January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief
of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and
includes many royal family members
Legislative branch:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman
appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
none allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. JORDAN
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, 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 with large white Arabic script (that may be 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); green is
the traditional color of Islam
Economy Saudi Arabia
Economy - overview:
This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over
major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of
petroleum in the world (26% of the proved reserves), ranks as the
largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The
petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of
GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 25% of GDP comes from the
private sector. Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important
role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service
sectors. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing
the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization
of the telecommunications company. The government is supporting
private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and
increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population.
Priorities for government spending in the short term include
additional funds for the water and sewage systems and for education.
Water shortages and rapid population growth constrain the
government's efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural
products.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $268.9 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 51.2%
services: 43.6% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
7 million
note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $46 billion
expenditures: $56.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2003 est.)
Industries:
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals,
cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
122.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
113.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
8.711 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.452 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
261.7 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
53.69 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
53.69 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.339 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens,
eggs, milk
Exports:
$71 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports - partners:
US 18.6%, Japan 15.6%, South Korea 10.1%, Singapore 5.1%, China
4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$39.5 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles,
textiles
Imports - partners:
US 11.2%, Japan 8.8%, Germany 7.6%, UK 4.9%, France 4.9%, Italy
4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$25.9 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon;
since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistance
to the Palestinians; pledged $240 million to development in
Afghanistan
Currency:
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code:
SAR
Exchange rates:
Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.75 (2002), 3.75 (2001), 3.75 (2000),
3.75 (1999), 3.75 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Saudi Arabia
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.9 million (2002 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.9 million (2002 est.)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and
fiber-optic cable systems
international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait,
Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;
submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth
stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1
Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
6.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
117 (1997)
Televisions:
5.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.sa
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2003)
Internet users:
1.453 million (2002)
Transportation Saudi Arabia
Railways:
total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and
sidings) (2002)
Highways:
total: 151,470 km
paved: 45,592 km
unpaved: 105,878 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 212 km; gas 837 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,187 km; oil
5,062 km; refined products 69 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji,
Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine:
total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,461,964 GRT/2,301,258 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 11, container 4, livestock
carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 4,
roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 8
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Egypt 3, Finland 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 1, Sudan 1, UAE 1,
UK 3 (2002 est.)
Airports:
209 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 31
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 138
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
over 3047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 39
1,524 to 2,437 m: 79
Heliports:
5 (2002)
Military Saudi Arabia
Military branches:
Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National
Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,123,784 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,431,281 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 253,685 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$18.3 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
13% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Saudi Arabia
Disputes - international:
nomadic groups on border region with Yemen resist demarcation of
boundary; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have been negotiating a
long-contested maritime boundary with Iran; because the treaties
have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with
the UAE is still unknown and labeled approximate
Illicit drugs:
death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin,
cocaine, and hashish
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Senegal
Introduction Senegal
Background:
Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to
form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the
envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out,
and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern
separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces
since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in
international peacekeeping.
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: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water: 4,190 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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 feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Natural resources:
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 11.58%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 88.23% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
710 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note:
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost
an enclave of Senegal
People Senegal
Population:
10,580,307 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,330,395; female 2,289,706)
15-64 years: 53.3% (male 2,707,195; female 2,929,998)
65 years and over: 3% (male 156,514; female 166,499) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.8 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 18.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 57.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 61.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.37 years
male: 54.83 years
female: 57.95 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.93 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
27,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,500 (2001 est.)
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%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman
Catholic)
Languages:
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.2%
male: 50%
female: 30.7% (2003 est.)
Government Senegal
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
Government type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
Dakar
Administrative divisions:
10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick,
Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
note: there may be another region called Matam
Independence:
4 April 1960 (from France); complete independence was achieved upon
dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution:
a new constitution was 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Idrissa SECK (since 4 November
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
election results: Abdoulaye WADE elected president; percent of vote
in the second round of voting - Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 58.49%, Abdou
DIOUF (PS) 41.51%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
under new constitution; election last held 27 February and 19 March
2000 (next to be held 27 February 2005); prime minister appointed by
the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10
note: the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001,
had 140 seats
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or
Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals; note - the judicial system was
reformed in 1992
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for Democracy and Socialism or And Jef (also known as
PADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general]; African Party of
Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP
[Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (also
known as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Democratic League-Labor
Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front for
Socialism and Democracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE]; Gainde
Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Party
or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; National Democratic Rally or RND [Madier
DIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];
Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition (a
coalition led by the PDS) [Abdoulaye WADE]; Union for Democratic
Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOVIC, UPU, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540
chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Harriet L. ELAM-THOMAS
embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone: [221] 823-4296
FAX: [221] 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;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Senegal
Economy - overview:
In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic
reform program with the support of the international donor
community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's
currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the
French franc. 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 5% annually during
1995-2002. Annual inflation had been pushed down to less than 1%,
but rose to an estimated 3.3% in 2001 and 3.0% in 2002. Investment
rose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a
member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU),
Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a
unified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internet
connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information
technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of
GDP. In 2003, GDP will probably again grow at about 5%. On the
negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic
unemployment, trade union militancy, juvenile delinquency, and drug
addiction.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $15.64 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 27%
services: 55% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 70%
Unemployment rate:
48% (urban youth 40%) (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.373 billion
expenditures: $1.373 billion, including capital expenditures of $357
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer
production, petroleum refining, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
8.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.518 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.412 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green
vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Exports:
$1.15 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners:
India 20.7%, France 13%, Mali 8.9%, Greece 7.7%, Italy 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.46 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foods and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners:
France 25.6%, Nigeria 8.7%, Thailand 7.2%, US 5.4%, Germany 5.4%,
Italy 4.5%, Spain 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.1 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$362.6 million (2002 est.)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Senegal
Telephones - main lines in use:
234,916 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
373,965 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system
domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial
cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
international: 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
361,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
100,000 (2002)
Transportation Senegal
Railways:
total: 906 km
narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 14,576 km
paved: 4,271 km including 7 km of expressways
unpaved: 10,305 km (2000)
Waterways:
897 km
note: 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river
Pipelines:
gas 564 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Airports:
20 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Senegal
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
(Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,404,838 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,256,973 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 116,688 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$68.6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Senegal
Disputes - international:
separatist war in Casamance region results in refugees and
cross-border raids, arms smuggling, other illegal activities, and
political instability in Guinea-Bissau
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving
to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Serbia and Montenegro
Introduction Serbia and Montenegro
Background:
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its
name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Occupation by Nazi Germany
in 1941 was resisted by various paramilitary bands that fought
themselves as well as the invaders. The group headed by Marshal TITO
took full control upon German expulsion in 1945. Although Communist,
his new government successfully steered its own path between the
Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half
decades. In the early 1990s, post-TITO Yugoslavia began to unravel
along ethnic lines: Slovenia, Croatia, and The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia all declared their independence in 1991;
Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia
and Montenegro declared a new "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY)
in 1992 and, under President Slobodan MILOSEVIC, Serbia led various
military intervention efforts to unite Serbs in neighboring
republics into a "Greater Serbia." All of these efforts were
ultimately unsuccessful. In 1999, massive expulsions by FRY forces
and Serb paramilitaries of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo
provoked an international response, including the NATO bombing of
Serbia and the stationing of NATO, Russian, and other peacekeepers
in Kosovo. Federal elections in the fall of 2000, brought about the
ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav KOSTUNICA as president.
The arrest of MILOSEVIC in 2001 allowed for his subsequent transfer
to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in
The Hague to be tried for crimes against humanity. In 2001, the
country's suspension was lifted, and it was once more accepted into
UN organizations under the name of Yugoslavia. Kosovo has been
governed by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
since June 1999, under the authority of UN Security Council
Resolution 1244. In 2002, the Serbian and Montenegrin components of
Yugoslavia began negotiations to forge a looser relationship. These
talks became a reality in February 2003 when lawmakers restructured
the country into a loose federation of two republics called Serbia
and Montenegro. An agreement was also reached to hold a referendum
in each republic in three years on full independence.
Geography Serbia and Montenegro
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Albania
and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates:
44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 102,350 sq km
water: 214 sq km
land: 102,136 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
total: 2,246 km
border countries: Albania 287 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km,
Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia (north) 241 km, Croatia (south) 25 km,
Hungary 151 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km,
Romania 476 km
Coastline:
199 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid
summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion,
continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic
climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfall inland
Terrain:
extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east,
limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and
hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands
off the coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural resources:
oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, gold, pyrite,
chrome, hydropower, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 36.34%
permanent crops: 3.44%
other: 60.22% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
570 sq km
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in
tourist-related areas such as Kotor; 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, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography - note:
controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey
and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People Serbia and Montenegro
Population:
10,655,774
note: a census was taken in Serbia 1-15 April 2002 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.3% (male 1,062,625; female 990,071)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 3,422,543; female 3,548,058)
65 years and over: 15.3% (male 696,716; female 935,761) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.2 years
male: 34.3 years
female: 37.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.07% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.62 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 18.57 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.97 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 77.16 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Ethnic groups:
Serb 62.6%, Albanian 16.5%, Montenegrin 5%, Hungarian 3.3%, other
12.6% (1991)
Religions:
Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other
11%
Languages:
Serbian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 97.2%
female: 88.9% (1991)
Government Serbia and Montenegro
Country name:
conventional long form: Serbia and Montenegro
conventional short form: none
local short form: none
local long form: Srbija i Crna Gora
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Belgrade; note - Podgorica is the judicial capital
Administrative divisions:
2 republics (republike, singular - republika); and 2 nominally
autonomous provinces* (autonomn pokrajine, singular - autonomna
pokrajina); Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*
Independence:
27 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY formed as
self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia or SFRY)
National holiday:
National Day, 27 April
Constitution:
4 February 2003
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Svetozar MAROVIC (since 7 March 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Dragisa PESIC (since 24 July
2001); Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub LABUS (since 25 January 2001)
cabinet: Federal Ministries act as Cabinet
elections: president elected by the Parliament for a four-year term;
election last held 7 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2007); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Svetozar MAROVIC elected president by the
Parliament; vote was Svetozar MAROVIC 65, other 47
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (126 seats - 91 Serbian, 35 Montenegrin -
filled by nominees of the two state parliaments for the first two
years, after which the president will call for public elections
elections: last held 25 February 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
DOS 37, DLECG 19, DSS 17, ZP 14, SPS 12, SRS 8, SDP 5, SSJ 5, other 9
Judicial branch:
Federal Court or Savezni Sud; Constitutional Court; judges for both
courts are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms
note: after the promulgation of the new Constitution, the Federal
Court will have constitutional and administrative functions; it will
have an equal number of judges from each republic
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Opposition of Serbia or DOS (a coalition of many small
parties including DSS) [leader NA]; Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians
or SVM [Jozsef KASZA]; Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Dr.
Ibrahim RUGOVA, president]; Democratic List for European Montenegro
or DLECG [Milo DJUKANOVIC, Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]; Democratic Party or DS
[collective interim leadership led by Cedomir JOVANOVIC]; Democratic
Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party of
Socialists of Montenegro or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC]; Party of Serb
Unity or SSJ [Borislav PELEVIC]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS
[Tomislav NIKOLIC]; Serbian Socialist Party or SPS (former Communist
Party and party of Slobodan MILOSEVIC) [Zoran ANDJELKOVIC, general
secretary]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Rasim LJAJIC]; Together
for Changes or ZP [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ];
Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Ibrahim RUGOVA]; Democratic
Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Group of 17 Independent
Economists or G-17 [leader NA]; National Movement for the Liberation
of Kosovo or LKCK [Sabit GASHI]; Otpor Student Resistance Movement
[leader NA]; Political Council for Presevo, Meveda and Bujanovac or
PCPMB [leader NA]; The People's Movement for Kosovo or LPK [Emrush
XHEMAJLI]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, BIS, CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACIC
chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933
telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY
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 bands of blue (top), white, and red
Economy Serbia and Montenegro
Economy - overview:
MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of
economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure
and industry during the war in Kosovo have left the economy only
half the size it was in 1990. Since the ousting of former Federal
Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in October 2000, the Democratic
Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government has implemented
stabilization measures and embarked on an aggressive 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). A World Bank-European
Commission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June 2001 raised
$1.3 billion for economic restructuring. An agreement rescheduling
the country's $4.5 billion Paris Club government debts was concluded
in November 2001; it will write off 66% of the debt; a similar debt
relief agreement on its $2.8 billion London Club commercial debt is
still pending. The smaller republic of Montenegro severed its
economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC
era and continues to maintain its own central bank, uses the euro
instead of the Yugoslav dinar as official currency, collects customs
tariffs, and manages its own budget. Kosovo, while technically still
part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and
Montenegro) according to United Nations Security Council Resolution
1244, is moving toward local autonomy under United Nations Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and is dependent on the
international community for financial and technical assistance. The
euro and the Yugoslav dinar are official currencies, and UNMIK
collects taxes and manages the budget. The complexity of Serbia and
Montenegro political relationships, slow progress in privatization,
and stagnation in the European economy are holding back the economy.
Arrangements with the IMF, especially requirements for fiscal
discipline, are an important element in policy formation. Severe
unemployment remains a key political economic problem.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $23.15 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 36%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
19% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
32% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.9 billion
expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; tanks and
weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy
(steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth,
cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore,
limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs,
appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, and
pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
31.71 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.9%
hydro: 37.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
32.37 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
446 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
3.33 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
64,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
38.75 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
602 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
602 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
24.07 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:
$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, food and live animals, raw materials
Exports - partners:
Italy 32%, Germany 19.5%, Greece 7%, Austria 6.1%, France 4.6%
(2002)
Imports:
$6.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants,
manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
Imports - partners:
Germany 19.4%, Italy 18%, Austria 8.5%, Slovenia 5.6%, Greece 4.4%,
France 4.3%, Bulgaria 4.2%, Romania 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$9.2 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2 billion pledged in 2001 (disbursements to follow for several
years)
Currency:
new Yugoslav dinar (YUM); note - in Montenegro the euro is legal
tender; in Kosovo both the euro and the Yugoslav dinar are legal
(2002)
Currency code:
YUM
Exchange rates:
new Yugoslav dinars per US dollar - official rate: 65 (2002), 10.0
(December 1998); black market rate: 14.5 (December 1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Serbia and Montenegro
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.017 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
87,000 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 113, FM 194, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
3.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
more than 771 (including 86 strong stations and 685 low-power
stations, plus 20 repeaters in the principal networks; also numerous
local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)
Televisions:
2.75 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.yu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)
Internet users:
400,000 (2001)
Transportation Serbia and Montenegro
Railways:
total: 4,059 km
standard gauge: 4,059 km 1.435-m gauge (1,364 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 49,805 km
paved: 31,029 km (including 560 km of expressways)
unpaved: 18,776 km (2000)
Waterways:
587 km
note: the Danube River, central Europe's connection to the Black
Sea, runs through Serbia; since early 2000, a pontoon bridge,
replacing a destroyed conventional bridge, has obstructed river
traffic at Novi Sad; the obstruction is bypassed by a canal system,
but the inadequate lock size limits the size of vessels which may
pass; the pontoon bridge can be opened for large ships but has
slowed river traffic (2001)
Pipelines:
gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bar, Belgrade, Kotor, Novi Sad, Pancevo, Tivat, Zelenika
Airports:
45 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Heliports:
4 (2002)
Military Serbia and Montenegro
Military branches:
Army (VJ) (including ground forces with border troops, naval
forces, air and air defense forces)
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,579,620 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,077,660 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 81,547 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$654 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Serbia and Montenegro
Disputes - international:
the Albanian government calls for the protection of the rights of
ethnic Albanians outside its borders in the Kosovo region of Serbia
and Montenegro while continuing to seek regional cooperation;
several ethnic Albanian groups in Kosovo voice union with Albania;
has delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and
Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute;
in late 2002, Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia adopted an interim
agreement to settle the disputed Prevlaka Peninsula, allowing the
withdrawal of the UN monitoring mission (UNMOP), but discussions
could be complicated by the inability of Serbia and Montenegro to
come to an agreement on the economic aspects of the new federal union
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western
Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Seychelles
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. The most recent
presidential elections were held 31 August-2 September 2001.
President RENE, who has served since 1977, was re-elected.
Geography Seychelles
Location:
Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 455 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
491 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 2.22%
permanent crops: 13.33%
other: 84.45% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
People Seychelles
Population:
80,469 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.3% (male 11,116; female 10,844)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 26,068; female 27,425)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,654; female 3,362) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.9 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 27.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.46% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.25 years
male: 65.78 years
female: 76.88 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other
4.1%
Languages:
English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 56%
female: 60% (1971 est.)
Government Seychelles
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Victoria
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 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
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA
2006)
election results: France Albert RENE reelected president; percent of
vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO)
44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%; note - the first time that
presidential elections have been held separately from legislative
elections
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June
1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25
elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to
parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next held by 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%,
DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the
percentage that each party won of the total vote
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, Daniel BELLE]; Mouvement
Seychellois pour la Democratie [Jacques HODOUL]; Seychelles National
Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [Wavel
RAMKALAWAN]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France
Albert RENE, James MICHEL] - the governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Roman Catholic Church; trade unions
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to
Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles
Flag description:
five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and
green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
Economy Seychelles
Economy - overview:
Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean
archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old
near-subsistence level. 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 in order 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. A
sharp drop illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in
1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war, and once again following the 11
September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Other issues facing the
government are the curbing of the budget deficit, including the
containment of social welfare costs, and further privatization of
public enterprises. Growth slowed in 1998-2002, due to sluggish
tourist and tuna sectors. Also, tight controls on exchange rates and
the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic
prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles rupee is half
the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency
the tourist sector should remain sluggish as vacationers seek
cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $626 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 24.4%
services: 73.2% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
30,900 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $249 million
expenditures: $262 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut
fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
160 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
148.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca),
bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish
Exports:
$235 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products
(reexports)
Exports - partners:
UK 28.6%, France 20%, Italy 8.7%, US 8.4%, Spain 6.7%, Japan 6.7%,
Netherlands 6.6%, Thailand 6.4% (2002)
Imports:
$380 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 15.6%, France 12.8%, Spain 9.9%, Italy 9.7%, South
Africa 8.4%, Singapore 7.3%, UK 6.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$170 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$16.4 million (1995)
Currency:
Seychelles rupee (SCR)
Currency code:
SCR
Exchange rates:
Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.48 (2002), 5.86 (2001), 5.71
(2000), 5.34 (1999), 5.26 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Seychelles
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,635 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16,316 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: effective system
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in the
archipelago
international: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent
island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
42,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
9,000 (2002)
Transportation Seychelles
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 373 km
paved: 315 km
unpaved: 58 km (1997 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Victoria
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 37,281 GRT/55,702 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: South Africa 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
14 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Military Seychelles
Military branches:
Army, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing), Presidential Protection Unit
(includes Presidential Guard), Police Force (includes Police Mobile
Unit, a special weapons and tactics unit capable of assisting the
Army in maintaining internal stability)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 23,444 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,639 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$12.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Seychelles
Disputes - international:
claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean
Territory)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Sierra Leone
Introduction Sierra Leone
Background:
Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary
United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and
the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third
of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring
countries. After several setbacks, the end to the 11-year conflict
in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With the support of the
UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and
international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF
and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed.
National elections were held in May 2002 and the government
continues to slowly reestablish its authority.
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
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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 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: 6.76%
permanent crops: 0.78%
other: 92.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
290 sq km (1998 est.)
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 depleting natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
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:
5,732,681 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,259,421; female 1,310,516)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,420,900; female 1,557,597)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 89,078; female 95,169) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.94% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
43.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
20.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly
returning (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 146.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 128.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 164.23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 42.84 years
male: 40.33 years
female: 45.42 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
170,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups:
20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%),
Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were
settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees
from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans,
Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Religions:
Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
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: 31.4%
male: 45.4%
female: 18.2% (1995 est.)
Government Sierra Leone
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Freetown
Administrative divisions:
3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Independence:
27 April 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Constitution:
1 October 1991; subsequently 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 Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996,
reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March
1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the
approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible
to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007); note -
president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms
election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of
vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12
filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC
22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders:
All People's Congress or APC [Alhaji Sat KOROMA, interim chairman];
Citizens United for Peace and Progress or CUPP [Alfred Musa CONTEH,
interim chairman]; Coalition for Progress Party or CPP [Jeridine
WILLIAM-SARHO, interim leader]; Democratic Center Party or DCP [Adu
Aiah KOROMA]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [George E. L. PALMER];
Democratic Party or DP [Henry BALO, acting chairman]; National
Alliance Democratic Party or NADP [Mohamed Yahya SILLAH, chairman];
National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Amadu M. B. JALLOH]; National
People's Party or NPP [Andrew TURAY]; National Republican Party or
NRP [Stephen Sahr MAMBU]; National Unity Movement or NUM [Sam LEIGH,
interim chairman]; National Unity Party or NUP [John BENJAMINE,
interim leader]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington
MORRISON, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Alliance or PDA
[Cpl. (Ret.) Abdul Rahman KAMARA, interim chairman]; People's
Democratic Party or PDP [Osman KAMARA]; People's National Convention
or PNC [Edward John KARGBO]; People's Progressive Party or PPP
[Abass Chernok BUNDU, chairman]; Revolutionary United Front Party or
RUFP [Foday Saybana SANKOH, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or
SDP [Andrew Victor LUNGAY]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP
[Ahmad Tejan KABBAH, chairman]; United National People's Party or
UNPP [John KAREFA-SMART in exile, Raymond KAMARA, acting leader];
Young People's Party or YPP [Cornelius DEVEAUS, interim chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Trade Unions and Student Unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA
FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Russell CHAVEAS
embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485
FAX: [232] (22) 225471
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light
blue
Economy Sierra Leone
Economy - overview:
Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous
inequality in income distribution. It does have substantial mineral,
agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and
social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social
disorders continue to hamper economic development, following a
11-year civil war. About two-thirds 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. Plans continue to reopen bauxite and rutile mines
shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency
consists of the mining of diamonds. 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 to supplement government revenues.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.826 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 31%
services: 21% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
68% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
62.9 (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.369 million (1981 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $96 million
expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles,
cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
250.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
232.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry,
cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports:
$35 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999)
Exports - partners:
Belgium 41.9%, Germany 28.1%, UK 3.6% (2002)
Imports:
$190 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants,
chemicals (1995)
Imports - partners:
Germany 25%, UK 10.9%, Netherlands 7.5%, US 5.7%, Cote d'Ivoire
4.9%, Italy 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$103 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
leone (SLL)
Currency code:
SLL
Exchange rates:
leones per US dollar - 2,099.03 (2002), 1,986.15 (2001), 2,092.12
(2000), 1,804.19 (1999), 1,563.62 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Sierra Leone
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
30,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects
Freetown to Bo and Kenema
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios:
1.12 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1999)
Televisions:
53,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)
Internet users:
20,000 (2001)
Transportation Sierra Leone
Railways:
total: 84 km
narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
note: Sierra Leone has no common carrier railroads; the existing
railroad is private and used on a limited basis while the mine at
Marampa is closed (2001)
Highways:
total: 11,330 km
paved: 895 km
unpaved: 10,435 km (1999)
Waterways:
800 km (of which 600 km is navigable year round)
Ports and harbors:
Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2
Airports:
10 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 7
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Sierra Leone
Military branches:
Army (RSLAF)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,228,664 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 596,617 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$10.26 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Sierra Leone
Disputes - international:
large UN peacekeeping presence ended civil war but rebel gang
fighting, ethnic rivalries, illegal diamond trading, corruption, and
refugees spill over into neighboring states beset with their own
civil disorder, refugees, and violence
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Singapore
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. It subsequently became one of the
world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading
links (its port is one of the world's busiest) 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: 692.7 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 682.7 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
193 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as
defined in treaties and practice
territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons -
Northeastern monsoon from December to March and Southwestern monsoon
from 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: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 98.36% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
4,608,595 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 411,656; female 385,575)
15-64 years: 75.5% (male 1,687,217; female 1,793,783)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 144,277; female 186,087) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.5 years
male: 34.3 years
female: 34.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.42% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
25.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 3.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.42 years
male: 77.46 years
female: 83.6 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
140 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4%
Religions:
Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh,
Taoist, Confucianist
Languages:
Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil
(official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.2%
male: 96.7%
female: 89.7% (2003 est.)
Government Singapore
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Singapore
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution:
3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence 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 Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN (since 1
September 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November
1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers Brig. Gen. (Ret.) LEE Hsien Loong
(since 28 November 1990) and TAN Keng Yam Tony (since 1 August 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to
Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 28 August 1999 (next to be held by August 2005);
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the
president
election results: Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN elected president
unopposed
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine
nominated members; the losing opposition candidate who came closest
to winning a seat may be appointed as a "nonconstituency" member
elections: last held 3 November 2001 (next to be held 25 June 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 75.3% (in contested
constituencies), other 24.7%; 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:
governing party: People's Action Party or PAP [GOH Chok Tong];
opposition parties: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [leader NA];
National Solidarity Party or NSP [Steve CHIA]; Singapore Democratic
Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong] (includes SPP, PKMS, NSP, SJP);
Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Singapore
Justice Party or SJP [leader NA]; Singapore National Malay
Organization or PKMS [Muhammad ALI Aman]; Singapore People's Party
or SPP [CHIAM See Tong]; Workers' Party or WP [LOW Thia Kiang]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMISET, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
consulate(s): New York
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin L. LAVIN
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: PSC Box 470, 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
Economy Singapore
Economy - overview:
Singapore, a highly developed and successful free market economy,
enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable
prices, and one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world. The
economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in electronics and
manufacturing. It was hard hit in 2001-2002 by the global recession
and the slump in the technology sector. The government hopes to
establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the
external business cycle than the current export-led model but is
unlikely to abandon efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast
Asia's financial and high-tech hub.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $112.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NEGL%
industry: 33%
services: 67% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.19 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
financial, business, and other services 35%, manufacturing 21%,
construction 13%, transportation and communication 9%, other 22%
Unemployment rate:
4.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $27.9 billion
expenditures: $19.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.4
billion (FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment,
petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed
food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate:
-9.8% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
30.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
28.35 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
700,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs, fish,
ornamental fish
Exports:
$127 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods,
chemicals, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
Malaysia 17.4%, US 15.3%, Hong Kong 9.2%, Japan 7.1%, China 5.5%,
Taiwan 4.9%, Thailand 4.6%, South Korea 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$113 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Malaysia 18.2%, US 14.3%, Japan 12.5%, China 7.6%, Thailand 4.6%,
Taiwan 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$8.2 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Singapore dollar (SGD)
Currency code:
SGD
Exchange rates:
Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.72
(2000), 1.69 (1999), 1.67 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Singapore
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.95 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.74 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: major consideration given to serving business
interests; excellent international service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities
international: submarine cables to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular
Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations
- 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat
(Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 16, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
2.6 million (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2000)
Televisions:
1.33 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.sg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)
Internet users:
2.31 million (2002)
Transportation Singapore
Railways:
total: 38.6 km
narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge
note: there is also an 83 km mass transit system with 48 stations
Highways:
total: 3,066 km
paved: 3,066 km (including 150 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 139 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Singapore
Merchant marine:
total: 859 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,836,021 GRT/32,765,063 DWT
ships by type: bulk 125, cargo 85, chemical tanker 87, combination
bulk 6, combination ore/oil 8, container 176, liquefied gas 38,
livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 2,
petroleum tanker 277, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 4,
short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 31
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 7, Belgium 6, China 12, Denmark 27, Germany
17, Greece 4, Hong Kong 44, Indonesia 8, Japan 52, Malaysia 4,
Monaco 22, Netherlands 2, Norway 42, Philippines 6, Russia 3,
Slovenia 1, South Korea 10, Sweden 13, Switzerland 7, Taiwan 46,
Tanzania 2, Thailand 22, UAE 4, UK 14, US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
9 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
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
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Singapore
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,392,740 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,012,498 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.47 billion (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Singapore
Disputes - international:
disputes with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore,
Singapore's land reclamation works on Johor, maritime boundaries,
and Singapore-occupied Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih persist
- parties agree to ICJ arbitration on island dispute within three
years
Illicit drugs:
as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is
vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, to be used as a
transit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a venue for money
laundering
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Slovakia
Introduction Slovakia
Background:
In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form
Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia
became a Communist nation within Soviet-ruled 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 was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Geography Slovakia
Location:
Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates:
48 40 N, 19 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 48,845 sq km
water: 45 sq km
land: 48,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
total: 1,524 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 677
km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 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: 30.74%
permanent crops: 2.64%
other: 66.62% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,740 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
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:
5,430,033 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 495,316; female 471,823)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 1,903,335; female 1,924,065)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 238,912; female 396,582) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 35 years
male: 33.3 years
female: 36.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.22 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 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: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.39 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.43 years
male: 70.44 years
female: 78.64 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups:
Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.6%, Roma 1.6% (the 1992 census figures
underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which is about 500,000),
Czech, Moravian, Silesian 1.1%, Ruthenian and Ukrainian 0.6%, German
0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.2% (1996)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%,
other 17.5%
Languages:
Slovak (official), Hungarian
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Slovakia
Country name:
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local short form: Slovensko
local long form: Slovenska Republika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Bratislava
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, fully effective 1 January 1993; changed
in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president; amended
February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership
Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; 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 Rudolf SCHUSTER (since 15 June 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30
October 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Pavol RUSKO (since 24 September
2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by direct, popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held 29 May 1999 (next to be held NA May/June
2004); following National Council elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the president
note: government coalition - SDKU, SMK, KDH, ANO
election results: Rudolf SCHUSTER elected president in the first
direct, popular election; percent of vote - Rudolf SCHUSTER 57%;
Mikulas DZURINDA reelected prime minister October 2002
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada
Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of
proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - HZDS-LS 19.5%, SDKU
15.1%, SMER 13.5%, SMK 11.2%, KDH 8.3%, ANO 8%, KSS 6.3%; seats by
party - governing coalition 78 (SDKU 28, SMK 20, KDH 15, ANO 15),
opposition 72 (HZDS 36, SMER 25, KSS 11) (as of February 2003, 12
deputies had split from HZDS and formed an independent faction)
elections: last held 20-21 September 2002 (next to be held NA
September 2006)
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)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Democratic
Party or DS [Ludovit KANIK]; Direction (Smer) [Robert FICO];
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia-People's Party or HZDS-LS
[Vladimir MECIAR]; New Citizens Alliance or ANO [Pavol RUSKO]; Party
of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Bela BUGAR]; Slovak Communist
Party or KSS [Jozef SEVC]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union or
SDKU [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Towns and
Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal
Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMISET,
UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rastislav KACER
chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald WEISER
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
FAX: [421] (2) 5441-5148
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist
side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue
Economy Slovakia
Economy - overview:
Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a
centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The DZURINDA
government has made excellent progress in 2001-03 in macroeconomic
stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly
complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands,
and foreign investment has picked up. Slovakia's economy exceeded
expectations in 2001-03, despite the general European slowdown.
Unemployment, at an unacceptable 15% in 2003, remains the economy's
Achilles heel. The government faces other strong challenges in 2004,
especially the cutting of budget and current account deficits, the
containment of inflation, and the strengthening of the health care
system.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $67.34 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $12,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 34.1%
services: 61.4% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26.3 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%, transport and
communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)
Unemployment rate:
17.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.2 billion
expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999)
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:
4.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
30.29 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 30.3%
hydro: 16%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 53.6%
Electricity - consumption:
24.41 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
5.141 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.381 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
82,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
4.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
292 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
7.932 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
7.205 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
7.504 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry;
forest products
Exports:
$12.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 39.4%, intermediate manufactured
goods 27.5%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%, chemicals 8%
(1999)
Exports - partners:
Germany 30.1%, Czech Republic 16.4%, Austria 10.7%, Italy 7.2%,
Poland 5.7%, Hungary 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$15.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 37.7%, intermediate manufactured
goods 18%, fuels 13%, chemicals 11%, miscellaneous manufactured
goods 9.5% (1999)
Imports - partners:
Germany 24.8%, Czech Republic 16%, Russia 13.5%, Austria 7%, Italy
6.4%, France 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$9.6 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $113 million (2000),; $92 million EU structural adjustment
funds (2000 est.)
Currency:
Slovak koruna (SKK)
Currency code:
SKK
Exchange rates:
koruny per US dollar - 45.33 (2002), 48.35 (2001), 46.04 (2000),
41.36 (1999), 35.23 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Slovakia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,934,558 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
736,662 (April 1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: a modernization and privatization program is
increasing accessibility to telephone service, reducing the waiting
time for new subscribers, and generally improving service quality
domestic: predominantly an analog system that is now receiving
digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable,
especially in the larger cities; mobile cellular capability has been
added
international: three international exchanges (one in Bratislava and
two in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in
several international telecommunications projects that will increase
the availability of external services
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
3.12 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
38 (plus 864 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
2.62 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.sk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
700,000 (2000)
Transportation Slovakia
Railways:
total: 3,668 km
broad gauge: 106 km 1.520-m gauge
narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (2002)
standard gauge: 3,511 km 1.435-m gauge (1,567 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 42,717 km
paved: 37,036 km (including 296 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,681 km (2000)
Waterways:
172 km (all on the Danube)
Pipelines:
gas 6,769 km; oil 449 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bratislava, Komarno
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,574 GRT/16,330 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
37 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Slovakia
Military branches:
Army (Ground Forces), Air and Air Defense Forces, Home Guards
(Territorial Defense Forces), Civil Defense Force, Railway Armed
Forces (subordinate to the Ministry of Transportation, Post, and
Telecommunications)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,484,950 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,135,612 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 44,287 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$406 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.89% (2002)
Transnational Issues Slovakia
Disputes - international:
small boundary changes made with Poland in 2003; Hungary has yet to
amend status law extending special social and cultural benefits to
ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia, who protest the law
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western
Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Slovenia
Introduction Slovenia
Background:
The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria
until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming
a new nation, renamed 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 of 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. In December 2002, Slovenia received an invitation to join
NATO, and it is scheduled to accede to the EU along with nine other
states on 1 May 2004. In a March 2003 referendum on NATO and EU
membership, Slovenes voted 90% in favor of joining the EU and 66% in
favor of joining NATO.
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
water: 122 sq km
land: 20,151 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,334 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km,
Hungary 102 km
Coastline:
46.6 km
Maritime claims:
NA
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, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower,
forests
Land use:
arable land: 11.48%
permanent crops: 2.68%
other: 85.84% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding and 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-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some
of Europe's major transit routes
People Slovenia
Population:
1,935,677 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.3% (male 152,341; female 144,189)
15-64 years: 70% (male 687,939; female 666,194)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 105,837; female 179,177) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.6 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 40.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.15 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.51 years
male: 71.65 years
female: 79.58 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
280 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups:
Slovene 88%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Bosniak 1%, Yugoslav 0.6%,
Hungarian 0.4%, other 5% (1991)
Religions:
Roman Catholic (Uniate 2%) 70.8%, Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist
4.3%, other 22.9%
Languages:
Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Slovenia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local short form: Slovenija
local long form: Republika Slovenija
Government type:
parliamentary democratic republic
Capital:
Ljubljana
Administrative divisions:
182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban
municipalities* (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina )
Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke,
Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica,
Cankova, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno,
Cerkvenjak, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca,
Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec,
Dobrovnik-Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale,
Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja
Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina,
Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos-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*, Kostel, Kozje, Kranj*,
Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart,
Lendava-Lendva, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska
Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk,
Maribor*, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na
Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Moravce,
Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje,
Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica,
Pesnica, Piran-Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka,
Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Ptuj*, Puconci,
Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na
Koroskem, Razkrizje, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogasovci, Rogaska
Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic,
Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju,
Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*,
Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob
Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Starse,
Store, Sveta Ana, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij,
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,
Zuzemberk, Zrece
note: there may be 45 more municipalities
Independence:
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 December 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Anton ROP (since 11 December 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
election results: Janez DRNOVSEK elected president; percent of vote
- Janez DRNOVSEK 56.5%, Barbara BREZIGAR 43.5%; Anton ROP elected
prime minister; National Assembly vote - 63 to 24
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 10 November and 1 December 2002 (next to be held
in the fall of 2007); following National Assembly elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is usually nominated to become prime minister by the president and
elected by the National Assembly; election last held 6 December 2002
(next National Assembly elections to be held NA October 2004)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats, 40 are
directly elected and 50 are selected on a proportional basis; note -
the numbers of directly elected and proportionally elected seats
varies with each election; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 36%, SDS 16%, ZLSD
12%, SLS/SKD 10%, NSi 9%, SMS 4%, SNS 4%, DeSUS 5%, other 4%; seats
by party - LDS 34, SDS 13, ZLSD 11, SLS 10, NSi 8, SMS 4, SNS 4,
DeSUS 4, Hungarian and Italian minorities 1 each
note: the National Council or Drzavni Svet is an advisory body with
limited legislative powers; it may propose laws and ask to review
any National Assembly decisions; in the election of November 1997,
40 members were elected to represent local, professional, and
socioeconomic interests
elections: National Assembly - last held 15 October 2000 (next to be
held NA October 2004)
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 Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or DeSUS [Anton
ROUS]; Liberal Democratic or LDS [Anton ROP]; New Slovenia or NSi
[Andrej BAJUK]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC];
Slovene People's Party or SLS [Franc BUT]; Slovene Youth Party or
SMS [Dominic CERNJAK]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDS
[Janez JANSA]; United List of Social Democrats or ZLSD [Borut PAHOR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT (observer), BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest),
NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTSO,
UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Davorin KRACUN
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: New York and Cleveland
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, 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, with
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); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the
flag centered in the white and blue bands
Economy Slovenia
Economy - overview:
Slovenia, with its historical ties to Western Europe, enjoys a GDP
per capita substantially higher than that of the other transitioning
economies of Central Europe. Privatization of the economy proceeded
at an accelerated pace in 2002-3, and the budget deficit dropped
from 3.0% of GDP in 2002 to 1.9% in 2003. Despite the economic
slowdown in Europe in 2001-03, Slovenia maintained 3% growth.
Structural reforms to improve the business environment allow for
greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and help to
lower unemployment. Further measures to curb inflation are also
needed. Corruption and the high degree of coordination between
government, business, and central bank policy are issues of concern
in the run-up to Slovenia's scheduled 1 May 2004 accession to the
European Union.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $37.06 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 36.3%
services: 60.5% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 23% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
857,400
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
11% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $8.11 billion
expenditures: $8.32 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries:
ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting,
electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power
equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (2002)
Electricity - production:
13.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 35.2%
hydro: 27.3%
other: 0.7% (2001)
nuclear: 36.8%
Electricity - consumption:
13.83 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
4.1 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
20 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
53,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.04 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.04 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep,
poultry
Exports:
$10.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals,
food
Exports - partners:
Germany 23.9%, Italy 12.7%, Austria 9.5%, Croatia 8%, France 7.4%,
Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$11.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals,
fuels and lubricants, food
Imports - partners:
Germany 20%, Italy 19%, Austria 11.3%, France 10.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$7.9 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $62 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
tolar (SIT)
Currency code:
SIT
Exchange rates:
tolars per US dollar - 240.25 (2002), 242.75 (2001), 222.66 (2000),
181.77 (1999), 166.13 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Slovenia
Telephones - main lines in use:
722,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: 100% digital (2000)
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 17, FM 160, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
805,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
48 (2001)
Televisions:
710,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.si
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2000)
Internet users:
600,000 (2001)
Transportation Slovenia
Railways:
total: 1,201 km
standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (499 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 20,177 km
paved: 20,157 km (including 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20 km (2000)
Waterways:
NA
Pipelines:
gas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Izola, Koper, Piran
Airports:
16 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Military Slovenia
Military branches:
Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 520,037 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 413,453 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 13,704 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$370 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.7% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Slovenia
Disputes - international:
parliamentarians are far from ratifying 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
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound
for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Solomon Islands
Introduction Solomon Islands
Background:
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the
1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on
these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence
two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and
endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society.
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: 28,450 sq km
water: 910 sq km
land: 27,540 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 Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Natural resources:
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 1.5%
permanent crops: 0.64%
other: 97.86% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with
frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs
are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean,
the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea
People Solomon Islands
Population:
509,190 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 111,333; female 107,062)
15-64 years: 54% (male 139,072; female 135,721)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 7,754; female 8,248) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.2 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.83% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
32.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.12 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 26.03 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.1 years
male: 69.64 years
female: 74.68 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.34 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%,
Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
Religions:
Anglican 45%, Roman Catholic 18%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian)
12%, Baptist 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, other Protestant 5%,
indigenous beliefs 4%
Languages:
Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English
is official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population
note: 120 indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Solomon Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands
Government type:
parliamentary democracy tending toward anarchy
Capital:
Honiara
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul (Lauru),
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell/Bellona,
Temotu, Western
Independence:
7 July 1978 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution:
7 July 1978
Legal system:
English common law, which is widely disregarded
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir John LAPLI (since NA 1999)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five
years; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of a majority coalition is 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
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members
of Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA (since 17
December 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Snyder RINI (since 17 December
2001)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from
single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 40%, SIACC 40%, PPP
20%; seats by party - PAP 16, SIACC 13, PPP 2, SILP 1, independents
18
elections: last held 5 December 2001 (next to be held not later than
December 2005)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Association of Independents [Snyder RINI]; People's Alliance Party
or PAP [Allan KEMAKEZA]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Mannaseh
Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon Islands Alliance for Change Coalition or
SIACC [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP
[Joses TUHANUKU]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid
coalitions
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Colin 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 Solomon Islands (embassy closed
July 1993); the 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
Economy Solomon Islands
Economy - overview:
The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and
forestry for at least part of their 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. However, severe ethnic violence, the closing of key business
enterprises, and an empty government treasury have led to serious
economic disarray, indeed near collapse. Tanker deliveries of
crucial fuel supplies (including those for electrical generation)
have become sporadic due to the government's inability to pay and
attacks against ships. Telecommunications are threatened by the
nonpayment of bills and by the lack of technical and maintenance
staff many of whom have left the country.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $800 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-10% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 42%
industry: 11%
services: 47% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
26,842
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 75%, industry 5%, services 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $38 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Industries:
fish (tuna), mining, timber
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
32 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
29.76 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,250 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables,
fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish
Exports:
$47 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
Exports - partners:
Japan 21.2%, China 18.8%, South Korea 16.3%, Philippines 8.9%,
Thailand 7.6%, Singapore 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$82 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Australia 31.3%, Singapore 19.7%, New Zealand 5.1%, Fiji 4.6%,
Papua New Guinea 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$137 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$28 million mainly from Japan, Australia, China, and NZ (2001 est.)
Currency:
Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)
Currency code:
SBD
Exchange rates:
Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - NA (2002), NA (2001), 5.09
(2000), 4.84 (1999), 4.82 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Solomon Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
658 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)
Televisions:
3,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sb
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
8,400 (2002)
Transportation Solomon Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,360 km
paved: 34 km
unpaved: 1,326 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
32 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Military Solomon Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance
and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Solomon Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Somalia
Introduction Somalia
Background:
The SIAD BARRE regime was ousted in January 1991; turmoil,
factional fighting, and anarchy have followed for twelve years. In
May of 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,
aided by the overwhelming dominance of a ruling clan and economic
infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American
military assistance programs. The regions of Bari and Nugaal and
northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared autonomous state
of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998, but does not
aim at independence; it has also made strides towards reconstructing
a legitimate, representative government, but has suffered civil
strife in 2002. 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. The mandate of the Transitional National Government (TNG),
created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti, expires in August 2003 and
a new interim government was being created at peace talks held in
Kenya. Numerous warlords and factions are still fighting for control
of Mogadishu and the other southern regions. Suspicion of Somali
links with global terrorism further complicates the picture.
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
water: 10,320 sq km
land: 627,337 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; December to February - northeast monsoon,
moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October
- southwest monsoon, 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: 1.66%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 98.3% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,000 sq km (1998 est.)
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: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
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:
8,025,190
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 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,802,154; female 1,792,749)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,120,934; female 2,093,699)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 93,682; female 121,972) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 17.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.43% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
46.42 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
17.64 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
5.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 120.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 110.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 129.84 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.34 years
male: 45.67 years
female: 49.05 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
43,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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.)
Government Somalia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Government type:
no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary
national government
Capital:
Mogadishu
Administrative divisions:
18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool,
Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe,
Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha
Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence:
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became
independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland,
which 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 Transitional National Government formed in August 2000 has
a mandate to create a new constitution and hold elections within
three years
Legal system:
no national system; Shari'a and secular courts are in some
localities
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: ABDIKASSIM Salad Hassan (since 26 August 2000);
note - as of December 2002, there was no executive branch in
southern Somalia; Interim President ABDIKASSIM was chosen for a
three-year term by a 245-member National Assembly serving as a
transitional government but has little power and was due to leave
office in August 2003; the political situation, particularly in the
south, with interclan fighting and random banditry, remains fluid
election results: ABDIKASSIM Salad Hassan was elected president of
an interim government at the Djibouti-sponsored Arta Peace
Conference on 26 August 2000 by a broad representation of Somali
clans that comprised a transitional National Assembly
head of government: Prime Minister HASSAN Abshir Farah (since 12
November 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and sworn in on 20
October 2000; as of 1 January 2002, the Cabinet was in caretaker
status following a no-confidence vote in October 2001 that ousted
HASSAN's predecessor
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
note: fledgling parliament; a transitional 245-member National
Assembly began to meet on 13 August 2000 in the town of Arta,
Djibouti and is now based in Mogadishu
Judicial branch:
following the breakdown of national government, most regions have
reverted to either Islamic (Shari'a) law with a provision for appeal
of all sentences, or traditional clan-based arbitration
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8
May 1991); note - the TNG and other factions have representatives in
Washington and at 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 Mombasa Road;
mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831;
telephone: [254] (2) 537800; FAX [254] (2) 537810
Flag description:
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue
field influenced by the flag of the UN
Government - note:
although an interim government was created in 2000 other governing
bodies continue to exist and control various cities and regions of
the country, including Somaliland, Puntland, and traditional clan
and faction strongholds
Economy Somalia
Economy - overview:
Somalia's economic fortunes are being driven by its deep political
divisions. The northern area has declared its independence as
"Somaliland"; the central area, Puntland, is a self-declared
autonomous state; and the remaining southern portion is riddled with
the struggles of rival factions. Economic life continues, in part
because much activity is local and relatively easily protected.
Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock normally
accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings,
but Saudi Arabia's recent ban on Somali livestock, because of Rift
Valley Fever concerns, has severely hampered the sector. Nomads and
semi-nomads, 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 sold as scrap
metal. Despite the seeming anarchy, Somalia's service sector has
managed to survive and grow. 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 exchange services have sprouted
throughout the country, handling between $200 million and $500
million in remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a
variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels
continue to operate, and security is provided by militias. The
ongoing civil disturbances and clan rivalries, however, have
interfered with any broad-based economic development and
international aid arrangements. In 2002 Somalia's overdue financial
obligations to the IMF continued to grow.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.27 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
over 100% (businesses print their own money)
Labor force:
3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services
29%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles,
petroleum refining (mostly shut down), wireless communication
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
245.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
227.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.832 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cattle, sheep, goats; bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice,
sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; fish
Exports:
$126 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal
Exports - partners:
UAE 45.6%, Yemen 24.3%, Oman 9.5% (2002)
Imports:
$343 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction
materials, qat
Imports - partners:
Djibouti 29.8%, Kenya 13.6%, Brazil 10.5%, Thailand 4.7%, UK 4.4%,
UAE 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.6 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$60 million (1999 est.)
Currency:
Somali shilling (SOS)
Currency code:
SOS
Exchange rates:
Somali shillings per US dollar - 11,000 (November 2000), 2,620
(January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996
est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995)
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent
country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own
currency, the Somaliland shilling
Fiscal year:
NA
Communications Somalia
Telephones - main lines in use:
15,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost
completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions;
private wireless companies offer service in most major cities and
charge the lowest international rates on the continent
domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in
Mogadishu and in several other population centers
international: international connections are available from
Mogadishu by satellite
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1 FM in
Somaliland (2001)
Radios:
470,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4
note: two in Mogadishu; two in Hargeisa (2001)
Televisions:
135,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.so
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (one each in Boosaaso, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu) (2000)
Internet users:
200 (2000)
Transportation Somalia
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 22,100 km
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
crude oil 15 km
Ports and harbors:
Boosaaso, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
60 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2438 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 54
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Somalia
Military branches:
A Somali National Army was attempted under the interim government;
numerous factions and clans maintain independent militias, and the
Somaliland and Puntland regional governments maintain their own
security and police forces
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,942,244 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,072,689 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$17.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Somalia
Disputes - international:
"Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities to land-locked
Ethiopia and establish commercial ties with regional states;
"Puntland" secessionists clash with "Somaliland" secessionists to
establish territorial limits and clan loyalties, each seeking
support from neighboring states; Ethiopia maintains only an
administrative line with the Oromo region of southern Somalia and
maintains alliances with local Somali clans opposed to the
unrecognized Transitional National Government in Mogadishu
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@South Africa
Introduction South Africa
Background:
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). The resulting Union of South
Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the separate
development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid
politically and ushered in black majority rule.
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: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince
Edward Island)
water: 0 sq km
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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium,
salt, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops: 0.77%
other: 87.1% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
13,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, 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:
42,768,678
note: South Africa took a census October 1996 that showed a
population of 40,583,611 (after an official adjustment for a 6.8%
underenumeration based on a postenumeration survey); 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 and death rates, lower population and growth
rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex
than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 6,460,273; female 6,377,090)
15-64 years: 65% (male 13,807,922; female 13,970,088)
65 years and over: 5% (male 864,441; female 1,288,864) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.5 years
male: 24 years
female: 25 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
18.42 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 60.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 56.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 64.73 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.56 years
male: 46.57 years
female: 46.54 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
20.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
360,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: South African(s)
adjective: South African
Ethnic groups:
black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
Religions:
Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, about 60% of
blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of
Indians), indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%
Languages:
11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi,
Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 87%
female: 85.7% (2003 est.)
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:
Pretoria; note - Cape Town is the legislative center and
Bloemfontein the judicial center
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Western Cape
Independence:
31 May 1910 (from UK); note - South Africa became a republic in
1961 following an October 1960 referendum
National holiday:
Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Constitution:
10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the
Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then
President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3
February 1997; it is being implemented in phases
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999);
Executive Deputy President Jacob ZUMA (since 17 June 1999); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 2 June 1999 (next scheduled for
sometime between May and July 2004)
head of government: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999);
Executive Deputy President Jacob ZUMA (since 17 June 1999); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election results: Thabo MBEKI elected president; percent of National
Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation)
note: ANC-IFP is the governing coalition
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400
seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of
proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and 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); note -
following the implementation of the new constitution on 3 February
1997 the former Senate was disbanded and replaced by the National
Council of Provinces with essentially no change in membership and
party affiliations, although the new institution's responsibilities
have been changed somewhat by the new constitution
elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces -
last held 2 June 1999 (next to be held by 2 August 2004)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC
66.4%, DP 9.6%, IFP 8.6%, NNP 6.9%, UDM 3.4%, ACDP 1.4%, FF 0.8%,
other 2.9%; seats by party - ANC 266, DP 38, IFP 34, NNP 28, UDM 14,
ACDP 6, FF 3, other 11; National Council of Provinces - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ANC 61, NNP 17, FF 4, IFP 5,
DP 3
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High Courts;
Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE,
president]; African National Congress or ANC [Thabo MBEKI,
president]; Democratic Alliance (formed from the merger of the
Democratic Party or DP and the New National Party or NNP; note - NNP
split from DP in 2001) [Anthony LEON]; Freedom Front or FF [Dr.
Pieter MULDER, president]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu
BUTHELEZI, president]; New National Party or NNP [Marthinus VAN
SCHALKWYK]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Stanley MOGOBA,
president]; 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
- COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, BIS, C, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, NSG, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Joyce Mosima MASEKELA
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607
telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400
chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron H. HUME
embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244
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 which 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
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
ranks among the 10 largest in the world; and a modern infrastructure
supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers
throughout the region. However, growth has not been strong enough to
lower South Africa's high unemployment rate; and daunting economic
problems remain from the apartheid era, especially poverty and lack
of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. High crime
and HIV/AIDS infection rates also deter investment. South African
economic policy is fiscally conservative, but pragmatic, focusing on
targeting inflation and liberalizing trade as means to increase job
growth and household income.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $427.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 28.9%
services: 66.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 45.9% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
59.3 (1993-94)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
17 million economically active
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
37% (includes workers no longer looking for employment) (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $22.6 billion
expenditures: $24.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
billion (FY 02/03)
Industries:
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium),
automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and
steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
195.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 93.5%
hydro: 1.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 5.5%
Electricity - consumption:
181.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
6.91 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
6.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
196,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
460,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
7.84 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
1.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
14.16 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton,
wool, dairy products
Exports:
$31.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and
equipment (1998 est.)
Exports - partners:
UK 12.8%, US 12.7%, Germany 9%, Japan 8.8%, Italy 5.8% (2002)
Imports:
$26.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific
instruments, foodstuffs (2000 est.)
Imports - partners:
Germany 15.4%, US 9.4%, UK 9%, Saudi Arabia 6.9%, Japan 5.8%,
France 5%, China 4.9%, Iran 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$24.7 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$487.5 million (2000)
Currency:
rand (ZAR)
Currency code:
ZAR
Exchange rates:
rand per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94 (2000), 6.11
(1999), 5.53 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications South Africa
Telephones - main lines in use:
more than 5 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.06 million (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the system is the best developed and most
modern in Africa
domestic: 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: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
17 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
6 million (2000)
Internet country code:
.za
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
150 (2001)
Internet users:
3.068 million (2002)
Transportation South Africa
Railways:
total: 22,298 km
narrow gauge: 21,984 km 1.065-m gauge (10,436 km electrified); 314
km 0.610-m gauge
note: includes a 2,228 km commuter rail system (2002)
Highways:
total: 362,099 km
paved: 73,506 km (including 2,032 km of expressways)
unpaved: 288,593 km (2000)
Waterways:
NA
Pipelines:
condensate 100 km; gas 741 km; oil 847 km; refined products 1,354
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth,
Richards Bay, Saldanha
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,235 GRT/35,904 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 3, Netherlands 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: container 1, petroleum tanker 2
Airports:
727 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 143
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 67
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 584
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 298
under 914 m: 252 (2002)
Military South Africa
Military branches:
South African National Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air
Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 11,865,280 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,211,075 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 471,578 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.746 billion (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.7% (FY02)
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:
managed dispute with Namibia over the location of the boundary in
the Orange River
Illicit drugs:
transshipment center for heroin, hashish, marijuana, and possibly
cocaine; cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for
illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through
various east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana;
attractive venue for money launderers given the increasing level of
organized criminal and narcotics activity in the region
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@Southern Ocean
Introduction Southern Ocean
Background:
A decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the
spring of 2000 delimited a fifth world ocean - the Southern Ocean -
from 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. 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).
Geography Southern Ocean
Location:
body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica
Geographic coordinates:
65 00 S, 0 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 meters 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 meters (the global mean is 133
meters); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6
million square kilometers in March to about 18.8 million square
kilometers 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, fishes
Natural hazards:
huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smaller
bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 meter
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 very
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 very 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 2000-01 (1 July to 30 June) landed 112,934 metric
tons, of which 87% was krill and 11% Patagonian toothfish.
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 2000-01 antarctic summer 12,248
tourists, most of them seaborne, visited the Southern Ocean and
Antarctica, compared to 14,762 the previous year.
Transportation Southern Ocean
Ports and harbors:
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 of them 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; vessels in any port south of 60
degrees south are subject to inspection by Antarctic Treaty
observers (see Article 7)
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 (LOS) 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 have
been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@South Georgia and the South Sandwich
Introduction South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Background:
The islands 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. The islands have large bird and seal
populations, and, 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 the 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:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 3,903 sq km
note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia
Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist
of some nine islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 3,903 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
NA km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
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 21st
century, live on South Georgia
People South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March
2001, to be 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 (July 2003
est.)
Government South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none
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; Grytviken, formerly a whaling station on South
Georgia, is a scientific base
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution:
adopted 3 October 1985
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 the 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 centered; the shield is supported by a fur
seal on the left and a penguin on the right; a reindeer appears
above the shield, and below it on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM
PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land)
Economy South Georgia and the 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 the South Sandwich Islands
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Radio broadcast stations:
0 (2003)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (2003)
Internet country code:
.gs
Transportation South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Grytviken
Airports:
none (2002)
Military South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Disputes - international:
briefly occupied by military force in 1982 - claimed by Argentina
in constitution but declares it will no longer seek settlement by
force
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Spain
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). In the
second half of the 20th century, Spain has played a catch-up role in
the western international community; it joined the EU in 1986.
Continuing concerns are Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.
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: 504,782 sq km
water: 5,240 sq km
note: there are 19 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
land: 499,542 sq km
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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
territorial sea: 12 NM
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, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar,
gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower,
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 28.6%
permanent crops: 9.56%
other: 61.84% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
36,400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts
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-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
Geography - note:
strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People Spain
Population:
40,217,413 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 2,985,705; female 2,808,791)
15-64 years: 68% (male 13,721,053; female 13,626,121)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 2,962,646; female 4,113,097) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 38.7 years
male: 37.4 years
female: 40.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.16% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.08 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.48 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.94 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.23 years
male: 75.87 years
female: 82.8 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.26 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish
Ethnic groups:
composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions:
Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Languages:
Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
note: Castilian is the official language nationwide; the other
languages 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.)
Government Spain
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local short form: Espana
Government type:
parliamentary monarchy
Capital:
Madrid
Administrative divisions:
19 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular -
comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares (Balearic
Islands), Ceuta, Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria, Castilla-La
Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencian,
Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla, Murcia, Navarra,
Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
note: three small Spanish possessions are located off the coast of
Morocco: Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de
la Gomera; Ceuta and Melilla gained limited autonomous status in 1994
Independence:
the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent
kingdoms prior to the Moslem 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:
Hispanic Day, 12 October
Constitution:
6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Legal system:
civil law system, with regional applications; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 Jose Maria AZNAR
Lopez (since 5 May 1996); First Vice President (and Minister of
Economy) Rodrigo RATO Figaredo (since 4 September 2003) and Second
Vice President (and Minister of the Presidency) Javier ARENAS (since
4 September 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme
consultative organ of the government
election results: Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez (PP) elected president;
percent of National Assembly vote - 44.54%; note - the Popular Party
(PP) obtained an absolute majority of seats in both the Congress of
Deputies and the Senate as a result of the March 2000 elections
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually proposed president by the monarch and
elected by the National Assembly; election last held 12 March 2000
(next to be held NA March 2004); vice presidents appointed by the
monarch on the proposal of the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral; General Courts or National Assembly or Las Cortes
Generales consists of the Senate or Senado (259 seats - 208 members
directly elected by popular vote and the other 51 appointed by the
regional legislatures to serve four-year terms) and the Congress of
Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PP 44.6%, PSOE
34.1%, CiU 4.2%, PNV 1.5%, CC 1.1%, PIL 0%; seats by party - PP 127,
PSOE 61, CiU 8, PNV 6, CC 5, PIL 1; Congress of Deputies - percent
of vote by party - PP 44.5%, PSOE 34%, CiU 4.2%, IU 5.4%, PNV 1.5%,
CC 1%, BNG 1.3%; seats by party - PP 183, PSOE 125, CiU 15, IU 8,
PNV 7, CC 4, BNG 3, other 5
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA
March 2004); Congress of Deputies - last held 12 March 2000 (next to
be held NA March 2004)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo
Political parties and leaders:
Basque Nationalist Party or PNV [Xabier ARZALLUS Antia]; Canarian
Coalition or CC (a coalition of five parties) [Paulino RIVERO];
Convergence and Union or CiU [Jordi PUJOL i Soley, secretary
general] (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia or
CDC [Jordi PUJOL i Soley] and the Democratic Union of Catalonia or
UDC [Josep Antoni DURAN y LLEIDA]); Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG
[Xose Manuel BEIRAS]; Party of Independents from Lanzarote or PIL
[Dimas MARTIN Martin]; Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY]; Spanish
Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO];
United Left or IU (a coalition of parties including the PCE and
other small parties) [Gaspar LLAMAZARES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free labor
unions (authorized in April 1977); Socialist General Union of
Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or
USO; university students; Workers Confederation or CC.OO; Nunca Mais
(Galician for "Never Again"; formed in response to the oil tanker
Prestige oil spill)
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Javier RUPEREZ Rubio
chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George L. ARGYROS
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 includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of
Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on
either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
Economy Spain
Economy - overview:
Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per
capita basis is 80% that of the four leading West European
economies. Its center-right government successfully worked to gain
admission to the first group of countries launching the European
single currency (the euro) on 1 January 1999. The AZNAR
administration has continued to advocate liberalization,
privatization, and deregulation of the economy and has introduced
some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment has been steadily falling
under the AZNAR administration but remains high at 11.7%. The
government intends to make further progress in changing labor laws
and reforming pension schemes, which are key to the sustainability
of both Spain's internal economic advances and its competitiveness
in a single currency area. A general strike in mid-2002 reduced
cooperation between labor and government. Growth of 2.4% in 2003 was
satisfactory given the background of a faltering European economy.
Adjusting to the monetary and other economic policies of an
integrated Europe - and reducing unemployment - will pose challenges
to Spain over the next few years.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $850.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $21,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 31%
services: 65% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.5 (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
17.1 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 64%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 29%,
agriculture 7% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $105 billion
expenditures: $109 billion, including capital expenditures of $12.8
billion (2000 est.)
Industries:
textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages,
metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles,
machine tools, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
222.5 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 50.4%
hydro: 18.2%
other: 4.1% (2001)
nuclear: 27.2%
Electricity - consumption:
210.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
4.138 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
7.588 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
7,099 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.497 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
135,100 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
1.582 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
10.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
516 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
17.96 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
17.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
254.9 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef,
pork, poultry, dairy products; fish
Exports:
$122.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, other consumer goods
Exports - partners:
France 19%, Germany 11.4%, UK 9.6%, Portugal 9.5%, Italy 9.3%, US
4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$156.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods;
foodstuffs, consumer goods (1997)
Imports - partners:
France 17%, Germany 16.5%, Italy 8.6%, UK 6.4%, Netherlands 4.8%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$90 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.33 billion (1999)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions
of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions with the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Spain
Telephones - main lines in use:
17.336 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.394 million (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally adequate, modern facilities;
teledensity is 44 main lines for each 100 persons
domestic: NA
international: 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations
- 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;
tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 208, FM 715, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
13.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
224 (plus 2,105 repeaters)
note: these figures include 11 television broadcast stations and 88
repeaters in the Canary Islands (1995)
Televisions:
16.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.es
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
56 (2000)
Internet users:
7.89 million (2002)
Transportation Spain
Railways:
total: 14,189 km
broad gauge: 11,804 km 1.668-m gauge (6,409 km electrified)
standard gauge: 455 km 1.435-m gauge (455 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,902 km 1.000-m gauge (781 km electrified); 28 km
0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 663,795 km
paved: 657,157 km (including 10,317 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,638 km (1999)
Waterways:
1,045 km (of minor economic importance)
Pipelines:
gas 7,290 km; oil 730 km; refined products 3,110 km; unknown
(oil/water) 397 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana,
Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Malaga,
Melilla, Pasajes, Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands),
Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo
Merchant marine:
total: 140 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,585,563 GRT/2,022,104 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 31, chemical tanker 10, container 13,
liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker
22, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 33, short-sea passenger
6, vehicle carrier 4
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Croatia 1, Cuba 2, Denmark 1, Germany 7, Italy 1,
Netherlands 1, Norway 6, Uruguay 3 (2002 est.)
Airports:
152 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 93
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 59
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 43 (2002)
Heliports:
7 (2002)
Military Spain
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police,
Coastal Civil Guard
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 10,524,715 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,391,612 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 255,826 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$8.6 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.15% (2002)
Transnational Issues Spain
Disputes - international:
Gibraltar residents vote overwhelmingly in referendum against
"total shared sovereignty" arrangement worked out between Spain and
UK to change 300-year rule over colony; 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; Morocco also rejected Spain's
unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands in
2002 to set limits to undersea resource exploration and refugee
interdiction; Morocco allowed Spanish fishermen to fish temporarily
off the coast of Western Sahara after an oil spill soiled Spanish
fishing grounds; Portugal has periodically reasserted claims to
territories around the town of Olivenza, Spain
Illicit drugs:
key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine and North
African hashish entering the European market; destination and minor
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Spratly Islands
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 50 islands are occupied by China (about
450 soldiers), Malaysia (70-90), the Philippines (about 100), and
Vietnam (about 1,500). Brunei is a claimant but has no outposts.
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
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
water: 0 sq km
land: less than 5 sq km
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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and
shoals
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 (July 2003 est.)
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, and there are no reliable estimates of potential
reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Transportation Spratly Islands
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
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, Taiwan, and
Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines;
in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that
encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not
publicly claimed the island; claimants in November 2002 signed the
"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a
mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding
"code of conduct"
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Sri Lanka
Introduction Sri Lanka
Background:
The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C.,
probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning 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
1000 A.D.) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th
century, a south Indian dynasty seized power in the north and
established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied 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 in violence in
the mid-1980s. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic war that
continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government
and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam began a ceasefire in December
2001, with Norway brokering peace negotiations.
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
water: 870 sq km
land: 64,740 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,340 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 13.43%
permanent crops: 15.78%
other: 70.79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
6,510 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
19,742,439 (2003 est.)
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; as of yearend 2000,
approximately 65,000 were housed in 131 refugee camps in south
India, another 40,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than
200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.2% (male 2,543,336; female 2,431,223)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 6,518,145; female 6,890,424)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 641,708; female 717,603) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.7 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 29.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.83% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.12 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 16.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.62 years
male: 70.09 years
female: 75.29 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
250 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan
Ethnic groups:
Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%
Religions:
Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999)
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: 92.3%
male: 94.8%
female: 90% (2003 est.)
Government Sri Lanka
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
former: Serendib, Ceylon
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital
Administrative divisions:
8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western,
Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western; note - North Eastern province
may have been divided in two - Northern and Eastern
Independence:
4 February 1948 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 February (1948)
Constitution:
adopted 16 August 1978
Legal system:
a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch,
Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since
12 November 1994); note - Ranil WICKREMASINGHE (since 9 December
2001) is the prime minister; the president is considered both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
(since 12 November 1994); note - Ranil WICKREMASINGHE (since 9
December 2001) is the prime minister; the president is considered
both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 21 December 1999 (next to be held NA December
2005)
election results: Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA reelected
president; percent of vote - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (PA)
51%, Ranil WICKREMASINGHE (UNP) 42%, other 7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote
on the basis of a modified proportional representation system by
district to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 7 December 2001 (next to be held NA December
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party or electoral alliance -
UNP, SLMC and CWC 46.8%, PA and EPDP 38%, JVP 9.1%, TNA 3.89%, PLOTE
0.19%; seats by party or electoral alliance - UNP, SLMC and CWC 114,
PA and EPDP 79, JVP 16, TNA 15, PLOTE 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are
appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC [KUMARGURUPARAM]; Ceylon Workers
Congress or CWC [Arumugam THONDAMAN]; Communist Party or CP [D.
GUNASEKERA]; Democratic United National (Lalith) Front or DUNLF
[Shrimani ATULATHMUDALI]; Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP
[Douglas DEVANANDA]; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front
or EPRLF [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP
[Tilvan SILVA]; National Unity Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF];
People's Alliance or PA [Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA];
People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [leader
NA]; Sihala Urumaya or SU [Tilak KARUNARATNE]; Sri Lanka Freedom
Party or SLFP [Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA]; Sri Lanka Muslim
Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]; Sri Lanka Progressive Front or SLPF
[P. Nelson PERERA]; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO
[SABARATNAM]; Tamil National Alliance or TNA [Nadarajah RAVIRAJ];
Tamil United Liberation Front or TULF [R. SAMPATHAN]; United
National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMASINGHE]; Upcountry People's
Front or UPF [P. CHANDRASEKARAN]; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim
parties, represented in either Parliament or provincial councils
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Buddhist clergy; labor unions; Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or
LTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting for a
separate state); radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the
National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups
International organization participation:
AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Devinda R. SUBASINGHE
consulate(s): New York
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 (through 4028)
chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador E. Ashley WILLS
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (1) 448007
FAX: [94] (1) 437345
Flag description:
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal
vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is
a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and
there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears
as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
Economy Sri Lanka
Economy - overview:
In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import
substitution trade policy for market-oriented policies and
export-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are food
processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages,
telecommunications, and insurance and banking. By 1996 plantation
crops made up only 20% of exports (compared with 93% in 1970), while
textiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an average
annual rate of 5.5% in the early 1990s until a drought and a
deteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. The
economy rebounded in 1997-2000 with average growth of 5.3%, but 2001
saw the first contraction in the country's history, -1.4%, due to a
combination of power shortages, severe budgetary problems, the
global slowdown, and continuing civil strife. Growth recovered to
3.2% in 2002. About 800,000 Sri Lankans work abroad, 90% in the
Middle East. They send home about $1 billion a year.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $73.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 26%
services: 54% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
22% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 28% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.4 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
6.6 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 45%, agriculture 38%, industry 17% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $2.8 billion
expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural
commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
1.1% (2002)
Electricity - production:
6.36 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 51.7%
hydro: 48.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
5.915 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
75,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber,
coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef
Exports:
$4.6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and apparel, tea, diamonds, coconut products, petroleum
products
Exports - partners:
US 39.1%, UK 12.9%, Belgium 4.7%, Germany 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$5.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
textiles, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and
equipment
Imports - partners:
India 11%, Hong Kong 7.6%, Singapore 7.1%, China 6.3%, Taiwan 5.9%,
South Korea 5.7%, Japan 5.3%, Iran 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$9.8 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$577 million (1998)
Currency:
Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
Currency code:
LKR
Exchange rates:
Sri Lankan rupees per US dollar - 95.66 (2002), 89.38 (2001), 77.01
(2000), 70.64 (1999), 64.45 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Sri Lanka
Telephones - main lines in use:
494,509 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
228,604 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: very inadequate domestic service, particularly
in rural areas; likely improvement with privatization of national
telephone company and encouragement to private investment; good
international service (1999)
domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital
microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area
and two fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition
is strong in mobile cellular systems; telephone density remains low
at 2.6 main lines per 100 persons (1999)
international: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 26, FM 45, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
3.85 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
21 (1997)
Televisions:
1.53 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)
Internet users:
121,500 (2001)
Transportation Sri Lanka
Railways:
total: 1,508 km
broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 96,695 km
paved: 91,860 km
unpaved: 4,835 km (1999)
Waterways:
430 km (navigable by shallow-draft craft)
Pipelines:
crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)
Ports and harbors:
Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee
Merchant marine:
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 62,157 GRT/84,898 DWT
ships by type: cargo 13, container 1, petroleum tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 9, Hong Kong 1, UAE 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
15 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Sri Lanka
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 5,383,661 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,172,921 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 186,691 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$719 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.2% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Sri Lanka
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Sudan
Introduction Sudan
Background:
Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have
dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956.
Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war for all but 10 years of this
period (1972-82). The wars are rooted in northern economic,
political, and social domination of non-Muslim, non-Arab southern
Sudanese. Since 1983, the war and war- and famine-related effects
have led to more than 2 million deaths and over 4 million people
displaced. The ruling regime is a mixture of military elite and an
Islamist party that came to power in a 1989 coup. Some northern
opposition parties have made common cause with the southern rebels
and entered the war as a part of an anti-government alliance. Peace
talks gained momentum in 2002-03 with the signing of several
accords, including a cease-fire agreement.
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: 2,505,810 sq km
water: 129,810 sq km
land: 2.376 million 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:
contiguous zone: 18 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: 7.03%
permanent crops: 0.08%
other: 92.89% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
19,500 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
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:
38,114,160 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 8,562,412; female 8,195,201)
15-64 years: 53.8% (male 10,260,581; female 10,246,045)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 468,898; female 381,023) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.7 years
male: 17.5 years
female: 17.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.71% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.48 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.59 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 1.23 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 65.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 66.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.73 years
male: 56.59 years
female: 58.93 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.1 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
450,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
23,000 (2001 est.)
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), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5%
(mostly in south and Khartoum)
Languages:
Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic,
Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
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.)
Government Sudan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form: Sudan
local short form: As-Sudan
local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Government type:
authoritarian regime - ruling military junta took power in 1989;
government is run by an alliance of the military and the National
Congress Party (NCP), formerly the National Islamic Front (NIF),
which espouses an Islamist platform
Capital:
Khartoum
Administrative divisions:
26 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr al
Ahmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, Al Khartum, Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah,
An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, Ash Shamaliyah, Bahr al Jabal,
Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr al Ghazal, Gharb Darfur, Gharb
Kurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan, Junqali, Kassala, Nahr an
Nil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur, Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq al
Istiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab
Independence:
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution:
12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim
constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June
1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998 partially
suspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR
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; some separate
religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal, but noncompulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR
(since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman Muhammad
TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President Moses MACHAR
(since 12 February 2001); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 13-23 December 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)
note: Lt. Gen. al-BASHIR assumed supreme executive power in 1989 and
retained it through several transitional governments in the early
and mid-1990s before being popularly elected for the first time in
March 1996
election results: Lt. Gen. Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected
president; percent of vote - Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 86.5%,
Ja'afar Muhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidates received a
combined vote of 3.9%; election widely viewed as rigged; all popular
opposition parties boycotted elections because of a lack of
guarantees for a free and fair election
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
head of government: President Lt. Gen. Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR
(since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman Muhammad
TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President Moses MACHAR
(since 12 February 2001); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (360 seats; 270 popularly elected, 90
elected by supra assembly of interest groups known as National
Congress; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held NA
December 2004)
note: on 12 December 1999, BASHIR dismissed the National Assembly
during an internal power struggle between the president and the
speaker of the National Assembly Hassan al-TURABI
election results: NCP 355, others 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
Political parties and leaders:
the government allows political "associations" under a 1998 law
revised in 2000; to obtain government approval parties must accept
the constitution and refrain from advocating or using violence
against the regime; approved parties include the National Congress
Party or NCP [Ibrahim Ahmed UMAR], Popular National Congress or PNC
[Hassan al-TURABI], and over 20 minor, pro-government parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Democratic Unionist Party [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI]; National
Congress Party [Ibrahim Ahmed UMAR]; National Democratic Alliance
[Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI, chairman]; Sudan People's Liberation
Movement/Army [Dr. John GARANG]; Umma [Sadiq al-MAHDI]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affairs, Ad Interim
Khidir Haroun AHMED (since April 2001)
telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
US Embassy in Khartoum is located on Sharia Abdul Latif Avenue;
mailing address - P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829; telephone -
[249] (11) 774611 or 774700; FAX - [249] (11) 774137
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a
green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Economy Sudan
Economy - overview:
Sudan has turned around a struggling economy with sound economic
policies and infrastructure investments, but it still faces
formidable economic problems, notably the low level of per capita
output. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been implementing IMF
macroeconomic reforms. In 1999 Sudan began exporting crude oil and
in the last quarter of 1999 recorded its first trade surplus, which,
along with monetary policy, has stabilized the exchange rate.
Increased oil production, revived light industry, and expanded
export processing zones helped maintain GDP growth at 5.1% in 2002.
Agriculture production remains Sudan's most important sector,
employing 80% of the work force and contributing 43% of GDP, but
most farms remain rain-fed and susceptible to drought. Chronic
domestic instability, lagging reforms, adverse weather, and weak
world agricultural prices - but, above all, the low starting point -
ensure that much of the population will remain at or below the
poverty line for years.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $52.9 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 43%
industry: 17%
services: 40% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
11 million (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 7%, government 13% (1998
est.)
Unemployment rate:
18.7% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.6 billion
expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap
distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments,
automobile/light truck assembly
Industrial production growth rate:
8.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.389 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 52.1%
hydro: 47.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.222 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
209,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
50,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
631.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
99.11 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic,
sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet
potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock
Exports:
$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts,
gum arabic, sugar
Exports - partners:
China 55.7%, Japan 14%, Saudi Arabia 4.9% (2002)
Imports:
$1.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment,
medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat
Imports - partners:
China 19.7%, Saudi Arabia 7.4%, Germany 5.5%, India 5.5%, UK 5.4%,
Indonesia 4.7%, Australia 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$15.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$187 million (1997)
Currency:
Sudanese dinar (SDD)
Currency code:
SDD
Exchange rates:
Sudanese dinars per US dollar - 263.31 (2002), 258.7 (2001), 257.12
(2000), 252.55 (1999), 200.8 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Sudan
Telephones - main lines in use:
400,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
20,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: large, well-equipped system by regional
standards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in
1996 and have expanded substantially
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone
communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite
system with 14 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
7.55 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (1997)
Televisions:
2.38 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.sd
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2002)
Internet users:
56,000 (2002)
Transportation Sudan
Railways:
total: 5,978 km
narrow gauge: 4,578 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge
plantation line (2002)
Highways:
total: 11,900 km
paved: 4,320 km
unpaved: 7,580 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
5,310 km
Pipelines:
gas 156 km; oil 2,297 km; refined products 810 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan, Sawakin
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,854 GRT/39,084 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, livestock carrier 1, roll on/roll off 2
(2002 est.)
Airports:
63 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 51
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 24
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Sudan
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 9,032,834 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,558,462 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 429,334 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$581 million (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.5% (1999)
Transnational Issues Sudan
Disputes - international:
the north-south civil war has drawn Sudan's neighbors into the
fighting, sheltering refugees, and infiltration by rebel groups -
Kenya and Uganda have acted as mediators; Sudan accuses Eritrea of
supporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate the porous
boundary with Ethiopia have been delayed by fighting in Sudan;
Kenya's administrative boundary still extends into the Sudan,
creating the "Ilemi triangle"; Egypt and Sudan retain claims to
administer the triangular areas that extend north and south of the
1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn
their military presence; Egypt is economically developing the
"Hala'ib triangle"
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Suriname
Introduction Suriname
Background:
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 rule through a
succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when
international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In
1989, the military overthrew the civilian government, but a
democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.
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: 163,270 sq km
land: 161,470 sq km
water: 1,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,707 km
border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline:
386 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 0.37%
permanent crops: 0.06%
note: there are 95,000 hectares of arable land, 7,000 hectares of
permanent crops, and 15,000 hectares of permanent pastures (1998
est.)
other: 99.57%
Irrigated land:
490 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
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:
435,449 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.7% (male 68,536; female 65,165)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 141,048; female 134,699)
65 years and over: 6% (male 11,686; female 14,315) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.5 years
male: 25.1 years
female: 26 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.37% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.4 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.83 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-8.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 28.93 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.23 years
male: 66.79 years
female: 71.78 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.4 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,700 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
330 (2001 est.)
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%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2%
(predominantly Moravian), 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), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 95%
female: 91% (1995 est.)
Government Suriname
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
local long form: Republiek Suriname
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Paramaribo
Administrative divisions:
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,
Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,
Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence:
25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution:
ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system:
based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August
2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12
August 2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12
August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among
the members of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a constitutional majority in the National Assembly after
two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869 representatives from
the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms;
election last held 6 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)
election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN elected president by the
National Assembly; percent of legislative vote - Runaldo Ronald
VENETIAAN 72.5%; Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 19.6%; total votes cast -
Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (New Front) 37 votes, Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP)
10 votes
note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the
call for elections a year early
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NF 33, MC 10, DNP 2000 3, DA '91 2, PVF 2, PALU 1
note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the
call for elections a year early
elections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)
Judicial branch:
Court of Justice (justices are nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the
Alternative Forum or AF and Party for Brotherhood and Unity in
Politics or BEP, formed in January 1991) [Winston JESSURUN];
Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP 2000 (coalition of two
parties, Democratic Party and Democrats of the 21st Century) [Jules
WIJDENBOSCH]; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative or OPDA
[Joginder RAMKHILAWAN]; Millennium Combination or MC (a coalition of
three parties, Democratic Alternative, Party for National Unity and
Solidarity, and National Democratic Party) [leader NA]; National
Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; Naya Kadam or NK [leader
NA]; Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN]; Party
of National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]; Pertjaja
Luhur [Paul SOMOHARDJO]; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers'
Union or PALU [Ir Iwan KROLIS]; The New Front or NF (a coalition of
four parties Suriname National Party or NPS, Progressive Reform
Party or VHP, Suriname Labor Party or SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur)
[Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN]; The Progressive Development Alliance (a
combination of three parties, Renewed Progressive Party or HPP,
Party of the Federation of Land Workers or PVF, and Suriname
Progressive People's Party or PSV) [Harry KISOENSINGH]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie
BRUNSWIJK]; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement [Leendert ADAMS];
Tucayana Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO]; Union for
Liberation and Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG]
International organization participation:
ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel A. JOHNSON
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place,
Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472900
FAX: [597] 420800
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red
(quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a
large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy Suriname
Economy - overview:
The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts
for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. Suriname's
economic prospects for the medium term will depend on renewed
commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the
introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote
competition. The government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun an
austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending.
However, in 2002, President VENETIAAN agreed to a large pay raise
for civil servants, which threatens his earlier gains in stabilizing
the economy. The Dutch Government has agreed to restart the aid
flow, which will allow Suriname to access international development
financing. The short-term economic outlook depends on the
government's ability to control inflation and on the development of
projects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.469 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 22%
services: 65% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
17% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
100,000
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
17% (2000)
Budget:
revenues: $393 million
expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34
million (1997 est.)
Industries:
bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food
processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.959 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 25.2%
hydro: 74.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.822 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
37 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts;
beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
Exports:
$445 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Exports - partners:
US 25.3%, Norway 20.4%, France 8.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 6.4%,
Iceland 6%, Canada 5.9%, Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
Imports:
$300 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 22.2%, Netherlands 15.6%, China 11.9%, Trinidad and Tobago
11.2%, France 7.5%, Netherlands Antilles 7.2%, Japan 5.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$321 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program
assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million
(1998)
Currency:
Surinamese guilder (SRG)
Currency code:
SRG
Exchange rates:
Surinamese guilders per US dollar - 2,346.75 (2002), 2,178.5
(2001), 1,322.47 (2000), 859.44 (1999), 401 (1998)
note: during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct
rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, but
subsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged; the
government currently allows trading within a band of SRG 500 around
the official rate
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Suriname
Telephones - main lines in use:
64,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4,090 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: international facilities are good
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
300,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)
Televisions:
63,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
14,500 (2002)
Transportation Suriname
Railways:
total: 166 km (single-track)
standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
note: Suriname railroads are not in operation (2001)
narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 4,492 km
paved: 1,168 km
unpaved: 3,324 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,200 km
note: most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with
drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways
Pipelines:
oil 51 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, container 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
46 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 35 (2002)
Military Suriname
Military branches:
National Army (including small Navy and Air Force elements), Civil
Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 123,159 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 72,039 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.6% (FY97 est.)
Transnational Issues Suriname
Disputes - international:
area disputed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere
Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); area disputed by Guyana
between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari [Kutari]
rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne); territorial sea boundary
with Guyana is in dispute
Illicit drugs:
growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for
Europe and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Svalbard
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:
Arctic Region
Area:
total: 62,049 sq km
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
water: 0 sq km
land: 62,049 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,587 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM unilaterally claimed by Norway but
not recognized by Russia
territorial sea: 4 NM
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, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (no trees, and the only bushes are crowberry and
cloudberry) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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
People Svalbard
Population:
2,811 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.02% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0% (2001)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
0 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
0 (2001)
Ethnic groups:
Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
Languages:
Russian, Norwegian
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:
Longyearbyen
Independence:
none (territory of Norway)
National holiday:
NA
Legal system:
NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Morten RUUD (since NA November 1998)
and Assistant Governor Odd Redar HUMLEGAARD (since NA)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant
governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of
Justice
International organization participation:
none
Flag description:
the flag of Norway is used
Economy Svalbard
Economy - overview:
Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty
of 9 February 1920 gives 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 mining 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 trapping of seal, polar
bear, fox, and walrus.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $NA
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
NA
Budget:
revenues: $11.5 million
expenditures: $11.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 58%
other: 0%
hydro: 42%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Exports:
$NA
Imports:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$8.2 million from Norway (1998)
Currency:
Norwegian krone (NOK)
Currency code:
NOK
Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 7.9838 (2002), 8.9917 (2001),
8.8018 (2000), 7.7992 (1999), 7.5451 (1998)
Communications Svalbard
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: probably adequate
domestic: local telephone service
international: satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for
communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.sj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen) (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Svalbard
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Svalbard
Military - note:
demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Swaziland
Introduction Swaziland
Background:
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the
British in the late 19th century; independence was granted 1968.
Student and labor unrest during the 1990s have pressured the
monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow
political reform and greater democracy.
Geography Swaziland
Location:
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 17,363 sq km
water: 160 sq km
land: 17,203 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: 9.77%
permanent crops: 0.7%
other: 89.53% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
690 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Endangered Species, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
People Swaziland
Population:
1,161,219
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 242,762; female 238,141)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 317,526; female 321,709)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 18,040; female 23,041) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.5 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 18.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.83% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
29.37 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
21.08 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 70.79 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 39.47 years
male: 41.02 years
female: 37.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.92 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
33.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
170,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
12,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups:
African 97%, European 3%
Religions:
Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship)
40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist,
Mormon, Jewish and other 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.)
Government Swaziland
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland
Government type:
monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital:
Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital
Administrative divisions:
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:
6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution:
none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973;
a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but was not
formally presented to the people; since then a few more outlines for
a constitution have been compiled under the Constitutional Review
Commission (CRC), but so far none have been accepted
Legal system:
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and
Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Themba DLAMINI (since 14 November
2003)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of the
Senate (30 seats - 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20
appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year terms) and the
House of Assembly (65 seats - 10 appointed by the monarch and 55
elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 18 October 2003 (next to be
held NA October 2008)
election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a
nonparty basis; candidates for election are 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; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed
by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
political parties are banned by the constitution - the following
are considered political associations; Imbokodvo National Movement
or INM [leader NA]; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC
[Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's United Democratic Movement or
PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]; Swaziland National Front or
SWANAFRO [Elmond SHONGWE, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA
FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683
chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. McGEE
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445
FAX: [268] 404-5959
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
Economy Swaziland
Economy - overview:
In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies
more than 80% of the population. The manufacturing sector has
diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain
important foreign exchange earners. 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 nine-tenths of its imports and to
which it sends more than two-thirds of its exports. Customs duties
from the Southern African Customs Union and worker remittances from
South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income.
The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign
investment. 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 2002 because of drought,
and more than one-third of the adult population was infected by
HIV/AIDS.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $5.542 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 44%
services: 39% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
383,200 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
34% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $448 million
expenditures: $506.9 million, including capital expenditures of $147
million (FY 01/02)
Industries:
mining (coal), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile
and apparel
Industrial production growth rate:
3.7% (FY 95/96)
Electricity - production:
348.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 42%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
962.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
639 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples,
sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Exports:
$820 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Exports - partners:
South Africa 72%, EU 14.2%, Mozambique 3.7%, US 3.5%, UK (1999)
Imports:
$938 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs,
petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
South Africa 88.8%, EU 5.6%, Japan 0.6%, Singapore 0.4% (1999)
Debt - external:
$320 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$104 million (2001)
Currency:
lilangeni (SZL)
Currency code:
SZL
Exchange rates:
emalangeni per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94 (2000),
6.11 (1999), 5.53 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Swaziland
Telephones - main lines in use:
38,500 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
45,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system
domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and
low-capacity, microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios:
170,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
5 plus 7 relay stations (2001)
Televisions:
23,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.sz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2002)
Internet users:
7,000 (2002)
Transportation Swaziland
Railways:
total: 301 km
narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 3,247 km
paved: NA
unpaved: NA (1998)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
18 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Swaziland
Military branches:
Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal Swaziland Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 284,530 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 165,005 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$20 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.75% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Swaziland
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Sweden
Introduction Sweden
Background:
A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not
participated in any war in 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, rising
maintenance costs, and a declining position in world markets.
Indecision over the country's role in the political and economic
integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the EU until 1995,
and waived the introduction of the euro in 1999.
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: 449,964 sq km
water: 39,030 sq km
land: 410,934 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,205 km
border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline:
3,218 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
territorial sea: 12 NM (adjustments made to return a portion of
straits to high seas)
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
-2.41 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources:
zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 6.8%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 93.2% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,150 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North
Seas
People Sweden
Population:
8,878,085 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.7% (male 804,296; female 763,213)
15-64 years: 65% (male 2,933,183; female 2,835,835)
65 years and over: 17.3% (male 654,575; female 886,983) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.1 years
male: 39 years
female: 41.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.71 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.58 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.97 years
male: 77.31 years
female: 82.78 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.54 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups:
indigenous population: Swedes and Finnish and Sami minorities;
foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs,
Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Religions:
Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish,
Buddhist
Languages:
Swedish
note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Sweden
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local short form: Sverige
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Stockholm
Administrative divisions:
21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas,
Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar,
Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane,
Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens,
Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands
Independence:
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
National holiday:
Flag Day, 6 June
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 Goran PERSSON (since 21 March
1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the prime minister is elected by the Parliament; election
last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA September 2006)
election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime minister with 131
out of 349 votes
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 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA September
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 39.8%,
Moderates 15.2%, Liberal Party 13.3%, Christian Democrats 9.1%, Left
Party 8.3%, Center Party 6.1%, Greens 4.6%; seats by party - Social
Democrats 144, Moderates 55, Liberal Party 48, Christian Democrats
33, Left Party 30, Center Party 22, Greens 17
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 [Alf
SVENSSON]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokespersons are
Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or VP (formerly
Communist) [Ulla HOFFMAN (acting)]; Liberal People's Party [Lars
LEIJONBORG]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT];
Social Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jan ELIASSON
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. HEIMBOLD, Jr.
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State,
5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch)
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)
Economy Sweden
Economy - overview:
Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole 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. 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 only 2% of GDP and
2% of the jobs. The government's commitment to fiscal discipline
resulted in a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001, which was cut
by more than half in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown,
revenue declines, and spending increases. The Swedish central bank
(the Riksbank) is focusing on price stability with its inflation
target of 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003. On September 14,
2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system,
concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $230.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $26,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 29%
services: 69% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.4 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $119 billion
expenditures: $110 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
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:
0.9% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
152.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 4%
hydro: 50.8%
other: 2.3% (2001)
nuclear: 43%
Electricity - consumption:
134.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
18.45 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
11.14 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
328,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
203,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
553,100 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
949 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
968 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Exports:
$80.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron
and steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners:
US 11.6%, Germany 10.1%, Norway 9%, UK 8.2%, Denmark 5.9%, Finland
5.6%, Netherlands 5.3%, France 5.1%, Belgium 4.7% (2002)
Imports:
$68.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor
vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 18.5%, Denmark 8.8%, UK 8.6%, Norway 8.2%, Netherlands
6.7%, France 5.4%, Finland 5.2%, US 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$66.5 billion (1994)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)
Currency:
Swedish krona (SEK)
Currency code:
SEK
Exchange rates:
Swedish kronor per US dollar - 9.74 (2002), 10.33 (2001), 9.16
(2000), 8.26 (1999), 7.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Sweden
Telephones - main lines in use:
6.017 million (December 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.835 million (October 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international
facilities; automatic system
domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice
traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some
additional telephone channels
international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
8.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
4.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.se
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
29 (2000)
Internet users:
6.02 million (2002)
Transportation Sweden
Railways:
total: 11,481 km
standard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (7,527 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 212,402 km
paved: 166,523 km (including 1,499 km of expressways)
unpaved: 45,879 km (2000)
Waterways:
2,052 km
note: navigable to small steamers and barges
Pipelines:
gas 798 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar,
Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
Merchant marine:
total: 166 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,329,925 GRT/1,609,986 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 8, Finland 8, Germany 3, Italy 3, Japan 2,
Norway 7 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 35, chemical tanker 31, combination
ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 25, roll on/roll off 35, short-sea
passenger 8, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 21
Airports:
245 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 145
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 25 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 100
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 90 (2002)
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Sweden
Military branches:
Army, Royal Navy (including Coast Artillery and Naval Helicopter
Service), Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,060,044 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,800,376 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 52,692 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.395 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Sweden
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Switzerland
Introduction Switzerland
Background:
Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by
the major European powers, and Switzerland 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: 41,290 sq km
water: 1,520 sq km
land: 39,770 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: 10.57%
permanent crops: 0.61%
other: 88.82% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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:
7,318,638 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 623,428; female 591,709)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,519,302; female 2,439,560)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 470,257; female 674,382) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.2 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 41.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.21% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.99 years
male: 77.11 years
female: 83.02 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.48 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
19,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups:
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)
Languages:
German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian
(official) 7.6%, Romansch (official) 0.6%, other 8.9%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male:
female:
Government Switzerland
Country name:
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera
(Italian)
local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German),
Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
Bern
Administrative divisions:
26 cantons (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
Independence:
1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday:
Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution:
18 December 1998
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 Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003);
Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January
2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal
(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal
Assembly usually from among its own members for a four-year term
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal
Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year
terms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 2002
(next to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of
Federal Assembly vote - NA%; Ruth METZLER elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote - NA%
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
- members serve four-year terms) and the National Council or
Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio
Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popular
vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year
terms)
elections: Council of States - last held NA 1999 (each canton
determines when the next election will be held); National Council -
last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held NA October 2007)
election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - FDP 18, CVP 15, SVP 7, SPS 6; National Council
- percent of vote by party - SVP 27.7%, SPS 24.2%, FDP 16%, CVP
12.9%, Greens 7.7%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party
- SVP 55, SPS 52, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small
parties 16
Judicial branch:
Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the
Federal Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische
Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or
PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida
Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Philipp STAEHELIN,
president]; Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti
Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I
Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER and
Patrice MUGNY, co-presidents]; Radical Free Democratic Party
(Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti
Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale
Svizzero or PLR) [Christiane LANGENBERGER, president]; 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) [Christiane BRUNNER,
president]; 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) [Ueli MAURER, president];
and other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER
consulate(s): Boston
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III
embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3005 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
Economy Switzerland
Economy - overview:
Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern market economy with
low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP
larger than that of the big western European economies. The Swiss in
recent years have brought their economic practices largely into
conformity with the EU's to enhance their international
competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors,
because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up
the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic
conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to
0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $233.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $32,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 34%
services: 64% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.1 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 69.1%, industry 26.3%, agriculture 4.6% (1998)
Unemployment rate:
1.9% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $30 billion
expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (2001)
Electricity - production:
68.68 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.3%
hydro: 59.5%
other: 2% (2001)
nuclear: 37.1%
Electricity - consumption:
53.43 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
34.54 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
24.1 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
290,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Exports:
$100.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.2%, US 10.2%, Italy 9.6%, France 8.9%, UK 7.7% (2002)
Imports:
$94.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products,
textiles
Imports - partners:
Germany 27.4%, France 11.4%, Italy 9.7%, US 8.5%, Russia 5.8%, UK
5.4%, Austria 4.6%, Netherlands 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Currency:
Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:
CHF
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.56 (2002), 1.69 (2001), 1.69 (2000),
1.5 (1999), 1.45 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Switzerland
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.82 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.967 million (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean
and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ch
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Internet users:
3.85 million (2002)
Transportation Switzerland
Railways:
total: 4,511 km
standard gauge: 3,483 km 1.435-m gauge (3,472 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 982 km 1.000-m gauge (975 km electrified); 46 km
0.800-m gauge (46 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 71,011 km
paved: 71,011 km (including 1,638 of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
65 km
note: The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden and
Schaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes
Pipelines:
gas 1,831 km; oil 212 km; refined products 7 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Basel
Merchant marine:
total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 597,049 GRT/1,051,380 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: UK 6, US 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 16, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 2,
passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
66 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 14 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 25
1524 to 2437 m: 1
under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Switzerland
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,834,638 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,552,728 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 42,761 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Switzerland
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
because of more stringent government regulations, used
significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for
and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Syria
Introduction Syria
Background:
Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I,
Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In
the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel.
Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly
in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel have
held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights.
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
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
water: 1,130 sq km
land: 184,050 sq km
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:
contiguous zone: 41 NM
territorial sea: 35 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: 25.96%
permanent crops: 4.08%
other: 69.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
12,130 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms
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, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.)
People Syria
Population:
17,585,540 (July 2002 est.)
note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) and
about 20,000 Israeli settlers (February 2003 est.) (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 3,494,473; female 3,290,699)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 5,238,026; female 4,991,588)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 274,744; female 296,010) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.7 years
male: 19.6 years
female: 19.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.45% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
29.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 31.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.39 years
male: 68.18 years
female: 70.67 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%,
Christian (various sects) 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: 76.9%
male: 89.7%
female: 64% (2003 est.)
Government Syria
Country name:
conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form: Syria
local short form: Suriyah
former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
Government type:
republic under military regime since March 1963
Capital:
Damascus
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al
Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az
Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, 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 Islamic law and civil law system; special religious
courts; 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
Presidents Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and
Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10
September 2003), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS
(since 11 March 1984), Farouk al-SHARA (since 13 December 2001), Dr.
Muhammad al-HUSAYN (since 13 December 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
referendum/election last held 10 July 2000 - after the death of
President Hafez al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held
NA 2007); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister
and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
note: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June 2000, the Ba'th
Party nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his name
to the People's Council on 25 June 2000
election results: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote
- Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents
33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - the
constitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF
alliance) receives one-half of the seats
elections: last held 2-3 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-year
terms by the president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation;
State Security Courts
Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Front or NPF (includes Arab Socialist
Renaissance (Ba'th) Party (governing party) [President Bashar
al-ASAD, secretary general], Socialist Unionist Democratic Party
[Ahmad al ASAD], Syrian Communist Party [leader NA], Unionist
Socialist Party [leader NA], Arab Socialist Party [Abd al-Ghani
QANNUT], and Arab Socialist Unionist Movement [Sami SUFAN])
[President Bashar al-ASAD, chairman]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party or
ASP [Safwan QUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party or SCP [Yusuf FAYSAL];
Syrian Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in
exile in Jordan and Yemen); non-Ba'th parties have little effective
political influence
International organization participation:
AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (acting) Imad MUSTAFA
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342
FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with
two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in
the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain
white band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic
inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also
similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in
the white band
Economy Syria
Economy - overview:
Syria's predominantly statist economy has been growing, on average,
more slowly than its 2.4% annual population growth rate, causing a
persistent decline in per capita GDP. Recent legislation allows
private banks to operate in Syria, although a private banking sector
will take years and further government cooperation to develop.
External factors such as the international war on terrorism, the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the war between the US-led
coalition and Iraq probably will drive real annual GDP growth levels
back below their 3.5% spike in 2002. A long-run economic constraint
is the pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth,
industrial expansion, and increased water pollution.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $63.48 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 23%
services: 50% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15%-25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
5.2 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, industry, services NA (2002)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $6 billion
expenditures: $7 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.6
billion (2002 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate
rock mining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
23.26 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 57.6%
hydro: 42.4%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
21.63 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
522,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
265,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
2.4 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
5.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
5.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
240.7 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets;
beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Exports:
$6.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 70%, petroleum products 7%, fruits and vegetables 5%,
cotton fiber 4%, clothing 3%, meat and live animals 2% (2000 est.)
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.1%, Italy 17.5%, Turkey 7.8%, France 7.5%, Lebanon 5.2%
(2002)
Imports:
$4.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 21%, food and livestock 18%,
metal and metal products 15%, chemicals and chemical products 10%
(2000 est.)
Imports - partners:
Italy 8.3%, Germany 7.4%, China 5.7%, South Korea 4.8%, France
4.6%, US 4.4%, Turkey 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$22 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$199 million (1997 est.)
Currency:
Syrian pound (SYP)
Currency code:
SYP
Exchange rates:
Syrian pounds per US dollar - (Official rate): 11.23 (2002), 11.23
(2001), 11.23 (2000), 11.23 (1999), 11.23 (1998), (Free market
rate): 49.65 (2001), 49.4 (2000), 51.7 (1999), 52 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Syria
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.313 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significant
improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
4.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.sy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
60,000 (2002)
Transportation Syria
Railways:
total: 2,743 km
standard gauge: 2,425 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 318 km 1.050-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 43,381 km
paved: 10,021 km (including 877 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,360 km (1999)
Waterways:
870 km (minimal economic importance)
Pipelines:
gas 2,300 km; oil 2,183 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
Merchant marine:
total: 129 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 450,135 GRT/645,296 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 2, Italy 1, Lebanon 10 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 109, container 2, livestock carrier 3,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
Airports:
92 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 68
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 55 (2002)
Heliports:
7 (2002)
Military Syria
Military branches:
Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force (includes
Air Defense Forces), Police and Security Force
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,715,386 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,629,148 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 210,941 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$858 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data that
may understate actual spending
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.9% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Syria
Disputes - international:
Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied; Lebanon claims Shaba'a farms in
Golan Heights; Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon since
October 1976; Syria protests Turkish hydrological projects
regulating upper Euphrates waters; Turkey is quick to rebuff any
perceived Syrian claim to Hatay province
Illicit drugs:
a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and
Western markets
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Taiwan
Introduction Taiwan
Background:
In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. It
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
native 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 eventual
unification - 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
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
water: 3,720 sq km
land: 32,260 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,566.3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
earthquakes and typhoons
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
signed, but not ratified: 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:
22,603,001 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 2,366,560; female 2,175,886)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 8,095,741; female 7,871,954)
65 years and over: 9.3% (male 1,074,112; female 1,018,747) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 33.2 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 33.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.65% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 7.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.87 years
male: 74.12 years
female: 79.88 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.57 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Chinese/Taiwanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese/Taiwanese
Ethnic groups:
Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions:
mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, 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: 86%
male: 93%
female: 79% (1980)
note: literacy for the total population has reportedly increased to
94% (1998)
Government Taiwan
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Taiwan
local short form: T'ai-wan
local long form: none
former: Formosa
Government type:
multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly-elected president
and unicameral legislature
Capital:
Taipei
Administrative divisions:
the central administrative divisions include the provinces of
Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including
Quemoy and Matsu) and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the
Pescadores islands); Taiwan is further subdivided into 16 counties
(hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and
plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and
plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*,
Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou,
P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*,
T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the
provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
National holiday:
Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October
(1911)
Constitution:
1 January 1947, amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 1999
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President CHEN Shui-bian (since 20 May 2000) and
Vice President Annette LU (LU Hsiu-lien) (since 20 May 2000)
election results: CHEN Shui-bian elected president; percent of vote
- CHEN Shui-bian (DPP) 39.3%, James SOONG (SOONG Chu-yu) (PFP)
36.84%, LIEN Chan (KMT) 23.1%, HSU Hsin-liang (independent) 0.63%,
LEE Ao (CNP) 0.13%
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 18 March
2000 (next to be held NA March 2004); premier appointed by the
president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the premier
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) YU
Shyi-kun (since 1 February 2002) and Vice Premier (Vice President of
the Executive Yuan) LIN Hsin-yi (since 1 February 2002)
cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168 elected by popular
vote, 41 elected on the basis of the proportion of islandwide votes
received by participating political parties, eight elected from
overseas Chinese constituencies on the basis of the proportion of
islandwide votes received by participating political parties, eight
elected by popular vote among the aboriginal populations; members
serve three-year terms) and unicameral National Assembly (300 seat
nonstanding body; delegates nominated by parties and elected by
proportional representation within three months of a Legislative
Yuan call to amend the Constitution, impeach the president, or
change national borders)
elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 8 December 2001 (next to be
held NA December 2004); note - the National Assembly is a
nonstanding body and is called into session
election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - DPP
39%, KMT 30%, PFP 20%, TSU 6%, independents and other parties 5%;
seats by party - DPP 87, KMT 68, PFP 46, TSU 13, independents and
other parties 11
Judicial branch:
Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of
the National Assembly; note - beginning in 2003, justices will be
appointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [CHEN Shui-bian, chairman];
Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [LIEN Chan, chairman]; People
First Party or PFP [James SOONG (SOONG Chu-yu), chairman]; Taiwan
Solidarity Union or TSU [HUANG Chu-wen, chairman]; other minor
parties including the Chinese New Party or CNP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Taiwan independence movement, various business and environmental
groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the
mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization
and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's
legislature have opened public debate on the island's national
identity; a broad popular consensus has developed that Taiwan
currently enjoys de facto independence and - whatever the ultimate
outcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan's
people must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwan
independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify
with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement
include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the
UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the
World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for
Taiwan Nation Building
International organization participation:
APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, ICFTU, IFRCS, IOC, WCL, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people
of the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US
with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 12
other US cities
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people
on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality - the
American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has offices in the US and
Taiwan; US office located at 1700 N. Moore St., Suite 1700,
Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1] (703) 525-8474, FAX: [1]
(703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices located at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi
Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (2) 2709-2000,
FAX: [886] (2) 2702-7675; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor,
Kao-hsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX:
[886] (7) 223-8237; and the American Trade Center, Room 3208
International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung
Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan 10548, telephone: [886] (2)
2720-1550, FAX: [886] (2) 2757-7162
Flag description:
red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
Economy Taiwan
Economy - overview:
Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing
guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities.
In keeping with this trend, some large government-owned banks and
industrial firms are being privatized. Exports have provided the
primary impetus for industrialization. The trade surplus is
substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest.
Agriculture contributes 2% to GDP, down from 32% in 1952. While
Taiwan is a major investor throughout Southeast Asia, China has
become the largest destination for investment and has overtaken the
US to become Taiwan's largest export market. Because of its
conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths,
Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from the
Asian financial crisis in 1998. The global economic downturn,
combined with problems in policy coordination by the administration
and bad debts in the banking system, pushed Taiwan into recession in
2001, the first year of negative growth ever recorded. Unemployment
also reached record levels. Output recovered moderately in 2002 in
the face of continued global slowdown, fragile consumer confidence,
and bad bank loans. Growing economic ties with China are a dominant
long-term factor. Exports to China - mainly parts and equipment for
the assembly of goods for export to developed countries - drove
Taiwan's economic recovery in 2002.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $406 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 31%
services: 67% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
1% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 6.4%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.6 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
10 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 58%, industry 35%, agriculture 7% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $36 billion
expenditures: $36.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and
steel, machinery, cement, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002)
Electricity - production:
151.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 71.4%
hydro: 6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 22.6%
Electricity - consumption:
140.5 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
988,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
2 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
750 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
6.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
410 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
6.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
38.23 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish
Exports:
$130 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment 54%, metals, textiles, plastics,
chemicals (2002)
Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 23.9%, US 20.8%, Japan 9.3%, China 7.7% (2002)
Imports:
$113 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment 44.5%, minerals, precision
instruments (2002)
Imports - partners:
Japan 24.3%, US 16.1%, China 7.1%, South Korea 6.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$24.7 billion (2002)
Currency:
new Taiwan dollar (TWD)
Currency code:
TWD
Exchange rates:
34.88 (2002), 34.74 (2001), 33.09 (2000), 31.6 (1999)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June (up to FY98/99); 1 July 1999 - 31 December 2000
for FY00; calendar year (after FY00)
Communications Taiwan
Telephones - main lines in use:
12.49 million (September 2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16 million (September 2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: provides telecommunications service for every
business and private need
domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Pacific
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to Japan (Okinawa),
Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia,
Middle East, and Western Europe (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 218, FM 333, shortwave 50 (1999)
Radios:
16 million (1994)
Television broadcast stations:
29 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
8.8 million (1998)
Internet country code:
.tw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
11.6 million (2001)
Transportation Taiwan
Railways:
total: 1,108 km
narrow gauge: 1,108 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)
note: there also are 1,255 km of 1.067-m gauge routes belonging to
the Taiwan Sugar Corporation and to the Taiwan Forestry Bureau used
to haul products and limited numbers of passengers (2002)
Highways:
total: 35,931 km
paved: 31,583 km (including 608 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,348 km (2000)
Waterways:
NA
Pipelines:
condensate 25 km; gas 435 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung
Merchant marine:
total: 142 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,973,958 GRT/6,306,361 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Hong Kong 3, Japan 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 41, cargo 22, chemical tanker 2, combination
bulk 3, container 45, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 9,
roll on/roll off 2
Airports:
39 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:
3 (2002)
Military Taiwan
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard
Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service
Forces Command
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,583,604 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,019,268 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 189,967 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$7.574 billion (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Taiwan
Disputes - international:
involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,
Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claimants in
November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in
the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell
short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; Paracel Islands
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; claims
Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as
does China
Illicit drugs:
regional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine; major
problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Tajikistan
Introduction Tajikistan
Background:
Tajikistan has experienced three changes in government and a
five-year civil war since it gained independence in 1991 from the
USSR. A peace agreement among rival factions was signed in 1997, and
implemented in 2000. The central government's less than total
control over some areas of the country has forced it to compromise
and forge alliances among factions. Attention by the international
community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought
increased economic development assistance, which could create jobs
and increase 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
water: 400 sq km
land: 142,700 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 7,495 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead,
zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Land use:
arable land: 5.41%
permanent crops: 0.92%
other: 93.67% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
7,200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes and floods
Environment - current issues:
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil
salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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:
6,863,752 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.8% (male 1,376,244; female 1,353,108)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 1,896,509; female 1,915,334)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 140,993; female 181,564) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.3 years
male: 19 years
female: 19.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
32.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 113.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 99.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 126.58 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.37 years
male: 61.39 years
female: 67.5 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.17 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups:
Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of
emigration), other 6.6%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
Languages:
Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.1% (2003 est.)
Government Tajikistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form: Tajikistan
local short form: Tojikiston
former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Dushanbe
Administrative divisions:
2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous
province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni
Badakhshon* (Khorugh), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa), Viloyati
Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Independence:
9 September 1991 (from 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emomali RAHMONOV (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
election results: Emomali RAHMONOV elected president; percent of
vote - Emomali RAHMONOV 97%, Davlat USMON 2%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 6 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); prime
minister appointed by the president; Tajikistan held a
constitutional referendum on 22 June 2003 that, among other things,
set a term limit of two seven-year terms for the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the Assembly
of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
and the National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (33
seats; members are indirectly elected, 25 selected by local
deputies, 8 appointed by the president; all serve five-year terms)
election results: Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - PDPT 65%, Communist Party 20%, Islamic Rebirth Party 7.5%,
other 7.5%; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
elections: last held 27 February and 12 March 2000 for the Assembly
of Representatives (next to be held NA 2005) and 23 March 2000 for
the National Assembly (next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV, chairman]; Islamic
Revival Party [Said Abdullo NURI, chairman]; People's Democratic
Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMONOV]; Social Democratic
Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOIROV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Sherali
KENJAYEV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
there are two unregistered political parties with 1,000 or more
members: Progressive Party [Suton QUVVATOV]; Unity Party [Hikmatuko
SAIDOV]
International organization participation:
AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM, ITU,
OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Khamrokhon ZARIPOV
chancery: 1725 K Sreet NW, Suite 409, Washington, DC 20006
FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091
telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard E. HOAGLAND
embassy: 10 Pavlova Street, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734003; note - the
embassy in Dushanbe is not yet fully operational; most business is
still handled in Almaty at 531 Sayfullin Street, Almaty, Kazakhstan,
telephone 7-3272-58-79-61, FAX 7-3272-58-79-68
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [992] (372) 21-03-48 (Dushanbe)
FAX: [992] (372) 21-03-62
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
Economy Tajikistan
Economy - overview:
Tajikistan has the lowest per capita GDP among the 15 former Soviet
republics. Only 8% to 10% of the land area is arable. Cotton is the
most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in
amount, 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. Even though 60% of its
people continue to live in abject poverty, Tajikistan has
experienced steady economic growth since 1997. Continued
privatization of medium and large state-owned enterprises will
further increase productivity. Tajikistan's economic situation,
however, remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural
reforms, weak governance, widespread unemployment, and the external
debt burden. A debt restructuring agreement was reached with Russia
in December 2002, including an interest rate of 4%, a 3-year grace
period, and a US $49.8 million credit to the Central Bank of
Tajikistan.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $8.476 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 26%
services: 55% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
3.187 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 67.2%, industry 7.5%, services 25.3% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
40% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $502 million
expenditures: $520 million, including capital expenditures of $86
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable
oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
Industrial production growth rate:
10.3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
14.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.9%
hydro: 98.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
14.52 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
3.909 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
5.242 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
250 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:
$710 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 29.4%, Turkey 16.1%, Russia 11.9%, Uzbekistan 9.9%,
Switzerland 9.3%, Hungary 5.4%, Latvia 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$830 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Russia 22.7%, Uzbekistan 18.4%, Ukraine 11.2%, Kazakhstan 10%,
Turkmenistan 6.5%, Azerbaijan 5.7%, India 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$60.7 million from US (2001)
Currency:
somoni
Currency code:
TJS
Exchange rates:
Tajikistani somoni per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.37 (2001), 2.08
(2000), 1.24 (1999), 0.78 (1998)
note: the new unit of exchange was introduced on 30 October 2000,
with one somoni equal to 1,000 of the old Tajikistani rubles
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Tajikistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
363,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,500 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poorly developed and not well maintained; many
towns are not reached by the national network
domestic: cable and microwave radio relay
international: 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 - 1 Orbita and 2
Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2002)
Radios:
1.291 million (1991)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (2001)
Televisions:
820,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2002)
Internet users:
5,000 (2002)
Transportation Tajikistan
Railways:
total: 482 km
broad gauge: 482 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 27,767 km
paved: NA
unpaved: NA (2000)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 540 km; oil 38 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
66 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 53
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 36 (2002)
Military Tajikistan
Military branches:
Army, Air Force and Air Defense Force, Presidential National Guard,
Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,704,457 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,397,188 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 82,490 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$35.4 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Tajikistan
Disputes - international:
prolonged regional drought creates water-sharing difficulties for
Amu Darya river states; boundary agreements signed in 2002 cede
1,000 sq km of Pamir Mountain range to China in return for China
relinquishing claims to 28,000 sq km of Tajikistani lands;
negotiations with China resolved the longstanding boundary dispute;
talks have begun with Uzbekistan to demine and delimit border;
disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with
Kyrgyzstan
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 percent of all drugs captured in Central Asia and
stands third world-wide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw opium)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Tanzania
Introduction Tanzania
Background:
Shortly after independence, 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: 945,087 sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
water: 59,050 sq km
land: 886,037 sq km
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:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 4.24%
permanent crops: 1.02%
other: 94.74% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
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:
35,922,454
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 7,988,898; female 7,938,979)
15-64 years: 53.1% (male 9,429,959; female 9,634,102)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 405,803; female 524,713) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.72% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
39.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
17.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 103.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 93.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 113.29 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 44.56 years
male: 43.33 years
female: 45.83 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
7.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.5 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
140,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian
Ethnic groups:
mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of
more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and
Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African
Religions:
mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%;
Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
Languages:
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (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, and 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: 78.2%
male: 85.9%
female: 70.7% (2003 est.)
Government Tanzania
Country name:
conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Dar es Salaam; note - legislative offices have been transferred to
Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital; the National
Assembly now meets there on regular basis
Administrative divisions:
25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma,
Kilimanjaro, Lindi, 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 Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November
1995); 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 Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23
November 1995); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July
2001); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for
matters internal to Zanzibar; Amani Abeid KARUME was elected to that
office on 29 October 2000
cabinet: Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are
appointed by the president from among the members of the National
Assembly
election results: Benjamin William MKAPA reelected president;
percent of vote - Benjamin William MKAPA 71.7%, Ibrahim Haruna
LIPUMBA 16.3%, Augustine Lyatonga MREME 7.8%, John Momose CHEYO 4.2%
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 29 October
2000 (next to be held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by
the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats - 232 elected by
popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, five
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, directly elected by universal
suffrage to serve five-year terms)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - CCM 244, CUF 16, CHADEMA 4, TLP 3, UDP 2,
Zanzibar representatives 5; Zanzibar House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CCM 34, CUF 16
elections: last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held NA October
2005)
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) [Benjamin William MKAPA]; Civic United Front
or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party (unregistered)
[Christopher MTIKLA]; Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine
Lyatonga MREMA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, EADB, ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew Mhando DARAJA
chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert V. ROYALL
embassy: 140 Msese Road, Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: [255] (22) 2666-010 through 2666-015
FAX: [255] (22) 2666-701, 2668-501
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
Economy Tanzania
Economy - overview:
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy
depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP,
provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force.
Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops
to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featured the
processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods. The
World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors
have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic
infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Growth in 1991-2002
featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial
increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Oil and gas exploration
and development played an important role in this growth. Recent
banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and
investment. Continued donor support and solid macroeconomic policies
should support continued real GDP growth of 5% in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $20.42 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 48.1%
industry: 15.4%
services: 36.5% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
36% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.2 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
13.495 million
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.01 billion
expenditures: $1.38 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine),
diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood
products, fertilizer, salt
Industrial production growth rate:
8.4% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.906 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 18.9%
hydro: 81.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.752 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
50 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
17,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
11.33 billion cu m (37257)
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
Exports:
$863 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton
Exports - partners:
India 15.2%, Japan 12.4%, Netherlands 9.2%, UK 6.8%, Belgium 6.5%,
Kenya 5.9%, Germany 4.8% (2002)
Imports:
$1.67 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial
raw materials, crude oil
Imports - partners:
South Africa 12.7%, China 7.9%, Kenya 6.6%, India 6.3%, UK 6%,
Japan 4.5%, US 4%, Australia 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$6.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$963 million (1997)
Currency:
Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
Currency code:
TZS
Exchange rates:
Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - NA (2002), 876.41 (2001),
800.41 (2000), 744.76 (1999), 664.67 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Tanzania
Telephones - main lines in use:
127,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
30,000 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system operating below capacity and being
modernized for better service; VSAT (very small aperture terminal)
system under construction
domestic: trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio
relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being
made digital
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
8.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (1999)
Televisions:
103,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
300,000 (2002)
Transportation Tanzania
Railways:
total: 3,690 km
narrow gauge: 2,721 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 88,200 km
paved: 3,704 km
unpaved: 84,496 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
note: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa are principal
avenues of commerce between Tanzania and its neighbors on those lakes
Pipelines:
gas 5 km; oil 866 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko, Lindi, Mtwara, Mwanza,
Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar
Merchant marine:
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,781 GRT/33,805 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll
on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
123 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 112
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Military Tanzania
Military branches:
Tanzanian People's Defense Force (including Army, Navy, and Air
Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit (including Police
Marine Unit and Police Air Wing), territorial militia
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 8,477,193 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,911,235 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$19.68 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Tanzania
Disputes - international:
disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
Illicit drugs:
growing role in transshipment of Southwest and Southeast Asian
heroin and South American cocaine destined for South African,
European, and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for
Southern Africa; money laundering remains a problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Thailand
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 ally
following the conflict.
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: 514,000 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
land: 511,770 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:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: 32.88%
permanent crops: 7%
other: 60.12% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
47,490 sq km (1998 est.)
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: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
People Thailand
Population:
64,265,276
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.2% (male 7,955,597; female 7,604,652)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 21,819,445; female 22,362,085)
65 years and over: 7% (male 2,081,768; female 2,441,729) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.1 years
male: 29.4 years
female: 30.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.95% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.37 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 23.17 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.24 years
male: 69.07 years
female: 73.53 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
670,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
55,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups:
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:
Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other
0.6% (1991)
Languages:
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and
regional dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.5%
female: 94.6% (2003 est.)
Government Thailand
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
former: Siam
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Bangkok
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, 5 December (1927)
Constitution:
new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997
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 (since 9 June 1946)
note: there is also a Privy Council
head of government: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat (since 9
February 2001) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gen. (Ret.) CHAWALIT
Yongchaiyut, KON Thappharansi, SUWIT Khunkitti, CHATURON Chaisaeng,
VISHANU Krua-ngam, and PROMMIN Lertsuridej (since 18 February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister is
designated from among the members of the House of Representatives;
following national elections for the House of Representatives, the
leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually
is appointed prime minister by the king
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or
Wuthisapha (200 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen
Ratsadon (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 4 March, 29 April, 4 June, 9 July, and
22 July 2000 (next to be held NA March 2004); House of
Representatives - last held 6 January 2001 (next to be held NA
January 2005)
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 - TRT 248, DP 128, TNP 41, NDP 29, other 54
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [BANTADTAN Banyat];
National Development Party or NDP (Chat Phattana) [KORN Dabbaransi];
Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BANHAN Sinlapa-acha];
Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT [THAKSIN Chinnawat]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMISET, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SAKTHIP Krairiksh
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Darryl N. JOHNSON
embassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok
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
Economy Thailand
Economy - overview:
Thailand has a free enterprise economy and welcomes foreign
investment. Exports feature computers and electrical appliances.
After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 -
averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on
Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial
sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long
pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56
to the dollar in January 1998, and the economy contracted by 10.2%
that same year. Thailand then entered a recovery stage, expanding by
4.2% in 1999 and 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports. An
ailing financial sector and the slow pace of corporate debt
restructuring, combined with a softening of global demand, slowed
growth to 1.4% in 2001. Increased consumption and investment
spending pushed GDP growth up to 5.2% in 2002 despite a sluggish
global economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $445.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 40%
services: 49% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
12.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
33.4 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services 31% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $19 billion
expenditures: $21 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages,
tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric
appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits,
furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and
third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
97.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 91.3%
hydro: 6.4%
other: 2.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
90.91 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
200 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
350 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
173,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
785,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
551.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
18.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
23.93 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
5.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
368.2 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Exports:
$67.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
computers, transistors, seafood, clothing, rice (2000)
Exports - partners:
US 19.6%, Japan 14.5%, Singapore 8.1%, Hong Kong 5.4%, China 5.2%,
Malaysia 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$58.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer
goods, fuels (2000)
Imports - partners:
Japan 23%, US 9.6%, China 7.6%, Malaysia 5.6%, Singapore 4.5%,
Taiwan 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$62.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$131.5 million (1998 est.)
Currency:
baht (THB)
Currency code:
THB
Exchange rates:
baht per US dollar - 42.96 (2002), 44.43 (2001), 40.11 (2000),
37.81 (1999), 41.36 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Thailand
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.6 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.1 million (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service to general public adequate, but
investment in technological upgrades reduced by recession; bulk of
service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and
microwave radio relay network
domestic: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic
satellite system being developed
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios:
13.96 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
15.19 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.th
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
15 (2000)
Internet users:
1.2 million (2001)
Transportation Thailand
Railways:
total: 4,071 km
narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 64,600 km
paved: 62,985 km
unpaved: 1,615 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
4,000 km
note: 3,701 km are navigable throughout the year by boats with
drafts up to 0.9 meters; numerous minor waterways serve
shallow-draft native craft
Pipelines:
gas 3,066 km; refined products 265 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla
Merchant marine:
total: 317 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,744,103 GRT/2,657,666 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1, Greece 1, Indonesia 1, Japan 1, Norway 24,
Panama 1, Singapore 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 33, cargo 136, chemical tanker 5, combination
bulk 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 17, liquefied gas 21,
multi-functional large-load carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker
74, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger
2, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 1
Airports:
111 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 62
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Thailand
Military branches:
Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine
Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes the
Border Patrol Police [including Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit],
Thahan Phran, Special Action Forces, Police Aviation Division, Thai
Marine Police, and the Volunteer Defense Corps)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 17,904,298 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 10,724,565 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 520,472 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.775 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Thailand
Disputes - international:
completion of boundary demarcation with Cambodia hampered by
accusations of moving and destroying boundary markers,
encroachments, initiating border incidents, and sealing off Preah
Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962;
demarcation complete except for a 1 kilometer segment at the mouth
of the Kolok River in dispute with Malaysia; demarcation with Laos
complete except for certain Mekong River islets and complaints of
Thai squatters; despite continuing border committee talks,
significant differences remain with Burma over boundary alignment
and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal
cross-border activities
Illicit drugs:
a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; illicit transit
point for 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
amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing
indigenous abuse of methamphetamine
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Togo
Introduction Togo
Background:
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA,
installed as military ruler in 1967, is Africa's longest-serving
head of state. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted
in the early 1990s, the government continues to be dominated by
President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party
has maintained power almost continually since 1967. In addition,
Togo has come under fire from international organizations for human
rights abuses and is plagued by political unrest. Most bilateral and
multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen.
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
water: 2,400 sq km
land: 54,385 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:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 30 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: 41.37%
permanent crops: 1.84%
other: 56.79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
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:
5,429,299
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.5% (male 1,211,252; female 1,203,564)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,404,763; female 1,473,360)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 57,535; female 78,825) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.3 years
male: 16.9 years
female: 17.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.37% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
35.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
11.51 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.58 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.43 years
male: 51.47 years
female: 55.45 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.97 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
150,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
12,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups:
native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe,
Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 29%, Muslim 20%
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.)
Government Togo
Country name:
conventional long form: Togolese Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local short form: none
former: French Togoland
local long form: Republique Togolaise
Government type:
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
Lome
Administrative divisions:
5 regions (regions, singular - region); De La Kara, Des Plateaux,
Des Savanes, Centrale, Maritime
Independence:
27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution:
multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the
Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Legal system:
French-based court system
Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April
1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Koffi SAMA (since 29 June 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 1 June 2003 (next to be held NA June 2008); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Gnassingbe EYADEMA reelected president; percent of
vote - Gnassingbe EYADEMA 57.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 34.1%, Yawovi
AGBOYIBO 5.2%, Maurice Dahuku PERE 2.3%, Edem KODJO 1.0%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 October 2002 (next NA 2007)
note: two opposition parties boycotted the election, the Union of
the Forces for Change, and the Action Committee for Renewal
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RPT 72, RSD 3, UDPS 2, Juvento 2, MOCEP 1, independents 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace and
Equality or MOCEP [leader NA]; Rally for the Support for Development
and Democracy or RSDD [Hanay OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People
or RPT [President Gnassingbe EYADEMA]; Union for Democracy and
Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]
note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA,
was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was
legalized 12 April 1991
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Akoussoulelou BODJONA
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gregory ENGLE
embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome
mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome
telephone: [228] 221 29 91 through 221 29 94
FAX: [228] 221 79 52
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating
with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in
the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia
Economy Togo
Economy - overview:
This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent 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, but production
fell an estimated 22% in 2002 due to power shortages and the cost of
developing new deposits. 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
following through on privatization, increased openness in government
financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and
continued support from foreign donors.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.594 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 42%
industry: 21%
services: 37% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
32% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.74 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $232 million
expenditures: $252 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries:
phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement; handicrafts,
textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
101.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.7%
hydro: 1.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
614.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
520 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice,
millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Exports:
$449 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners:
Ghana 17.7%, Benin 13.3%, Burkina Faso 8.2%, Philippines 4.9%,
Niger 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$561 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
France 21.3%, China 17%, Netherlands 6.5%, Germany 5.3%, UK 4.8%,
Italy 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.4 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $80 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Togo
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,995 (1997)
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; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 1 Symphonie
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
73,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2001)
Internet users:
50,000 (2002)
Transportation Togo
Railways:
total: 525 km
narrow gauge: 525 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 7,520 km
paved: 2,376 km
unpaved: 5,144 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
50 km (Mono river)
Ports and harbors:
Kpeme, Lome
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
9 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Togo
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,270,146 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 666,132 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$23.72 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Togo
Disputes - international:
in 2001 Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint
commission presently resurveying the boundary
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money
laundering not a significant problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Tokelau
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.
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: 10 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
101 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Environment - current issues:
very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to
emigration to New Zealand
Geography - note:
consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a number
of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over three
meters above sea level
People Tokelau
Population:
1,418 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: 68 years
female: 70 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
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
Government Tokelau
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status:
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans are
drafting a constitution and developing institutions and patterns of
self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with New
Zealand
Government type:
NA
Capital:
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
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, as 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); the UK
and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since
NA March 1993)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the
head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves
a one-year term
head of government: Aliki Faipule Pio TUIA (since NA 2002)
cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders
- one from each atoll - functions as a cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Fono (48 seats; members chosen by each atoll's
Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note -
the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power
on the General Fono
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:
SPC, UNESCO (associate), WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description:
the flag of New Zealand is used
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 $4 million annually - to maintain public
services, with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. 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.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $430,830
expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of
$37,300 (1987 est.)
Industries:
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited
craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats
Exports:
$98,000 f.o.b. (1983)
Exports - commodities:
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Exports - partners:
NZ (2000)
Imports:
$323,000 c.i.f. (1983)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Imports - partners:
NZ (2000)
Debt - external:
$0
Economic aid - recipient:
from New Zealand about $4 million annually
Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.154 (2002), 2.3776 (2001),
2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Tokelau
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated
telephone service (TeleTok), with 3 satellite earth stations,
established in 1997
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of unknown type that
broadcasts shipping and weather reports (1998)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Tokelau
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
none; lagoon landings are possible by amphibious aircraft (2002)
Military Tokelau
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues Tokelau
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Tonga
Introduction Tonga
Background:
The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into a
Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in
1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired its
independence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth of
Nations. It 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: 748 sq km
water: 30 sq km
land: 718 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
419 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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 location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land: 23.61%
permanent crops: 43.06%
other: 33.33% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on
Fonuafo'ou
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, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
108,141 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 21,085; female 20,265)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 30,785; female 31,532)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,973; female 2,501) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 20.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
24.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.88 years
male: 66.43 years
female: 71.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 about 300
Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
Tongan, English
Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.5%
male: 98.4%
female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
Government Tonga
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
Government type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Nuku'alofa
Administrative divisions:
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English law
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch,
the Cabinet, and two governors
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the monarch, consists of 12 members
head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA
(since NA February 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Tevita TOPOU
(since NA January 2001)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12
reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles
selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular
vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 7 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote - pro-democratic 70%; seats -
pro-democratic 7, traditionalist 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of
Appeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chief
justice of the Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
there are no political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Akilisi POHIVA,
president]
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane T. T. TUPOU
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1136
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the 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
Economy Tonga
Economy - overview:
Tonga has a small, open economy with a narrow export base in
agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are
the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total
exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food,
mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is the second-largest source of
hard currency earnings following remittances. The country remains
dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities
overseas to offset its trade deficit. 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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $236 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
33,908 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13.3% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $39.9 million
expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9
million (FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:
tourism, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
8.6% (FY 98/99)
Electricity - production:
27.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
25.36 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee,
ginger, black pepper; fish
Exports:
$8.9 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners:
Japan 43.2%, US 41.2%, Greece 4% (2002)
Imports:
$70 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
New Zealand 30.8%, Fiji 20.7%, US 14.2%, Australia 13.2%, China
6.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$57.5 million (June 2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)
Currency:
pa'anga (TOP)
Currency code:
TOP
Exchange rates:
pa'anga per US dollar NA (2002), 2.12 (2001), 1.76 (2000), 1.6
(1999), 1.49 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Tonga
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
302 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
(1996)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
61,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2001)
Televisions:
2,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.to
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
1,000 (2000)
Transportation Tonga
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 680 km
paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Merchant marine:
total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 250,020 GRT/350,055 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 44, chemical tanker 4, container 1,
liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 2, petroleum tanker 9,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 1, Australia 4, Austria 1, Bolivia 1, Cyprus 1,
Djibouti 1, Egypt 2, Greece 4, Lebanon 2, Liberia 2, Marshall
Islands 2, Morocco 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Romania 3, Russia 1, Sao
Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 1, Sweden 1,
Switzerland 3, Syria 5, Ukraine 1, UAE 16, US 4 (2002 est.)
Airports:
6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Tonga
Military branches:
Tonga Defense Services (made up of three operational command
components and two support elements, including the Royal Marines,
Royal Guards, Maritime Force, a support/logistics group, and a
training group), Police; note - a new air wing that will be
subordinate to the Ministry of Defense is being developed
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Tonga
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Trinidad and Tobago
Introduction Trinidad and Tobago
Background:
The islands came under British control in the 19th century;
independence was granted 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.
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
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
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental
margin
contiguous zone: 24 NM
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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
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 Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
1,104,209 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.2% (male 125,470; female 119,270)
15-64 years: 70% (male 402,137; female 370,600)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 38,928; female 47,804) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.9 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 30.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.68% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.71 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-10.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.59 years
male: 67.07 years
female: 72.23 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
17,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,200 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups:
black 39.5%, East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from
northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese and other
1.2%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Muslim 5.8%,
Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7%
Languages:
English (official), 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.)
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:
Port-of-Spain
Administrative divisions:
8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni,
Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint
George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria
Independence:
31 August 1962 (from 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 Patrick MANNING (since 24
December 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists
of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a
five-year term; election last held 14 February 2003 (next to be held
NA 2008); the president usually appoints as prime minister the
leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
election results: George Maxwell RICHARDS elected president; percent
of electoral college vote - 43%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; members
appointed by the president for a maximum term of five years) and the
House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 October 2002 (next
to be held by October 2007)
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members
serving four-year terms
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM
55.5%, UNC 44.5%; seats by party - PNM 20, UNC 16
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 on the advice of 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); High Court of
Justice; Court of Appeals the highest court of appeal is the Privy
Council in London
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Hochoy CHARLES];
People's Empowerment Party or PEP [leader NA]; People's National
Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; Team Unity or TUN [Ramesh
MAHARAJ]; United National Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Jamaat-al Musilmeen [Yasin BAKR]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marina Annette VALERE (as of February
2003)
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
telephone: [1] (868) 622-6372 through 6376, 622-6176
FAX: [1] (868) 628-5462
Flag description:
red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist
side to the lower fly side
Economy Trinidad and Tobago
Economy - overview:
Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent
investment site for international businesses. A leading performer
the past four years has been the booming natural gas sector. Tourism
is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in
many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from low
inflation and a trade surplus. The year 2002 was marked by solid
growth in the oil sector, offset in part by domestic political
uncertainty.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $11.07 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 43.2%
services: 55.2% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
21% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
564,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
construction and utilities 12.4%, manufacturing, mining, and
quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services 64.1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.8% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $1.54 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $117.3
million (1998)
Industries:
petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage,
cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
5.315 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.8%
hydro: 0%
other: 0.2% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
4.943 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
125,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
716 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
15.19 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
11.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
3.65 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
610.6 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Exports:
$4.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products,
fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers
Exports - partners:
US 56.9%, Jamaica 7.3%, France 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$3.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live
animals
Imports - partners:
US 42%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.5%, UK 5%, Japan 4.5%, Brazil 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$24 million (1999 est.)
Currency:
Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Currency code:
TTD
Exchange rates:
Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.24 (2002), 6.23
(2001), 6.3 (2000), 6.3 (1999), 6.3 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Trinidad and Tobago
Telephones - main lines in use:
252,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,411 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent international service; good local
service
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
680,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (1997)
Televisions:
425,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)
Internet users:
120,000 (2002)
Transportation Trinidad and Tobago
Railways:
minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; common
carrier railway service was discontinued in 1968 (2001)
Highways:
total: 8,320 km
paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 253 km; gas 1,117 km; oil 478 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain,
Scarborough, Tembladora
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,032 GRT/5,106 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
6 (2002)
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 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Trinidad and Tobago
Military branches:
Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (including Ground Force, Coast
Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 327,823 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 233,488 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$90 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (1999)
Transnational Issues Trinidad and Tobago
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
and Europe; producer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Tromelin Island
Introduction Tromelin Island
Background:
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 Tromelin Island
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3.7 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones;
wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
People Tromelin Island
Population:
uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2003 est.)
Government Tromelin Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island
local short form: Ile Tromelin
local long form: none
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the
Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Tromelin Island
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Communications Tromelin Island
Communications - note:
important meteorological station
Transportation Tromelin Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Tromelin Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Tromelin Island
Disputes - international:
claimed by Mauritius
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Tunisia
Introduction Tunisia
Background:
Following independence from France in 1956, 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
recent years, Tunisia has 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
water: 8,250 sq km
land: 155,360 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 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: 18.67%
permanent crops: 12.87%
other: 68.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
3,800 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
9,924,742 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 1,388,839; female 1,297,313)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,306,782; female 3,299,883)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 309,103; female 322,822) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.2 years
male: 25.7 years
female: 26.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.09% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.53 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 29.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.4 years
male: 72.77 years
female: 76.15 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.04% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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: 74.2%
male: 84%
female: 64.4% (2003 est.)
Government Tunisia
Country name:
conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
conventional short form: Tunisia
local short form: Tunis
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Tunis
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)
Constitution:
1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
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
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a
third term without opposition; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN
ALI nearly 100%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (182 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - RCD 92%; seats by party
- RCD 148, MDS 13, UDU 7, PUP 7, Al-Tajdid 5, PSL 2; note - reforms
enabled opposition parties to win up to 20% of seats, increasing the
number of seats they hold from 19 in the last election to 34 now
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
Al-Tajdid Movement [Adel CHAOUCH]; Constitutional Democratic Rally
Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President
Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal Social
Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Democratic Socialists or MDS
[Khamis CHAMMARI]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed Belhaj AMOR];
Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is
outlawed
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), ECA, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH,
MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hatem ATALLAH
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rust M. DEMING
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La
Goulette, Tunisia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 782-566
FAX: [216] 71 789-719
Flag description:
red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly
encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are
traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Tunisia
Economy - overview:
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,
energy, 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. Real growth averaged 5.4%
in 1997-2001 but slowed to 1.9% in 2002 because of agricultural
drought, slow investment, and lackluster tourism. Increased rainfall
portends higher growth levels for 2003, but continued regional
tension from the war in Iraq will most likely continue to suppress
tourism earnings. Tunisia has agreed to gradually remove barriers to
trade with the European Union over the next decade. Broader
privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to
increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency,
and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges for the
future.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $67.13 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 32%
services: 56% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:
6% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.69 million
note: shortage of skilled labor (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.4% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.2 billion
expenditures: $5.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6
billion (2002 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism,
textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
10.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.5%
hydro: 0.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
9.748 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
72,580 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
87,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
417 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
2.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
3.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
77.16 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit,
beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds
Exports:
$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agricultural
products, hydrocarbons
Exports - partners:
France 31.3%, Italy 21.6%, Germany 11.5%, Spain 4.8%, Libya 4.7%,
Belgium 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
France 25.6%, Italy 19.5%, Germany 8.9%, Spain 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$13.6 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$222.7 million (2000)
Currency:
Tunisian dinar (TND)
Currency code:
TND
Exchange rates:
Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.42 (2002), 1.44 (2001), 1.37
(2000), 1.19 (1999), 1.14 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Tunisia
Telephones - main lines in use:
654,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
50,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be
upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet
access available
domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial
cable, and microwave radio relay
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave
radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; two
international gateway digital switches
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
2.06 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
920,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
400,000 (2002)
Transportation Tunisia
Railways:
total: 2,152 km
standard gauge: 468 km 1.435-m gauge
dual gauge: 10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2002)
narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 18,997 km
paved: 12,310 km (including 142 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,687 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Zarzis
Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 139,990 GRT/148,394 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1,
petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
(2002 est.)
Airports:
30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Military Tunisia
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,866,984 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,629,241 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 106,513 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$356 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Tunisia
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Turkey
Introduction Turkey
Background:
Present-day Turkey was created in 1923 from the Turkish remnants of
the Ottoman Empire. Soon thereafter, the country instituted secular
laws to replace traditional religious fiats. In 1945 Turkey joined
the UN, and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. Turkey intervened
militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to protect Turkish Cypriots and prevent
a Greek takeover of the island; the northern 37 percent of the
island remains under Turkish Cypriot control. Relations between the
two countries remain strained, but have begun to improve over the
past few years. In 1984, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a
Marxist-Leninist, separatist group, initiated an insurgency in
southeast Turkey, often using terrorist tactics to try to attain its
goal of an independent Kurdistan. The group - whose leader, Abdullah
OCALAN, was captured in Kenya in February 1999 - has observed a
unilateral cease-fire since September 1999, although there have been
occasional clashes between Turkish military units and some of the
4,000-5,000 armed PKK militants, most of whom currently are encamped
in northern Iraq. The PKK changed its name to the Kurdistan Freedom
and Democracy Congress (KADEK) in April 2002.
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: 780,580 sq km
water: 9,820 sq km
land: 770,760 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:
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime
boundary agreed upon with the former USSR
territorial sea: 6 NM in the Aegean Sea; 12 NM in Black Sea and in
Mediterranean Sea
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:
antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate, sulfur, iron
ore, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 34.53%
permanent crops: 3.36%
other: 62.11% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
42,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an
arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
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,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
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:
68,109,469 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 9,422,242; female 9,082,840)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 22,978,251; female 22,243,477)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 2,013,926; female 2,368,733) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 26.8 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 27 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.16% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 44.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 47.91 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.8 years
male: 69.41 years
female: 74.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001
est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups:
Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)
Religions:
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Languages:
Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 94.3%
female: 78.7% (2003 est.)
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:
Ankara
Administrative divisions:
81 provinces (iller, singular - il); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, 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,
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, Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat,
Zonguldak
Independence:
29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 29 October (1923)
Constitution:
7 November 1982
Legal system:
derived from various European continental legal systems; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ahmet Necdet SEZER (since 16 May 2000)
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
seven-year term; election last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA
May 2007); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by
the president
note: a National Security Council serves as an advisory body to the
government composed of top military and cabinet officials and
presided over by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (14 March
2003); note - Abdullah GUL resigned 11 March 2003; Recep Tayyip
ERDOGAN was given a mandate to form a new government
election results: Ahmed Necdet SEZER elected president on the third
ballot; percent of National Assembly vote - 60%
note: president must have a two-thirds majority of the National
Assembly on the first two ballots and a simple majority on the third
ballot
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk
Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); note
- a special rerun of the General Election in the province of Siirt
on 9 March 2003 resulted in the election of Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN to
a seat in parliament, a prerequisite for becoming prime minister on
13 March 2003
election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 34.3%, CHP 19.4%,
DYP 9.6%, MHP 8.3%, ANAP 5.1%, DSP 1.1%, and others; seats by party
- AKP 363, CHP 178, independents 9; note - parties surpassing the
10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court
of Appeals and Council of State (judges are elected by the Supreme
Council of Judges and Prosecutors)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Left Party or DSP [Bulent ECEVIT]; Justice and
Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayip ERDOGAN]; Motherland Party or
ANAP [Ahmet Mesut YILMAZ]; Nationalist Action Party or MHP [Devlet
BAHCELI]; Republican People's Party or CHP [Deniz BAYKAL]; True Path
Party (sometimes translated as Correct Way Party) or DYP [Tansu
CILLER]; Young Party or GP [Cem UZAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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 [Erol YARAR]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Salim
USLU]; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or
TUSIAD [Muharrem KAYHAN]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions
or TISK [Refik BAYDUR]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is
[Bayram MERAL]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen or
TESK [Dervis GUNDAY; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and
Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU]
International organization participation:
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Osman Faruk LOGOGLU
FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric S. EDELMAN
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 (the closed portion is toward
the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside
the crescent opening
Economy Turkey
Economy - overview:
Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and
commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that in 2001
still accounted for 40% of employment. It has a strong and rapidly
growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in
basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. The most
important industry - and largest exporter - is textiles and
clothing, which is almost entirely in private hands. In recent years
the economic situation has been marked by erratic economic growth
and serious imbalances. Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many
years, but this strong expansion has been interrupted by sharp
declines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001. Meanwhile, the public
sector fiscal deficit has regularly exceeded 10% of GDP - due in
large part to the huge burden of interest payments, which account
for more than 50% of central government spending. Inflation, in
recent years in the high double-digit range, fell to 26% in 2003.
Perhaps because of these problems, foreign direct investment in
Turkey remains low - less than $1 billion annually. In late 2000 and
early 2001 a growing trade deficit and serious weaknesses in the
banking sector plunged the economy into crisis - forcing Turkey to
float the lira and pushing the country into recession. Results in
2002-03 were much better, because of strong financial support from
the IMF and tighter fiscal policy. Continued slow global growth and
serious political tensions in the Middle East could result in
negative growth in 2004.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $489.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.9%
industry: 30.4%
services: 56.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 32.3% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
45.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
23.8 million
note: about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2001 3rd quarter)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 39.7%, services 37.9%, industry 22.4% (3rd quarter,
2001)
Unemployment rate:
10.8% (plus underemployment of 6.1%) (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $42.4 billion
expenditures: $69.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper,
boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
Industrial production growth rate:
8.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
116.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 79.3%
hydro: 20.4%
other: 0.3% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
112.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
433 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
4.579 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
48,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
619,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
46,110 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
616,500 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
288.4 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
312 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
15.94 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
15.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
8.685 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus;
livestock
Exports:
$35.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport
equipment
Exports - partners:
Germany 16.6%, US 9.2%, UK 8.5%, Italy 6.4%, France 6% (2002)
Imports:
$50.8 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport
equipment
Imports - partners:
Germany 13.7%, Italy 8.1%, Russia 7.6%, US 6%, France 5.9%, UK
4.8%, Switzerland 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$118.3 billion (Yearend 2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $300 million (2000)
Currency:
Turkish lira (TRL)
Currency code:
TRL
Exchange rates:
NA (2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999),
260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Turkey
Telephones - main lines in use:
19.5 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17.1 million (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: undergoing rapid modernization and expansion,
especially with cellular telephones
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: international service is provided by three submarine
fiber-optic cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, linking
Turkey with Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia;
also by 12 Intelsat earth stations, and by 328 mobile satellite
terminals in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 107, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:
11.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
20.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.tr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2001)
Internet users:
2.5 million (2002)
Transportation Turkey
Railways:
total: 8,607 km
standard gauge: 8,607 km 1.435-m gauge (2,131 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 385,960 km
paved: 131,226 km (including 1,749 km of expressways)
unpaved: 254,734 km (1999)
Waterways:
1,200 km (approximately)
Pipelines:
gas 3,177 km; oil 3,562 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Icel
(Mersin), Samsun, Trabzon
Merchant marine:
total: 525 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,306,506 GRT/8,424,837 DWT
ships by type: bulk 125, cargo 229, chemical tanker 44, combination
bulk 3, combination ore/oil 3, container 34, liquefied gas 6,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 35, refrigerated cargo 4, roll
on/roll off 26, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 5
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belize 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 2, Greece 1, Italy 1,
Thailand 1, UK 11 (2002 est.)
Airports:
120 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 86
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 34
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 24 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 8
Heliports:
8 (2002)
Military Turkey
Military branches:
Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry), Air
Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 19,534,455 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,801,267 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 679,882 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$8.1 billion (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.5% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Turkey
Disputes - international:
complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the
Aegean Sea; Cyprus question remains with Greece; Syria and Iraq
protest Turkish hydrological projects to control upper Euphrates
waters; Turkey is quick to rebuff any perceived Syrian claim to
Hatay province; border with Armenia remains closed over
Nagorno-Karabakh
Illicit drugs:
key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and
- to a far lesser extent the US - via air, land, and sea routes;
major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking
organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert
imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey
as well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over
areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw
concentrate
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Turkmenistan
Introduction Turkmenistan
Background:
Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a
Soviet republic in 1925. It achieved its independence upon the
dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President NIYAZOV retains absolute
control over the country and opposition is not tolerated. Extensive
hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this
underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects can be
worked out.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 488,100 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, coal, sulfur, salt
Land use:
arable land: 3.47%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 96.39% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
17,500 sq km (2003 est.)
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:
4,775,544 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.8% (male 899,954; female 855,293)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,386,606; female 1,438,333)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 74,958; female 120,400) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.1 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 22 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.82% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
28.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 73.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 69.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.19 years
male: 57.72 years
female: 64.84 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic groups:
Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%, other 5.1% (1995)
Religions:
Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Languages:
Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government Turkmenistan
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
local short form: Turkmenistan
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Ashgabat
Administrative divisions:
5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty
(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 18 May 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers
Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct
presidential election occurred); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first
direct presidential election occurred); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA); note -
President NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life by
the Assembly on 28 December 1999); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of
ministers are appointed by the president
election results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president without
opposition; percent of vote - Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%
note: NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28
December 1999 by the Assembly (Majlis) during a session of the
People's Council (Halk Maslahaty)
Legislative branch:
under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, a
unicameral People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (more than 100 seats,
some of which are elected by popular vote and some of which are
appointed; meets at least yearly) and a unicameral Assembly or
Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - NA; note - all 50 elected officials preapproved by
President NIYAZOV; most are from the DPT
elections: People's Council - NA; Assembly - last held 12 December
1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Saparmurat NIYAZOV]
note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small
opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries; the
two most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been Gundogar and
Erkin; Gundogar was led by former Foreign Minister Boris
SHIKHUMRADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25
November 2002 assassination attempt on President NIYAZOV; Erkin is
led by former Foreign Minister Abdy KULIEV and is based out of Moscow
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mered Bairamovich ORAZOV
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697
telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSON
embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [9] (9312) 35-00-45
FAX: [9] (9312) 39-26-14
Flag description:
green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side,
containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked
above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches on
the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars appear in
the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe
Economy Turkmenistan
Economy - overview:
Turkmenistan is largely desert country with intensive agriculture
in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources. One-half of its
irrigated land is planted in cotton, making it the world's
tenth-largest producer. 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
sales to sustain its inefficient economy. Privatization goals remain
limited. In 1998-2003, 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 38% in 2003, largely because of higher international
oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the near future are
discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, the burden of
foreign debt, and the unwillingness of the government to adopt
market-oriented reforms. However, Turkmenistan's cooperation with
the international community in transporting humanitarian aid to
Afghanistan may foreshadow a change in the atmosphere for foreign
investment, aid, and technological support. Turkmenistan's economic
statistics are state secrets, and GDP and other figures are subject
to wide margins of error. In any event, GDP increased substantially
in 2003 because of a strong recovery in agriculture and rapid
industrial growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $31.34 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
21.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 50%
services: 23% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
34.4% (2001 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)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.34 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 48%, industry 15%, services 37% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $588.6 million
expenditures: $658.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
10.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.9%
hydro: 0.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
8.509 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
980 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
20 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
162,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
63,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
273 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
48.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
38.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.43 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain; livestock
Exports:
$2.97 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gas 57%, oil 26%, cotton fiber 3%, textiles 2% (2001)
Exports - partners:
Ukraine 49.7%, Italy 18%, Iran 13.1%, Turkey 6.2% (2002)
Imports:
$2.25 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 60%, foodstuffs 15% (1999)
Imports - partners:
Russia 19.8%, Turkey 12.8%, Ukraine 11.7%, UAE 10%, US 7.5%, China
6%, Germany 5.7%, Iran 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.4 billion to $5 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$16 million from the US (2001)
Currency:
Turkmen manat (TMM)
Currency code:
TMM
Exchange rates:
Turkmen manats per US dollar - 5,200 (2002), 5,200 (2001), 5,200
(2000), 5,200 (1999), 4,890.17 (1998); note - the official exchange
rate has not varied for the last four years; the unofficial rate has
fluctuated slightly, hovering around 21,000 manats to the dollar
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Turkmenistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
363,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4,300 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poorly developed
domestic: NA
international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other
CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the
Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from
Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat
switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat;
satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
1.225 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (much programming relayed from Russia and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions:
820,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Turkmenistan
Railways:
total: 2,440 km
broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 24,000 km
paved: 19,488 km
unpaved: 4,512 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway for Turkmenistan, as
is the man-made Kara Kum canal
Pipelines:
gas 6,634 km; oil 853 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Turkmenbasy
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,873 GRT/8,345 DWT
ships by type: combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
76 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 63
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 41 (2002)
Military Turkmenistan
Military branches:
Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and Air Defense, Navy, Border
Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,239,737 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,005,686 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 53,825 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$90 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.4% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Turkmenistan
Disputes - international:
prolonged regional drought creates water-sharing difficulties for
Amu Darya river states; Turkmenistan has not committed to follow
either Iran or the other littoral states in the division of the
Caspian Sea seabed and water column; ICJ decision expected to
resolve dispute with Azerbaijan over sovereignty over Caspian
oilfields; demarcation of land boundary with Kazakhstan is underway
- maritime boundary not resolved
Illicit drugs:
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; small-scale government-run
eradication of illicit crops; transit point for heroin precursor
chemicals bound for Afghanistan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Turks and Caicos Islands
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 are presently 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: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 430 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
389 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources:
spiny lobster, conch
Land use:
arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
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:
19,350 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,202; female 3,094)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 6,484; female 5,848)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 321; female 401) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 26.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
12.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 19.48 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74 years
male: 71.82 years
female: 76.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.15 children born/woman (2003 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:
black 90%, mixed, European, or north American 10%
Religions:
Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other
14% (1990)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
female: 98% (1970 est.)
male: 99%
total population: 98%
People - note:
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound
for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US
Government Turks and Caicos Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution:
introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised
5 March 1988
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 1953),
represented by Governor Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor
head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January
1995)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and
five appointed by the governor from among the members of the
Legislative Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly
elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%;
seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August
2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now
has 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive
National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party
or UDP [Wendal SWANN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
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 contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
Economy Turks and Caicos Islands
Economy - overview:
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and
offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for
domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of
tourists, accounting for more than half of the 93,000 visitors in
1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore
financial activities and customs receipts. Tourism fell by 6% in
2002 but appeared to be picking up at yearend.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $231 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (1995)
Labor force:
4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing;
significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
Unemployment rate:
10% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997-98 est.)
Industries:
tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
4.65 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day NA (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
0 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Exports:
$169.2 million (2000)
Exports - commodities:
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports - partners:
US, UK
Imports:
$175.6 million (2000)
Imports - commodities:
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction
materials
Imports - partners:
US, UK
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$4.1 million (1997)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Turks and Caicos Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair cable and radiotelephone services
domestic: NA
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
8,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is
established) (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.tc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
14 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Turks and Caicos Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Grand Turk, Providenciales
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Turks and Caicos Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Turks and Caicos Islands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the
US and Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Tuvalu
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 the next dozen years.
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
water: 0 sq km
land: 26 sq km
Area - comparative:
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
24 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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:
very 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: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were
three cyclones; low level of islands make them very 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
very 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: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the
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:
11,305 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.9% (male 1,838; female 1,772)
15-64 years: 63% (male 3,432; female 3,687)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 231; female 345) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.2 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 25.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.42% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
21.58 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 24.35 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.32 years
male: 65.15 years
female: 69.59 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.05 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Literacy:
definition: NA%
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Tuvalu
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
note: "Tuvalu" means "group of eight," referring to the country's
eight traditionally inhabited islands
former: Ellice Islands
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; began
debating republic status in 1992
Capital:
Funafuti
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
1 October 1978 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Constitution:
1 October 1978
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Faimalaga LUKA (since 9 September
2003)
elections: the monarch 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; election last held 2 August 2002 (next to be held NA)
election results: Saufatu SOPOANGA elected prime minister;
Parliamentary vote - Saufatu SOPOANGA 8, Amasone KILEI 7
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Saufatu SOPOANGA (since 2 August
2002)
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 25 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15
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, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
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, New York 10017,
telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534
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 symbolizing the nine islands
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. Subsistence farming and fishing are the
primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,
visit Tuvalu annually. Government revenues largely come from the
sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. About 1,000
Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate mining industry. Nauru has
begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as phosphate resources
decline. Substantial income is received annually from 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 has grown from
an initial $17 million to over $35 million in 1999. The US
government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu, because of
payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to reduce its
dependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sector
reforms, including privatization of some government functions and
personnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu began deriving revenue
from use of its area code for "900" lines and in 2000, from the
lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name. Royalties from these new
technology sources could increase substantially over the next
decade. 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 investment income from overseas assets.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $12.2 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
7,000 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
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%
Budget:
revenues: $22.5 million
expenditures: $11.2 million, including capital expenditures of $4.2
million (2000 est.)
Industries:
fishing, tourism, copra
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Agriculture - products:
coconuts; fish
Exports:
$276,000 f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:
copra, fish
Exports - partners:
UK 58.3%, Italy 16.7%, Denmark 8.3%, Fiji 8.3% (2002)
Imports:
$7.2 million c.i.f. (1998)
Imports - commodities:
food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Hungary 68.2%, Japan 12.9%, Fiji 11.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$13 million ; note - major donors are Australia, Japan, and the US
(1999 est.)
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD); note - there is also a Tuvaluan dollar
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.8406
(2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Tuvalu
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: serves particular needs for internal
communications
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1999)
Radios:
4,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)
Televisions:
800
Internet country code:
.tv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Tuvalu
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 8 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 8 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Funafuti, Nukufetau
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 33,199 GRT/56,187 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 5 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Tuvalu
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Police Force (includes Maritime
Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and surveillance
operations)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Tuvalu
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Uganda
Introduction Uganda
Background:
Uganda achieved independence from the UK 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.
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: 236,040 sq km
water: 36,330 sq km
land: 199,710 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
Land use:
arable land: 25.34%
permanent crops: 8.77%
other: 65.89% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake
Victoria; poaching is widespread
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
25,632,794
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 50.8% (male 6,528,724; female 6,486,736)
15-64 years: 46.8% (male 5,985,911; female 6,024,798)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 266,930; female 339,695) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 14.7 years
female: 14.8 years (2002)
male: 14.6 years
Population growth rate:
2.96% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
46.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
16.95 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to the UNHCR, by the end of 2001, Uganda was host to
178,815 refugees from a number of neighboring countries, including:
Sudan 155,996, Rwanda 14,375, and Democratic Republic of the Congo
7,459 (2003 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 87.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 95.41 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 44.88 years
male: 43.42 years
female: 46.38 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
600,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
84,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups:
Baganda 17%, Ankole 8%, Basoga 8%, Iteso 8%, Bakiga 7%, Langi 6%,
Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Batoro 3%, Bunyoro 3%,
Alur 2%, Bagwere 2%, Bakonjo 2%, Jopodhola 2%, Karamojong 2%, Rundi
2%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 8%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs
18%
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: 69.9%
male: 79.5%
female: 60.4% (2003 est.)
Government Uganda
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Kampala
Administrative divisions:
56 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi,
Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido,
Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese,
Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kotido, Kumi,
Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara,
Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakasongola,
Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule,
Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe
Independence:
9 October 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Constitution:
8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent
Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been
proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved upon
the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995
Legal system:
in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one 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 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 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Apollo NSIBAMBI
(since 5 April 1999); note - the president is both chief of state
and head of government; the prime minister assists the president in
the supervision of the cabinet
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected
legislators
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 12 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); note -
first popular election for president since independence in 1962 was
held in 1996; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 69.3%, Kizza
BESIGYE 27.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (303 members - 214 directly elected by
popular vote, 81 nominated by legally established special interest
groups [women 56, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 8 ex
officio members; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 June 2001 (next to be held May or June 2006);
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NA; note - election campaigning by party was not permitted
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:
only one political organization, the Movement (formerly the
NRM)[President MUSEVENI, chairman] is allowed to operate unfettered;
note - the president maintains that the Movement is not a political
party, but a mass organization, which claims the loyalty of all
Ugandans
note: the constitution requires the suspension of political parties
while the Movement organization is in governance; of the political
parties that exist but are prohibited from sponsoring candidates,
the most important are the Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Milton
OBOTE]; Democratic Party or DP [Paul SSEMOGERERE]; Conservative
Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Justice Forum [Muhammad Kibirige
MAYANJA]; and National Democrats Forum [Chapaa KARUHANGA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy KOLKER
embassy: 1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone: [256] (41) 234-142
FAX: [256] (41) 258-451
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
Economy Uganda
Economy - overview:
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils,
regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt.
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. During 1990-2001, the economy turned in a solid
performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of
infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports,
reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic security, and the
return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Ongoing Ugandan
involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
corruption within the government, and slippage in the government's
determination to press reforms raise doubts about the continuation
of strong growth. In 2000, Uganda qualified for enhanced Highly
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth $1.3 billion and
Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million. These amounts combined
with the original HIPC debt relief added up to about $2 billion.
Growth for 2001-02 was solid despite continued decline in the price
of coffee, Uganda's principal export. Prospects for 2003 are mixed,
with probable strengthening of coffee prices yet with halting growth
in the economies of major export customers.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $30.49 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 43%
industry: 19%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
35% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 21% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
12 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 82%, industry 5%, services 13% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $959 million
expenditures: $1.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99 est.)
Industries:
sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
6.3% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.928 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.9%
hydro: 99.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.62 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
174 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn,
millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry, cut flowers
Exports:
$476 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, fish and fish products, tea; gold, cotton, flowers,
horticultural products
Exports - partners:
Belgium 16.2%, Netherlands 13.7%, Germany 7.5%, Spain 5.5%, Hong
Kong 4.9%, US 4.6%, UK 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Portugal 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$1.14 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals
Imports - partners:
Kenya 45.3%, South Africa 6.8%, India 5.7%, UK 5.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.4 billion (2000)
Currency:
Ugandan shilling (UGX)
Currency code:
UGX
Exchange rates:
Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,797.55 (2002), 1,755.66 (2001),
1,644.48 (2000), 1,454.83 (1999), 1,240.31 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Uganda
Telephones - main lines in use:
50,074; however, 80,868 main lines have been installed (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: seriously inadequate; two cellular systems have
been introduced, but a sharp increase in the number of main lines is
essential; e-mail and Internet services are available
domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and
radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile cellular
systems for short-range traffic
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
8 (plus one low-power repeater) (2001)
Televisions:
500,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.ug
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
60,000 (2002)
Transportation Uganda
Railways:
total: 1,241 km
narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 27,000 km
paved: 1,809 km
unpaved: 25,191 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake George, Lake Edward,
Victoria Nile, Albert Nile
Ports and harbors:
Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,091 GRT/8,229 DWT
ships by type: roll on/roll off 3
note: these ships are in cargo and passenger (ferry) service on
Uganda's inland waterways (2002 est.)
Airports:
27 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Military Uganda
Military branches:
Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (including Army, Marine unit, Air
Wing)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 5,476,612 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,974,259 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$124.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Uganda
Disputes - international:
Tutsi, Hutu, and other ethnic groups, associated political rebels,
armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in the
Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to gain control
over populated areas and natural resources; government heads pledge
to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite UN
peacekeeping efforts; conflict in Sudan has extended rebel forces
and refugees into Uganda
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Ukraine
Introduction Ukraine
Background:
Ukraine was the center of the first Slavic state, Kievan Rus, which
during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful
state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol
invasions, Kievan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of
Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The cultural and religious legacy of Kievan 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 bring about a short-lived period of
independence (1917-1920), but was reconquered and forced to endure a
brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial 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 independence was achieved in 1991 with the
dissolution of the USSR, true freedom remains elusive, as many of
the former Soviet elite remain entrenched, stalling efforts at
economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties.
Geography Ukraine
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
49 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references:
Asia, Europe
Area:
total: 603,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 603,700 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,663 km
border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km,
Poland 526 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia
1,576 km, Slovakia 97 km
Coastline:
2,782 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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: 57.1%
permanent crops: 1.73%
other: 41.17% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
24,540 sq km (1998 est.)
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-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia;
second-largest country in Europe
People Ukraine
Population:
48,055,439 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 4,004,948; female 3,832,931)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 15,779,735; female 17,225,103)
65 years and over: 15% (male 2,419,612; female 4,793,110) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38 years
male: 34.8 years
female: 40.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.69% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
16.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 22.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.5 years
male: 61.1 years
female: 72.17 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.34 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
250,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2001 est.)
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)
Religions:
Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev
Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic
(Uniate), Protestant, Jewish
Languages:
Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Ukraine
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ukraine
local long form: none
former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic
local short form: Ukrayina
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Kiev (Kyyiv)
Administrative divisions:
24 oblasti (singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtomnaya
respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular - misto) with
oblast status**; Cherkas'ka (Cherkasy), Chernihivs'ka (Chernihiv),
Chernivets'ka (Chernivtsi), Dnipropetrovs'ka (Dnipropetrovs'k),
Donets'ka (Donets'k), Ivano-Frankivs'ka (Ivano-Frankivs'k),
Kharkivs'ka (Kharkiv), Khersons'ka (Kherson), Khmel'nyts'ka
(Khmel'nyts'kyy), Kirovohrads'ka (Kirovohrad), Kyyiv**, Kyyivs'ka
(Kiev), Luhans'ka (Luhans'k), L'vivs'ka (L'viv), Mykolayivs'ka
(Mykolayiv), Odes'ka (Odesa), Poltavs'ka (Poltava), Avtonomna
Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'), Rivnens'ka (Rivne), Sevastopol'**,
Sums'ka (Sumy), Ternopil's'ka (Ternopil'), Vinnyts'ka (Vinnytsya),
Volyns'ka (Luts'k), Zakarpats'ka (Uzhhorod), Zaporiz'ka
(Zaporizhzhya), Zhytomyrs'ka (Zhytomyr); note - when using a place
name with an adjectival ending "s'ka" or "z'ka," the word Oblast'
should be added to the place name
note: oblasts have the administrative center name following in
parentheses
Independence:
24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 August (1991); the date of 22 January (1918),
the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet
Russia), is now celebrated as Unity Day
Constitution:
adopted 28 June 1996
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Leonid D. KUCHMA (since 19 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Viktor YANUKOVYCH (since 21
November 2002); First Deputy Prime Minister Mykola AZAROV (since 26
November 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president and
approved by the Supreme Council
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 31 October and 14 November 1999 (next to be held
NA October 2004); prime minister and deputy prime ministers
appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council
election results: Leonid D. KUCHMA elected president; percent of
vote - Leonid KUCHMA 57.7%, Petro SYMONENKO 38.8%
note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC
originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, but
significantly revamped and strengthened under President KUCHMA; the
NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on
domestic and international matters and advising the president; a
Presidential Administration that helps draft presidential edicts and
provides policy support to the president; and a Council of Regions
that serves as an advisory body created by President KUCHMA in
September 1994 that includes chairmen of the Kiev (Kyyiv) and
Sevastopol' municipalities and chairmen of the oblasti
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; under
Ukraine's new election law, 225 of the Supreme Council's seats are
allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 4% or
more of the national electoral vote; the other 225 members are
elected by popular vote in single-mandate constituencies; all serve
four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - Our Ukraine 24%, CPU
20%, United Ukraine 12%, United Social Democratic Party 6%, SPU 7%,
Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 7%, other 24%; seats by party - Our Ukraine
102, CPU 60, Regions of Ukraine 42, Working Ukraine-Industrialists
and Entrepreneurs 41, United Social Democratic Party 39, Democratic
Initiatives 22, SPU 20, People's Power 19, European Choice 18,
Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 18, Agrarian Party 17, People's Democratic
Party 16, People's Choice 15, others 21
note: following the election, United Ukraine splintered into the
Agrarian Party, European Choice, People's Choice, People's
Democratic Party, Regions of Ukraine, and Working
Ukraine-Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
elections: last held 31 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Party [Kateryna VASHCHUK]; Communist Party of Ukraine or
CPU [Petro SYMONENKO]; Democratic Initiatives [Stepan HAVRYSH];
European Choice [Volodymyr STASYUK]; Our Ukraine [Viktor
YUSHCHENKO]; People's Choice [Mykola HAPOCHKA]; People's Democratic
Party or PDP [Valeriy PUSTOVOYTENKO, chairman]; People's Power
[Bohdan HUBSKYY]; Regions of Ukraine [Viktor YANUKOVYCH]; Socialist
Party of Ukraine or SPU [Oleksandr MOROZ, chairman]; United Social
Democratic Party [Leonid KRAVCHUK]; Working Ukraine-Industrialists
and Entrepreneurs [Ihor SHAROV]; Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc [Yuliya
TYMOSHENKO]
note: and numerous smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNMOVIC, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sergiy
KORSUNSKYI
FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
telephone: [1] (202) 349-2920
chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos E. PASCUAL
embassy: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynskyi Street, Kiev 01901
mailing address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
telephone: [380] (44) 490-4000
FAX: [380] (44) 244-7350
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow
represent grainfields under a blue sky
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. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially
natural gas, to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements.
Shortly after independence in December 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. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to
hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence on
Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural
reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external
shocks. Now in his second term, President KUCHMA has pledged to
reduce the number of government agencies, streamline the regulatory
process, create a legal environment to encourage entrepreneurs, and
enact a comprehensive tax overhaul. Reforms in the more politically
sensitive areas of structural reform and land privatization are
still lagging. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF - have
encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. GDP in
2000 showed strong export-based growth of 6% - the first growth
since independence - and industrial production grew 12.9%. The
economy continued to expand in 2001 as real GDP rose 9% and
industrial output grew by over 14%. Growth of 4.1% in 2002 was more
moderate, in part a reflection of faltering growth in the developed
world. In general, growth has been undergirded by strong domestic
demand, low inflation, and solid consumer and investor confidence.
Growth was a sturdy 6% in 2003 despite a loss of mementum in needed
economic reforms.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $218 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 42%
services: 35% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
29% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 23.2% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-1.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
22.8 million (yearend 1997)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 32%, agriculture 24%, services 44% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
3.8% officially registered; large number of unregistered or
underemployed workers (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $10.2 billion
expenditures: $11.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and
transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar)
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
164.7 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 48.6%
hydro: 7.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 43.5%
Electricity - consumption:
152.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
800 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
86,490 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
290,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
197.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
18.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
74.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
55.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
560.7 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk
Exports:
$18.1 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products
Exports - partners:
Russia 18.6%, Italy 7.4%, Turkey 5.6%, Germany 4.1%, China 4.1%
(2002)
Imports:
$18 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Russia 32.3%, Germany 11.7%, Turkmenistan 7.4%, Poland 6%, Italy 4%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$14.2 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$637.7 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds Facility $2.2 billion
(1998)
Currency:
hryvnia (UAH)
Currency code:
UAH
Exchange rates:
hryvnia per US dollar - 5.33 (2002), 5.37 (2001), 5.44 (2000), 4.13
(1999), 2.45 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Ukraine
Telephones - main lines in use:
9.45 million (April 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
236,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan,
running through 2005, 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 now rising slowly and the domestic
trunk system is being improved; the mobile cellular telephone system
is expanding at a high rate
international: two new domestic trunk lines are a part of the
fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and three Ukrainian links
have been installed in the fiber-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL)
project which connects 18 countries; additional international
service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR)
fiber-optic submarine cable and by earth stations in the Intelsat,
Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 134, FM 289, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
45.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
at least 33 (plus 21 repeaters that relay broadcasts from Russia)
(1997)
Televisions:
18.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ua
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
260 (2001)
Internet users:
750,000 (2001)
Transportation Ukraine
Railways:
total: 22,473 km
broad gauge: 22,473 km 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 169,491 km
paved: 163,898 km
unpaved: 5,593 km (2000)
Waterways:
4,499 km
note: 1,672 km are on the Pryp'yat' and Dniester (Dnister) (1990)
Pipelines:
gas 20,069 km; oil 4,435 km; refined products 4,098 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Berdyans'k, Feodosiya, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev
(Kyyiv), Kiliya, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Reni, Sevastopol',
Yalta, Yuzhnyy
Merchant marine:
total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 633,932 GRT/640,743 DWT
ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 89, container 5, liquefied gas 2,
passenger 14, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 10, railcar
carrier 2, short-sea passenger 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Panama 1, Russia 4, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
790 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 182
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 81 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 608
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 466 (2002)
Military Ukraine
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force, Air Defense Forces,
Interior Troops, Border Troops
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 12,236,811 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 9,597,172 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 389,499 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$617.9 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Ukraine
Disputes - international:
1997 boundary treaty with Belarus remains unratified over
unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and encouraging
illegal cross-border activities; land delimitation of boundary with
Russia is complete, but maritime regime of the Sea of Azov and Kerch
Strait remains unresolved; difficulties in the Transnistria region
of Moldova complicate border crossing and customs, facilitating
smuggling, arms transfers, and other illegal activities; has not
resolved Romanian claims to Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy (Snake)
Island and Black Sea maritime boundary despite ongoing talks based
on 1997 friendship treaty to find a solution in two years
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; drug-related money laundering a minor,
but growing, problem; lax anti-money-laundering regime
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@United Arab Emirates
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 not far below 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.
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: 82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 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:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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: 0.48%
permanent crops: 0.49%
other: 99.03% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
720 sq km (1998 est.)
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, 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:
2,484,818
note: includes an estimated 1,606,079 non-nationals; the 17 December
1995 census presents a total population figure of 2,377,453, and
there are estimates of 3.44 million for 2002 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 338,245; female 324,866)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 1,087,927; female 661,349)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 52,059; female 20,372) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.6 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 21.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.57% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.48 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.65 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.56 male(s)/female
total population: 1.47 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 18.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.75 years
male: 72.28 years
female: 77.35 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.09 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.18% (2001 est.)
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% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 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.)
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
abbreviation: UAE
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
local short form: none
Government type:
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal
government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital:
Abu Dhabi
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
Independence:
2 December 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution:
2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
Legal system:
federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy
(Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah are not fully integrated into the
federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil,
criminal, and high courts
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2
December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966)
and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October
1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
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
head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum
(since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime
Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group
of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held 2
December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister and deputy
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president;
percent of FSC vote - NA%, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin
Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of FSC vote - NA%,
but believed to be unanimous
Legislative branch:
unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani
(40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states
to serve two-year terms)
elections: none
note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto
Judicial branch:
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHIRI
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelle M. WAHBA
embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone: [971] (2) 4436691
FAX: [971] (2) 4435441
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
Economy United Arab Emirates
Economy - overview:
The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a
sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas
output (about 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate
with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, 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. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves
should last for more than 100 years. The government has increased
spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening
up its utilities to greater private sector involvement.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $53.97 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $22,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 46%
services: 51% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.6 million (2000 est.)
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 2002 est.) (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 78%, industry 15%, agriculture 7% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $20 billion
expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some
boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2000)
Electricity - production:
37.74 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
35.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2.566 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
310,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
80.31 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
44.94 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
37.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
7.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.892 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Exports:
$44.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners:
Japan 27.8%, South Korea 10.1%, Singapore 3.8% (2002)
Imports:
$30.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
US 8.1%, China 7.8%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 6.5%, India 5.7%, France
5.6%, UK 5.4%, South Korea 5.1%, Iran 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$18.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
$NA
Currency:
Emirati dirham (AED)
Currency code:
AED
Exchange rates:
Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.67 (2002), 3.67 (2001), 3.67
(2000), 3.67 (1999), 3.67 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications United Arab Emirates
Telephones - main lines in use:
915,223 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1 million (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system of microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar,
Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 7, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
820,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
15 (1997)
Televisions:
310,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ae
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
900,000 (2002)
Transportation United Arab Emirates
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,088 km
paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 383 km; gas 1,765 km; liquid petroleum gas 186 km; oil
1,266 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali,
Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn
Merchant marine:
total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 815,428 GRT/1,207,346 DWT
ships by type: cargo 12, chemical tanker 4, container 7, liquefied
gas 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 25, roll on/roll off 6,
short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 2, Italy 1, Kuwait 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
41 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military United Arab Emirates
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force, Air
Defense, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 764,413
note: includes non-nationals (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 416,963 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 26,636 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.6 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.1% (FY00)
Transnational Issues United Arab Emirates
Disputes - international:
because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment
of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown and labeled
approximate; boundary agreement signed and ratified with Oman in
2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al
Madhah enclaves; UAE engage direct talks and Arab League support to
resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Lesser and Greater Tunb
islands and Abu Musa island
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 legislation was signed into law by
the president on 25 January 2002
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@United Kingdom
Introduction United Kingdom
Background:
Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the
19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary
democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith,
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. 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; it
currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental
Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside the European
Monetary Union for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a
significant issue in the UK. The Scottish Parliament, the National
Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were
established in 1999.
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: 244,820 sq km
water: 3,230 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
land: 241,590 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: Ireland 360 km
Coastline:
12,429 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in
accordance with agreed upon boundaries
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay,
chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 26.41%
permanent crops: 0.18%
other: 73.41% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,080 sq km (1998 est.)
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 towards a domestic goal of
a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government aims to
reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in
landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at
least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between
1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to
10.3%
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France
and now 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:
60,094,648 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 5,621,590; female 5,350,319)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 20,067,529; female 19,626,123)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 3,987,457; female 5,441,630) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 37.3 years
female: 39.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.99 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.16 years
male: 75.74 years
female: 80.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
34,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
460 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
adjective: British
Ethnic groups:
English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%,
West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
Religions:
Anglican and Roman Catholic 40 million, Muslim 1.5 million,
Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 500,000, Hindu
500,000, Jewish 350,000
Languages:
English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish
form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government United Kingdom
Country name:
conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
conventional short form: United Kingdom
abbreviation: UK
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
London
Administrative divisions:
England - 47 boroughs, 36 counties*, 29 London boroughs**, 12
cities and boroughs***, 10 districts****, 12 cities*****, 3 royal
boroughs******; Barking and Dagenham**, Barnet**, Barnsley, Bath and
North East Somerset****, Bedfordshire*, Bexley**, Birmingham***,
Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Bournemouth, Bracknell
Forest, Bradford***, Brent**, Brighton and Hove, City of
Bristol*****, Bromley**, Buckinghamshire*, Bury, Calderdale,
Cambridgeshire*, Camden**, Cheshire*, Cornwall*, Coventry***,
Croydon**, Cumbria*, Darlington, Derby*****, Derbyshire*, Devon*,
Doncaster, Dorset*, Dudley, Durham*, Ealing**, East Riding of
Yorkshire****, East Sussex*, Enfield**, Essex*, Gateshead,
Gloucestershire*, Greenwich**, Hackney**, Halton, Hammersmith and
Fulham**, Hampshire*, Haringey**, Harrow**, Hartlepool, Havering**,
Herefordshire*, Hertfordshire*, Hillingdon**, Hounslow**, Isle of
Wight*, Islington**, Kensington and Chelsea******, Kent*, City of
Kingston upon Hull*****, Kingston upon Thames******, Kirklees,
Knowsley, Lambeth**, Lancashire*, Leeds***, Leicester*****,
Leicestershire*, Lewisham**, Lincolnshire*, Liverpool***, City of
London*****, Luton, Manchester***, Medway, Merton**, Middlesbrough,
Milton Keynes, Newcastle upon Tyne***, Newham**, Norfolk*,
Northamptonshire*, North East Lincolnshire****, North
Lincolnshire****, North Somerset****, North Tyneside,
Northumberland*, North Yorkshire*, Nottingham*****,
Nottinghamshire*, Oldham, Oxfordshire*, Peterborough*****,
Plymouth*****, Poole, Portsmouth*****, Reading, Redbridge**, Redcar
and Cleveland, Richmond upon Thames**, Rochdale, Rotherham,
Rutland****, Salford***, Shropshire*, Sandwell, Sefton,
Sheffield***, Slough, Solihull, Somerset*, Southampton*****,
Southend-on-Sea, South Gloucestershire****, South Tyneside,
Southwark**, Staffordshire*, St. Helens, Stockport,
Stockton-on-Tees, Stoke-on-Trent*****, Suffolk*, Sunderland***,
Surrey*, Sutton**, Swindon, Tameside, Telford and Wrekin****,
Thurrock, Torbay, Tower Hamlets**, Trafford, Wakefield***, Walsall,
Waltham Forest**, Wandsworth**, Warrington, Warwickshire*, West
Berkshire****, Westminster***, West Sussex*, Wigan, Wiltshire*,
Windsor and Maidenhead******, Wirral, Wokingham****, Wolverhampton,
Worcestershire*, York*****; Northern Ireland - 24 districts, 2
cities*, 6 counties**; Antrim, County Antrim**, Ards, Armagh, County
Armagh**, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast*, Carrickfergus,
Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down, County Down**,
Dungannon, Fermanagh, County Fermanagh**, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn,
County Londonderry**, Derry*, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne,
Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane, County Tyrone**; Scotland
- 32 council areas; Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and
Bute, The Scottish Borders, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway,
Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East
Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, 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, West
Dunbartonshire, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), West Lothian; Wales -
11 county boroughs, 9 counties*, 2 cities and counties**; Isle of
Anglesey*, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff**,
Ceredigion*, Carmarthenshire*, Conwy, Denbighshire*, Flintshire*,
Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire*, Neath Port Talbot, Newport,
Pembrokeshire*, Powys*, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea**, Torfaen, The
Vale of Glamorgan*, Wrexham
Dependent areas:
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey,
Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena,
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos
Islands
Independence:
England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the
union between England and Wales, begun in 1284 with the Statute of
Rhuddlan, was not formalized until 1536 with an Act of Union; in
another Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotland agreed to
permanently join as Great Britain; the legislative union of Great
Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the adoption of
the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the
Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six
northern Irish counties remained part of the United Kingdom as
Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927
National holiday:
Official Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, celebrated on the second
Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental
influences; has 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 Anthony (Tony) BLAIR (since 2 May
1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament comprised of House of Lords (consists of
approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary peers and 26 clergy) and
House of Commons (659 seats; members are 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; pending further reforms, elections are held only as vacancies
in the hereditary peerage arise); House of Commons - last held 7
June 2001 (next to be held by NA May 2006)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Labor 42.1%, Conservative and Unionist 32.7%, Liberal Democrats
18.8%, other 6.4%; seats by party - Labor 412, Conservative and
Unionist 166, Liberal Democrat 52, other 29; note - seating as of 15
February 2002: Labor 410, Conservative 164, Liberal Democrats 53,
other 32
note: in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Parliament
(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 rescinded three times the latest occurring in
October 2002; since October 2002 the Northern Ireland Parliament has
been suspended); in 1999 there were elections for a new Scottish
Parliament and a new Welsh Assembly
Judicial branch:
House of Lords (highest court of appeal; several Lords of Appeal in
Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life); Supreme Courts of
England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (comprising the Courts of
Appeal, the High Courts of Justice, and the Crown Courts);
Scotland's Court of Session and Court of the Justiciary
Political parties and leaders:
Conservative and Unionist Party [Michael HOWARD]; Democratic
Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Rev. Ian PAISLEY]; Labor Party
[Anthony (Tony) BLAIR]; Liberal Democrats [Charles KENNEDY]; Party
of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Ieuan Wyn Jones]; Scottish National Party or
SNP [John SWINNEY]; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Gerry ADAMS];
Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Mark
DURKAN]; Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [David TRIMBLE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Confederation of British
Industry; National Farmers' Union; Trades Union Congress
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA
(associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC,
UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David G. MANNING
chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870
consulate(s): Dallas, Denver, Miami, and Seattle
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William S. FARISH
embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A1AE
mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040
telephone: [44] (0) 7499-9000
FAX: [44] (0) 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, as well as
British overseas territories
Economy United Kingdom
Economy - overview:
The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is one of the
quartet of trillion dollar economies of Western Europe. 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 only 1% of the labor force.
The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy
production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any
industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and
business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP
while industry continues to decline in importance. GDP growth
slipped in 2001-03 as the global downturn, the high value of the
pound, and the bursting of the "new economy" bubble hurt
manufacturing and exports. Still, the economy is one of the
strongest in Europe; inflation, interest rates, and unemployment
remain low. The relatively good economic performance has complicated
the BLAIR government's efforts to make a case for Britain to join
the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out,
however, that the economy is doing well outside of EMU, and they
point to public opinion polls that continue to show a majority of
Britons opposed to the single currency. Meantime, the government has
been speeding up the improvement of education, transport, and health
services, at a cost in higher taxes. The war in March-April 2003
between a US-led coalition and Iraq, together with the subsequent
problems of restoring the economy and the polity, involve a heavy
commitment of British military forces.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.528 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 24.9%
services: 73.7% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
17%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 27.7% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.8 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
29.7 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry 25%, services 74% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
5.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $565 billion
expenditures: $540 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 01)
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, and other consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
-3.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
360.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 73.8%
hydro: 0.9%
other: 1.6% (2001)
nuclear: 23.7%
Electricity - consumption:
346.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
264 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
10.66 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2.541 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.71 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
2.205 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
4.741 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
105.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
92.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
15.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
714.9 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish
Exports:
$286.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:
US 15.5%, Germany 11.2%, France 9.4%, Ireland 8%, Netherlands 7.1%,
Belgium 5.2%, Italy 4.4%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$330.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 12.9%, US 11.9%, France 7.8%, Netherlands 6.3%, Belgium 5%,
Italy 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $4.5 billion (2000)
Currency:
British pound (GBP)
Currency code:
GBP
Exchange rates:
British pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66
(2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications United Kingdom
Telephones - main lines in use:
34.878 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
43.5 million (yearend 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: technologically advanced domestic and
international system
domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and
fiber-optic systems
international: 40 coaxial submarine cables; 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
84.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
228 (plus 3,523 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
30.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.uk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
more than 400 (2000)
Internet users:
34.3 million (2002)
Transportation United Kingdom
Railways:
total: 16,893 km
standard gauge: 16,536 km 1.435-m gauge (4,928 km electrified)
broad gauge: 357 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland) (2002)
Highways:
total: 371,913 km
paved: 371,913 km (including 3,358 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:
3,200 km
Pipelines:
condensate 370 km; gas 21,263 km; liquid petroleum gas 59 km; oil
6,420 km; oil/gas/water 63 km; refined products 4,474 km; water 650
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dover, Falmouth, Felixstowe,
Glasgow, Grangemouth, Hull, Leith, Liverpool, London, Manchester,
Peterhead, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Scapa Flow, Southampton, Sullom
Voe, Teesport, Tyne
Merchant marine:
total: 295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,752,179 GRT/6,963,112 DWT
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 43, chemical tanker 19, combination
ore/oil 1, container 95, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 1,
passenger 18, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 50, refrigerated
cargo 3, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 8, specialized
tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Bermuda 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 21, Germany 6, Greece 3,
Hong Kong 4, Italy 1, Monaco 4, Netherlands 1, Norway 9, Russia 1,
South Africa 2, Sweden 11, Taiwan 2, US 5 (2002 est.)
Airports:
470 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 334
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 83
under 914 m: 59 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 136
2438 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 112 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 22
Heliports:
11 (2002)
Military United Kingdom
Military branches:
Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 14,877,666 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,353,942 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$31.7 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.32% (2002)
Transnational Issues United Kingdom
Disputes - international:
Gibraltar residents vote overwhelmingly in referendum against
"total shared sovereignty" arrangement worked out between Spain and
UK to change 300-year rule over colony; Mauritius and Seychelles
claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory) and
its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001
were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since
eviction in 1965; Argentina claims the Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Rockall
continental shelf dispute involving Denmark and Iceland; territorial
claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine
claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; disputes with Iceland,
Denmark, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf
boundary outside 200 NM
Illicit drugs:
gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European
market; major consumer of synthetic drugs, producer of limited
amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; major
consumer of Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@United States
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) and the Great
Depression of the 1930s. 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. The economy is marked by 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: 9,629,091 sq km
land: 9,158,960 sq km
water: 470,131 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; about two and a half times
the size of Western Europe
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
thus remains part of Cuba; the base boundary is 29 km
Coastline:
19,924 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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
Natural resources:
coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold,
iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum,
natural gas, timber
Land use:
arable land: 19.32%
other: 80.46% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 0.22%
Irrigated land:
214,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
tsunamis, volcanoes, and 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
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; very 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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
290,342,554 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 31,098,473; female 29,675,712)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 96,628,469; female 97,061,559)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 14,888,185; female 20,990,156) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 35.8 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 37.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.92% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.14 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.44 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.14 years
female: 80.05 years (2003 est.)
male: 74.37 years
Total fertility rate:
2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
900,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
15,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Ethnic groups:
white 77.1%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native
1.5%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.3%, other 4%
(2000)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US
Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American
descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican
origin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group
(white, black, Asian, etc.)
Religions:
Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10%
(1989)
Languages:
English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 97% (1979 est.)
total population: 97%
male: 97%
People - note:
data for the US are based on projections that do not take into
consideration the results of the 2000 census
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:
Washington, DC
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, but recently entered
into a new political relationship with all four political units: the
Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with
the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of
Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the
Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association
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)
Independence:
4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution:
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001)
and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001)
and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
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; election
last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004)
election results: George W. BUSH elected president; percent of
popular vote - George W. BUSH (Republican Party) 48%, Albert A.
GORE, Jr. (Democratic Party) 48%, Ralph NADER (Green Party) 3%,
other 1%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third are
renewed every two years; two members are elected from each state by
popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Republican Party 51, Democratic Party 48, independent 1;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Republican Party 226, Democratic Party 204, independent 1,
undecided 4
elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA
November 2004); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2002
(next to be held NA November 2004)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for life by the
president with confirmation by the Senate); United States Courts of
Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Terence McAULIFFE]; Green Party [leader NA];
Libertarian Party [Steve DASBACH]; Republican Party [Governor Marc
RACICOT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G- 8, G-10, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIKOM,
UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Flag description:
thirteen 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;
known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a
number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and
Puerto Rico
Economy United States
Economy - overview:
The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in
the world, with a per capita GDP of $37,600. 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 considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts
in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant,
lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time,
they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets
than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms
are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially
in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment,
although 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 years 1994-2000 witnessed solid increases in real
output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%.
The year 2001 saw the end of boom psychology and performance, with
output increasing only 0.3% and unemployment and business failures
rising substantially. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11
September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy.
Moderate recovery took place in 2002, with the GDP growth rate
rising to 2.45%. A major short-term problem in first half 2002 was a
sharp decline in the stock market, fueled in part by the exposure of
dubious accounting practices in some major corporations. The war in
March/April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq shifted
resources to military industries and introduced uncertainties about
investment and employment in other sectors of the economy. Long-term
problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure,
rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population,
sizable trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower
economic groups.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.45 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $36,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 18%
services: 80% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
12.7% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.8 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (2002)
Labor force:
141.8 million (includes unemployed) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
managerial and professional 31%, technical, sales and
administrative support 28.9%, services 13.6%, manufacturing, mining,
transportation, and crafts 24.1%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.4%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2001)
Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $1.946 trillion
expenditures: $2.052 trillion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and
technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles,
aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food
processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.719 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 71.4%
hydro: 5.6%
other: 2.3% (2001)
nuclear: 20.7%
Electricity - consumption:
3.602 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
18.17 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
38.48 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
8.054 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
19.65 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
22.45 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
548.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
640.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
11.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
114.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.195 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork,
poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports:
$687 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials,
consumer goods, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Canada 23.2%, Mexico 14.1%, Japan 7.4%, UK 4.8% (2002)
Imports:
$1.165 trillion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles,
consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages
Imports - partners:
Canada 17.8%, Mexico 11.3%, China 11.1%, Japan 10.4%, Germany 5.3%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$862 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
British pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596
(2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), Canadian dollars per US dollar
- 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835
(1998), Japanese yen per US dollar - 125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001),
107.77 (2000), 113.91 (1999), 130.91 (1998), euros per US dollar -
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863 (1999)
note: financial institutions in France, Italy, and Germany and eight
other European countries started using the euro on 1 January 1999
with the euro replacing the local currency in consenting countries
for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications United States
Telephones - main lines in use:
194 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
69.209 million (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: a very 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: 24 ocean cable systems in use; 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4,762, FM 5,542, shortwave 18 (1998)
Radios:
575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations affiliated with
the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition,
there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)
Televisions:
219 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.us
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
7,000 (2002 est.)
Internet users:
165.75 million (2002)
Transportation United States
Railways:
total: 194,731 km mainline routes
standard gauge: 194,731 km 1.435-m gauge
note: represents the aggregate length of roadway of all line-haul
railroads including an estimate for class II and III railroads;
excludes 135,185 km of yard tracks, sidings, and parallel lines
(2000)
Highways:
total: 6,334,859 km
paved: 3,737,567 km (including 89,426 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,597,292 km (2000)
Waterways:
41,009 km
note: navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes
Pipelines:
petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Duluth, Hampton
Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New Orleans,
New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe
Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
Merchant marine:
total: 348 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 9,414,676 GRT/12,207,346 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 71, cargo 26, chemical tanker
13, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 79,
freighter 15, heavy lift carrier 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 73, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 46, short-sea
passenger 2, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 9
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Canada 4, Denmark 15, France 1, Germany 1,
Netherlands 3, Norway 7, Puerto Rico 4, Singapore 11, Sweden 1,
United Kingdom 3; also, the US owns 549 additional ships (1,000 GRT
or over) totaling 29,616,347 DWT that operate under the registries
of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda,
Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Finland, Gibraltar, Hong
Kong (China), Indonesia, Isle of Man, Italy, Liberia, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Norway, Norway (NIS), Panama, Peru,
Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Tonga, UK,
Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna (2002 est.)
Airports:
14,801 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5,131
over 3,047 m: 185
2,438 to 3,047 m: 222
914 to 1,523 m: 2,390
under 914 m: 969 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,365
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9,670
under 914 m: 7,802 (2002)
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1,702
1,524 to 2,437 m: 158
Heliports:
149 (2002)
Military United States
Military branches:
Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard (Coast
Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland
Security but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 73,597,731 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
NA
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 2,116,002 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$276.7 billion (FY99 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.2% (FY99 est.)
Military - note:
note: 2002 estimates for military manpower are based on projections
that do not take into consideration the results of the 2000 census
Transnational Issues United States
Disputes - international:
prolonged drought in the Mexico border region has strained
water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the
Bering Sea awaits Russian Duma ratification; 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 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 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 state; Marshall Islands claims
Wake Island
Illicit drugs:
consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the
Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly
methamphetamine from Mexico; consumer of high-quality Southeast
Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants,
stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering
center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Uruguay
Introduction Uruguay
Background:
A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros, launched
in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to military
control of his administration in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had
been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold
throughout the government. Civilian rule was not restored until
1985. 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: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries:
total: 1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline:
660 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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, fisheries
Land use:
arable land: 7.21%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 92.52% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional
violent wind which 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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban
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:
3,413,329 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.3% (male 425,642; female 404,987)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 1,057,187; female 1,079,549)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 182,696; female 263,268) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.8 years
male: 30.2 years
female: 33.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.79% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.19 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 15.61 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.87 years
male: 72.54 years
female: 79.38 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.35 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups:
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically nonexistent
Religions:
Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population attends
church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other
31%
Languages:
Spanish, Portunol, or 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.)
Government Uruguay
Country name:
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
Montevideo
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 February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973,
new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two
constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 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 Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (since 1 March 2000)
and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (since 1 March
2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 31 October
1999, with runoff election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA
2004)
election results: Jorge BATLLE Ibanez elected president; percent of
vote - Jorge BATLLE Ibanez 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ 44%
Legislative branch:
bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber
of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of
Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 1999 (next to
be held NA 2004); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October
1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 12, Colorado Party 10,
Blanco 7, New Sector/Space Coalition 1; Chamber of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Encuentro
Progresista 40, Colorado Party 33, Blanco 22, New Sector/Space
Coalition 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected
for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE Ibanez]; National Party or Blanco
[Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera]; New Sector/Space Coalition or Nuevo
Espacio [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad Front
Coalition or Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio [Tabare VAZQUEZ]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMISET,
UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo FERNANDEZ-FAINGOLD
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin J. SILVERSTEIN
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; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner
with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and
16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
Economy Uruguay
Economy - overview:
Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented
agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, 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 lower demand in Argentina and Brazil, which
together account for nearly half of Uruguay's exports. Total GDP in
these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year.
Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the
burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF and the US
has limited the damage, which is still extensive. Moves to
reschedule debt and promote economic recovery may help limit a
further decline in output in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $26.82 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-10.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 27%
services: 67% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
6% (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42.3 (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.2 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%
Unemployment rate:
19.4% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $3.7 billion
expenditures: $4.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $500
million (2000)
Industries:
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment,
petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
-12% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
7.963 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.7%
hydro: 99.1%
other: 0.3% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.152 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.377 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
123 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
41,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
40 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
40 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish
Exports:
$2.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
meat, rice, leather products, wool, vehicles, dairy products
Exports - partners:
Brazil 21%, Argentina 15%, US 8.1%, Germany 5.1%, Italy 4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.87 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum
Imports - partners:
Argentina 25.6%, Brazil 22.7%, US 7.7%, Venezuela 6.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$11.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Uruguayan peso (UYU)
Currency code:
UYU
Exchange rates:
Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 21.26 (2002), 13.32 (2001), 12.1
(2000), 11.34 (1999), 10.47 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Uruguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
929,141 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
350,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new
nationwide microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 91, FM 149, shortwave 7 (2001)
Radios:
1.97 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
20 (2001)
Televisions:
782,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.uy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
14 (2001)
Internet users:
400,000 (2002)
Transportation Uruguay
Railways:
total: 2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge
note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in
partial use (2002)
Highways:
total: 8,983 km
paved: 8,081 km
unpaved: 902 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,600 km (used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft)
Pipelines:
gas 192 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Colonia, Fray Bentos, Juan La Caze, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva
Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Piriapolis
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/9,775 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Argentina 4, Greece 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1,
roll on/roll off 1
Airports:
64 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Military Uruguay
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air
Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 831,297 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 672,030 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$250 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (2000)
Transnational Issues Uruguay
Disputes - international:
uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the
Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with
Argentina
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Uzbekistan
Introduction Uzbekistan
Background:
Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff
resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually
suppressed and a socialist republic set up 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, a nonconvertible currency, 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
water: 22,000 sq km
land: 425,400 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: Sariqarnish 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: 10.8%
permanent crops: 0.91%
other: 88.29% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
42,810 sq km (1998 est.)
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:
25,981,647 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.7% (male 4,594,721; female 4,431,653)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 7,781,739; female 7,945,641)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 497,692; female 730,201) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 22.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.63% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
26.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 71.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 75.27 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64 years
male: 60.53 years
female: 67.64 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 740 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Uzbek(s)
adjective: Uzbek
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 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.)
Government Uzbekistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local short form: Ozbekiston
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi
Government type:
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power
outside the executive branch
Capital:
Tashkent (Toshkent)
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),
Qaraqalpog'iston Respublikasi* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo
Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent
Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, 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 Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution:
new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system:
evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial
system
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)
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 11
December 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with
approval of the Supreme Assembly
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote
- Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional
amendment in 2002); election last held 9 January 2000 (next to be
held NA December 2007); prime minister and deputy ministers
appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - 2002
amendment to the constitution creates a second chamber to be
established via elections in 2004
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NDP 48, Self-Sacrificers Party 34, Fatherland Progress Party 20,
Adolat Social Democratic Party 11, MTP 10, citizens' groups 16,
local government 110, vacant 1
note: not all seats in the last Supreme Assembly election were
contested; all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President
KARIMOV
elections: last held 5 December and 19 December 1999 (next to be
held NA December 2004)
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 [Anwar JURABAYEV, first
secretary]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or
MTP [Aziz KAYUMOV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP
(formerly Communist Party) [Abdulkhafiz JALALOV, first secretary];
Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar National Democratic Party
[Ahtam TURSUNOV, first secretary]; note - Fatherland Progress Party
merged with Self-Sacrificers Party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom)
Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December
1992; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV, chairman];
Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Abduhoshim GHAFUROV,
chairman]; Ezgulik [Vasilia INOYATOVA]
International organization participation:
AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV
FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: [1] (202) 293-6803
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Edward HERBST
embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115
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 and 12
white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
Economy Uzbekistan
Economy - overview:
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of
intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its
population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan
is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter, a large producer
of gold and oil, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals
and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the
government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with
subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Uzbekistan
responded to the negative external conditions generated by the Asian
and Russian financial crises by emphasizing import substitute
industrialization and by tightening export and currency controls
within its already largely closed economy. The government, while
aware of the need to improve the investment climate, sponsors
measures that often increase, not decrease, the government's control
over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of
income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since
independence.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $66.06 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 36%
industry: 21%
services: 43% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
26% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
11.9 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 44%, industry 20%, services 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
10% plus another 20% underemployed (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural
gas, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
44.49 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 88.2%
hydro: 11.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
47.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
3.998 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
9.7 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
142,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
142,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
297 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
63.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
45.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
17.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
937.3 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Exports:
$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral fertilizers,
ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles (1998 est.)
Exports - partners:
Russia 17.7%, Ukraine 11%, Italy 7.6%, Tajikistan 6.8%, Poland
5.1%, South Korea 5%, Kazakhstan 4.5%, US 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals
(1998 est.)
Imports - partners:
Russia 22.6%, Germany 9.8%, South Korea 9.4%, Kazakhstan 8.1%, US
6.9%, Ukraine 6.8%, China 5.2%, Turkey 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.6 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
approximately $150 million from the US (2001)
Currency:
Uzbekistani sum (UZS)
Currency code:
UZS
Exchange rates:
Uzbekistani sums per US dollar - 970 (2002), 325 (2001), 236.61
(2000), 124.63 (1999), 94.49 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Uzbekistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.98 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
130,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of
modernization
domestic: the domestic telephone system is being expanded and
technologically improved, particularly in Tashkent (Toshkent) and
Samarqand, under contracts with prominent companies in
industrialized countries; moreover, by 1998, six cellular networks
had been placed in operation - four of the GSM type (Global System
for Mobile Communication), one D-AMPS type (Digital Advanced Mobile
Phone System), and one AMPS type (Advanced Mobile Phone System)
international: linked by landline 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 will be independent of Russian facilities for
international communications; Inmarsat also provides an
international connection, albeit an expensive one; satellite earth
stations - NA (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)
Radios:
10.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (plus two repeaters that relay Russian programs), 1 cable
rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional
capitals (2003)
Televisions:
6.4 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.uz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
42 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2002)
Transportation Uzbekistan
Railways:
total: 3,950 km
broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 81,600 km
paved: 71,237 km
unpaved: 10,363 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,100 km (1990)
Pipelines:
gas 9,012 km; oil 869 km; refined products 33 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Termiz (Amu Darya)
Airports:
273 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,523 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 246
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 211 (2002)
Military Uzbekistan
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces
(internal security and border troops)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,940,031 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,635,099 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 310,915 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$200 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Uzbekistan
Disputes - international:
prolonged regional drought creates water-sharing difficulties for
Amu Darya river states; delimitation with Kazakhstan complete with
demarcation underway; serious disputes with Kyrgyzstan around Uzbek
enclaves mar progress on delimitation efforts; talks have begun with
Tajikistan to determine and delimit border
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Vanuatu
Introduction Vanuatu
Background:
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.
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: 12,200 sq km
land: 12,200 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,528 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
mostly mountains 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: 2.46%
permanent crops: 7.38%
other: 90.16% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes
minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:
a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and
reliable supply of 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:
199,414 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.8% (male 35,499; female 33,992)
15-64 years: 61.8% (male 63,021; female 60,149)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 3,605; female 3,148) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.9 years
male: 22 years
female: 21.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.61% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
24.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.13 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 58.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.71 years
male: 60.28 years
female: 63.21 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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:
indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other
Pacific Islanders
Religions:
Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous
beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%,
other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult)
Languages:
three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama
or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53%
male: 57%
female: 48% (1979 est.)
Government Vanuatu
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Port-Vila
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Father John BANI (since 25 March 1999)
elections: president elected for a four-year term by an electoral
college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional
councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 25
March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is
usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members;
election for prime minister last held 2 August 2002 (next to be held
NA 2003)
election results: Father John BANI elected president on second vote
(24 March 1999) after the first (17 March 1999) did not have any
candidate with the required two-thirds majority; percent of
electoral college vote - NA%
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister Edward Nipake NATAPEI (since 13
April 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since NA)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UMP 15, VP 14, VRP 3, MPP 2, other and independent 18; note -
political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom
and land
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:
Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or
MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Dinh Van THAN];
Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuaaku Party (Our
Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP
[Maxime Carlot KORMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (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 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 leaves, all in yellow
Economy Vanuatu
Economy - overview:
The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale
agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population.
Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000
visitors in 1997, 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. A severe earthquake in
November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the
northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. Another
powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the
capital, Port-Vila, and surrounding areas, and also was followed by
a tsunami. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. 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. Australia and New
Zealand are the main suppliers of foreign aid.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $563 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $94.4 million
expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4
million (1996 est.)
Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
43.46 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
40.42 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits,
vegetables; fish, beef
Exports:
$22 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Exports - partners:
India 32.5%, Thailand 22.8%, South Korea 10.5%, Indonesia 6.3%,
Japan 4.9% (2002)
Imports:
$93 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners:
Australia 22.1%, Japan 19.2%, New Zealand 10.1%, Singapore 8.1%,
Fiji 6.6%, Taiwan 5%, India 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$68.6 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$45.8 million (1995)
Currency:
vatu (VUV)
Currency code:
VUV
Exchange rates:
vatu per US dollar - 139.2 (2002), 145.31 (2001), 137.64 (2000),
129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Vanuatu
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
310 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:
67,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
2,300 (1999)
Internet country code:
.vu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
3,000 (2000)
Transportation Vanuatu
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,070 km
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,463 GRT/1,552,813 DWT
ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 5, combination bulk 3, container 3,
liquefied gas 2, multi-function large-load carrier 1, refrigerated
cargo 7, vehicle carrier 5
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 3, Canada 2, China 1, Japan 25, Monaco 4,
Netherlands 1, NZ 5, Panama 1, Poland 1, Switzerland 2, UK 4, US 2,
Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1524 to 2437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Military Vanuatu
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; including
the paramilitary Mobile Force or VMF)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Vanuatu
Disputes - international:
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu
and France
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Venezuela
Introduction Venezuela
Background:
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse
of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador).
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. Current concerns include: an
embattled president who is losing his once solid support among
Venezuelans, a divided military, drug-related conflicts along the
Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption,
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
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:
contiguous zone: 15 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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 (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,
hydropower, diamonds
Land use:
arable land: 2.99%
permanent crops: 0.96%
other: 96.05% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
540 sq km (1998 est.)
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,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
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:
24,654,694 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 3,944,749; female 3,700,799)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 7,931,194; female 7,864,697)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 552,291; female 660,964) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.8 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 25.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.48% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 27.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.81 years
male: 70.78 years
female: 77.07 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.36 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
62,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,000 (2001 est.)
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: 93.4%
male: 93.8%
female: 93.1% (2003 est.)
Government Venezuela
Country name:
conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
Caracas
Administrative divisions:
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 federal district*
(distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia
federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar,
Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito
Federal*, 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:
based on organic laws as of July 1999; 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); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of
vote - 60%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)
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)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
pro-government 108 (MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other 7),
opposition 57 (AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other 13)
elections: last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia
(magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single
12-year term)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Action or AD [Claudio FERMIN]; Fifth Republic Movement
or MVR [Garcia PONCE]; Homeland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNIZ];
Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS
[Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Juan Jose
CALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Antonio HERRERA]; Social
Christian Party or COPEI [Oswaldo ALVAREZ Paz]; Venezuela Project or
PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups;
Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization
dominated by the Democratic Action)
International organization participation:
CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-19, G-24,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,
New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles S. SHAPIRO
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle
Arriba, Caracas 1080
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411
FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with
the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of
seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
Economy Venezuela
Economy - overview:
Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector,
which accounts for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of export
earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues.
Despite higher oil prices at the end of 2002 and into 2003, domestic
political instability, culminating in a two-month national oil
strike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted
economic activity. The economy is likely to remain in a recession in
2003, after sinking an estimated 8.9 percent in 2002.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $131.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-8.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 50%
services: 45% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
47% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.5 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
31.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
9.9 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
17% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $21.5 billion
expenditures: $27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food
processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate:
-5.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
87.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 31.7%
hydro: 68.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
81.47 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
3.08 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
505,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
63.95 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
31.71 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
31.71 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.202 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef,
pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports:
$28.6 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural
products, basic manufactures
Exports - partners:
US 53.4%, Netherlands Antilles 17.3%, Canada 2.9% (2002)
Imports:
$18.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
construction materials
Imports - partners:
US 27.5%, Colombia 6.9%, Brazil 5.7%, Mexico 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$38.2 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$74 million (2000)
Currency:
bolivar (VEB)
Currency code:
VEB
Exchange rates:
bolivares per US dollar - 1,160.44 (2002), 723.67 (2001), 679.96
(2000), 605.72 (1999), 547.56 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Venezuela
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.6 million (however, 3,500,000 have been installed) (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2 million (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and expanding
domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent
substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;
substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;
installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of
digital multimedia services
international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations
- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an
international fiber-optic network
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios:
10.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
4.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ve
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
1.3 million (2002)
Transportation Venezuela
Railways:
total: 682 km
standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 96,155 km
paved: 32,308 km
unpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
7,100 km
note: Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,484 km; refined
products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo,
Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz,
Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
Merchant marine:
total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 714,073 GRT/1,256,667 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 1, Greece 1, Italy 1, UK 1, US 2 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, roll
on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
373 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 127
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 246
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 97
under 914 m: 139 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Venezuela
Military branches:
National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes
Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces
(Fuerzas Navales or Armada - including marines and Coast Guard), Air
Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or
National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,767,862 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,870,751 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 249,319 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$934 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Venezuela
Disputes - international:
claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary
dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela and the Caribbean
Sea; US, France and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's claim to
give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan
EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the
Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest the claim and other states'
recognition of it
Illicit drugs:
small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing
of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of
cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia
bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related
money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia
and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily
targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by
Colombian insurgents on border
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Vietnam
Introduction Vietnam
Background:
France occupied all of Vietnam by 1884. Independence was declared
after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when
they were defeated by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH, who took
control of the North. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam
grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but
US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in
1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South.
Economic reconstruction of the reunited country has proven difficult
as aging Communist Party leaders have only grudgingly initiated
reforms necessary for a free market.
Geography Vietnam
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin,
and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,560 sq km
land: 325,360 sq km
water: 4,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline:
3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season
(mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to
mid-March)
Terrain:
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,
mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and
gas deposits, forests, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 17.41%
permanent crops: 4.71%
other: 77.88% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding,
especially in the Mekong River delta
Environment - current issues:
logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to
deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing
threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits
potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population
migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh
City
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
Geography - note:
extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across
at its narrowest point
People Vietnam
Population:
81,624,716 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 12,699,002; female 11,967,674)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 25,776,600; female 26,599,005)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 1,902,464; female 2,679,971) (2003
est.)
Median age:
total: 24.5 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 25.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.29% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.58 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 30.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 34.71 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.05 years
male: 67.58 years
female: 72.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
6,600 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups:
Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese, Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham, mountain
groups
Religions:
Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian (predominantly Roman
Catholic, some Protestant), indigenous beliefs, Muslim
Languages:
Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second
language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages
(Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 95.8%
female: 92.3% (2003 est.)
Government Vietnam
Country name:
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV
local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
Hanoi
Administrative divisions:
58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities*
(thu do, singular and plural); An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac
Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong,
Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Da Nang,
Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Hai Phong*, Ha
Nam, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Ho Chi Minh*, Hung Yen,
Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao
Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu
Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc
Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua
Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc,
Yen Bai
Independence:
2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution:
15 April 1992
Legal system:
based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997)
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
members for a five-year term; election last held 25 July 2002 (next
to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative
elections in 2007); prime minister appointed by the president from
among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers
appointed by the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September
1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29
September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Vu KHOAN (since NA) and Pham
Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the
prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly
election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (498 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 May 2002 (next to be held 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 90%, other 10% (the
10% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for
election); seats by party - CPV 447, CPV-approved 51
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-year
term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)
Political parties and leaders:
only party - Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH,
general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ACCT, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Tam CHIEN
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond F. BURGHARDT
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500
FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Flag description:
red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Economy Vietnam
Economy - overview:
Vietnam is a poor, densely-populated country that has had to
recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from
the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally planned
economy. Substantial progress was achieved from 1986 to 1996 in
moving forward from an extremely low starting point - growth
averaged around 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian
financial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy
but, rather than prompting reform, reaffirmed the government's
belief that shifting to a market-oriented economy would lead to
disaster. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 6% in 1998 and 5% in
1999. Growth then rose to 6% to 7% in 2000-02 even against the
background of global recession. These numbers mask some major
difficulties in economic performance. Many domestic industries,
including coal, cement, steel, and paper, have reported large
stockpiles of inventory and tough competition from more efficient
foreign producers. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities have moved to
implement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and
to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The
US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement entered into force near the end
of 2001 and is expected to significantly increase Vietnam's exports
to the US. The US is assisting Vietnam with implementing the legal
and structural reforms called for in the agreement.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $183.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 37%
services: 39% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
37% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
38.2 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 63%, industry and services 37% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.3 billion
expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (1999 est.)
Industries:
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building, mining, cement,
chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper
Industrial production growth rate:
10.2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
29.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 43.7%
hydro: 56.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
27.71 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
356,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
185,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.4 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
192.6 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas,
sugar; poultry, pigs; fish
Exports:
$16.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments,
shoes
Exports - partners:
US 15.2%, Japan 14.9%, Australia 7.6%, China 6.6%, Germany 6.5%,
Singapore 5.5%, UK 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$16.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel
products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Imports - partners:
South Korea 12.7%, China 12.2%, Japan 12.1%, Singapore 11.8%,
Taiwan 10.6%, Thailand 5.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$14.1 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.1 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors
for 2000
Currency:
dong (VND)
Currency code:
VND
Exchange rates:
dong per US dollar - 15,325.8 (2002), 14,725.2 (2001), 14,167.7
(2000), 13,943.2 (1999), 13,268 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Vietnam
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.6 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
730,155 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into
modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but its
performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighbors
domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to
Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay networks; since 1991, main lines in use have
been substantially increased and the use of mobile telephones is
growing rapidly
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)
Radios:
8.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
at least 7 (plus 13 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:
3.57 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.vn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)
Internet users:
400,000 (2002)
Transportation Vietnam
Railways:
total: 3,142 km
standard gauge: 209 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,625 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 308 km three-rail track combining 1.435-m and 1.000-m
gauges (2002)
Highways:
total: 93,300 km
paved: 23,418 km
unpaved: 69,882 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
17,702 km
note: more than 5,149 km are navigable at all times by vessels up to
1.8 m draft
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 432 km; gas 210 km; oil 3 km; refined products 206
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long, Quy Nhon,
Nha Trang, Vinh, Vung Tau
Merchant marine:
total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,054,423 GRT/1,588,732 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Cambodia 1, Japan 1, Singapore 1, UK 2 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 128, chemical tanker 1, combination
bulk 1, container 9, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 21,
refrigerated cargo 3
Airports:
47 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Military Vietnam
Military branches:
People's Army of Vietnam (includes Ground Forces, People's Navy
Command [including Naval Infantry], Air and Air Defense Force, Coast
Guard)
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 22,888,109 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 14,366,732 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 871,036 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$650 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.5% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Vietnam
Disputes - international:
demarcation of the land boundary with China continues, but maritime
boundary and joint fishing zone agreement remains unratified;
Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed
encroachments along border; China occupies Paracel Islands also
claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in a complex dispute over
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and
possibly Brunei; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration
on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to
ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of
conduct"
Illicit drugs:
minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point for
Southeast Asian heroin; domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamine
addiction problems
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Virgin Islands
Introduction Virgin Islands
Background:
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two
territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane,
produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th
and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish
portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of
slavery in 1848.
Geography Virgin Islands
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 352 sq km
water: 3 sq km
land: 349 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
188 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low
humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to
November
Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 6%
other: 79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts
and floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources
Geography - note:
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane
for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural
deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
People Virgin Islands
Population:
124,778 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 16,685; female 15,794)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 36,241; female 44,157)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 5,078; female 6,823) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 33.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.02% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
15.8 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.59 years
male: 74.73 years
female: 82.68 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:
black 78%, white 10%, other 12%
note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born
elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%,
other 2%
Religions:
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Virgin Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
Dependency status:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations
between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the
Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three
islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
National holiday:
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Constitution:
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:
based on US laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January
2001)
election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor;
percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John
de JONGH 24.4%
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)
head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5
January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Vargrave RICHARDS (since NA
January 2003)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November
2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the
US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002
(next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M.
CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
Judicial branch:
US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit
jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor
for 10-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens'
Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag description:
white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the
large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle
holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other
with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a
blue panel
Economy Virgin Islands
Economy - overview:
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than
70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2
million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of
petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and
watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food
being imported. International business and financial services are a
small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's
largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are
subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working
to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the
private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect
the environment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (1992)
Labor force:
49,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.9% (March 1999)
Budget:
revenues: $364.4 million
expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1990 est.)
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling,
construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.03 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
957.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
65,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,000 (1992)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international: submarine cable and satellite communications;
satellite earth stations - NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:
107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2002)
Televisions:
68,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.vi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2000)
Internet users:
12,000 (2000)
Transportation Virgin Islands
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 856 km
paved: NA km
note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the
road is practiced (2000)
unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Military Virgin Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Virgin Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Wake Island
Introduction Wake Island
Background:
The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. An
important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In December
1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held until the end
of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was developed as a
stopover and refueling site for military and commercial aircraft
transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's airstrip has been
used by the US military and some commercial cargo planes, as well as
for emergency landings. There are over 700 landings a year on the
island.
Geography Wake Island
Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the
way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates:
19 17 N, 166 36 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
19.3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano;
central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing
location for transpacific flights
People Wake Island
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: US military personnel have left the island, but contractor
personnel remain; as of October 2001, 200 contractor personnel were
present (July 2003 est.)
Government Wake Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,
DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities on the island are
managed by the US Air Force
Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Wake Island
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors
located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be
imported.
Electricity - production:
NA
Communications Wake Island
Telephone system:
general assessment: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the
Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)
Transportation Wake Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Transportation - note:
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US
military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency landings
Military Wake Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Wake Island
Disputes - international:
claimed by Marshall Islands
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Wallis and Futuna
Introduction Wallis and Futuna
Background:
Although discovered by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and
18th centuries, it was the French who declared a protectorate over
the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted
to become a French overseas territory.
Geography Wallis and Futuna
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of
the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
13 18 S, 176 12 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 274 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island),
Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
water: 0 sq km
land: 274 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
129 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season
(May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity);
average temperature 26.6 degrees C
Terrain:
volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 20%
other: 75% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain)
largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel
source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the
mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion;
there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of
natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
both island groups have fringing reefs
People Wallis and Futuna
Population:
15,734 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
NA (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Languages:
French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)
Government Wallis and Futuna
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
Dependency status:
overseas territory of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are three kingdoms at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Administrator Christian JOB (since 6
August 2002)
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the
Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by
the members of the assembly
note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione
KANIMOA (since NA January 2001)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three
members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the
Territorial Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2007)
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and
one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate -
elections last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by NA
September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats -
RPR (now UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 16
June 2002 (next to be held by NA 2007); results - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats - RPR (UMP) 1
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7
Judicial branch:
none; justice generally administered under French law by the high
administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary
law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Political parties and leaders:
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) [leader NA]; Mouvement des Radicaux de
Gauche or MRG [leader NA]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Clovis
LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union Populaire
Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or
UDF [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
a large white modified Maltese cross - shifted a little off center
toward the fly and slightly downward - on a red background; the flag
of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist
quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy Wallis and Futuna
Economy - overview:
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with
about 80% labor force earnings from agriculture (coconuts and
vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the
population is employed in government. Revenues come from French
Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South
Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New
Caledonia.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $30 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $20 million
expenditures: $17 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Agriculture - products:
breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
Exports:
$250,000 f.o.b. (1999)
Exports - commodities:
copra, chemicals, construction materials
Exports - partners:
Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13%
Imports:
$300,000 f.o.b. (1999)
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 97%, Australia 2%, New Zealand 1%
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
assistance from France
Currency:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the
euro in 2003
Currency code:
XPF
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 126.41
(2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.43 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Wallis and Futuna
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,125 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2000)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.wf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Wallis and Futuna
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea)
unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Leava, Mata-Utu
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 85,572 GRT/9,004 DWT
ships by type: passenger 4
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: France 3, US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Wallis and Futuna
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Wallis and Futuna
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@West Bank
Introduction West Bank
Background:
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,
provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years of
Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and
responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes the
Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of
the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip
and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo
Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional
areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995
Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol
Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998
Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh
Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility
during the transitional period for external security and for
internal security and public order of settlements and Israeli
citizens. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of
Gaza and West Bank had begun in September 1999 after a three-year
hiatus, but have been derailed by a second intifadah that broke out
in September 2000. The resulting widespread violence in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel's military response, and instability
within the Palestinian Authority continue to undermine progress
toward a permanent agreement.
Geography West Bank
Location:
Middle East, west of Jordan
Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 35 15 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 5,860 sq km
note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter
of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and
Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of
depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
water: 220 sq km
land: 5,640 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm
to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain:
mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren
in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: NEGL%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
droughts
Environment - current issues:
adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
Geography - note:
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal
aquifers; there are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use
sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem (February 2002 est.)
People West Bank
Population:
2,237,194 (July 2002 est.)
note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the
West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (February 2002
est.) (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 505,880; female 481,369)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 598,992; female 572,511)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 33,688; female 44,754) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
34.07 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.16 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 22.86 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.68 years
male: 70.95 years
female: 74.51 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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 and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions:
Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians),
English (widely understood)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government West Bank
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank
Economy West Bank
Economy - overview:
Real per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS)
declined by about one-third between 1992 and 1996 due to the
combined effect of falling aggregate incomes and rapid population
growth. The downturn in economic activity was largely the result of
Israeli closure policies - the imposition of border closures in
response to security incidents in Israel - which disrupted labor and
commodity market relationships between Israel and the WBGS. The most
serious social effect of this downturn was rising unemployment;
unemployment in the WBGS during the 1980s was generally under 5%; by
1995 it had risen to over 20%. Israel's use of comprehensive
closures during the next five years decreased and, in 1998, Israel
implemented new policies to reduce the impact of closures and other
security procedures on the movement of Palestinian goods and labor.
These changes fueled an almost three-year-long economic recovery in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip; real GDP grew by 5% in 1998 and 6% in
1999. Recovery was upended in the last quarter of 2000 with the
outbreak of violence, which triggered tight Israeli closures of
Palestinian self-rule areas and severely disrupted trade and labor
movements. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military
measures in Palestinian Authority areas have resulted in the
destruction of much capital plant and administrative structure,
widespread business closures, and a sharp drop in GDP. Another major
loss has been the decline in earnings of Palestinian workers in
Israel. International aid of $2 billion in 2001-02 to the West Bank
and Gaza Strip have prevented the complete collapse of the economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-22% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63%
note: includes Gaza Strip (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (includes Gaza Strip) (2001 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
services 66%, industry 21%, agriculture 13% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
50% (includes Gaza Strip) (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $930 million
note: includes Gaza Strip (2000 est.)
expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $15
million
Industries:
generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles,
soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the
Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the
settlements and industrial centers
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East
Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to
Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank;
the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most
Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian
municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own
electricity from small power plants
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports:
$603 million f.o.b., includes Gaza Strip
Exports - commodities:
olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone
Exports - partners:
Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2000)
Imports:
$1.9 billion c.i.f., includes Gaza Strip
Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners:
Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2000)
Debt - external:
$108 million (includes Gaza Strip) (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$800 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2001 est.)
Currency:
new Israeli shekel (ILS); Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Currency code:
ILS; JOD
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001),
4.0773 (2000), 4.1397 (1999), 3.8001 (1998), 3.4494 (1997);
Jordanian dinars per US dollar - fixed rate of 0.7090 (from 1996)
Fiscal year:
calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Communications West Bank
Telephones - main lines in use:
95,729 (total for West Bank and Gaza Strip) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
note: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are
responsible for communication services in the West Bank
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
note: the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts from an AM
station in Ramallah on 675 kHz; numerous local, private stations are
reported to be in operation (2000)
Radios:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
NA; note - many Palestinian households have televisions (1999)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (1999)
Internet users:
60,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2001)
Transportation West Bank
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 4,500 km
paved: 2,700 km
unpaved: 1,800 km
note: Israelis have developed many highways to service Jewish
settlements (1997 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military West Bank
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues West Bank
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
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Western Sahara
Introduction Western Sahara
Background:
Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara
(formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in
1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the
Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991
UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status
has been repeatedly postponed.
Geography Western Sahara
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates:
24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 266,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline:
1,110 km
Maritime claims:
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Climate:
hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce
fog and heavy dew
Terrain:
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces
rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and
spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely
restricting visibility
Environment - current issues:
sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
People Western Sahara
Population:
261,794 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
NA% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic groups:
Arab, Berber
Religions:
Muslim
Languages:
Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Western Sahara
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Western Sahara
former: Spanish Sahara
Government type:
legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved;
territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front
for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in
February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR),led by President Mohamed
ABDELAZIZ; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in
April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania,
under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to
its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector
shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control;
the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in
1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a
UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991
Capital:
none
Administrative divisions:
none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Suffrage:
none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed
Executive branch:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
none
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none
Economy Western Sahara
Economy - overview:
Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate
mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The
territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural
production, and most of the food for the urban population must be
imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by
the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed
contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which
has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in
Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 40% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
12,000
Labor force - by occupation:
animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
phosphate mining, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
90 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
83.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep,
goats (kept by nomads)
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
phosphates 62%
Exports - partners:
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners
are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners
are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code:
MAD
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001),
10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Western Sahara
Telephones - main lines in use:
about 2,000 (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: sparse and limited system
domestic: NA
international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
56,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
6,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.eh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Western Sahara
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 6,200 km
paved: 1,350 km
unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Airports:
11 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Western Sahara
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Western Sahara
Disputes - international:
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty
remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in
effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have
failed and parties have rejected other proposals; Mauritanian claims
to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years; Morocco allowed
Spanish fishermen to fish temporarily off the coast of Western
Sahara after an oil spill soiled Spanish fishing grounds
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@World
Introduction World
Background:
Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating world
wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of vast
colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology, from
the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to the
landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western alliance
and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living standards in
North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased concerns about the
environment, including loss of forests, shortages of energy and
water, the decline in biological diversity, and air pollution; (h)
the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate emergence of
the US as the only world superpower. The planet's population
continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820, to 2 billion in 1930,
3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1988, and 6
billion in 2000. For the 21st century, the continued exponential
growth in science and technology raises both hopes (e.g., advances
in medicine) and fears (e.g., development of even more lethal
weapons of war).
Geography World
Map references:
Physical Map of the World, Political Map of the World, Standard
Time Zones of the World
Area:
total: 510.072 million sq km
land: 148.94 million sq km
water: 361.132 million sq km
note: 70.8% of the world's surface is water, 29.2% is land
Area - comparative:
land area about 16 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
the land boundaries in the world total 250,472 km (not counting
shared boundaries twice)
Coastline:
356,000 km
Maritime claims:
a variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make
the following claims: contiguous zone - 24 NM; continental shelf -
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation, or 200 NM or to the
edge of the continental margin; exclusive fishing zone - 200 NM;
exclusive economic zone - 200 NM; territorial sea - 12 NM; boundary
situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from
extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 NM; 43
nations and other areas that are landlocked include Afghanistan,
Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad,
Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San
Marino, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan,
West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and
Uzbekistan, are doubly landlocked
Climate:
two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather narrow
temperate zones form a wide equatorial band of tropical to
subtropical climates
Terrain:
the greatest ocean depth is the Mariana Trench at 10,924 m in the
Pacific Ocean
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,540 m
note: in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is
the lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the Pacific
Ocean
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)
Natural resources:
the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the
depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and
plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality
(especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR, and China) pose
serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only
beginning to address
Land use:
arable land: 10.58%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 88.42% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,714,320 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural
disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)
Environment - current issues:
large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters,
pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of
vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of
wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion
Geography - note:
the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, just
about one-third of the 13-billion-year age estimated for the universe
People World
Population:
6,302,309,691 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.2% (male 932,581,592; female 885,688,851)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 2,009,997,089; female 1,964,938,201)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 193,549,180; female 247,067,032) (2003
est.)
note: some countries do not maintain age structure information, thus
a slight discrepancy exists between the total world population and
the total for world age structure
Population growth rate:
1.17% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
20.43 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.83 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 51.38 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 53.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.95 years
male: 62 years
female: 70.23 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Religions:
Christians 32.79% (of which Roman Catholics 17.33%, Protestants
5.62%, Orthodox 3.51%, Anglicans 1.31%), Muslims 19.6%, Hindus
13.31%, Buddhists 5.88%, Sikhs 0.38%, Jews 0.24%, other religions
12.83%, non-religious 12.53%, atheists 2.44% (2001 est.)
Languages:
Chinese, Mandarin 14.37%, Hindi 6.02%, English 5.61%, Spanish
5.59%, Bengali 3.4%, Portuguese 2.63%, Russian 2.75%, Japanese
2.06%, German, Standard 1.64%, Korean 1.28%, French 1.27% (2000 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77%
male: 83%
female: 71% (1995 est.)
Government World
Administrative divisions:
268 nations, dependent areas, other, and miscellaneous entries
Legal system:
all members of the UN plus Switzerland are parties to the statute
that established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World
Court
Economy World
Economy - overview:
Growth in global output (gross world product, GWP) fell from 4.8%
in 2000 to 2.2% in 2001 and 2.7% in 2002. The causes: sluggishness
in the US economy (21% of GWP) and in the 15 EU economies (19% of
GWP); continued stagnation in the Japanese economy (7.2% of GWP);
and spillover effects in the less developed regions of the world.
China, the second-largest economy in the world (12% of GWP), proved
an exception, continuing its rapid annual growth, officially
announced as 8% but estimated by many observers as perhaps two
percentage points lower. Russia (2.6% of GWP), with 4% growth,
continued to make uneven progress, its GDP per capita still only
one-third that of the leading industrial nations. The other 14
successor nations of the USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations
again experienced widely divergent growth rates; the three Baltic
nations continued as strong performers, in the 5% range of growth.
The developing nations also varied in their growth results, with
many countries facing population increases that erode gains in
output. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock
economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over
international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology.
Internally, the central government often finds its control over
resources slipping as separatist regional movements - typically
based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in many of the successor
states of the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, in
India, in Indonesia, and in Canada. Externally, the central
government is losing decision-making powers to international bodies.
In Western Europe, governments face the difficult political problem
of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to
increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment.
The addition of 80 million people each year to an already
overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution,
desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of
their own internal problems and priorities, the industrialized
countries devote insufficient resources to deal effectively with the
poorer areas of the world, which, at least from the economic point
of view, are becoming further marginalized. The introduction of the
euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January
1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse,
poses economic risks because of varying levels of income and
cultural and political differences among the participating nations.
The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuate a
further growing risk to global prosperity, illustrated, for example,
by the reallocation of resources away from investment to
anti-terrorist programs. The opening of war in March 2003 between a
US-led coalition and Iraq added new uncertainties to global economic
prospects. (For specific economic developments in each country of
the world in 2002, see the individual country entries.)
GDP:
GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power parity - $49 trillion
(2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 32%
services: 64% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
developed countries 1% to 4% typically; developing countries 5% to
60% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in individual
cases, from declining prices in Japan to hyperinflation in several
Third World countries
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many
non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12%
unemployment
Industries:
dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers,
robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment;
most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small
portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to
these technological forces; the accelerated development of new
industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating already
grim environmental problems
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
14.85 trillion kWh (2001 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
other: NA%
nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption:
13.93 trillion kWh (2001 est.)
Oil - production:
75.46 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
76.21 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.025 trillion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
2.569 trillion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.556 trillion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
703.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
697.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
161.2 trillion cu m (37257)
Exports:
$6.6 trillion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
Exports - partners:
US 17.4%, Germany 7.6%, UK 5.4%, France 5.1%, Japan 4.8%, China 4%
(2002)
Imports:
$6.6 trillion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
Imports - partners:
US 11.2%, Germany 9.2%, China 7%, Japan 6.8%, France 4.7%, UK 4%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$2 trillion for less developed countries (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
official development assistance (ODA) $50 billion
Communications World
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
10,350 (2000 est.)
Internet users:
604,111,719 (2002 est.)
Transportation World
Railways:
total: 1,122,650 km includes about 190,000 to 195,000 km of
electrified routes of which 147,760 km are in Europe, 24,509 km in
the Far East, 11,050 km in Africa, 4,223 km in South America, and
4,160 km in North America; note - fastest speed in daily service is
300 km/hr attained by France's Societe Nationale des Chemins-de-Fer
Francais (SNCF) Le Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) - Atlantique line
broad gauge: 251,153 km
narrow gauge: 239,430 km
standard gauge: 710,754 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:
Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille, Mina' al Ahmadi
(Kuwait), New Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama
Military World
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
aggregate real expenditure on arms worldwide in 1999 remained at
approximately the 1998 level, about three-quarters of a trillion
dollars (1999 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
roughly 2% of gross world product (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues World
Disputes - international:
Globally, there are over 250,000 km of international land
boundaries that separate the world's 192 independent states, along
with 70 dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and other
miscellaneous entities. Maritime states have claimed limits and have
so far established over 130 maritime boundaries and joint
development zones to allocate ocean resources and to provide for
their national security at sea. On land, ethnicity, culture, race,
religion, and language have divided states into separate political
entities as much as history, physical terrain, political fiat, or
conquest, resulting in sometimes arbitrary and imposed boundaries.
All of these factors have contributed to a wide array of boundary,
borderland, and territorial disagreements that vary in intensity
from unresolved or dormant to outright war. Territorial disputes may
evolve from historical and/or cultural animosities, or they may be
brought on by resource competition. Ethnic clashes continue to be
responsible for territorial fragmentation around the world.
Undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries encourage
illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration, and
political confrontation over boundary allocations. Other sources of
contention include the use of water and mineral (especially
petroleum) resources, fisheries, dams, and nuclear power plants.
Many islands or island groups are also disputed, including those at
sea and in streams. Nonetheless, many nations are actively
cooperating to clarify, delineate, and demarcate their international
borders. The tragic aspect of international discord is the impact on
the sustenance and welfare of populations caught in the conflict. It
is frequently left to members of the world community to cope with
enormous refugee situations, and the resultant hunger, disease, and
impoverishment that they create.
Illicit drugs:
cocaine: worldwide, coca is grown on an estimated 205,450 hectares
- almost exclusively in South America with 70% in Colombia;
potential cocaine production during 2002 is estimated at 938 metric
tons (or 1,200 metric tons of export quality cocaine at an average
of 78% purity); coca eradication programs continue in Bolivia,
Colombia, and Peru, and 292 metric tons of export quality cocaine
are documented to have been seized in 2002; consumption of export
quality cocaine is estimated to have been 875 metric tons
opiates: cultivation of opium poppy occurred on an estimated 141,213
hectares in 2002 and potentially produced 2,183 metric tons of opium
- which conceivably could be converted to the equivalent of 238
metric tons of pure heroin; opium eradication programs have been
undertaken in Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Mexico, Pakistan,
Thailand, and Vietnam, and the annual average for opiates seized
worldwide over the past five years (1998-2002) has been 45 metric
tons of pure heroin equivalent; estimates for average annual
consumption over this time period are 315 metric tons pure heroin
equivalent
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Yemen
Introduction Yemen
Background:
North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The
British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port
of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South
Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist
orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis
from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility
between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the
Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement in 1994
was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a
delimitation of their border.
Geography Yemen
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea,
between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 48 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 527,970 sq km
land: 527,970 sq km
note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR
or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of
Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total: 1,746 km
border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Coastline:
1,906 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western
mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry,
harsh desert in east
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged
mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the
desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold,
lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
Land use:
arable land: 2.75%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 97.04% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
4,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
sandstorms and dust storms in summer
Environment - current issues:
very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of
potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:
strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea
and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes
People Yemen
Population:
19,349,881 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 4,606,110; female 4,446,229)
15-64 years: 50.4% (male 4,972,946; female 4,778,034)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 272,921; female 273,641) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.4 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 16.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.42% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
43.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 65.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 69.98 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.97 years
male: 59.16 years
female: 62.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.82 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Yemeni(s)
adjective: Yemeni
Ethnic groups:
predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans
Religions:
Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), small numbers of
Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
Languages:
Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.2%
male: 70.5%
female: 30% (2003 est.)
Government Yemen
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
conventional short form: Yemen
local short form: Al Yaman
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Sanaa
Administrative divisions:
19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Ad
Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit,
'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah,
San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izz
note: there may be one additional governorate of the capital city of
Sanaa
Independence:
22 May 1990, Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of
the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the
Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen
(Aden) or South Yemen]; previously North Yemen had become
independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South
Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Constitution:
16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001
Legal system:
based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local
tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Field Marshall Ali Abdallah SALIH (since
22 May 1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office
upon the merger of North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen.
Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since 3 October 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Qadir BA JAMAL (since 4
April 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
advice of the prime minister
election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of
vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 96.3%, Najib Qahtan AL-SHAABI 3.7%
elections: president elected by direct, popular vote for a
seven-year term (recently extended from a five-year term by
constitutional amendment); election last held 23 September 1999
(next to be held NA 2006); vice president appointed by the
president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by
the president
Legislative branch:
a new constitutional amendment ratified on 20 February 2001 created
a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats;
members appointed by the president) and a House of Representatives
(301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
GPC 238, Islah 46, YSP 8, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab
Socialist Baath Party 2, independents 4
elections: last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA April 2009)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
there are over 12 political parties active in Yemen, some of the
more prominent are: General People's Congress or GPC [President Ali
Abdallah SALIH]; Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [Shaykh Abdallah
bin Husayn al-AHMAR]; National Arab Socialist Baath Party [Dr.
Qassim SALAAM]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Abdel Malik al-MAKHLAFI];
Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Ali Salih MUQBIL]
note: President SALIH's General People's Congress or GPC won a
landslide victory in the April 1997 legislative election and no
longer governs in coalition with Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn
al-AHMAR's Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah - the two parties had
been in coalition since the end of the civil war in 1994; the YSP, a
loyal opposition party, boycotted the April 1997 legislative
election, but announced that it would participate in Yemen's first
local elections, held in February 2001; these local elections aim to
decentralize political power and are a key element of the
government's political reform program
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahhab Abdallah al-HAJRI
FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017
telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edmund J. HULL
embassy: Dhahar Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa
mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
telephone: [967] (1) 303-161
FAX: [967] (1) 303-182
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars and of Iraq
which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a
horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag
of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band
Economy Yemen
Economy - overview:
Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reported
strong growth in the mid-1990s with the onset of oil production, but
has been harmed by periodic declines in oil prices. Yemen has
embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed
to modernize and streamline the economy, which has led to
substantial foreign debt relief and restructuring. International
donors, meeting in Paris in October 2002, agreed on a further $2.3
billion economic support package. Yemen has worked to maintain tight
control over spending and implement additional components of the IMF
program. A high population growth rate and internal political
dissension complicate the government's task.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $15.07 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 38%
services: 40% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services,
construction, industry, and commerce account for less than
one-fourth of the labor force
Unemployment rate:
30% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3 billion
expenditures: $3.1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production
of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts;
small aluminum products factory; cement
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.01 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
438,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
74,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
3.2 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
480 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat (mildly narcotic shrub),
coffee, cotton; dairy products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle,
camels), poultry; fish
Exports:
$3.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish
Exports - partners:
India 21.1%, Thailand 16.9%, South Korea 11.2%, China 11.1%,
Malaysia 7.7%, US 6.7%, Singapore 4% (2002)
Imports:
$2.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
US 10.4%, Saudi Arabia 9.5%, China 8.7%, UAE 6.9%, Russia 5.8%,
France 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$6.2 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.3 billion to be disbursed 2003-07 (2003-07 disbursements)
Currency:
Yemeni rial (YER)
Currency code:
YER
Exchange rates:
Yemeni rials per US dollar - NA (2002), 168.67 (2001), 161.72
(2000), 155.72 (1999), 135.88 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Yemen
Telephones - main lines in use:
291,359 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
32,042 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have been
made to create a national telecommunications network
domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay,
cable, tropospheric scatter, and GSM cellular mobile telephone
systems
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2
Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
1.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
470,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ye
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
17,000 (2002)
Transportation Yemen
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 67,000 km
paved: 7,705 km
unpaved: 59,295 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 88 km; oil 1,174 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, As Salif, Ras Issa, Mocha, Nishtun
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,623 GRT/23,752 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Hong Kong 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
44 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved 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: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Military Yemen
Military branches:
Army (includes Special Forces, established in 1999), Navy, Air
Force, Air Defense Forces, Republican Guard
Military manpower - military age:
14 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,443,312 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,493,612 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 249,292 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$482.5 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.2% (FY01)
Military - note:
establishment of a Coast Guard, scheduled for May 2001, has been
delayed
Transnational Issues Yemen
Disputes - international:
Eritrea protests Yemeni fishing around the Hanish islands awarded
to Eritrea by the ICJ in 1999; nomadic groups in border region with
Saudi Arabia resist demarcation of boundary
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Zambia
Introduction Zambia
Background:
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the South
Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923.
During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development
and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in
1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and a
prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end
to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant
harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by
administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition
challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA.
The new president launched a far-reaching anti-corruption campaign
in 2002, which resulted in the 2003 arrest of the previous president
Frederick CHILUBA and many of his supporters. Opposition parties
currently hold a majority of seats in the National Assembly.
Geography Zambia
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Angola
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 752,614 sq km
water: 11,890 sq km
land: 740,724 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania
338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain:
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Natural resources:
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 7.08%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 92.89% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
460 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)
Environment - current issues:
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and
refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously
threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water
treatment presents human health risks
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with
Zimbabwe
People Zambia
Population:
10,307,333
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,396,313; female 2,378,567)
15-64 years: 50.9% (male 2,626,961; female 2,621,818)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 131,196; female 152,478) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 16.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.52% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
39.53 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
24.3 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 99.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 91.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 106.58 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 35.25 years
male: 35.25 years
female: 35.25 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
21.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.2 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
120,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups:
African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions:
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda,
Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 80.6%
male: 86.8%
female: 74.8% (2003 est.)
Government Zambia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Lusaka
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka,
Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence:
24 October 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution:
2 August 1991
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);
Vice President Nevers MUMBA (since May 2003); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);
Vice President Nevers MUMBA (since May 2003); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA December
2006); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Levy MWANAWASA elected president; percent of vote
- Levy MWANAWASA 29%, Anderson MAZOKA 27%, Christon TEMBO 13%,
Tilyenji KAUNDA 10%, Godfrey MIYANDA 8%, Benjamin MWILA 5%, Michael
SATA 3%, other 5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA December
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MMD 45.9%, UPND 32.4%,
UNIP 8.8%, FDD 8.1%, HP 2.7%, PF 0.7%, ZRP 0.7%, independents 0.7%;
seats by party - MMD 68, UPND 48, UNIP 13, FDD 12, HP 4, PF 1, ZRP
1, independents 1; seats not determined 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by
the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil
and criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders:
Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA]; Forum for
Democracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO]; Heritage Party or
HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger
CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Levy
MWANAWASA, acting president]; National Leadership for Development or
NLD [Yobert SHAMAPANDE]; National Party or NP [Dr. Sam CHIPUNGU];
Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Zambian Republican Party or
ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Gwendoline
KONIE]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Francis NKHOMA,
president]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson
MAZOKA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin George BRENNAN
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone: [260] (1) 250-955
FAX: [260] (1) 252-225
Flag description:
green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side),
black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of
the flag
Economy Zambia
Economy - overview:
Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's
economic growth remains below the 5% to 7% necessary to reduce
poverty significantly. Privatization of government-owned copper
mines relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated
by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining
to return to profitability and spur economic growth. However, low
mineral prices have slowed the benefits of privatizing the mines and
have reduced incentives for further private investment in the
sector. Cooperation continues with international bodies on programs
to reduce poverty.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $8.24 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 26%
services: 52% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
86% (1993)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 41% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
52.6 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
21% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.29 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%
Unemployment rate:
50% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.2 billion
expenditures: $1.25 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,
chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
7.751 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.5%
hydro: 99.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
5.458 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.75 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers,
tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs,
poultry, milk, eggs, hides; coffee
Exports:
$709 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
copper 55%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton
Exports - partners:
Malawi 10.3%, Thailand 9.2%, Japan 9.1%, Saint Pierre and Miquelon
9.1%, Taiwan 8.5%, South Africa 7.8%, Egypt 6.4%, China 6.3%,
Netherlands 5.5%, Tanzania 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$1.123 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products,
electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
South Africa 64.4%, US 3.7%, China 3.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5.8 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$651 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
Currency code:
ZMK
Exchange rates:
Zambian kwacha per US dollar - NA (2002), 3,610.93 (2001), 3,110.84
(2000), 2,388.02 (1999), 1,862.07 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Zambia
Telephones - main lines in use:
130,000 (including approximately 40,000 fixed telephones in
wireless local loop connections) (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
90,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: facilities are aging but still among the best
in Sub-Saharan Africa
domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger
towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation;
Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal
(VSAT) networks are operated by private firms
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:
1.2 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
9 (2002)
Televisions:
277,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.zm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
25,000 (2002)
Transportation Zambia
Railways:
total: 2,173 km
narrow gauge: 2,173 km 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority
(TAZARA) (2002)
Highways:
total: 66,781 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
2,250 km
note: includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers
Pipelines:
oil 771 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Mpulungu
Airports:
109 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 98
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 30 (2002)
Military Zambia
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, Police, paramilitary forces
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,418,776 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,279,846 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$33.46 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Zambia
Disputes - international:
dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe boundaries converge
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small
amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and
possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled
with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it
an unattractive venue for money launderers
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Zimbabwe
Introduction Zimbabwe
Background:
The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company in
1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in
power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its
independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more
complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country
(then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising
finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe)
in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been
the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated
the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land
redistribution campaign begun in 2000 caused an exodus of white
farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages
of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE
rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection.
Opposition and labor groups launched general strikes in 2003 to
pressure MUGABE to retire early; security forces continued their
brutal repression of regime opponents.
Geography Zimbabwe
Location:
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 390,580 sq km
water: 3,910 sq km
land: 386,670 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 3,066 km
border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa
225 km, Zambia 797 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain:
mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld);
mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
Natural resources:
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore,
vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use:
arable land: 8.4%
permanent crops: 0.34%
other: 91.26% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,170 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water
pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest
concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly
reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste
and heavy metal pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with
Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on
the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water
People Zimbabwe
Population:
12,576,742
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 2,517,608; female 2,471,342)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 3,600,832; female 3,542,497)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 224,631; female 219,832) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.9 years
female: 18.9 years (2002)
male: 18.9 years
Population growth rate:
0.83% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
30.34 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
22.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 66.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 69.17 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 39.01 years
male: 40.09 years
female: 37.89 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.66 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
33.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2.3 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
200,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic groups:
African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%,
white less than 1%
Religions:
syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian
25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
Languages:
English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele,
sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 90.7%
male: 94.2%
female: 87.2% (2003 est.)
Government Zimbabwe
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Harare
Administrative divisions:
8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*,
Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East,
Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South,
Midlands
Independence:
18 April 1980 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Constitution:
21 December 1979
Legal system:
mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31
December 1987); Joseph MSIKA (since 23 December 1999); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since
31 December 1987); Joseph MSIKA (since 23 December 1999); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the
House of Assembly
elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper
signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each
province) and elected by popular vote; election last held 9-11 March
2002 (next to be held NA March 2008); co-vice presidents appointed
by the president
election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent
of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 56.2%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 41.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (150 seats - 120 elected by popular
vote for five-year terms, 12 nominated by the president, 10 occupied
by traditional chiefs chosen by their peers, and 8 occupied by
provincial governors appointed by the president)
elections: last held 24-25 June 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - ZANU-PF 48.6%, MDC
47.0%, other 4.4%; seats by party - ZANU-PF 62, MDC 57, ZANU-Ndonga 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Movement for Democratic Change or MDC [Morgan TSVANGIRAI]; National
Alliance for Good Governance or NAGG [Shakespeare MAYA]; United
Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga or
ZANU-Ndonga [Wilson KUMBULA]; Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel MUGABE]; Zimbabwe
African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Agrippa MADLELA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]; Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition [Brian KAGORO]; Zimbabwe Congress of Trade
Unions or ZCTU [Lovemore MATOMBO]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Simbi Veke MUBAKO
FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326
telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100
chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 and 250-594
FAX: [263] (4) 796488
Flag description:
seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red,
yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black
with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird representing
the long history of the country is superimposed on a red
five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes
peace; green symbolizes agriculture, yellow - mineral wealth, red -
blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native
people
Economy Zimbabwe
Economy - overview:
The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety of difficult
economic problems as it struggles with an unsustainable fiscal
deficit, an overvalued exchange rate, soaring inflation, and bare
shelves. Its 1998-2002 involvement in the war in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, for example, drained hundreds of millions of
dollars from the economy. Badly needed support from the IMF has been
suspended because of the country's failure to meet budgetary goals.
Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to 59% in 1999, to
60% in 2000, to over 100% by yearend 2001, to 228% in early 2003.
The government's land reform program, characterized by chaos and
violence, has nearly destroyed the commercial farming sector, the
traditional source of exports and foreign exchange and the provider
of 400,000 jobs.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $26.07 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-13% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.97%
highest 10%: 40.42% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.1 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
134.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
5.8 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 66%, services 24%, industry 10% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
70% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000)
Industries:
mining (coal, gold, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic
and nonmetallic ores), steel, wood products, cement, chemicals,
fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
-3.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.735 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 47%
hydro: 53%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
9.813 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
3.55 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; cattle,
sheep, goats, pigs
Exports:
$1.57 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing
Exports - partners:
China 6%, South Africa 5.7%, Germany 5.4%, UK 4.8%, Japan 4.7%,
Netherlands 4.4%, US 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$1.739 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals,
fuels
Imports - partners:
South Africa 47.7%, Congo, Democratic Republic of the 5.7%,
Mozambique 5.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.9 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$178 million (2000 est.)
Currency:
Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)
Currency code:
ZWD
Exchange rates:
Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar - 55 (2002), 55.05 (2001), 44.42
(2000), 38.3 (1999), 23.68 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 January - 31 December
Communications Zimbabwe
Telephones - main lines in use:
212,000 (in addition, there are about 20,000 fixed telephones in
wireless local loop connections) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
111,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: system was once one of the best in Africa, but
now suffers from poor maintenance; more than 100,000 outstanding
requests for connection despite an equally large number of installed
but unused main lines
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines,
radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop
installations, and a substantial mobile cellular network; Internet
connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns
and for some of the smaller ones
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; two
international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
1.14 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
16 (1997)
Televisions:
370,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.zw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2002)
Transportation Zimbabwe
Railways:
total: 3,077 km
narrow gauge: 3,077 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified)
note: includes the 318 km Bulawayo-Beitbridge Railway Company line
(2002)
Highways:
total: 18,338 km
paved: 8,692 km
unpaved: 9,646 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
chrome ore is transported from Harare - by way of the Mazoe River -
to the Zambezi River in Mozambique
Pipelines:
refined products 261 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Binga, Kariba
Airports:
430 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 413
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 197
under 914 m: 212 (2002)
Military Zimbabwe
Military branches:
Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic
Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,236,042 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,003,572 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$625.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Zimbabwe
Disputes - international:
dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe boundaries converge
Illicit drugs:
transit point for African cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax,
and methamphetamines destined for the South African and European
markets
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2001 GDP
Afghanistan
purchasing power parity - $19 billion (2002 est.)
Albania
purchasing power parity - $15.69 billion (2002 est.)
Algeria
purchasing power parity - $173.8 billion (2002 est.)
American Samoa
purchasing power parity - $500 million (2000 est.)
Andorra
purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2000 est.)
Angola
purchasing power parity - $18.36 billion (2002 est.)
Anguilla
purchasing power parity - $104 million (2001 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
purchasing power parity - $750 million (2002
est.)
Argentina
purchasing power parity - $403.8 billion (2002 est.)
Armenia
purchasing power parity - $12.13 billion (2002 est.)
Aruba
purchasing power parity - $1.94 billion (2002 est.)
Australia
purchasing power parity - $525.5 billion (2002 est.)
Austria
purchasing power parity - $227.7 billion (2002 est.)
Azerbaijan
purchasing power parity - $28.61 billion (2002 est.)
Bahamas, The
purchasing power parity - $4.59 billion (2002 est.)
Bahrain
purchasing power parity - $9.91 billion (2002 est.)
Bangladesh
purchasing power parity - $238.2 billion (2002 est.)
Barbados
purchasing power parity - $4.153 billion (2002 est.)
Belarus
purchasing power parity - $90.19 billion (2002 est.)
Belgium
purchasing power parity - $299.7 billion (2002 est.)
Belize
purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)
Benin
purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.)
Bermuda
purchasing power parity - $2.25 billion (2002 est.)
Bhutan
purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2002 est.)
Bolivia
purchasing power parity - $21.15 billion (2002 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
purchasing power parity - $7.3 billion (2002
est.)
Botswana
purchasing power parity - $13.48 billion (2002 est.)
Brazil
purchasing power parity - $1.376 trillion (2002 est.)
British Virgin Islands
purchasing power parity - $320 million (2002
est.)
Brunei
purchasing power parity - $6.5 billion (2002 est.)
Bulgaria
purchasing power parity - $49.23 billion (2002 est.)
Burkina Faso
purchasing power parity - $14.51 billion (2002 est.)
Burma
purchasing power parity - $73.69 billion (2002 est.)
Burundi
purchasing power parity - $3.146 billion (2002 est.)
Cambodia
purchasing power parity - $20.42 billion (2002 est.)
Cameroon
purchasing power parity - $26.84 billion (2002 est.)
Canada
purchasing power parity - $934.1 billion (2002 est.)
Cape Verde
purchasing power parity - $600 million (2002 est.)
Cayman Islands
purchasing power parity - $1.27 billion (2002 est.)
Central African Republic
purchasing power parity - $4.296 billion
(2002 est.)
Chad
purchasing power parity - $9.297 billion (2002 est.)
Chile
purchasing power parity - $156.1 billion (2002 est.)
China
purchasing power parity - $5.989 trillion (2002 est.)
Christmas Island
purchasing power parity - $NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
purchasing power parity - $NA
Colombia
purchasing power parity - $251.6 billion (2002 est.)
Comoros
purchasing power parity - $441 million (2002 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
purchasing power parity - $34
billion (2002 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002
est.)
Cook Islands
purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.)
Costa Rica
purchasing power parity - $32 billion (2002 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
purchasing power parity - $24.03 billion (2002 est.)
Croatia
purchasing power parity - $43.12 billion (2002 est.)
Cuba
purchasing power parity - $30.69 billion (2002 est.)
Cyprus
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion
(2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $787
million (2002 est.)
Czech Republic
purchasing power parity - $157.1 billion (2002 est.)
Denmark
purchasing power parity - $155.3 billion (2002 est.)
Djibouti
purchasing power parity - $619 million (2002 est.)
Dominica
purchasing power parity - $380 million (2002 est.)
Dominican Republic
purchasing power parity - $53.78 billion (2002
est.)
East Timor
purchasing power parity - $440 million (2001 est.)
Ecuador
purchasing power parity - $42.65 billion (2002 est.)
Egypt
purchasing power parity - $289.8 billion (2002 est.)
El Salvador
purchasing power parity - $29.41 billion (2002 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
purchasing power parity - $1.27 billion (2002 est.)
Eritrea
purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (2002 est.)
Estonia
purchasing power parity - $15.52 billion (2002 est.)
Ethiopia
purchasing power parity - $48.53 billion (2002 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
purchasing power parity - $75
million (2002 est.)
Faroe Islands
purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2001 est.)
Fiji
purchasing power parity - $4.822 billion (2002 est.)
Finland
purchasing power parity - $133.8 billion (2002 est.)
France
purchasing power parity - $1.558 trillion (2002 est.)
French Guiana
purchasing power parity - $2.26 billion (2002 est.)
French Polynesia
purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2001 est.)
Gabon
purchasing power parity - $8.354 billion (2002 est.)
Gambia, The
purchasing power parity - $2.582 billion (2002 est.)
Gaza Strip
purchasing power parity - $735 million (2002 est.)
Georgia
purchasing power parity - $16.05 billion (2002 est.)
Germany
purchasing power parity - $2.16 trillion (2002 est.)
Ghana
purchasing power parity - $41.25 billion (2002 est.)
Gibraltar
purchasing power parity - $500 million (1997 est.)
Greece
purchasing power parity - $203.3 billion (2002 est.)
Greenland
purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (2001 est.)
Grenada
purchasing power parity - $440 million (2002 est.)
Guadeloupe
purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1997 est.)
Guam
purchasing power parity - $3.2 billion (2000 est.)
Guatemala
purchasing power parity - $53.2 billion (2002 est.)
Guernsey
purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1999 est.)
Guinea
purchasing power parity - $18.69 billion (2002 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
purchasing power parity - $901.4 million (2002 est.)
Guyana
purchasing power parity - $2.628 billion (2002 est.)
Haiti
purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (2002 est.)
Honduras
purchasing power parity - $16.29 billion (2002 est.)
Hong Kong
purchasing power parity - $198.5 billion (2002 est.)
Hungary
purchasing power parity - $134 billion (2002 est.)
Iceland
purchasing power parity - $8.444 billion (2002 est.)
India
purchasing power parity - $2.664 trillion (2002 est.)
Indonesia
purchasing power parity - $714.2 billion (2002 est.)
Iran
purchasing power parity - $458.3 billion (2002 est.)
Iraq
purchasing power parity - $58 billion (2002 est.)
Ireland
purchasing power parity - $113.7 billion (2002 est.)
Israel
purchasing power parity - $117.4 billion (2002 est.)
Italy
purchasing power parity - $1.455 trillion (2002 est.)
Jamaica
purchasing power parity - $10.08 billion (2002 est.)
Japan
purchasing power parity - $3.651 trillion (2002 est.)
Jersey
purchasing power parity - $2.2 billion (1999 est.)
Jordan
purchasing power parity - $22.63 billion (2002 est.)
Kazakhstan
purchasing power parity - $120 billion (2002 est.)
Kenya
purchasing power parity - $32.89 billion (2002 est.)
Kiribati
purchasing power parity - $79 million - supplemented by a
nearly equal amount from external sources (2001 est.)
Korea, North
purchasing power parity - $22.26 billion (2002 est.)
Korea, South
purchasing power parity - $941.5 billion (2002 est.)
Kuwait
purchasing power parity - $36.85 billion (2002 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
purchasing power parity - $13.88 billion (2002 est.)
Laos
purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.)
Latvia
purchasing power parity - $20.99 billion (2002 est.)
Lebanon
purchasing power parity - $17.61 billion (2002 est.)
Lesotho
purchasing power parity - $5.106 billion (2002 est.)
Liberia
purchasing power parity - $3.116 billion (2002 est.)
Libya
purchasing power parity - $33.36 billion (2002 est.)
Liechtenstein
purchasing power parity - $825 million (1999 est.)
Lithuania
purchasing power parity - $30.08 billion (2002 est.)
Luxembourg
purchasing power parity - $21.94 billion (2002 est.)
Macau
purchasing power parity - $8.6 billion (2002 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
purchasing power parity -
$10.57 billion (2002 est.)
Madagascar
purchasing power parity - $12.59 billion (2002)
Malawi
purchasing power parity - $6.811 billion (2002 est.)
Malaysia
purchasing power parity - $198.4 billion (2002 est.)
Maldives
purchasing power parity - $1.25 billion (2002 est.)
Mali
purchasing power parity - $9.775 billion (2002 est.)
Malta
purchasing power parity - $6.818 billion (2002 est.)
Man, Isle of
purchasing power parity - $1.6 billion (2001 est.)
Marshall Islands
purchasing power parity - $115 million (2001 est.)
Martinique
purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (2001 est.)
Mauritania
purchasing power parity - $4.891 billion (2002 est.)
Mauritius
purchasing power parity - $12.15 billion (2002 est.)
Mayotte
purchasing power parity - $85 million (1998 est.)
Mexico
purchasing power parity - $924.4 billion (2002 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
purchasing power parity - $277
million
note: $277 million $277 million GDP is supplemented by grant aid,
averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)
Moldova
purchasing power parity - $11.51 billion (2002 est.)
Monaco
purchasing power parity - $870 million (1999 est.)
Mongolia
purchasing power parity - $5.06 billion (2002 est.)
Montserrat
purchasing power parity - $29 million (2002 est.)
Morocco
purchasing power parity - $121.8 billion (2002 est.)
Mozambique
purchasing power parity - $19.52 billion (2002 est.)
Namibia
purchasing power parity - $13.15 billion (2002 est.)
Nauru
purchasing power parity - $60 million (2001 est.)
Nepal
purchasing power parity - $37.32 billion (2002 est.)
Netherlands
purchasing power parity - $437.8 billion (2002 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2002
est.)
New Caledonia
purchasing power parity - $3 billion (2002 est.)
New Zealand
purchasing power parity - $78.4 billion (2002 est.)
Nicaragua
purchasing power parity - $11.16 billion (2002 est.)
Niger
purchasing power parity - $8.713 billion (2002 est.)
Nigeria
purchasing power parity - $112.5 billion (2002 est.)
Niue
purchasing power parity - $7.6 million (2000 est.)
Norfolk Island
purchasing power parity - $NA
Northern Mariana Islands
purchasing power parity - $900 million
note: $900 million $900 million GDP estimate includes US subsidy
(2000 est.)
Norway
purchasing power parity - $149.1 billion (2002 est.)
Oman
purchasing power parity - $22.4 billion (2002 est.)
Pakistan
purchasing power parity - $295.3 billion (2002 est.)
Palau
purchasing power parity - $174 million
note: $174 million $174 million GDP estimate includes US subsidy
(2001 est.)
Panama
purchasing power parity - $18.06 billion (2002 est.)
Papua New Guinea
purchasing power parity - $10.86 billion (2002 est.)
Paraguay
purchasing power parity - $25.19 billion (2002 est.)
Peru
purchasing power parity - $138.8 billion (2002 est.)
Philippines
purchasing power parity - $379.7 billion (2002 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
purchasing power parity - $NA
Poland
purchasing power parity - $373.2 billion (2002 est.)
Portugal
purchasing power parity - $195.2 billion (2002 est.)
Puerto Rico
purchasing power parity - $43.01 billion (2002 est.)
Qatar
purchasing power parity - $15.91 billion (2002 est.)
Reunion
purchasing power parity - $4.174 billion (1999 est.)
Romania
purchasing power parity - $169.3 billion (2002 est.)
Russia
purchasing power parity - $1.409 trillion (2002 est.)
Rwanda
purchasing power parity - $8.92 billion (2002 est.)
Saint Helena
purchasing power parity - $18 million (1998 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
purchasing power parity - $339 million (2002
est.)
Saint Lucia
purchasing power parity - $866 million (2002 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
purchasing power parity - $74 million -
supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million
(1996 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
purchasing power parity - $339
million (2002 est.)
Samoa
purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2002 est.)
San Marino
purchasing power parity - $940 million (2001 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
purchasing power parity - $200 million (2002
est.)
Saudi Arabia
purchasing power parity - $268.9 billion (2002 est.)
Senegal
purchasing power parity - $15.64 billion (2002 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
purchasing power parity - $23.15 billion (2002
est.)
Seychelles
purchasing power parity - $626 million (2002 est.)
Sierra Leone
purchasing power parity - $2.826 billion (2002 est.)
Singapore
purchasing power parity - $112.4 billion (2002 est.)
Slovakia
purchasing power parity - $67.34 billion (2002 est.)
Slovenia
purchasing power parity - $37.06 billion (2002 est.)
Solomon Islands
purchasing power parity - $800 million (2001 est.)
Somalia
purchasing power parity - $4.27 billion (2001 est.)
South Africa
purchasing power parity - $427.7 billion (2002 est.)
Spain
purchasing power parity - $850.7 billion (2002 est.)
Sri Lanka
purchasing power parity - $73.7 billion (2002 est.)
Sudan
purchasing power parity - $52.9 billion (2002 est.)
Suriname
purchasing power parity - $1.469 billion (2002 est.)
Svalbard
purchasing power parity - $NA
Swaziland
purchasing power parity - $5.542 billion (2002 est.)
Sweden
purchasing power parity - $230.7 billion (2002 est.)
Switzerland
purchasing power parity - $233.4 billion (2002 est.)
Syria
purchasing power parity - $63.48 billion (2002 est.)
Taiwan
purchasing power parity - $406 billion (2002 est.)
Tajikistan
purchasing power parity - $8.476 billion (2002 est.)
Tanzania
purchasing power parity - $20.42 billion (2002 est.)
Thailand
purchasing power parity - $445.8 billion (2002 est.)
Togo
purchasing power parity - $7.594 billion (2002 est.)
Tokelau
purchasing power parity - $1.5 million (1993 est.)
Tonga
purchasing power parity - $236 million (2001 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
purchasing power parity - $11.07 billion (2002
est.)
Tunisia
purchasing power parity - $67.13 billion (2002 est.)
Turkey
purchasing power parity - $489.7 billion (2002 est.)
Turkmenistan
purchasing power parity - $31.34 billion (2002 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
purchasing power parity - $231 million
(2000 est.)
Tuvalu
purchasing power parity - $12.2 million (2000 est.)
Uganda
purchasing power parity - $30.49 billion (2002 est.)
Ukraine
purchasing power parity - $218 billion (2002 est.)
United Arab Emirates
purchasing power parity - $53.97 billion (2002
est.)
United Kingdom
purchasing power parity - $1.528 trillion (2002 est.)
United States
purchasing power parity - $10.45 trillion (2002 est.)
Uruguay
purchasing power parity - $26.82 billion (2002 est.)
Uzbekistan
purchasing power parity - $66.06 billion (2002 est.)
Vanuatu
purchasing power parity - $563 million (2002 est.)
Venezuela
purchasing power parity - $131.7 billion (2002 est.)
Vietnam
purchasing power parity - $183.8 billion (2002 est.)
Virgin Islands
purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2001 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
purchasing power parity - $30 million (2000 est.)
West Bank
purchasing power parity - $1.7 billion (2002 est.)
Western Sahara
purchasing power parity - $NA
World
GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power parity - $49
trillion (2002 est.)
Yemen
purchasing power parity - $15.07 billion (2002 est.)
Zambia
purchasing power parity - $8.24 billion (2002 est.)
Zimbabwe
purchasing power parity - $26.07 billion (2002 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2002 Population growth rate (%)
Afghanistan
3.38%
note: this rate does not take into consideration the recent war and
its continuing impact (2003 est.)
Albania
1.03% (2003 est.)
Algeria
1.65% (2003 est.)
American Samoa
2.22% (2003 est.)
Andorra
1.06% (2003 est.)
Angola
1.97% (2003 est.)
Anguilla
2.21% (2003 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
0.64% (2003 est.)
Argentina
1.05% (2003 est.)
Armenia
-0.07% (2003 est.)
Aruba
0.55% (2003 est.)
Australia
0.93% (2003 est.)
Austria
0.22% (2003 est.)
Azerbaijan
0.44% (2003 est.)
Bahamas, The
0.77% (2003 est.)
Bahrain
1.61% (2003 est.)
Bangladesh
2.06% (2003 est.)
Barbados
0.38% (2003 est.)
Belarus
-0.12% (2003 est.)
Belgium
0.14% (2003 est.)
Belize
2.44% (2003 est.)
Benin
2.95% (2003 est.)
Bermuda
0.72% (2003 est.)
Bhutan
2.14% (2003 est.)
Bolivia
1.63% (2003 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.48% (2003 est.)
Botswana
-0.55% (2003 est.)
Brazil
1.15% (2003 est.)
British Virgin Islands
2.1% (2003 est.)
Brunei
2% (2003 est.)
Bulgaria
-1.09% (2003 est.)
Burkina Faso
2.6% (2003 est.)
Burma
0.52% (2003 est.)
Burundi
2.18% (2003 est.)
Cambodia
1.8% (2003 est.)
Cameroon
2.02% (2003 est.)
Canada
0.94% (2003 est.)
Cape Verde
0.79% (2003 est.)
Cayman Islands
2.79% (2003 est.)
Central African Republic
1.62% (2003 est.)
Chad
3.07% (2003 est.)
Chile
1.05% (2003 est.)
China
0.6% (2003 est.)
Christmas Island
-9% (2003 est.)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
0% (2003 est.)
Colombia
1.56% (2003 est.)
Comoros
2.96% (2003 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
2.9% (2003 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
1.53% (2003 est.)
Cook Islands
NA% (2003 est.)
Costa Rica
1.56% (2003 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
2.15% (2003 est.)
Croatia
0.31% (2003 est.)
Cuba
0.34% (2003 est.)
Cyprus
0.56% (2003 est.)
Czech Republic
-0.08% (2003 est.)
Denmark
0.28% (2003 est.)
Djibouti
2.13% (2003 est.)
Dominica
-0.63% (2003 est.)
Dominican Republic
1.36% (2003 est.)
East Timor
2.13% (2003 est.)
Ecuador
1.91% (2003 est.)
Egypt
1.88% (2003 est.)
El Salvador
1.81% (2003 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
2.44% (2003 est.)
Eritrea
1.28% (2003 est.)
Estonia
-0.49% (2003 est.)
Ethiopia
1.96% (2003 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
2.44% (2003 est.)
Faroe Islands
0.7% (2003 est.)
Fiji
1.41% (2003 est.)
Finland
0.14% (2003 est.)
France
0.42% (2003 est.)
French Guiana
2.4% (2003 est.)
French Polynesia
1.62% (2003 est.)
Gabon
2.54% (2003 est.)
Gambia, The
3.03% (2003 est.)
Gaza Strip
3.89% (2003 est.)
Georgia
-0.52% (2003 est.)
Germany
0.04% (2003 est.)
Ghana
1.45% (2003 est.)
Gibraltar
0.22% (2003 est.)
Greece
0.19% (2003 est.)
Greenland
0.01% (2003 est.)
Grenada
0.08% (2003 est.)
Guadeloupe
1% (2003 est.)
Guam
1.89% (2003 est.)
Guatemala
2.66% (2003 est.)
Guernsey
0.34% (2003 est.)
Guinea
2.37% (2003 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
2.02% (2003 est.)
Guyana
0.44% (2003 est.)
Haiti
1.67% (2003 est.)
Holy See (Vatican City)
0.01% (2003 est.)
Honduras
2.32% (2003 est.)
Hong Kong
1.22% (2003 est.)
Hungary
-0.29% (2003 est.)
Iceland
0.49% (2003 est.)
India
1.47% (2003 est.)
Indonesia
1.52% (2003 est.)
Iran
1.08% (2003 est.)
Iraq
2.78% (2003 est.)
Ireland
1.03% (2003 est.)
Israel
1.39% (2003 est.)
Italy
0.11% (2003 est.)
Jamaica
0.61% (2003 est.)
Japan
0.11% (2003 est.)
Jersey
0.4% (2003 est.)
Jordan
2.78% (2003 est.)
Kazakhstan
0.17% (2003 est.)
Kenya
1.27% (2003 est.)
Kiribati
2.26% (2003 est.)
Korea, North
1.07% (2003 est.)
Korea, South
0.66% (2003 est.)
Kuwait
3.34%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2003 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
1.46% (2003 est.)
Laos
2.45% (2003 est.)
Latvia
-0.73% (2003 est.)
Lebanon
1.34% (2003 est.)
Lesotho
0.19% (2003 est.)
Liberia
1.67% (2003 est.)
Libya
2.39% (2003 est.)
Liechtenstein
0.9% (2003 est.)
Lithuania
-0.23% (2003 est.)
Luxembourg
1.23% (2003 est.)
Macau
1.72% (2003 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
0.4% (2003 est.)
Madagascar
3.03% (2003 est.)
Malawi
2.21% (2003 est.)
Malaysia
1.86% (2003 est.)
Maldives
2.91% (2003 est.)
Mali
2.82% (2003 est.)
Malta
0.73% (2003 est.)
Man, Isle of
0.53% (2003 est.)
Marshall Islands
2.3% (2003 est.)
Martinique
0.85% (2003 est.)
Mauritania
2.91% (2003 est.)
Mauritius
0.84% (2003 est.)
Mayotte
4.25% (2003 est.)
Mexico
1.43% (2003 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
0.04% (2003 est.)
Moldova
0.13% (2003 est.)
Monaco
0.44% (2003 est.)
Mongolia
1.42% (2003 est.)
Montserrat
4.5% (2003 est.)
Morocco
1.64% (2003 est.)
Mozambique
0.82% (2003 est.)
Namibia
1.49% (2003 est.)
Nauru
1.9% (2003 est.)
Nepal
2.26% (2003 est.)
Netherlands
0.5% (2003 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
0.9% (2003 est.)
New Caledonia
1.38% (2003 est.)
New Zealand
1.09% (2003 est.)
Nicaragua
2.03% (2003 est.)
Niger
2.71% (2003 est.)
Nigeria
2.53% (2003 est.)
Niue
0.01% (2003 est.)
Norfolk Island
0.01% (2003 est.)
Northern Mariana Islands
3.37% (2003 est.)
Norway
0.46% (2003 est.)
Oman
3.38% (2003 est.)
Pakistan
2.01% (2003 est.)
Palau
1.54% (2003 est.)
Panama
1.36% (2003 est.)
Papua New Guinea
2.34% (2003 est.)
Paraguay
2.54% (2003 est.)
Peru
1.61% (2003 est.)
Philippines
1.92% (2003 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
NA%
Poland
0% (2003 est.)
Portugal
0.17% (2003 est.)
Puerto Rico
0.58% (2003 est.)
Qatar
2.87% (2003 est.)
Reunion
1.47% (2003 est.)
Romania
-0.21% (2003 est.)
Russia
-0.3% (2003 est.)
Rwanda
1.84% (2003 est.)
Saint Helena
0.67% (2003 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
0.13% (2003 est.)
Saint Lucia
1.25% (2003 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0.3% (2003 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0.34% (2003 est.)
Samoa
-0.27% (2003 est.)
San Marino
1.38% (2003 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
3.18% (2003 est.)
Saudi Arabia
3.27% (2003 est.)
Senegal
2.56% (2003 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
0.07% (2003 est.)
Seychelles
0.46% (2003 est.)
Sierra Leone
2.94% (2003 est.)
Singapore
3.42% (2003 est.)
Slovakia
0.14% (2003 est.)
Slovenia
0.14% (2003 est.)
Solomon Islands
2.83% (2003 est.)
Somalia
3.43% (2003 est.)
South Africa
0.01% (2003 est.)
Spain
0.16% (2003 est.)
Sri Lanka
0.83% (2003 est.)
Sudan
2.71% (2003 est.)
Suriname
0.37% (2003 est.)
Svalbard
-0.02% (2003 est.)
Swaziland
0.83% (2003 est.)
Sweden
0.01% (2003 est.)
Switzerland
0.21% (2003 est.)
Syria
2.45% (2003 est.)
Taiwan
0.65% (2003 est.)
Tajikistan
2.13% (2003 est.)
Tanzania
1.72% (2003 est.)
Thailand
0.95% (2003 est.)
Togo
2.37% (2003 est.)
Tokelau
0.01% (2003 est.)
Tonga
1.9% (2003 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
-0.68% (2003 est.)
Tunisia
1.09% (2003 est.)
Turkey
1.16% (2003 est.)
Turkmenistan
1.82% (2003 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
3.14% (2003 est.)
Tuvalu
1.42% (2003 est.)
Uganda
2.96% (2003 est.)
Ukraine
-0.69% (2003 est.)
United Arab Emirates
1.57% (2003 est.)
United Kingdom
0.3% (2003 est.)
United States
0.92% (2003 est.)
Uruguay
0.79% (2003 est.)
Uzbekistan
1.63% (2003 est.)
Vanuatu
1.61% (2003 est.)
Venezuela
1.48% (2003 est.)
Vietnam
1.29% (2003 est.)
Virgin Islands
1.02% (2003 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
NA (2003 est.)
West Bank
3.3% (2003 est.)
Western Sahara
NA% (2003 est.)
World
1.17% (2003 est.)
Yemen
3.42% (2003 est.)
Zambia
1.52% (2003 est.)
Zimbabwe
0.83% (2003 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2003 GDP - real growth rate (%)
Afghanistan
NA%
Albania
7.3% (2002 est.)
Algeria
3.3% (2002 est.)
American Samoa
NA%
Andorra
3.8% (2000 est.)
Angola
9.4% (2002 est.)
Anguilla
2.8% (2001 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
3% (2002 est.)
Argentina
-10.9% (2002 est.)
Armenia
12.9% (2002 est.)
Aruba
-1.5% (2002 est.)
Australia
3.6% (2002 est.)
Austria
1.1% (2002 est.)
Azerbaijan
10.6% (2002 est.)
Bahamas, The
0.1% (2002 est.)
Bahrain
2.9% (2002 est.)
Bangladesh
4.8% (2002 est.)
Barbados
-2.8% (2002 est.)
Belarus
4.7% (2002 est.)
Belgium
0.7% (2002 est.)
Belize
3.7% (2002 est.)
Benin
6% (2002 est.)
Bermuda
0.5% (2002 est.)
Bhutan
7.7% (2002 est.)
Bolivia
2.8% (2002 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2.3% (2002 est.)
Botswana
4.2% (2002 est.)
Brazil
1.5% (2002 est.)
British Virgin Islands
1% (2002 est.)
Brunei
3% (2002 est.)
Bulgaria
4.8% (2002 est.)
Burkina Faso
4.6% (2002 est.)
Burma
5.3% (2002 est.)
Burundi
4.5% (2002 est.)
Cambodia
4.5% (2002 est.)
Cameroon
4% (2002 est.)
Canada
3.3% (2002 est.)
Cape Verde
4% (2002 est.)
Cayman Islands
1.7% (2002 est.)
Central African Republic
1.5% (2002 est.)
Chad
7.4% (2002 est.)
Chile
2.1% (2002 est.)
China
8% (official data) (2002 est.)
Christmas Island
NA%
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA%
Colombia
1.5% (2002 est.)
Comoros
2% (2002 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
3.5% (2002 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
0% (2002 est.)
Cook Islands
7.1% (2001 est.)
Costa Rica
2.8% (2002 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
-1.6% (2002 est.)
Croatia
5.2% (2002 est.)
Cuba
1.1% (2002 est.)
Cyprus
Greek Cypriot area: 1.7% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area:
2.6% (2002 est.)
Czech Republic
2% (2002 est.)
Denmark
1.6% (2002 est.)
Djibouti
3.5% (2002 est.)
Dominica
1.2% (2002 est.)
Dominican Republic
4.1% (2002 est.)
East Timor
18% (2001 est.)
Ecuador
3.4% (2002 est.)
Egypt
3.2% (2002 est.)
El Salvador
2.1% (2002 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
20% (2002 est.)
Eritrea
2% (2002 est.)
Estonia
6% (2002 est.)
Ethiopia
3% (2002 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA%
Faroe Islands
10% (2001 est.)
Fiji
4.6% (2002 est.)
Finland
1.6% (2002 est.)
France
1.2% (2002 est.)
French Guiana
NA%
French Polynesia
4% (2001 est.)
Gabon
0.2% (2002 est.)
Gambia, The
5.7% (2001 est.)
Gaza Strip
-15% (2002 est.)
Georgia
5.4% (2002 est.)
Germany
0.2% (2002 est.)
Ghana
4.5% (2002 est.)
Gibraltar
NA%
Greece
4% (2002 est.)
Greenland
1.8% (2001 est.)
Grenada
2.5% (2002 est.)
Guadeloupe
NA%
Guam
NA%
Guatemala
2.2% (2002 est.)
Guernsey
5.7% (1999 est.)
Guinea
3.7% (2002 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
-4.3% (2002 est.)
Guyana
1.1% (2002 est.)
Haiti
-0.9% (2002 est.)
Honduras
2.5% (2002 est.)
Hong Kong
2.3% (2002 est.)
Hungary
3.3% (2002 est.)
Iceland
-0.6% (2002 est.)
India
4.3% (2002 est.)
Indonesia
3.7% (2002 est.)
Iran
7.6% (2002 est.)
Iraq
-3% (2002 est.)
Ireland
6.9% (2002 est.)
Israel
-0.8% (2002 est.)
Italy
0.4% (2002 est.)
Jamaica
1% (2002 est.)
Japan
0.2% (2002 est.)
Jersey
NA%
Jordan
4.9% (2002 est.)
Kazakhstan
9.5% (2002 est.)
Kenya
1.1% (2002 est.)
Kiribati
1.5% (2001 est.)
Korea, North
1% (2002 est.)
Korea, South
6.3% (2002 est.)
Kuwait
-2% (2002 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
5.3% (2002 est.)
Laos
5.7% (2002 est.)
Latvia
6.1% (2002 est.)
Lebanon
2% (2002 est.)
Lesotho
4% (2002 est.)
Liberia
2% (2002 est.)
Libya
1.2% (2002 est.)
Liechtenstein
11% (1999 est.)
Lithuania
6.7% (2002 est.)
Luxembourg
0.4% (2002 est.)
Macau
9.5% (2002 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
0.7% (2002 est.)
Madagascar
-11.9% (2002 est.)
Malawi
1.7% (2002 est.)
Malaysia
4.1% (2002 est.)
Maldives
2.3% (2002 est.)
Mali
4.5% (2002 est.)
Malta
1.2% (2002 est.)
Man, Isle of
13.5%
Marshall Islands
1% (2001 est.)
Martinique
NA%
Mauritania
3.3% (2002 est.)
Mauritius
2.3% (2002 est.)
Mayotte
NA%
Mexico
0.7% (2002 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
1% (2002 est.)
Moldova
6.5% (2002 est.)
Monaco
NA%
Mongolia
3.9% (2002 est.)
Montserrat
-1% (2002 est.)
Morocco
4.6% (2002 est.)
Mozambique
7.7% (2002 est.)
Namibia
2.3% (2002 est.)
Nauru
NA%
Nepal
-0.6% (2002 est.)
Netherlands
0.2% (2002 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
0% (2002 est.)
New Caledonia
NA
New Zealand
3.3% (2002 est.)
Nicaragua
1.1% (2002 est.)
Niger
2.9% (2002 est.)
Nigeria
3.2% (2002 est.)
Niue
-0.3% (2000 est.)
Norfolk Island
NA%
Northern Mariana Islands
NA%
Norway
1% (2002 est.)
Oman
2.2% (2002 est.)
Pakistan
4.4% (FY01/02 est.)
Palau
1% (2001 est.)
Panama
0.7% (2002 est.)
Papua New Guinea
-3.1% (2002 est.)
Paraguay
-2.7% (2002 est.)
Peru
5.3% (2002 est.)
Philippines
4.4% (2002 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
NA%
Poland
1.4% (2002 est.)
Portugal
0.4% (2002 est.)
Puerto Rico
-0.2% (2002 est.)
Qatar
4.6% (2002 est.)
Reunion
2.5% (2002 est.)
Romania
4.9% (2002 est.)
Russia
4.3% (2002 est.)
Rwanda
9.7% (2002 est.)
Saint Helena
NA%
Saint Kitts and Nevis
-1.9% (2002 est.)
Saint Lucia
3.3% (2002 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
-0.5% (2002 est.)
Samoa
5% (2002 est.)
San Marino
7.5% (2001 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
4% (2002 est.)
Saudi Arabia
1% (2002 est.)
Senegal
2.4% (2002 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
4% (2002 est.)
Seychelles
1.5% (2002 est.)
Sierra Leone
6.6% (2002 est.)
Singapore
2.2% (2002 est.)
Slovakia
4.4% (2002 est.)
Slovenia
3.2% (2002 est.)
Solomon Islands
-10% (2001 est.)
Somalia
3.5% (2002 est.)
South Africa
3% (2002 est.)
Spain
2% (2002 est.)
Sri Lanka
3.2% (2002 est.)
Sudan
5.1% (2002 est.)
Suriname
1.2% (2002 est.)
Svalbard
NA%
Swaziland
1.6% (2002 est.)
Sweden
1.9% (2002 est.)
Switzerland
0.1% (2002 est.)
Syria
3.6% (2002 est.)
Taiwan
3.5% (2002 est.)
Tajikistan
9.1% (2002 est.)
Tanzania
6.1% (2002 est.)
Thailand
5.3% (2002 est.)
Togo
2.9% (2002 est.)
Tokelau
NA%
Tonga
3% (2001 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
3.2% (2002 est.)
Tunisia
4.8% (2002 est.)
Turkey
7.8% (2002 est.)
Turkmenistan
21.1% (2002 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
4.9% (2000 est.)
Tuvalu
3% (2000 est.)
Uganda
5.5% (2002 est.)
Ukraine
4.8% (2002 est.)
United Arab Emirates
1.8% (2002 est.)
United Kingdom
1.8% (2002 est.)
United States
2.4% (2002 est.)
Uruguay
-10.8% (2002 est.)
Uzbekistan
4.2% (2002 est.)
Vanuatu
-0.3% (2002 est.)
Venezuela
-8.9% (2002 est.)
Vietnam
7% (2002 est.)
Virgin Islands
2% (2001 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
NA%
West Bank
-22% (2002 est.)
Western Sahara
NA%
World
2.7% (2001 est.)
Yemen
4.1% (2002 est.)
Zambia
2.3% (2002 est.)
Zimbabwe
-13% (2002 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2004 GDP - per capita
Afghanistan
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
Albania
purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2002 est.)
Algeria
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
American Samoa
purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 est.)
Andorra
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2000 est.)
Angola
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
Anguilla
purchasing power parity - $8,600 (2001 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.)
Argentina
purchasing power parity - $10,500 (2002 est.)
Armenia
purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2002 est.)
Aruba
purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)
Australia
purchasing power parity - $26,900 (2002 est.)
Austria
purchasing power parity - $27,900 (2002 est.)
Azerbaijan
purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.)
Bahamas, The
purchasing power parity - $15,300 (2002 est.)
Bahrain
purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2002 est.)
Bangladesh
purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
Barbados
purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2002 est.)
Belarus
purchasing power parity - $8,700 (2002 est.)
Belgium
purchasing power parity - $29,200 (2002 est.)
Belize
purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)
Benin
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
Bermuda
purchasing power parity - $35,200 (2002 est.)
Bhutan
purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
Bolivia
purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2002 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2002 est.)
Botswana
purchasing power parity - $8,500 (2002 est.)
Brazil
purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2002 est.)
British Virgin Islands
purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2002 est.)
Brunei
purchasing power parity - $18,600 (2002 est.)
Bulgaria
purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2002 est.)
Burkina Faso
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
Burma
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
Burundi
purchasing power parity - $500 (2002 est.)
Cambodia
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2002 est.)
Cameroon
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
Canada
purchasing power parity - $29,300 (2002 est.)
Cape Verde
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
Cayman Islands
purchasing power parity - $35,000 (2002 est.)
Central African Republic
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
Chad
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
Chile
purchasing power parity - $10,100 (2002 est.)
China
purchasing power parity - $4,700 (2002 est.)
Christmas Island
purchasing power parity - $NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
purchasing power parity - $NA
Colombia
purchasing power parity - $6,100 (2002 est.)
Comoros
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
purchasing power parity - $600
(2002 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
Cook Islands
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
Costa Rica
purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2002 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
Croatia
purchasing power parity - $9,800 (2002 est.)
Cuba
purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
Cyprus
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2002
est.)
Czech Republic
purchasing power parity - $15,300 (2002 est.)
Denmark
purchasing power parity - $28,900 (2002 est.)
Djibouti
purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
Dominica
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
Dominican Republic
purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2002 est.)
East Timor
purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
Ecuador
purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2002 est.)
Egypt
purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2002 est.)
El Salvador
purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2002 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
Eritrea
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
Estonia
purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.)
Ethiopia
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
purchasing power parity - $25,000
(2002 est.)
Faroe Islands
purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.)
Fiji
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
Finland
purchasing power parity - $25,800 (2002 est.)
France
purchasing power parity - $26,000 (2002 est.)
French Guiana
purchasing power parity - $14,400 (2000 est.)
French Polynesia
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
Gabon
purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2002 est.)
Gambia, The
purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
Gaza Strip
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
Georgia
purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2001 est.)
Germany
purchasing power parity - $26,200 (2002 est.)
Ghana
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
Gibraltar
purchasing power parity - $17,500 (1997 est.)
Greece
purchasing power parity - $19,100 (2002 est.)
Greenland
purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2001 est.)
Grenada
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.)
Guadeloupe
purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1997 est.)
Guam
purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2000 est.)
Guatemala
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
Guernsey
purchasing power parity - $20,000 (1999 est.)
Guinea
purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2002 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
Guyana
purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2002 est.)
Haiti
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
Honduras
purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2002 est.)
Hong Kong
purchasing power parity - $27,200 (2002 est.)
Hungary
purchasing power parity - $13,300 (2002 est.)
Iceland
purchasing power parity - $30,200 (2002 est.)
India
purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)
Indonesia
purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2002 est.)
Iran
purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)
Iraq
purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2002 est.)
Ireland
purchasing power parity - $29,300 (2002 est.)
Israel
purchasing power parity - $19,500 (2002 est.)
Italy
purchasing power parity - $25,100 (2002 est.)
Jamaica
purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2002 est.)
Japan
purchasing power parity - $28,700 (2002 est.)
Jersey
purchasing power parity - $24,800 (1999 est.)
Jordan
purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2002 est.)
Kazakhstan
purchasing power parity - $7,200 (2002 est.)
Kenya
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
Kiribati
purchasing power parity - $800 (2001 est.)
Korea, North
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
Korea, South
purchasing power parity - $19,600 (2002 est.)
Kuwait
purchasing power parity - $17,500 (2002 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
Laos
purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
Latvia
purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
Lebanon
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2002 est.)
Lesotho
purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
Liberia
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
Libya
purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2002 est.)
Liechtenstein
purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)
Lithuania
purchasing power parity - $8,400 (2002 est.)
Luxembourg
purchasing power parity - $48,900 (2002 est.)
Macau
purchasing power parity - $18,500 (2002 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
purchasing power parity -
$5,100 (2002 est.)
Madagascar
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
Malawi
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
Malaysia
purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2002 est.)
Maldives
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
Mali
purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
Malta
purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)
Man, Isle of
purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2001 est.)
Marshall Islands
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.)
Martinique
purchasing power parity - $10,700 (2001 est.)
Mauritania
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
Mauritius
purchasing power parity - $10,100 (2002 est.)
Mayotte
purchasing power parity - $600 (1998 est.)
Mexico
purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
purchasing power parity - $2,000
(2002 est.)
Moldova
purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)
Monaco
purchasing power parity - $27,000 (1999 est.)
Mongolia
purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2002 est.)
Montserrat
purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2002 est.)
Morocco
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
Mozambique
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
Namibia
purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2002 est.)
Nauru
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
Nepal
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
Netherlands
purchasing power parity - $27,200 (2002 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)
New Caledonia
purchasing power parity - $14,000 (2002 est.)
New Zealand
purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)
Nicaragua
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2002 est.)
Niger
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
Nigeria
purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
Niue
purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)
Norfolk Island
purchasing power parity - $NA
Northern Mariana Islands
purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000
est.)
Norway
purchasing power parity - $33,000 (2002 est.)
Oman
purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2002 est.)
Pakistan
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (FY01/02 est.)
Palau
purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.)
Panama
purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2002 est.)
Papua New Guinea
purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2002 est.)
Paraguay
purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2002 est.)
Peru
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.)
Philippines
purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2002 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
purchasing power parity - $NA
Poland
purchasing power parity - $9,700 (2002 est.)
Portugal
purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2002 est.)
Puerto Rico
purchasing power parity - $11,100 (2002 est.)
Qatar
purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)
Reunion
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
Romania
purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2002 est.)
Russia
purchasing power parity - $9,700 (2002 est.)
Rwanda
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
Saint Helena
purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2002 est.)
Saint Lucia
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996
est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
purchasing power parity - $2,900
(2002 est.)
Samoa
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
San Marino
purchasing power parity - $34,600 (2001 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
Saudi Arabia
purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)
Senegal
purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2002 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2002 est.)
Seychelles
purchasing power parity - $7,800 (2002 est.)
Sierra Leone
purchasing power parity - $500 (2002 est.)
Singapore
purchasing power parity - $25,200 (2002 est.)
Slovakia
purchasing power parity - $12,400 (2002 est.)
Slovenia
purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2002 est.)
Solomon Islands
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2001 est.)
Somalia
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
South Africa
purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2002 est.)
Spain
purchasing power parity - $21,200 (2002 est.)
Sri Lanka
purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.)
Sudan
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
Suriname
purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2002 est.)
Svalbard
purchasing power parity - $NA
Swaziland
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2002 est.)
Sweden
purchasing power parity - $26,000 (2002 est.)
Switzerland
purchasing power parity - $32,000 (2002 est.)
Syria
purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.)
Taiwan
purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2002 est.)
Tajikistan
purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
Tanzania
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
Thailand
purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2002 est.)
Togo
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
Tokelau
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 est.)
Tonga
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2001 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2002 est.)
Tunisia
purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)
Turkey
purchasing power parity - $7,300 (2002 est.)
Turkmenistan
purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2002 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2000 est.)
Tuvalu
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)
Uganda
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
Ukraine
purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2002 est.)
United Arab Emirates
purchasing power parity - $22,100 (2002 est.)
United Kingdom
purchasing power parity - $25,500 (2002 est.)
United States
purchasing power parity - $36,300 (2002 est.)
Uruguay
purchasing power parity - $7,900 (2002 est.)
Uzbekistan
purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)
Vanuatu
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
Venezuela
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
Vietnam
purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2002 est.)
Virgin Islands
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2001 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.)
West Bank
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
Western Sahara
purchasing power parity - $NA
World
purchasing power parity - $7,900 (2002 est.)
Yemen
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
Zambia
purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
Zimbabwe
purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2002 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2006 Dependency status
American Samoa
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US;
administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the
Interior
Anguilla
overseas territory of the UK
Aruba
part 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
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
territory of Australia; administered by
the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Baker Island
unincorporated territory 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
Bassas da India
possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Bermuda
overseas territory of the UK
Bouvet Island
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar
Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo
British Indian Ocean Territory
overseas territory of the UK;
administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office in London
British Virgin Islands
overseas territory of the UK; internal
self-governing
Cayman Islands
overseas territory of the UK
Christmas Island
territory of Australia; administered by the
Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Clipperton Island
possession of France; administered by France from
French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional
Services
Cook Islands
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
Coral Sea Islands
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra
by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Europa Island
possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
overseas territory of the UK; also
claimed by Argentina
Faroe Islands
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
French Guiana
overseas department of France
French Polynesia
overseas territory of France since 1946
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
overseas territory of France
since 1955; administered from Paris by Administrateur Superieur
Francois GARDE (since 24 May 2000), assisted by Secretary General
Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)
Gibraltar
overseas territory of the UK
Glorioso Islands
possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Greenland
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Guadeloupe
overseas department of France
Guam
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
Guernsey
British crown dependency
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
territory of Australia;
administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of
the Department of the Environment and Heritage
Hong Kong
special administrative region of China
Howland Island
unincorporated territory 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
Jan Mayen
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
Jarvis Island
unincorporated territory 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
Jersey
British crown dependency
Johnston Atoll
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Honolulu, HI, by Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, and the
Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as
part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Juan de Nova Island
possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Kingman Reef
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the
Department of the Interior
note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted
restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef
from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18
January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be
administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this
refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of
Kingman Reef out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit
Macau
special administrative region of China
Man, Isle of
British crown dependency
Martinique
overseas department of France
Mayotte
territorial collectivity of France
Midway Islands
unincorporated territory of the US; formerly
administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval
Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has
been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October
1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and
control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife
Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge system
Montserrat
overseas territory of the UK
Navassa Island
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of
the Interior; 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
Netherlands Antilles
part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government
responsible for defense and foreign affairs
New Caledonia
overseas territory of France since 1956
Niue
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
Norfolk Island
territory of Australia; Canberra administers
Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the
Department of Environment, Sport, and Territories
Northern Mariana Islands
commonwealth in political union with the
US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US
Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
Palmyra Atoll
incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but
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
Pitcairn Islands
overseas territory of the UK
Puerto Rico
commonwealth associated with the US
Reunion
overseas department of France
Saint Helena
overseas territory of the UK
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
self-governing territorial collectivity of
France
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
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; Grytviken,
formerly a whaling station on South Georgia, is a scientific base
Svalbard
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
Tokelau
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note -
Tokelauans are drafting a constitution and developing institutions
and patterns of self-government as Tokelau moves toward free
association with New Zealand
Tromelin Island
possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Turks and Caicos Islands
overseas territory of the UK
Virgin Islands
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with
policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the
jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the
Interior
Wake Island
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities on the
island are managed by the US Air Force
Wallis and Futuna
overseas territory of France
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2007 Diplomatic representation from the US
Afghanistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Patrick John FINN;
note - embassy in Kabul reopened 16 December 2001, following closure
in January 1989
embassy: Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6180
telephone: [93] (2) 290002, 290005, 290154
FAX: 00932290153
Albania
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. JEFFREY
embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place,
Washington, DC 20521-9510
telephone: [355] (4) 247285
FAX: [355] (4) 232222
Algeria
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. ERDMAN (as of 10
July 2003)
embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
telephone: [213] (21) 691-425/255/186
FAX: [213] (21) 69-39-79
American Samoa
none (territory of the US)
Andorra
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 Consulate General's office in
Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034
Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (3493) 280-2227; FAX: (3493) 205-7705
Angola
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher William DELL
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of
Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda;
pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC
20521-2550
telephone: [244] (2) 445-481, 447-028, 446-224
FAX: [244] (2) 446-924
Anguilla
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Antigua and Barbuda
the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and
Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador to Barbados
is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. WALSH; note - Lino
GUTIERREZ is designated to replace Ambassador WALSH
embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO
address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240
Armenia
chief of mission: Ambassador John M. ORDWAY
embassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020
Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-177, 542-132, 524-661,
527-001, 524-840
FAX: [374](1) 520-800
Aruba
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General
to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
none (territory of Australia)
Australia
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
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
Austria
chief of mission: Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr.
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339, 31375, 31335
FAX: [43] (1) 5125835
Azerbaijan
chief of mission: Ambassador Ross L. WILSON
embassy: 83 Azadliq Prospekt, Baku 370007
mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State, 7050
Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
telephone: [9] (9412) 98-03-35, 36, 37
FAX: [9] (9412) 90-66-71
Bahamas, The
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs
Robert M. WITAJEWSKI
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197,
Nassau; Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC
20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
Bahrain
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club),
Block 321, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE
09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 273-300
FAX: [973] 272-594
Bangladesh
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann PETERS
embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
telephone: [880] (2) 8824700 through 8824722
FAX: [880] (2) 8823744
Barbados
chief of mission: Ambassador Earl N. PHILLIPS, Jr.
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (246) 429-5246, 429-3379
Belarus
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael G. KOZAK
embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002
mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723
telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83
FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853
Belgium
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER
embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725
Belize
chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 30802
Benin
chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 30-06-50
FAX: [229] 30-06-70
Bermuda
chief of mission: Consul General Denis Patrick COLEMAN, Jr.
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place,
Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
Bhutan
the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations,
although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US
Embassy in New Delhi (India)
Bolivia
chief of mission: Ambassador David N. GREENLEE
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone: [591] (2) 2430120, 2430251
FAX: [591] (2) 2433900
Bosnia and Herzegovina
chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford G. BOND
embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [387] (33) 445-700
FAX: [387] (33) 659-722
branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar
Botswana
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph HUGGINS
embassy: address NA, Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 353982
FAX: [267] 312782
Brazil
chief of mission: Ambassador Donna J. HRINAK
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal
Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife
British Indian Ocean Territory
none (overseas territory of the UK)
British Virgin Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Brunei
chief of mission: Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTY
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
Begawan
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507
telephone: [673] (2) 229670
FAX: [673] (2) 225293
Bulgaria
chief of mission: Ambassador James William PARDEW
embassy: 1 Suborna Street, Sofia 1000
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, 5740
Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
FAX: [359] (2) 981-89-77
Burkina Faso
chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony HOLMES
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S.
Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC
20521-2440
telephone: [226] 306723
FAX: [226] 303890
Burma
chief of mission: Permanent Charge d'Affaires Carmen M.
MARTINEZ
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 379 880, 379 881
FAX: [95] (1) 256 018
Burundi
chief of mission: Ambassador James Howard YELLIN
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: [257] 223454
FAX: [257] 222926
Cambodia
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles Aaron RAY
embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 216-436/438
FAX: [855] (23) 216-437/811
Cameroon
chief of mission: Ambassador George McDade STAPLES
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 223-05-12, 222-25-89, 222-17-94, 223-40-14
FAX: [237] 223-07-53
branch office(s): Douala
Canada
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CELLUCCI
embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430
telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 688-3097
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
and Vancouver
Cape Verde
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
embassy: Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 61 56 16, 61 56 17
FAX: [238] 61 13 55
Cayman Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Central African Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Mattie R.
SHARPLESS
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 02 00
FAX: [236] 61 44 94
Chad
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher E. GOLDTHWAIT
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] (51) 70-09
FAX: [235] (51) 56-54
Chile
chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
China
chief of mission: Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr.
embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [86] (10) 6532-3831
FAX: [86] (10) 6532-6929
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai,
Shenyang
Christmas Island
none (territory of Australia)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none (territory of Australia)
Colombia
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
Comoros
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador
to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
chief of mission: Ambassador
Aubrey HOOKS
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
FAX: [243] (88) 43467
Congo, Republic of the
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin R. SANDERS
embassy: NA
mailing address: NA
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310
Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)
Cook Islands
none (self-governing in free association with New
Zealand)
Coral Sea Islands
none (territory of Australia)
Costa Rica
chief of mission: Ambassador John J. DANILOVICH
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 220-3939
FAX: [506] 220-2305
Cote d'Ivoire
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 20 21 09 79
FAX: [225] 20 22 32 59
Croatia
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK
embassy: Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373
Cuba
none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss
Embassy, headed by Principal Officer James C. CASON; address: USINT,
Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana;
telephone: [53] (7) 33-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance
required); FAX: [53] (7) 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is
Switzerland
Cyprus
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia
telephone: [357] (22) 776400
FAX: [357] (22) 780944
Czech Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETON
embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [420] (2) 5753-0663
FAX: [420] (2) 5753-0583
Denmark
chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart A. BERNSTEIN
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: [45] 35 55 31 44
FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23
Djibouti
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald YAMAMOTO
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 35 39 95
FAX: [253] 35 39 40
Dominica
the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; US interests
are served by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados
Dominican Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL
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
East Timor
chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
embassy: Vila 10, Avenida de Portugal, Farol, Dili
mailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington,
DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684, 331-3205/3160/3472
FAX: (670) 331-3206
Ecuador
chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie Anne KENNEY
embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address: APO AA 34039
telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890
FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Egypt
chief of mission: Ambassador C. David WELCH
embassy: 5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900
telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300
FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200
El Salvador
chief of mission: Ambassador Rose M. LIKINS
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La
Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
telephone: [503] 278-4444
FAX: [503] 278-6011
Equatorial Guinea
the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial
Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); the US ambassador to
Cameroon is accredited to Equatorial Guinea; the US State Department
is considering opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo
Eritrea
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. McCONNELL
embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara
mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584
Estonia
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. DeTHOMAS
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8134
Ethiopia
chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia A. BRAZEAL
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone: [251] (1) 550666
FAX: [251] (1) 551328
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
none (overseas territory of the
UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Faroe Islands
none (self-governing overseas administrative division
of Denmark)
Fiji
chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYON
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-0081
Finland
chief of mission: Ambassador Bonnie McELVEEN-HUNTER
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 174681
France
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. LEACH
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
French Guiana
none (overseas department of France)
French Polynesia
none (overseas territory of France)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
none (overseas territory of
France)
Gabon
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth P. MOOREFIELD
embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92
FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Gambia, The
chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson McDONALD
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971
FAX: [220] 392475
Georgia
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard M. MILES
embassy: #25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68
FAX: [995] (32) 933-759
Germany
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel R. COATS
embassy: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5, 10117 Berlin; note - a new
embassy will be built near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265
telephone: [49] (30) 238-5174
FAX: [49] (30) 238-6290
consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg,
Leipzig, Munich
Ghana
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Carlin YATES
embassy: 6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 775-347, 775-348
FAX: [233] (21) 701-813
Gibraltar
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Glorioso Islands
none (possession of France)
Greece
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. MILLER
embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 101 60 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Greenland
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of
Denmark)
Grenada
chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited
to Grenada
embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies
telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176
FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
Guadeloupe
none (overseas department of France)
Guam
none (territory of the US)
Guatemala
chief of mission: Ambassador John Randle HAMILTON
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] 331-1541/55
FAX: [502] 334-8477
Guernsey
none (British crown dependency)
Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY
embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry
mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry
telephone: [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23
FAX: [224] 41 15 22
Guinea-Bissau
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; for the time being, US embassy Dakar
is responsible for covering Guinea-Bissau: telephone - [221]
823-4296; FAX - [221] 822-5903
Guyana
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald D. GODARD
embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909
FAX: [592] 225-8497
Haiti
chief of mission: Ambassador James B. Foley
embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
telephone: [509] 222-0354, 222-0368, 222-0200, 222-0612
FAX: [509] 223-1641
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
none (territory of Australia)
Holy See (Vatican City)
chief of mission: Ambassador R. James "Jim"
NICHOLSON
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 5758346
Honduras
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Leon PALMER
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
telephone: [504] 238-5114, 236-9320
FAX: [504] 236-9037
Hong Kong
chief of mission: Consul General James KEITH
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006
telephone: [852] 2523-9011
FAX: [852] 2524-0860
Hungary
chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy Goodman BRINKER
embassy: 1054 Szabadsag ter 12, Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest
Place, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400
FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764
Iceland
chief of mission: Ambassador James I. GADSDEN
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone: [354] 5629100
FAX: [354] 5629118
India
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. BLACKWILL
embassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [91] (11) 419-8000
FAX: [91] (11) 419-0017
consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai
(Bombay)
Indonesia
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE
embassy: Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 3-5, Jakarta 10110
mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520
telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000
FAX: [62] (21) 385-7189
consulate(s) general: Surabaya
Iran
none; note - protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
Iraq
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn
regime by US-led coalition
Ireland
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard J. EGAN
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946
Israel
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
mailing address: PSC 98, Box 29, APO AE 09830
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7457/7369/7454/7458/7453
FAX: [972] (3) 517-4390
consulate(s) general: Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission,
established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign
government
Italy
chief of mission: Ambassador Melvin F. SEMBLER
embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 119/A, 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
Jamaica
chief of mission: Ambassador Sue McCourt COBB
embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,
Kingston 5
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859
FAX: [1] (876) 935-6001
Japan
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. BAKER, Jr.
embassy: 10-5 Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004
telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000
FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862
consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Jersey
none (British crown dependency)
Jordan
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward William GNEHM, Jr.
embassy: Abdoun, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box
5, APO AE 09892-0200
telephone: [962] (6) 5920101
FAX: [962] (6) 5920121
Juan de Nova Island
none (possession of France)
Kazakhstan
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER
embassy: 99/97A Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
480091
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (3272) 63-39-21, 63-13-75, 50-76-23, 50-76-27
(emergency number)
FAX: [7] (3272) 63-38-83
Kenya
chief of mission: Ambassador Johnnie CARSON
embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Ave., Gigiti; P. O. Box 606
Village Market Nairobi
mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone: [254] (2) 537-800
FAX: [254] (2) 537-810
Kiribati
the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador
to the Marshall Islands is accredited to Kiribati
Korea, North
none (Swedish Embassy in P'yongyang represents the US
as consular protecting power)
Korea, South
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD
embassy: 82 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
Kuwait
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES
embassy: Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan
palace), Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait Unit 69000,
APO AE 09880-9000
telephone: [965] 539-5307, ext. 2240
FAX: [965] 538-0282
Kyrgyzstan
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264
Laos
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas A. HARTWICK
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585
FAX: [856] (21) 212584
Latvia
chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON
embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723
telephone: [371] 703-6200
FAX: [371] 781-0047
Lebanon
chief of mission: Ambassador Vincent Martin BATTLE
embassy: Awkar, Lebanon
mailing address: P. O. Box 70840, Awkar, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box 2,
FPO AE 09836-0002
telephone: 011-961-4-543-600/542-600
FAX: 011-961-4-544-136
Lesotho
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. LOFTIS
embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 312666
FAX: [266] 310116
Liberia
chief of mission: Ambassador John William BLANEY III
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,
1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: [231] 226-148
Libya
the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May
1980
Liechtenstein
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but
the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein
Lithuania
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE
09723
telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510
Luxembourg
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr.
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
Macau
the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by
the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
chief of mission:
Ambassador Laurence Edward BUTLER
embassy: Bul. Ilinden bb, 91000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120
Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 116-180
FAX: [389] 117-103
Madagascar
chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
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
Malawi
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen BROWN
embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX: [265] (1) 770 471
Malaysia
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie T. HUHTALA
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American
Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207
Maldives
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US
Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic
visits there
Mali
chief of mission: Ambassador Vicki HUDDLESTONE
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone: [223] (2) 223-833
FAX: [223] (2) 223-712
Malta
chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony H. GIOIA
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
Malta VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta
telephone: [356] 21-235-960
FAX: [356] 2124-3229
Man, Isle of
none (British crown dependency)
Marshall Islands
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. SENKO
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
Martinique
none (overseas department of France)
Mauritania
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
embassy: Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish
Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 25-26-60, 25-26-63, 25-11-41, 25-11-45
FAX: [222] 25-25-92
Mauritius
chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICE
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, Department of State, Washington,
DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534
Mayotte
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Mexico
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZA
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-0900
telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000
FAX: [52] (55) 5080-2005, 5080-2834
consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales
Micronesia, Federated States of
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry
M. DINGER
embassy: address NA, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States
of Micronesia 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186
Moldova
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela Hyde SMITH
embassy: 103 Alexei Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72
FAX: [373] (2) 23-30-44
Monaco
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul
General in Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco
Mongolia
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela J. Slutz
embassy: Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [976] (11) 329095
FAX: [976] (11) 320776
Montserrat
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Morocco
chief of mission: Ambassador Ms. Margaret TUTWILER
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 90718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Mozambique
chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone: [258] (1) 492797
FAX: [258] (1) 490448
Namibia
chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE
embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone: [264] (61) 221601
FAX: [264] (61) 229792
Nauru
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to
Fiji is accredited to Nauru
Nepal
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. MALINOWSKI
embassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 411179
FAX: [977] (1) 419963
Netherlands
chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209
FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Netherlands Antilles
chief of mission: Consul General Deborah A.
BOLTON
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 4613066
FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
New Caledonia
none (overseas territory of France)
New Zealand
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLS
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) 472-3478
consulate(s) general: Auckland
Nicaragua
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE
embassy: Apartado Postal 327, Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] 266-6010, 266-2298, 266-6013
FAX: [505] 266-9074
Niger
chief of mission: Ambassador Gail Dennise Thomas MATHIEU
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64
FAX: [227] 73 31 67, 72-31-46
Nigeria
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard Franklin JETER
embassy: 7 Mambilla Drive, Abuja
mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos
telephone: [234] (9) 523-0916/0906/5857/2235/2205
FAX: [234] (9) 523-0353
Niue
none (self-governing territory in free association with New
Zealand)
Norfolk Island
none (territory of Australia)
Norway
chief of mission: Ambassador John D. ONG
embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50
FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63
Oman
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos,
Muscat
telephone: [968] 698989, extension 203
FAX: [968] 699771
Pakistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 2080-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s): Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar
Palau
chief of mission: the Ambassador to the Philippines is
accredited to Palau
embassy: address NA, Koror
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911
Panama
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda Ellen WATT
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561,
Zona 5, Panama City 5
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 207-7000
FAX: [507] 227-1964
Papua New Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. Fitts
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State,
Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423
Paraguay
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. KEANE
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) 213-728
Peru
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. DAWSON
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) 434-3037
Philippines
chief of mission: Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 523-1001
FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361
Pitcairn Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Poland
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw P1
mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State,
5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000
FAX: [48] (22) 504-2951
consulate(s) general: Krakow
Portugal
chief of mission: Ambassador John N. PALMER
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Puerto Rico
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Qatar
chief of mission: Ambassador Maureen E. QUINN
embassy: Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4101
FAX: [974] 488 4298
Reunion
none (overseas department of France)
Romania
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. GUEST
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State,
5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone: [40] (21) 210-4042
FAX: [40] (21) 210-0395
branch office(s): Cluj-Napoca
Russia
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander VERSHBOW
embassy: Bolshoy Devyatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow
mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721
telephone: [7] (095) 728-5000
FAX: [7] (095) 728-5090
consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
Rwanda
chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret K. McMILLION
embassy: #337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03
FAX: [250] 57 2128
Saint Helena
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts
and Nevis; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint
Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US
Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
the US does not have an embassy in
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador in Barbados is
accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
chief of mission: the Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited
to Samoa
embassy: Vailima
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone: [685] 21631/22696
FAX: [685] 22030
San Marino
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US
Consul General in Florence (Italy) is accredited to San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
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
Saudi Arabia
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. JORDAN
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, 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)
Senegal
chief of mission: Ambassador Harriet L. ELAM-THOMAS
embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone: [221] 823-4296
FAX: [221] 822-2991
Serbia and Montenegro
chief of mission: Ambassador William D.
MONTGOMERY
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
Seychelles
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the
ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles
Sierra Leone
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Russell CHAVEAS
embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485
FAX: [232] (22) 225471
Singapore
chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin L. LAVIN
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: PSC Box 470, FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340
Slovakia
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald WEISER
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
FAX: [421] (2) 5441-5148
Slovenia
chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, Department of State,
7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555
Solomon Islands
the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands
(embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is
accredited to the Solomon Islands
Somalia
the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are
represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at Mombasa Road;
mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831;
telephone: [254] (2) 537800; FAX [254] (2) 537810
South Africa
chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron H. HUME
embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244
consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
none (overseas
territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Spain
chief of mission: Ambassador George L. ARGYROS
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
Sri Lanka
chief of mission: Ambassador E. Ashley WILLS
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (1) 448007
FAX: [94] (1) 437345
Sudan
US Embassy in Khartoum is located on Sharia Abdul Latif
Avenue; mailing address - P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829;
telephone - [249] (11) 774611 or 774700; FAX - [249] (11) 774137
Suriname
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel A. JOHNSON
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place,
Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472900
FAX: [597] 420800
Swaziland
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. McGEE
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445
FAX: [268] 404-5959
Sweden
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. HEIMBOLD, Jr.
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State,
5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch)
telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64
Switzerland
chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III
embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3005 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11
FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Syria
chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342
FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678
Taiwan
none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the
people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial
instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has
offices in the US and Taiwan; US office located at 1700 N. Moore
St., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1] (703)
525-8474, FAX: [1] (703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices located at #7
Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886]
(2) 2709-2000, FAX: [886] (2) 2702-7675; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road,
5th Floor, Kao-hsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (7) 224-0154 through
0157, FAX: [886] (7) 223-8237; and the American Trade Center, Room
3208 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333
Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan 10548, telephone: [886] (2)
2720-1550, FAX: [886] (2) 2757-7162
Tajikistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard E. HOAGLAND
embassy: 10 Pavlova Street, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734003; note - the
embassy in Dushanbe is not yet fully operational; most business is
still handled in Almaty at 531 Sayfullin Street, Almaty, Kazakhstan,
telephone 7-3272-58-79-61, FAX 7-3272-58-79-68
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [992] (372) 21-03-48 (Dushanbe)
FAX: [992] (372) 21-03-62
Tanzania
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert V. ROYALL
embassy: 140 Msese Road, Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: [255] (22) 2666-010 through 2666-015
FAX: [255] (22) 2666-701, 2668-501
Thailand
chief of mission: Ambassador Darryl N. JOHNSON
embassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Togo
chief of mission: Ambassador Gregory ENGLE
embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome
mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome
telephone: [228] 221 29 91 through 221 29 94
FAX: [228] 221 79 52
Tokelau
none (territory of New Zealand)
Tonga
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to
Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
telephone: [1] (868) 622-6372 through 6376, 622-6176
FAX: [1] (868) 628-5462
Tunisia
chief of mission: Ambassador Rust M. DEMING
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La
Goulette, Tunisia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 782-566
FAX: [216] 71 789-719
Turkey
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric S. EDELMAN
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
Turkmenistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSON
embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [9] (9312) 35-00-45
FAX: [9] (9312) 39-26-14
Turks and Caicos Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Tuvalu
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador
to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
Uganda
chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy KOLKER
embassy: 1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone: [256] (41) 234-142
FAX: [256] (41) 258-451
Ukraine
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos E. PASCUAL
embassy: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynskyi Street, Kiev 01901
mailing address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
telephone: [380] (44) 490-4000
FAX: [380] (44) 244-7350
United Arab Emirates
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelle M. WAHBA
embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone: [971] (2) 4436691
FAX: [971] (2) 4435441
consulate(s) general: Dubai
United Kingdom
chief of mission: Ambassador William S. FARISH
embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A1AE
mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040
telephone: [44] (0) 7499-9000
FAX: [44] (0) 7629-9124
consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh
Uruguay
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin J. SILVERSTEIN
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611
Uzbekistan
chief of mission: Ambassador John Edward HERBST
embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450
FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335
Vanuatu
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador
to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Venezuela
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles S. SHAPIRO
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle
Arriba, Caracas 1080
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411
FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991
Vietnam
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond F. BURGHARDT
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500
FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Virgin Islands
none (territory of the US)
Wallis and Futuna
none (overseas territory of France)
Western Sahara
none
Yemen
chief of mission: Ambassador Edmund J. HULL
embassy: Dhahar Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa
mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
telephone: [967] (1) 303-161
FAX: [967] (1) 303-182
Zambia
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin George BRENNAN
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone: [260] (1) 250-955
FAX: [260] (1) 252-225
Zimbabwe
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 and 250-594
FAX: [263] (4) 796488
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2008 Transportation - note
Arctic Ocean
sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes;
the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route
(Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways
Atlantic Ocean
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
Baker Island
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Georgia
transportation network is in poor condition resulting from
ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network
lacks maintenance and repair
Howland Island
Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the
west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has
since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART
Jarvis Island
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Pacific Ocean
Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast
Alaska to Puget Sound (Washington state)
Southern Ocean
Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through
the Panama Canal
Wake Island
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used
by US military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency
landings
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2010 Age structure (%)
Afghanistan
0-14 years: 41.8% (male 6,123,971; female 5,868,013)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 8,240,743; female 7,671,242)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 427,710; female 385,534) (2003 est.)
Albania
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 520,714; female 486,911)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 1,115,887; female 1,196,477)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 115,754; female 146,462) (2003 est.)
Algeria
0-14 years: 32.8% (male 5,485,197; female 5,285,434)
15-64 years: 63% (male 10,460,475; female 10,224,389)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 624,839; female 738,166) (2003 est.)
American Samoa
0-14 years: 37.5% (male 13,557; female 12,818)
15-64 years: 57% (male 19,712; female 20,346)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 2,081; female 1,746) (2003 est.)
Andorra
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 5,473; female 4,974)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 26,063; female 23,542)
65 years and over: 13.2% (male 4,543; female 4,555) (2003 est.)
Angola
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 2,363,829; female 2,317,610)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,941,999; female 2,842,923)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 134,330; female 165,780) (2003 est.)
Anguilla
0-14 years: 24.3% (male 1,575; female 1,526)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 4,504; female 4,262)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 387; female 484) (2003 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 9,706; female 9,371)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 22,929; female 22,845)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,218; female 1,828) (2003 est.)
Argentina
0-14 years: 26.2% (male 5,185,548; female 4,955,551)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 12,274,625; female 12,282,772)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 1,659,641; female 2,382,670) (2003
est.)
Armenia
0-14 years: 21.1% (male 356,587; female 346,648)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 1,113,241; female 1,158,245)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 147,156; female 204,571) (2003 est.)
Aruba
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 7,540; female 7,121)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 23,427; female 24,955)
65 years and over: 11% (male 3,215; female 4,586) (2003 est.)
Australia
0-14 years: 20.2% (male 2,045,783; female 1,949,864)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 6,680,531; female 6,553,141)
65 years and over: 12.7% (male 1,099,275; female 1,403,390) (2003
est.)
Austria
0-14 years: 16.2% (male 678,944; female 646,390)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 2,827,736; female 2,768,480)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 490,979; female 775,678) (2003 est.)
Azerbaijan
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 1,101,320; female 1,064,214)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,468,772; female 2,601,312)
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 236,683; female 358,463) (2003 est.)
Bahamas, The
0-14 years: 28.8% (male 42,799; female 42,730)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 95,718; female 98,875)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 7,092; female 10,263) (2003 est.)
Bahrain
0-14 years: 28.8% (male 97,294; female 94,930)
15-64 years: 68% (male 266,351; female 187,473)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 10,807; female 10,383) (2003 est.)
Bangladesh
0-14 years: 34.1% (male 24,255,300; female 23,007,632)
15-64 years: 62.5% (male 44,261,739; female 42,281,331)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,506,606; female 2,135,602) (2003
est.)
Barbados
0-14 years: 21.2% (male 29,621; female 29,207)
15-64 years: 70% (male 94,840; female 99,230)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,355; female 15,011) (2003 est.)
Belarus
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 885,265; female 848,516)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 3,456,769; female 3,652,766)
65 years and over: 14.3% (male 490,529; female 988,306) (2003 est.)
Belgium
0-14 years: 17.2% (male 905,856; female 865,589)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,400,419; female 3,346,182)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 725,162; female 1,045,880) (2003 est.)
Belize
0-14 years: 41.1% (male 55,880; female 53,706)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 74,612; female 72,813)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,571; female 4,858) (2003 est.)
Benin
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,668,817; female 1,638,291)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,739,517; female 1,834,231)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 67,504; female 93,130) (2003 est.)
Bermuda
0-14 years: 19.2% (male 6,195; female 6,205)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 22,110; female 22,574)
65 years and over: 11.5% (male 3,215; female 4,183) (2003 est.)
Bhutan
0-14 years: 39.6% (male 438,784; female 407,919)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 621,666; female 585,550)
65 years and over: 4% (male 43,262; female 42,368) (2003 est.)
Bolivia
0-14 years: 37.1% (male 1,624,366; female 1,562,501)
15-64 years: 58.4% (male 2,452,892; female 2,561,873)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 172,292; female 212,519) (2003 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 397,810; female
377,005)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 1,439,383; female 1,372,891)
65 years and over: 10.1% (male 171,643; female 230,286) (2003 est.)
Botswana
0-14 years: 39.5% (male 314,764; female 307,024)
15-64 years: 56% (male 424,726; female 455,967)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 30,599; female 40,187) (2003 est.)
Brazil
0-14 years: 27.1% (male 25,151,855; female 24,196,506)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 60,667,014; female 61,683,580)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 4,232,784; female 6,100,865) (2003
est.)
British Virgin Islands
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 2,401; female 2,358)
15-64 years: 73.1% (male 8,181; female 7,709)
65 years and over: 5% (male 578; female 503) (2003 est.)
Brunei
0-14 years: 29.6% (male 54,118; female 51,902)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 128,421; female 113,480)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 4,804; female 5,373) (2003 est.)
Bulgaria
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 549,142; female 520,057)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 2,551,548; female 2,632,978)
65 years and over: 17% (male 535,165; female 749,039) (2003 est.)
Burkina Faso
0-14 years: 46.1% (male 3,057,855; female 3,036,705)
15-64 years: 51% (male 3,296,726; female 3,455,817)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 161,914; female 219,443) (2003 est.)
Burma
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 6,091,220; female 5,840,968)
15-64 years: 67% (male 14,162,190; female 14,347,751)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 916,702; female 1,151,706) (2003 est.)
Burundi
0-14 years: 46.7% (male 1,438,759; female 1,409,567)
15-64 years: 50.6% (male 1,516,833; female 1,564,513)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 66,355; female 100,129) (2003 est.)
Cambodia
0-14 years: 39.3% (male 2,606,568; female 2,557,736)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 3,599,216; female 3,962,520)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 148,287; female 250,437) (2003 est.)
Cameroon
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 3,372,129; female 3,291,295)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 4,315,672; female 4,265,286)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 227,444; female 274,353) (2003 est.)
Canada
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 3,052,005; female 2,903,007)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 11,099,907; female 10,984,903)
65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,774,262; female 2,393,029) (2003
est.)
Cape Verde
0-14 years: 41% (male 85,254; female 83,716)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 103,690; female 111,992)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,498; female 16,987) (2003 est.)
Cayman Islands
0-14 years: 21.6% (male 4,525; female 4,541)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 14,463; female 15,157)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 1,515; female 1,733) (2003 est.)
Central African Republic
0-14 years: 43.1% (male 799,241; female
788,370)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 969,581; female 1,000,740)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 53,322; female 72,284) (2003 est.)
Chad
0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,228,605; female 2,201,368)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,171,169; female 2,393,184)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 105,686; female 153,481) (2003 est.)
Chile
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 2,112,251; female 2,018,099)
15-64 years: 66% (male 5,151,551; female 5,180,607)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 499,441; female 703,267) (2003 est.)
China
0-14 years: 23.1% (male 155,473,656; female 141,737,406)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 461,223,219; female 433,154,970)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male 44,954,643; female 50,431,574) (2003
est.)
Christmas Island
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Colombia
0-14 years: 31.3% (male 6,601,581; female 6,447,679)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 12,931,093; female 13,626,333)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 913,798; female 1,141,589) (2003 est.)
Comoros
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 136,060; female 135,277)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 169,121; female 173,822)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 8,863; female 9,805) (2003 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0-14 years: 48.3% (male
13,734,706; female 13,624,579)
15-64 years: 49.2% (male 13,648,155; female 14,203,077)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 583,366; female 831,156) (2003 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 570,491; female
563,079)
15-64 years: 58% (male 844,655; female 868,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 44,166; female 63,016) (2003 est.)
Cook Islands
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Costa Rica
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 600,812; female 573,375)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 1,269,667; female 1,241,097)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 98,156; female 112,985) (2003 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
0-14 years: 45.4% (male 3,796,393; female 3,902,210)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 4,541,997; female 4,347,531)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 179,323; female 195,037) (2003 est.)
Croatia
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 415,873; female 394,414)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,465,488; female 1,454,778)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 258,943; female 432,752) (2003 est.)
Cuba
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 1,164,376; female 1,103,061)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 3,932,604; female 3,909,523)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 531,608; female 622,257) (2003 est.)
Cyprus
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 86,446; female 82,769)
15-64 years: 67% (male 261,404; female 255,409)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 37,345; female 48,284) (2003 est.)
Czech Republic
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 809,697; female 768,747)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 3,617,214; female 3,614,060)
65 years and over: 14% (male 554,922; female 884,576) (2003 est.)
Denmark
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 516,872; female 490,543)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,809,138; female 1,762,577)
65 years and over: 15% (male 338,141; female 467,113) (2003 est.)
Djibouti
0-14 years: 43.1% (male 98,796; female 98,202)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 129,492; female 116,953)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,933; female 6,754) (2003 est.)
Dominica
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 9,807; female 9,571)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 23,024; female 21,768)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 2,226; female 3,259) (2003 est.)
Dominican Republic
0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,497,777; female
1,431,104)
15-64 years: 61.2% (male 2,719,505; female 2,614,495)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 212,045; female 240,676) (2003 est.)
East Timor
NA (2003 est.)
Ecuador
0-14 years: 34.9% (male 2,430,303; female 2,351,166)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 4,116,289; female 4,198,667)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 284,082; female 329,727) (2003 est.)
Egypt
0-14 years: 33.9% (male 12,964,852; female 12,346,808)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 23,375,037; female 22,865,190)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 1,359,685; female 1,807,225) (2003
est.)
El Salvador
0-14 years: 37.1% (male 1,224,024; female 1,173,667)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,777,522; female 1,966,064)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 147,482; female 181,620) (2003 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 108,179; female 107,164)
15-64 years: 54% (male 132,342; female 143,509)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,576; female 10,703) (2003 est.)
Eritrea
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 977,447; female 972,068)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,121,077; female 1,147,109)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 71,620; female 72,933) (2003 est.)
Estonia
0-14 years: 15.8% (male 113,239; female 108,876)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 467,041; female 501,805)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 71,512; female 146,083) (2003 est.)
Ethiopia
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 14,944,168; female 14,871,164)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 17,474,403; female 17,384,817)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 840,057; female 1,042,944) (2003 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%
Faroe Islands
0-14 years: 22% (male 5,103; female 5,077)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 15,822; female 14,002)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,842; female 3,499) (2003 est.)
Fiji
0-14 years: 32% (male 141,979; female 136,378)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 278,759; female 278,150)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 15,329; female 17,936) (2003 est.)
Finland
0-14 years: 17.7% (male 468,077; female 450,785)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,753,760; female 1,719,253)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 312,883; female 486,027) (2003 est.)
France
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 5,725,170; female 5,449,991)
15-64 years: 65.1% (male 19,619,994; female 19,583,850)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 4,006,857; female 5,794,667) (2003
est.)
French Guiana
0-14 years: 29.9% (male 28,565; female 27,280)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 64,836; female 55,498)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 5,455; female 5,283) (2003 est.)
French Polynesia
0-14 years: 28.3% (male 37,804; female 36,249)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 90,421; female 83,304)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 7,226; female 7,121) (2003 est.)
Gabon
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 280,218; female 278,808)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 352,363; female 355,315)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 22,786; female 32,070) (2003 est.)
Gambia, The
0-14 years: 44.9% (male 338,497; female 335,503)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 390,150; female 396,763)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 20,836; female 19,301) (2003 est.)
Gaza Strip
0-14 years: 49.4% (male 322,658; female 307,026)
15-64 years: 47.9% (male 310,910; female 299,724)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 14,645; female 19,905) (2003 est.)
Georgia
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 466,743; female 449,440)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,628,757; female 1,744,922)
65 years and over: 13% (male 252,031; female 392,520) (2003 est.)
Germany
0-14 years: 14.9% (male 6,312,614; female 5,988,681)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 28,213,316; female 27,240,648)
65 years and over: 17.8% (male 5,842,457; female 8,800,610) (2003
est.)
Ghana
0-14 years: 38.9% (male 4,021,570; female 3,938,454)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 5,859,940; female 5,909,910)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 350,045; female 387,828) (2003 est.)
Gibraltar
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 2,593; female 2,482)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 9,458; female 8,946)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 1,873; female 2,424) (2003 est.)
Greece
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 811,080; female 761,728)
15-64 years: 67% (male 3,578,320; female 3,557,800)
65 years and over: 18.3% (male 866,425; female 1,090,636) (2003 est.)
Greenland
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 7,463; female 7,161)
15-64 years: 68.3% (male 20,885; female 17,605)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,508; female 1,763) (2003 est.)
Grenada
0-14 years: 35.1% (male 15,840; female 15,492)
15-64 years: 61.3% (male 28,941; female 25,735)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 1,502; female 1,748) (2003 est.)
Guadeloupe
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 55,521; female 53,137)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 144,764; female 147,449)
65 years and over: 8.9% (male 16,443; female 22,875) (2003 est.)
Guam
0-14 years: 35.1% (male 30,334; female 27,264)
15-64 years: 58.4% (male 50,258; female 45,538)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 5,269; female 5,278) (2003 est.)
Guatemala
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 3,052,658; female 2,908,428)
15-64 years: 53.8% (male 3,779,688; female 3,706,315)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 215,653; female 246,642) (2003 est.)
Guernsey
0-14 years: 15.8% (male 5,216; female 5,061)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 21,433; female 21,835)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 4,705; female 6,568) (2003 est.)
Guinea
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,027,970; female 1,986,300)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 2,358,566; female 2,372,384)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 124,382; female 160,618) (2003 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 284,150; female 285,370)
15-64 years: 55.2% (male 358,891; female 392,703)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 17,285; female 22,428) (2003 est.)
Guyana
0-14 years: 27% (male 96,775; female 93,077)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 240,305; female 236,378)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 15,755; female 19,810) (2003 est.)
Haiti
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 1,637,853; female 1,575,893)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 1,962,975; female 2,073,353)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 131,784; female 145,959) (2003 est.)
Honduras
0-14 years: 41.6% (male 1,414,791; female 1,357,537)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 1,811,757; female 1,843,456)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 114,791; female 127,457) (2003 est.)
Hong Kong
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 680,973; female 599,309)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 2,619,929; female 2,679,430)
65 years and over: 11% (male 375,058; female 439,471) (2003 est.)
Hungary
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 832,033; female 787,336)
15-64 years: 69% (male 3,406,046; female 3,523,118)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 544,099; female 952,775) (2003 est.)
Iceland
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 32,902; female 30,952)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 92,519; female 91,000)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male 14,973; female 18,452) (2003 est.)
India
0-14 years: 32.2% (male 173,973,350; female 163,979,116)
15-64 years: 63% (male 342,620,712; female 319,259,867)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 25,281,756; female 24,585,317) (2003
est.)
Indonesia
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 35,437,274; female 34,232,824)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 76,743,613; female 76,845,245)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 5,086,465; female 6,548,032) (2003
est.)
Iran
0-14 years: 29.3% (male 10,279,588; female 9,727,668)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 22,916,431; female 22,095,124)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 1,625,113; female 1,634,902) (2003
est.)
Iraq
0-14 years: 40.7% (male 5,103,669; female 4,946,443)
15-64 years: 56.3% (male 7,033,268; female 6,855,644)
65 years and over: 3% (male 348,790; female 395,499) (2003 est.)
Ireland
0-14 years: 21.2% (male 427,017; female 404,191)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 1,322,982; female 1,322,429)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 194,724; female 252,797) (2003 est.)
Israel
0-14 years: 26.9% (male 842,885; female 803,864)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 1,941,440; female 1,922,512)
65 years and over: 9.9% (male 260,315; female 345,517) (2003 est.)
Italy
0-14 years: 14% (male 4,193,412; female 3,947,679)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 19,625,428; female 19,337,861)
65 years and over: 18.8% (male 4,516,995; female 6,376,978) (2003
est.)
Jamaica
0-14 years: 28.6% (male 395,074; female 376,870)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 870,486; female 869,431)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 82,022; female 101,984) (2003 est.)
Japan
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 9,368,132; female 8,906,024)
15-64 years: 67% (male 42,852,204; female 42,368,109)
65 years and over: 18.6% (male 9,945,638; female 13,774,392) (2003
est.)
Jersey
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 8,292; female 7,744)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 30,178; female 30,410)
65 years and over: 15% (male 5,858; female 7,674) (2003 est.)
Jordan
0-14 years: 35.9% (male 1,001,174; female 959,157)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,764,061; female 1,541,453)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 95,566; female 98,854) (2003 est.)
Kazakhstan
0-14 years: 25.4% (male 2,161,510; female 2,089,780)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 5,425,545; female 5,769,457)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 458,379; female 859,124) (2003 est.)
Kenya
0-14 years: 41.3% (male 6,609,904; female 6,461,945)
15-64 years: 55.8% (male 8,900,615; female 8,766,698)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 389,918; female 510,011) (2003 est.)
Kiribati
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 19,839; female 19,333)
15-64 years: 57% (male 27,705; female 28,438)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,385; female 1,849) (2003 est.)
Korea, North
0-14 years: 25% (male 2,845,727; female 2,763,800)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 7,485,310; female 7,746,603)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 541,155; female 1,083,886) (2003 est.)
Korea, South
0-14 years: 20.6% (male 5,256,451; female 4,703,853)
15-64 years: 71.5% (male 17,527,407; female 16,991,229)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 1,512,157; female 2,297,940) (2003
est.)
Kuwait
0-14 years: 27.9% (male 310,008; female 298,474)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 970,282; female 547,753)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 36,306; female 20,338) (2003 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 836,593; female 819,615)
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 1,436,371; female 1,492,884)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 117,405; female 189,940) (2003 est.)
Laos
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 1,255,172; female 1,242,823)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 1,592,697; female 1,639,431)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,192; female 104,230) (2003 est.)
Latvia
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)
65 years and over: 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
Lebanon
0-14 years: 27.1% (male 514,447; female 494,166)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,177,773; female 1,286,433)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 115,693; female 139,191) (2003 est.)
Lesotho
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 353,554; female 349,092)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 516,017; female 541,694)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 41,735; female 59,867) (2003 est.)
Liberia
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 724,960; female 716,831)
15-64 years: 53% (male 858,191; female 898,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 59,539; female 58,804) (2003 est.)
Libya
0-14 years: 34.5% (male 970,026; female 929,174)
15-64 years: 61.4% (male 1,744,992; female 1,630,399)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 109,262; female 115,221) (2003 est.)
Liechtenstein
0-14 years: 18.1% (male 2,979; female 3,008)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 11,646; female 11,740)
65 years and over: 11.3% (male 1,538; female 2,234) (2003 est.)
Lithuania
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 323,776; female 310,087)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,188,171; female 1,268,035)
65 years and over: 14% (male 169,513; female 332,979) (2003 est.)
Luxembourg
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 44,182; female 41,640)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 152,963; female 151,061)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 26,060; female 38,251) (2003 est.)
Macau
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 51,078; female 47,118)
15-64 years: 71.8% (male 159,500; female 178,043)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 13,930; female 20,234) (2003 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
0-14 years: 21.9% (male
235,102; female 217,574)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 700,929; female 691,552)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 96,039; female 121,926) (2003 est.)
Madagascar
0-14 years: 45% (male 3,822,823; female 3,807,958)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 4,366,748; female 4,452,686)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 243,411; female 286,118) (2003 est.)
Malawi
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 2,748,058; female 2,698,052)
15-64 years: 50.5% (male 2,911,892; female 2,973,723)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 128,722; female 190,792) (2003 est.)
Malaysia
0-14 years: 33.7% (male 4,001,507; female 3,777,896)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 7,163,252; female 7,131,745)
65 years and over: 4.4% (male 447,230; female 571,310) (2003 est.)
Maldives
0-14 years: 44.9% (male 75,991; female 71,826)
15-64 years: 52.1% (male 87,734; female 84,150)
65 years and over: 3% (male 5,073; female 4,910) (2003 est.)
Mali
0-14 years: 47.2% (male 2,759,802; female 2,727,226)
15-64 years: 49.8% (male 2,771,532; female 3,017,348)
65 years and over: 3% (male 161,983; female 188,328) (2003 est.)
Malta
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 40,448; female 37,623)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 136,221; female 134,142)
65 years and over: 13% (male 21,730; female 30,256) (2003 est.)
Man, Isle of
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 6,637; female 6,337)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 24,373; female 24,165)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,102; female 7,647) (2003 est.)
Marshall Islands
0-14 years: 39.1% (male 11,233; female 10,819)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 16,857; female 16,003)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 726; female 791) (2003 est.)
Martinique
0-14 years: 22.8% (male 49,310; female 47,908)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 142,242; female 142,688)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 19,656; female 24,162) (2003 est.)
Mauritania
0-14 years: 46% (male 671,080; female 668,408)
15-64 years: 51.8% (male 743,573; female 764,358)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 26,669; female 38,496) (2003 est.)
Mauritius
0-14 years: 25.1% (male 153,401; female 150,399)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 413,660; female 415,534)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 30,673; female 46,780) (2003 est.)
Mayotte
0-14 years: 46.5% (male 41,632; female 41,301)
15-64 years: 51.8% (male 50,373; female 42,118)
65 years and over: 1.7% (male 1,502; female 1,511) (2003 est.)
Mexico
0-14 years: 32.3% (male 17,298,964; female 16,617,728)
15-64 years: 63.1% (male 32,217,513; female 33,932,603)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 2,145,252; female 2,695,931) (2003
est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 21,163;
female 20,335)
15-64 years: 58.5% (male 31,746; female 31,477)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 1,558; female 1,864) (2003 est.)
Moldova
0-14 years: 21.1% (male 477,063; female 459,992)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 1,465,248; female 1,584,402)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 168,068; female 284,729) (2003 est.)
Monaco
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 2,551; female 2,445)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,814; female 10,130)
65 years and over: 22.4% (male 2,937; female 4,253) (2003 est.)
Mongolia
0-14 years: 30.7% (male 423,081; female 408,119)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 890,482; female 892,140)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 42,292; female 56,201) (2003 est.)
Montserrat
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 1,062; female 1,041)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 2,805; female 3,066)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 537; female 484) (2003 est.)
Morocco
0-14 years: 33.2% (male 5,360,666; female 5,162,168)
15-64 years: 62% (male 9,766,222; female 9,876,647)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 676,357; female 847,205) (2003 est.)
Mozambique
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 3,634,173; female 3,725,396)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 4,712,891; female 4,945,123)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 189,778; female 271,905) (2003 est.)
Namibia
0-14 years: 42.5% (male 414,559; female 404,346)
15-64 years: 54% (male 517,469; female 522,549)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 30,038; female 38,486) (2003 est.)
Nauru
0-14 years: 38.9% (male 2,517; female 2,368)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 3,681; female 3,779)
65 years and over: 1.8% (male 116; female 109) (2003 est.)
Nepal
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 5,424,396; female 5,080,171)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 7,692,134; female 7,320,059)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 468,697; female 484,112) (2003 est.)
Netherlands
0-14 years: 18.2% (male 1,501,127; female 1,436,453)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,576,141; female 5,389,764)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 929,087; female 1,317,939) (2003 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 27,383; female 26,122)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 69,233; female 75,956)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 7,244; female 10,288) (2003 est.)
New Caledonia
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 31,990; female 30,695)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 68,093; female 67,205)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 6,016; female 6,799) (2003 est.)
New Zealand
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 443,837; female 423,118)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,318,751; female 1,307,796)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 199,722; female 258,083) (2003 est.)
Nicaragua
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 984,719; female 949,282)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,510,352; female 1,527,991)
65 years and over: 3% (male 68,332; female 87,841) (2003 est.)
Niger
0-14 years: 47.6% (male 2,686,169; female 2,581,785)
15-64 years: 50.2% (male 2,710,554; female 2,842,319)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 125,505; female 112,258) (2003 est.)
Nigeria
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 29,322,774; female 28,990,702)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 36,513,700; female 35,254,333)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 1,890,043; female 1,910,151) (2003
est.)
Niue
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Norfolk Island
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2003 est.)
Northern Mariana Islands
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 9,483; female 9,168)
15-64 years: 74.8% (male 27,839; female 32,041)
65 years and over: 1.8% (male 748; female 727) (2003 est.)
Norway
0-14 years: 19.9% (male 465,320; female 439,095)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 1,501,608; female 1,462,590)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 281,554; female 395,956) (2003 est.)
Oman
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 603,664; female 580,469)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 934,621; female 620,158)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 36,504; female 31,709) (2003 est.)
Pakistan
0-14 years: 39.3% (male 30,463,958; female 28,726,776)
15-64 years: 56.5% (male 43,571,093; female 41,651,872)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 3,051,674; female 3,229,367) (2003
est.)
Palau
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 2,714; female 2,552)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 7,352; female 6,197)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 429; female 473) (2003 est.)
Panama
0-14 years: 30.6% (male 461,670; female 443,671)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 950,089; female 924,038)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 86,006; female 95,310) (2003 est.)
Papua New Guinea
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 1,034,219; female 1,000,505)
15-64 years: 57.8% (male 1,582,983; female 1,479,436)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 93,604; female 105,069) (2003 est.)
Paraguay
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 1,179,084; female 1,141,420)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 1,721,867; female 1,707,918)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 132,145; female 154,466) (2003 est.)
Peru
0-14 years: 33.5% (male 4,828,531; female 4,678,008)
15-64 years: 61.5% (male 8,794,799; female 8,689,072)
65 years and over: 5% (male 652,375; female 767,112) (2003 est.)
Philippines
0-14 years: 36.2% (male 15,625,480; female 15,028,498)
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 25,206,467; female 25,485,482)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,427,238; female 1,846,809) (2003
est.)
Pitcairn Islands
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Poland
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 3,458,844; female 3,284,995)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 13,407,012; female 13,547,728)
65 years and over: 12.7% (male 1,879,445; female 3,044,636) (2003
est.)
Portugal
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 874,198; female 825,742)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 3,326,957; female 3,461,425)
65 years and over: 16% (male 651,697; female 962,003) (2003 est.)
Puerto Rico
0-14 years: 22.9% (male 454,908; female 434,555)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 1,212,764; female 1,322,356)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male 200,669; female 260,625) (2003 est.)
Qatar
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 102,938; female 98,934)
15-64 years: 72.4% (male 415,302; female 176,183)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 17,199; female 6,496) (2003 est.)
Reunion
0-14 years: 31.3% (male 121,119; female 115,501)
15-64 years: 62.8% (male 233,607; female 240,502)
65 years and over: 5.9% (male 18,036; female 26,406) (2003 est.)
Romania
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 1,932,204; female 1,838,240)
15-64 years: 69% (male 7,634,481; female 7,739,232)
65 years and over: 14% (male 1,290,343; female 1,837,339) (2003 est.)
Russia
0-14 years: 16% (male 11,815,360; female 11,335,715)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 49,399,322; female 52,367,194)
65 years and over: 13.6% (male 6,394,411; female 13,214,276) (2003
est.)
Rwanda
0-14 years: 42.5% (male 1,667,128; female 1,651,422)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 2,128,495; female 2,148,694)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 85,576; female 128,741) (2003 est.)
Saint Helena
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 704; female 685)
15-64 years: 71.6% (male 2,732; female 2,545)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 309; female 392) (2003 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
0-14 years: 29% (male 5,754; female 5,499)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 12,098; female 12,105)
65 years and over: 8.5% (male 1,365; female 1,942) (2003 est.)
Saint Lucia
0-14 years: 31.1% (male 25,883; female 24,569)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 50,711; female 52,508)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,147; female 5,339) (2003 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0-14 years: 25% (male 891; female 851)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,306; female 2,210)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 310; female 408) (2003 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0-14 years: 28.2% (male 16,755;
female 16,163)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 39,308; female 37,149)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,215; female 4,222) (2003 est.)
Samoa
0-14 years: 29.4% (male 26,613; female 25,715)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 72,135; female 42,903)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 4,980; female 5,827) (2003 est.)
San Marino
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 2,364; female 2,220)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 9,149; female 9,731)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 2,009; female 2,646) (2003 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
0-14 years: 47.7% (male 42,480; female 41,411)
15-64 years: 48.3% (male 41,043; female 43,986)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,197; female 3,766) (2003 est.)
Saudi Arabia
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 5,245,413; female 5,028,595)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 7,700,121; female 5,622,099)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 393,173; female 304,443) (2003 est.)
Senegal
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,330,395; female 2,289,706)
15-64 years: 53.3% (male 2,707,195; female 2,929,998)
65 years and over: 3% (male 156,514; female 166,499) (2003 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
0-14 years: 19.3% (male 1,062,625; female
990,071)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 3,422,543; female 3,548,058)
65 years and over: 15.3% (male 696,716; female 935,761) (2003 est.)
Seychelles
0-14 years: 27.3% (male 11,116; female 10,844)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 26,068; female 27,425)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,654; female 3,362) (2003 est.)
Sierra Leone
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,259,421; female 1,310,516)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,420,900; female 1,557,597)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 89,078; female 95,169) (2003 est.)
Singapore
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 411,656; female 385,575)
15-64 years: 75.5% (male 1,687,217; female 1,793,783)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 144,277; female 186,087) (2003 est.)
Slovakia
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 495,316; female 471,823)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 1,903,335; female 1,924,065)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 238,912; female 396,582) (2003 est.)
Slovenia
0-14 years: 15.3% (male 152,341; female 144,189)
15-64 years: 70% (male 687,939; female 666,194)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 105,837; female 179,177) (2003 est.)
Solomon Islands
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 111,333; female 107,062)
15-64 years: 54% (male 139,072; female 135,721)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 7,754; female 8,248) (2003 est.)
Somalia
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,802,154; female 1,792,749)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,120,934; female 2,093,699)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 93,682; female 121,972) (2003 est.)
South Africa
0-14 years: 30% (male 6,460,273; female 6,377,090)
15-64 years: 65% (male 13,807,922; female 13,970,088)
65 years and over: 5% (male 864,441; female 1,288,864) (2003 est.)
Spain
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 2,985,705; female 2,808,791)
15-64 years: 68% (male 13,721,053; female 13,626,121)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 2,962,646; female 4,113,097) (2003
est.)
Sri Lanka
0-14 years: 25.2% (male 2,543,336; female 2,431,223)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 6,518,145; female 6,890,424)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 641,708; female 717,603) (2003 est.)
Sudan
0-14 years: 44% (male 8,562,412; female 8,195,201)
15-64 years: 53.8% (male 10,260,581; female 10,246,045)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 468,898; female 381,023) (2003 est.)
Suriname
0-14 years: 30.7% (male 68,536; female 65,165)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 141,048; female 134,699)
65 years and over: 6% (male 11,686; female 14,315) (2003 est.)
Svalbard
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Swaziland
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 242,762; female 238,141)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 317,526; female 321,709)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 18,040; female 23,041) (2003 est.)
Sweden
0-14 years: 17.7% (male 804,296; female 763,213)
15-64 years: 65% (male 2,933,183; female 2,835,835)
65 years and over: 17.3% (male 654,575; female 886,983) (2003 est.)
Switzerland
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 623,428; female 591,709)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,519,302; female 2,439,560)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 470,257; female 674,382) (2003 est.)
Syria
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 3,494,473; female 3,290,699)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 5,238,026; female 4,991,588)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 274,744; female 296,010) (2003 est.)
Taiwan
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 2,366,560; female 2,175,886)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 8,095,741; female 7,871,954)
65 years and over: 9.3% (male 1,074,112; female 1,018,747) (2003
est.)
Tajikistan
0-14 years: 39.8% (male 1,376,244; female 1,353,108)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 1,896,509; female 1,915,334)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 140,993; female 181,564) (2003 est.)
Tanzania
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 7,988,898; female 7,938,979)
15-64 years: 53.1% (male 9,429,959; female 9,634,102)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 405,803; female 524,713) (2003 est.)
Thailand
0-14 years: 24.2% (male 7,955,597; female 7,604,652)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 21,819,445; female 22,362,085)
65 years and over: 7% (male 2,081,768; female 2,441,729) (2003 est.)
Togo
0-14 years: 44.5% (male 1,211,252; female 1,203,564)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,404,763; female 1,473,360)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 57,535; female 78,825) (2003 est.)
Tokelau
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2003 est.)
Tonga
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 21,085; female 20,265)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 30,785; female 31,532)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,973; female 2,501) (2003 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
0-14 years: 22.2% (male 125,470; female 119,270)
15-64 years: 70% (male 402,137; female 370,600)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 38,928; female 47,804) (2003 est.)
Tunisia
0-14 years: 27% (male 1,388,839; female 1,297,313)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,306,782; female 3,299,883)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 309,103; female 322,822) (2003 est.)
Turkey
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 9,422,242; female 9,082,840)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 22,978,251; female 22,243,477)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 2,013,926; female 2,368,733) (2003
est.)
Turkmenistan
0-14 years: 36.8% (male 899,954; female 855,293)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,386,606; female 1,438,333)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 74,958; female 120,400) (2003 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,202; female 3,094)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 6,484; female 5,848)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 321; female 401) (2003 est.)
Tuvalu
0-14 years: 31.9% (male 1,838; female 1,772)
15-64 years: 63% (male 3,432; female 3,687)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 231; female 345) (2003 est.)
Uganda
0-14 years: 50.8% (male 6,528,724; female 6,486,736)
15-64 years: 46.8% (male 5,985,911; female 6,024,798)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 266,930; female 339,695) (2003 est.)
Ukraine
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 4,004,948; female 3,832,931)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 15,779,735; female 17,225,103)
65 years and over: 15% (male 2,419,612; female 4,793,110) (2003 est.)
United Arab Emirates
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 338,245; female 324,866)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 1,087,927; female 661,349)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 52,059; female 20,372) (2003 est.)
United Kingdom
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 5,621,590; female 5,350,319)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 20,067,529; female 19,626,123)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 3,987,457; female 5,441,630) (2003
est.)
United States
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 31,098,473; female 29,675,712)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 96,628,469; female 97,061,559)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 14,888,185; female 20,990,156) (2003
est.)
Uruguay
0-14 years: 24.3% (male 425,642; female 404,987)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 1,057,187; female 1,079,549)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 182,696; female 263,268) (2003 est.)
Uzbekistan
0-14 years: 34.7% (male 4,594,721; female 4,431,653)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 7,781,739; female 7,945,641)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 497,692; female 730,201) (2003 est.)
Vanuatu
0-14 years: 34.8% (male 35,499; female 33,992)
15-64 years: 61.8% (male 63,021; female 60,149)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 3,605; female 3,148) (2003 est.)
Venezuela
0-14 years: 31% (male 3,944,749; female 3,700,799)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 7,931,194; female 7,864,697)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 552,291; female 660,964) (2003 est.)
Vietnam
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 12,699,002; female 11,967,674)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 25,776,600; female 26,599,005)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 1,902,464; female 2,679,971) (2003
est.)
Virgin Islands
0-14 years: 26% (male 16,685; female 15,794)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 36,241; female 44,157)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 5,078; female 6,823) (2003 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
West Bank
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 505,880; female 481,369)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 598,992; female 572,511)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 33,688; female 44,754) (2003 est.)
Western Sahara
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
World
0-14 years: 29.2% (male 932,581,592; female 885,688,851)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 2,009,997,089; female 1,964,938,201)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 193,549,180; female 247,067,032) (2003
est.)
note: some countries do not maintain age structure information, thus
a slight discrepancy exists between the total world population and
the total for world age structure
Yemen
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 4,606,110; female 4,446,229)
15-64 years: 50.4% (male 4,972,946; female 4,778,034)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 272,921; female 273,641) (2003 est.)
Zambia
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,396,313; female 2,378,567)
15-64 years: 50.9% (male 2,626,961; female 2,621,818)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 131,196; female 152,478) (2003 est.)
Zimbabwe
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 2,517,608; female 2,471,342)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 3,600,832; female 3,542,497)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 224,631; female 219,832) (2003 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2011 Geographic coordinates
Afghanistan
33 00 N, 65 00 E
Albania
41 00 N, 20 00 E
Algeria
28 00 N, 3 00 E
American Samoa
14 20 S, 170 00 W
Andorra
42 30 N, 1 30 E
Angola
12 30 S, 18 30 E
Anguilla
18 15 N, 63 10 W
Antarctica
90 00 S, 0 00 E
Antigua and Barbuda
17 03 N, 61 48 W
Arctic Ocean
90 00 N, 0 00 E
Argentina
34 00 S, 64 00 W
Armenia
40 00 N, 45 00 E
Aruba
12 30 N, 69 58 W
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
12 14 S, 123 05 E
Atlantic Ocean
0 00 N, 25 00 W
Australia
27 00 S, 133 00 E
Austria
47 20 N, 13 20 E
Azerbaijan
40 30 N, 47 30 E
Bahamas, The
24 15 N, 76 00 W
Bahrain
26 00 N, 50 33 E
Baker Island
0 13 N, 176 31 W
Bangladesh
24 00 N, 90 00 E
Barbados
13 10 N, 59 32 W
Bassas da India
21 30 S, 39 50 E
Belarus
53 00 N, 28 00 E
Belgium
50 50 N, 4 00 E
Belize
17 15 N, 88 45 W
Benin
9 30 N, 2 15 E
Bermuda
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Bhutan
27 30 N, 90 30 E
Bolivia
17 00 S, 65 00 W
Bosnia and Herzegovina
44 00 N, 18 00 E
Botswana
22 00 S, 24 00 E
Bouvet Island
54 26 S, 3 24 E
Brazil
10 00 S, 55 00 W
British Indian Ocean Territory
6 00 S, 71 30 E
British Virgin Islands
18 30 N, 64 30 W
Brunei
4 30 N, 114 40 E
Bulgaria
43 00 N, 25 00 E
Burkina Faso
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Burma
22 00 N, 98 00 E
Burundi
3 30 S, 30 00 E
Cambodia
13 00 N, 105 00 E
Cameroon
6 00 N, 12 00 E
Canada
60 00 N, 95 00 W
Cape Verde
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Cayman Islands
19 30 N, 80 30 W
Central African Republic
7 00 N, 21 00 E
Chad
15 00 N, 19 00 E
Chile
30 00 S, 71 00 W
China
35 00 N, 105 00 E
Christmas Island
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Clipperton Island
10 17 N, 109 13 W
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
12 30 S, 96 50 E
Colombia
4 00 N, 72 00 W
Comoros
12 10 S, 44 15 E
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0 00 N, 25 00 E
Congo, Republic of the
1 00 S, 15 00 E
Cook Islands
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Coral Sea Islands
18 00 S, 152 00 E
Costa Rica
10 00 N, 84 00 W
Cote d'Ivoire
8 00 N, 5 00 W
Croatia
45 10 N, 15 30 E
Cuba
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Cyprus
35 00 N, 33 00 E
Czech Republic
49 45 N, 15 30 E
Denmark
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Djibouti
11 30 N, 43 00 E
Dominica
15 25 N, 61 20 W
Dominican Republic
19 00 N, 70 40 W
East Timor
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Ecuador
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Egypt
27 00 N, 30 00 E
El Salvador
13 50 N, 88 55 W
Equatorial Guinea
2 00 N, 10 00 E
Eritrea
15 00 N, 39 00 E
Estonia
59 00 N, 26 00 E
Ethiopia
8 00 N, 38 00 E
Europa Island
22 20 S, 40 22 E
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
51 45 S, 59 00 W
Faroe Islands
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Fiji
18 00 S, 175 00 E
Finland
64 00 N, 26 00 E
France
46 00 N, 2 00 E
French Guiana
4 00 N, 53 00 W
French Polynesia
15 00 S, 140 00 W
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
43 00 S, 67 00 E
Gabon
1 00 S, 11 45 E
Gambia, The
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Gaza Strip
31 25 N, 34 20 E
Georgia
42 00 N, 43 30 E
Germany
51 00 N, 9 00 E
Ghana
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Gibraltar
36 8 N, 5 21 W
Glorioso Islands
11 30 S, 47 20 E
Greece
39 00 N, 22 00 E
Greenland
72 00 N, 40 00 W
Grenada
12 07 N, 61 40 W
Guadeloupe
16 15 N, 61 35 W
Guam
13 28 N, 144 47 E
Guatemala
15 30 N, 90 15 W
Guernsey
49 28 N, 2 35 W
Guinea
11 00 N, 10 00 W
Guinea-Bissau
12 00 N, 15 00 W
Guyana
5 00 N, 59 00 W
Haiti
19 00 N, 72 25 W
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
53 06 S, 72 31 E
Holy See (Vatican City)
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Honduras
15 00 N, 86 30 W
Hong Kong
22 15 N, 114 10 E
Howland Island
0 48 N, 176 38 W
Hungary
47 00 N, 20 00 E
Iceland
65 00 N, 18 00 W
India
20 00 N, 77 00 E
Indian Ocean
20 00 S, 80 00 E
Indonesia
5 00 S, 120 00 E
Iran
32 00 N, 53 00 E
Iraq
33 00 N, 44 00 E
Ireland
53 00 N, 8 00 W
Israel
31 30 N, 34 45 E
Italy
42 50 N, 12 50 E
Jamaica
18 15 N, 77 30 W
Jan Mayen
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Japan
36 00 N, 138 00 E
Jarvis Island
0 22 S, 160 03 W
Jersey
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Johnston Atoll
16 45 N, 169 31 W
Jordan
31 00 N, 36 00 E
Juan de Nova Island
17 03 S, 42 45 E
Kazakhstan
48 00 N, 68 00 E
Kenya
1 00 N, 38 00 E
Kingman Reef
6 24 N, 162 24 W
Kiribati
1 25 N, 173 00 E
Korea, North
40 00 N, 127 00 E
Korea, South
37 00 N, 127 30 E
Kuwait
29 30 N, 45 45 E
Kyrgyzstan
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Laos
18 00 N, 105 00 E
Latvia
57 00 N, 25 00 E
Lebanon
33 50 N, 35 50 E
Lesotho
29 30 S, 28 30 E
Liberia
6 30 N, 9 30 W
Libya
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Liechtenstein
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Lithuania
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Luxembourg
49 45 N, 6 10 E
Macau
22 10 N, 113 33 E
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Madagascar
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Malawi
13 30 S, 34 00 E
Malaysia
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Maldives
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Mali
17 00 N, 4 00 W
Malta
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Man, Isle of
54 15 N, 4 30 W
Marshall Islands
9 00 N, 168 00 E
Martinique
14 40 N, 61 00 W
Mauritania
20 00 N, 12 00 W
Mauritius
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Mayotte
12 50 S, 45 10 E
Mexico
23 00 N, 102 00 W
Micronesia, Federated States of
6 55 N, 158 15 E
Midway Islands
28 13 N, 177 22 W
Moldova
47 00 N, 29 00 E
Monaco
43 44 N, 7 24 E
Mongolia
46 00 N, 105 00 E
Montserrat
16 45 N, 62 12 W
Morocco
32 00 N, 5 00 W
Mozambique
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Namibia
22 00 S, 17 00 E
Nauru
0 32 S, 166 55 E
Navassa Island
18 25 N, 75 02 W
Nepal
28 00 N, 84 00 E
Netherlands
52 30 N, 5 45 E
Netherlands Antilles
12 15 N, 68 45 W
New Caledonia
21 30 S, 165 30 E
New Zealand
41 00 S, 174 00 E
Nicaragua
13 00 N, 85 00 W
Niger
16 00 N, 8 00 E
Nigeria
10 00 N, 8 00 E
Niue
19 02 S, 169 52 W
Norfolk Island
29 02 S, 167 57 E
Northern Mariana Islands
15 12 N, 145 45 E
Norway
62 00 N, 10 00 E
Oman
21 00 N, 57 00 E
Pacific Ocean
0 00 N, 160 00 W
Pakistan
30 00 N, 70 00 E
Palau
7 30 N, 134 30 E
Palmyra Atoll
5 52 N, 162 06 W
Panama
9 00 N, 80 00 W
Papua New Guinea
6 00 S, 147 00 E
Paracel Islands
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Paraguay
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Peru
10 00 S, 76 00 W
Philippines
13 00 N, 122 00 E
Pitcairn Islands
25 04 S, 130 06 W
Poland
52 00 N, 20 00 E
Portugal
39 30 N, 8 00 W
Puerto Rico
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Qatar
25 30 N, 51 15 E
Reunion
21 06 S, 55 36 E
Romania
46 00 N, 25 00 E
Russia
60 00 N, 100 00 E
Rwanda
2 00 S, 30 00 E
Saint Helena
15 56 S, 5 42 W
Saint Kitts and Nevis
17 20 N, 62 45 W
Saint Lucia
13 53 N, 60 68 W
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
46 50 N, 56 20 W
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
13 15 N, 61 12 W
Samoa
13 35 S, 172 20 W
San Marino
43 46 N, 12 25 E
Sao Tome and Principe
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Saudi Arabia
25 00 N, 45 00 E
Senegal
14 00 N, 14 00 W
Serbia and Montenegro
44 00 N, 21 00 E
Seychelles
4 35 S, 55 40 E
Sierra Leone
8 30 N, 11 30 W
Singapore
1 22 N, 103 48 E
Slovakia
48 40 N, 19 30 E
Slovenia
46 07 N, 14 49 E
Solomon Islands
8 00 S, 159 00 E
Somalia
10 00 N, 49 00 E
South Africa
29 00 S, 24 00 E
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
54 30 S, 37 00 W
Southern Ocean
65 00 S, 0 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
Spain
40 00 N, 4 00 W
Spratly Islands
8 38 N, 111 55 E
Sri Lanka
7 00 N, 81 00 E
Sudan
15 00 N, 30 00 E
Suriname
4 00 N, 56 00 W
Svalbard
78 00 N, 20 00 E
Swaziland
26 30 S, 31 30 E
Sweden
62 00 N, 15 00 E
Switzerland
47 00 N, 8 00 E
Syria
35 00 N, 38 00 E
Taiwan
23 30 N, 121 00 E
Tajikistan
39 00 N, 71 00 E
Tanzania
6 00 S, 35 00 E
Thailand
15 00 N, 100 00 E
Togo
8 00 N, 1 10 E
Tokelau
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Tonga
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Trinidad and Tobago
11 00 N, 61 00 W
Tromelin Island
15 52 S, 54 25 E
Tunisia
34 00 N, 9 00 E
Turkey
39 00 N, 35 00 E
Turkmenistan
40 00 N, 60 00 E
Turks and Caicos Islands
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Tuvalu
8 00 S, 178 00 E
Uganda
1 00 N, 32 00 E
Ukraine
49 00 N, 32 00 E
United Arab Emirates
24 00 N, 54 00 E
United Kingdom
54 00 N, 2 00 W
United States
38 00 N, 97 00 W
Uruguay
33 00 S, 56 00 W
Uzbekistan
41 00 N, 64 00 E
Vanuatu
16 00 S, 167 00 E
Venezuela
8 00 N, 66 00 W
Vietnam
16 00 N, 106 00 E
Virgin Islands
18 20 N, 64 50 W
Wake Island
19 17 N, 166 36 E
Wallis and Futuna
13 18 S, 176 12 W
West Bank
32 00 N, 35 15 E
Western Sahara
24 30 N, 13 00 W
Yemen
15 00 N, 48 00 E
Zambia
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Zimbabwe
20 00 S, 30 00 E
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2012 GDP - composition by sector (%)
Afghanistan
agriculture: 60%
industry: 20%
services: 20% (1990 est.)
Albania
agriculture: 49%
industry: 27%
services: 24% (2002 est.)
Algeria
agriculture: 8%
industry: 60%
services: 32% (2002 est.)
American Samoa
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Andorra
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Angola
agriculture: 8%
industry: 67%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Anguilla
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (1997 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 19.2%
services: 76.8% (2002)
Argentina
agriculture: 5%
industry: 28%
services: 66% (2000 est.)
Armenia
agriculture: 30%
industry: 26%
services: 44% (2001 est.)
Aruba
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Australia
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (2001 est.)
Austria
agriculture: 2%
industry: 33%
services: 65% (2002 est.)
Azerbaijan
agriculture: 20%
industry: 33%
services: 47% (2001 est.)
Bahamas, The
agriculture: 3%
industry: 7%
services: 90% (1999 est.)
Bahrain
agriculture: 1%
industry: 35%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Bangladesh
agriculture: 35%
industry: 19%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Barbados
agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Belarus
agriculture: 15%
industry: 40%
services: 45% (2002 est.)
Belgium
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 24.4%
services: 74.3% (2001)
Belize
agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2001 est.)
Benin
agriculture: 38%
industry: 15%
services: 47% (2002 est.)
Bermuda
agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)
Bhutan
agriculture: 45%
industry: 10%
services: 45% (2002 est.)
Bolivia
agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2002 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
agriculture: 13%
industry: 40.9%
services: 46.1% (2001 est.)
Botswana
agriculture: 4%
industry: 44% (including 36% mining)
services: 52% (2001 est.)
Brazil
agriculture: 8%
industry: 36%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
British Virgin Islands
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 6.2%
services: 92% (1996 est.)
Brunei
agriculture: 5%
industry: 45%
services: 50% (2001 est.)
Bulgaria
agriculture: 13.7%
industry: 28.5%
services: 57.9% (2001)
Burkina Faso
agriculture: 35%
industry: 17%
services: 48% (2001)
Burma
agriculture: 60%
industry: 9%
services: 31% (2002 est.)
Burundi
agriculture: 50%
industry: 19%
services: 31% (2002 est.)
Cambodia
agriculture: 40%
industry: 20%
services: 40% (2001 est.)
Cameroon
agriculture: 46%
industry: 21%
services: 33% (2001 est.)
Canada
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 26.5%
services: 71.2% (2001 est.)
Cape Verde
agriculture: 11%
industry: 17%
services: 72% (2001)
Cayman Islands
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Central African Republic
agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Chad
agriculture: 38%
industry: 13%
services: 49% (2001 est.)
Chile
agriculture: 11%
industry: 34%
services: 56% (2001)
China
agriculture: 15.2%
industry and construction: 51.2%
services: 33.6% (2001)
Christmas Island
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Colombia
agriculture: 13%
industry: 30%
services: 57% (2001 est.)
Comoros
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
agriculture: 55%
industry: 11%
services: 34% (2000 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
agriculture: 10%
industry: 48%
services: 42% (2001 est.)
Cook Islands
agriculture: 17%
industry: 7.8%
services: 75.2% (2000 est.)
Costa Rica
agriculture: 9%
industry: 30%
services: 61% (2002 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
agriculture: 29%
industry: 22%
services: 49% (2001 est.)
Croatia
agriculture: 9%
industry: 33%
services: 58% (2002 est.)
Cuba
agriculture: 7.6%
industry: 34.5%
services: 57.9% (2000 est.)
Cyprus
Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.6%; industry 19.9%;
services 19.9%
Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 75.5%; industry 20.7%; services
71% (2001)
Czech Republic
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 41%
services: 55.2% (2001)
Denmark
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (2002 est.)
Djibouti
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 15.8%
services: 80.7% (2001 est.)
Dominica
agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2002 est.)
Dominican Republic
agriculture: 11%
industry: 34%
services: 55% (2001)
East Timor
agriculture: 25.4%
industry: 17.2%
services: 57.4% (2001)
Ecuador
agriculture: 11%
industry: 33%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Egypt
agriculture: 17%
industry: 34%
services: 49% (2001)
El Salvador
agriculture: 10%
industry: 30%
services: 60% (2001)
Equatorial Guinea
agriculture: 20%
industry: 60%
services: 20% (1999 est.)
Eritrea
agriculture: 17%
industry: 29%
services: 54% (2001 est.)
Estonia
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 28.6%
services: 65.6% (2001)
Ethiopia
agriculture: 52%
industry: 11%
services: 37% (2001 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Faroe Islands
agriculture: 27%
industry: 11%
services: 62% (1999)
Fiji
agriculture: 17%
industry: 25%
services: 58% (2000 est.)
Finland
agriculture: 4%
industry: 34%
services: 62% (2002 est.)
France
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (2002 est.)
French Guiana
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
French Polynesia
agriculture: 6%
industry: 18%
services: 76% (1997)
Gabon
agriculture: 15%
industry: 60%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Gambia, The
agriculture: 33%
industry: 13%
services: 54% (1999 est.)
Gaza Strip
agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63% (includes West Bank)
Georgia
agriculture: 20%
industry: 25%
services: 55% (2002 est.)
Germany
agriculture: 1%
industry: 31%
services: 68% (2002 est.)
Ghana
agriculture: 36%
industry: 25%
services: 39% (2000 est.)
Gibraltar
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Greece
agriculture: 8.1%
industry: 22.3%
services: 69.3% (2002 est.)
Greenland
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Grenada
agriculture: 7.7%
industry: 23.9%
services: 68.4% (2000)
Guadeloupe
agriculture: 15%
industry: 17%
services: 68% (1997 est.)
Guam
agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% (2002 est.)
Guatemala
agriculture: 23%
industry: 20%
services: 57% (2001 est.)
Guernsey
agriculture: 3%
industry: 10%
services: 87% (2000)
Guinea
agriculture: 25%
industry: 37%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
agriculture: 62%
industry: 12%
services: 26% (1999 est.)
Guyana
agriculture: 35%
industry: 21%
services: 44% (2002 est.)
Haiti
agriculture: 30%
industry: 20%
services: 50% (2001 est.)
Honduras
agriculture: 14%
industry: 32%
services: 54% (2002 est.)
Hong Kong
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 13.4%
services: 86.5% (2001 est.)
Hungary
agriculture: 4.1%
industry: 33.8%
services: 62.1% (2000 est.)
Iceland
agriculture: 14% (includes fishing 12%)
industry: 21%
services: 65% (2001 est.)
India
agriculture: 25%
industry: 25%
services: 50% (2002 est.)
Indonesia
agriculture: 17%
industry: 41%
services: 42% (2001 est.)
Iran
agriculture: 19%
industry: 26%
services: 55% (2002 est.)
Iraq
agriculture: 6%
industry: 13%
services: 81% (1993 est.)
Ireland
agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)
Israel
agriculture: 3%
industry: 30%
services: 67% (2001 est.)
Italy
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 30%
services: 67.6% (2001 est.)
Jamaica
agriculture: 6%
industry: 31%
services: 63% (2002 est.)
Japan
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 30.9%
services: 67.7% (2001 est.)
Jersey
agriculture: 5%
industry: 2%
services: 93% (1996)
Jordan
agriculture: 3.7%
industry: 26%
services: 70.3% (2001 est.)
Kazakhstan
agriculture: 9%
industry: 40%
services: 51% (2002 est.)
Kenya
agriculture: 24%
industry: 13%
services: 63% (2001 est.)
Kiribati
agriculture: 30%
industry: 7%
services: 63% (1998 est.)
Korea, North
agriculture: 30.4%
industry: 32.3%
services: 37.3% (2000 est.)
Korea, South
agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 41.6%
services: 54% (2001 est.)
Kuwait
agriculture: 60%
industry: 39.7%
services: 0.3% (2000)
Kyrgyzstan
agriculture: 35%
industry: 25%
services: 40% (2002 est.)
Laos
agriculture: 53%
industry: 23%
services: 24% (2001 est.)
Latvia
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 26%
services: 69.5% (2001)
Lebanon
agriculture: 12%
industry: 21%
services: 67% (2000)
Lesotho
agriculture: 20%
industry: 46%
services: 34% (2001)
Liberia
agriculture: 74%
industry: 7%
services: 19% (2001 est.)
Libya
agriculture: 9%
industry: 45%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Liechtenstein
agriculture: NA%
industry: 40%
services: NA% (1999)
Lithuania
agriculture: 8%
industry: 31%
services: 61% (2001 est.)
Luxembourg
agriculture: 1%
industry: 30%
services: 69% (2000 est.)
Macau
agriculture: 1%
industry: 12%
services: 87% (2002 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
agriculture: 11%
industry: 31%
services: 58% (2001 est.)
Madagascar
agriculture: 25%
industry: 12%
services: 63% (2001 est.)
Malawi
agriculture: 37%
industry: 16%
services: 47% (2001 est.)
Malaysia
agriculture: 12%
industry: 40%
services: 48% (2001)
Maldives
agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Mali
agriculture: 45%
industry: 17%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Malta
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 25.5%
services: 71.7% (1999)
Man, Isle of
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)
Marshall Islands
agriculture: 14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% (2000 est.)
Martinique
agriculture: 6%
industry: 11%
services: 83% (1997 est.)
Mauritania
agriculture: 25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Mauritius
agriculture: 6%
industry: 33%
services: 61% (1999 est.)
Mayotte
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Mexico
agriculture: 5%
industry: 26%
services: 69% (2001 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
agriculture: 50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.)
Moldova
agriculture: 28%
industry: 23%
services: 49% (2000)
Monaco
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Mongolia
agriculture: 32%
industry: 23%
services: 45% (2001 est.)
Montserrat
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 81% (1996 est.)
Morocco
agriculture: 15%
industry: 33%
services: 52% (2000 est.)
Mozambique
agriculture: 22%
industry: 23%
services: 55% (2001 est.)
Namibia
agriculture: 11%
industry: 28%
services: 61% (2001 est.)
Nauru
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Nepal
agriculture: 40%
industry: 20%
services: 40% (2002 est.)
Netherlands
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 25.7%
services: 71.2% (2001 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)
New Caledonia
agriculture: 5%
industry: 30%
services: 65% (1997 est.)
New Zealand
agriculture: 8%
industry: 23%
services: 69% (2001)
Nicaragua
agriculture: 30%
industry: 26%
services: 44% (2002 est.)
Niger
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)
Nigeria
agriculture: 45%
industry: 20%
services: 35% (2002 est.)
Niue
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 55%
Norfolk Island
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Northern Mariana Islands
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Norway
agriculture: 1.9%
industry: 30.8%
services: 67.3% (2000)
Oman
agriculture: 3%
industry: 55%
services: 42% (2001 est.)
Pakistan
agriculture: 24%
industry: 25%
services: 51% (FY01/02 est.)
Palau
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Panama
agriculture: 7%
industry: 17%
services: 76% (2001 est.)
Papua New Guinea
agriculture: 32.1%
industry: 35.8%
services: 32.1% (2001 est.)
Paraguay
agriculture: 27%
industry: 27%
services: 46% (2001 est.)
Peru
agriculture: 10%
industry: 27%
services: 63% (2001 est.)
Philippines
agriculture: 15%
industry: 31%
services: 54% (2001 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Poland
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 35%
services: 61.2% (2000 est.)
Portugal
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 28.7%
services: 67.7% (2001)
Puerto Rico
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (1999 est.)
Qatar
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 67.6%
services: 32% (2000 est.)
Reunion
agriculture: 8%
industry: 19%
services: 73% (2000 est.)
Romania
agriculture: 15%
industry: 35%
services: 50% (2001)
Russia
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 34.6%
services: 59.6% (2002 est.)
Rwanda
agriculture: 45%
industry: 20%
services: 35% (2002 est.)
Saint Helena
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Saint Kitts and Nevis
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)
Saint Lucia
agriculture: 7%
industry: 20%
services: 73% (2002 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Samoa
agriculture: 14%
industry: 23%
services: 63% (2001 est.)
San Marino
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Sao Tome and Principe
agriculture: 25%
industry: 10%
services: 65% (1999 est.)
Saudi Arabia
agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 51.2%
services: 43.6% (2001 est.)
Senegal
agriculture: 18%
industry: 27%
services: 55% (2001 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
agriculture: 26%
industry: 36%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Seychelles
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 24.4%
services: 73.2% (2000)
Sierra Leone
agriculture: 49%
industry: 31%
services: 21% (2001 est.)
Singapore
agriculture: NEGL%
industry: 33%
services: 67% (2001 est.)
Slovakia
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 34.1%
services: 61.4% (2000)
Slovenia
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 36.3%
services: 60.5% (2001 est.)
Solomon Islands
agriculture: 42%
industry: 11%
services: 47% (2000 est.)
Somalia
agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2000 est.)
South Africa
agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 28.9%
services: 66.7% (2001)
Spain
agriculture: 4%
industry: 31%
services: 65% (2000 est.)
Sri Lanka
agriculture: 20%
industry: 26%
services: 54% (2001)
Sudan
agriculture: 43%
industry: 17%
services: 40% (1999 est.)
Suriname
agriculture: 13%
industry: 22%
services: 65% (2001 est.)
Swaziland
agriculture: 17%
industry: 44%
services: 39% (2001 est.)
Sweden
agriculture: 2%
industry: 29%
services: 69% (2001)
Switzerland
agriculture: 2%
industry: 34%
services: 64% (2002 est.)
Syria
agriculture: 27%
industry: 23%
services: 50% (2000 est.)
Taiwan
agriculture: 2%
industry: 31%
services: 67% (2002 est.)
Tajikistan
agriculture: 19%
industry: 26%
services: 55% (2002 est.)
Tanzania
agriculture: 48.1%
industry: 15.4%
services: 36.5% (2001 est.)
Thailand
agriculture: 11%
industry: 40%
services: 49% (2001)
Togo
agriculture: 42%
industry: 21%
services: 37% (2001 est.)
Tokelau
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Tonga
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2001 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 43.2%
services: 55.2% (2000 est.)
Tunisia
agriculture: 12%
industry: 32%
services: 56% (2003 est.)
Turkey
agriculture: 12.9%
industry: 30.4%
services: 56.7% (2001)
Turkmenistan
agriculture: 27%
industry: 50%
services: 23% (2001 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Tuvalu
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Uganda
agriculture: 43%
industry: 19%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
Ukraine
agriculture: 23%
industry: 42%
services: 35% (2001 est.)
United Arab Emirates
agriculture: 3%
industry: 46%
services: 51% (2000 est.)
United Kingdom
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 24.9%
services: 73.7% (2000)
United States
agriculture: 2%
industry: 18%
services: 80% (2002 est.)
Uruguay
agriculture: 6%
industry: 27%
services: 67% (2001)
Uzbekistan
agriculture: 36%
industry: 21%
services: 43% (2001 est.)
Vanuatu
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2000 est.)
Venezuela
agriculture: 5%
industry: 50%
services: 45% (2001)
Vietnam
agriculture: 24%
industry: 37%
services: 39% (2001 est.)
Virgin Islands
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Wallis and Futuna
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
West Bank
agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63%
note: includes Gaza Strip (1999 est.)
Western Sahara
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 40% (1996 est.)
World
agriculture: 4%
industry: 32%
services: 64% (2002 est.)
Yemen
agriculture: 22%
industry: 38%
services: 40% (2001)
Zambia
agriculture: 22%
industry: 26%
services: 52% (2001)
Zimbabwe
agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2001)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2013 Radio broadcast stations
Afghanistan
AM 7 (6 are inactive; the active station is in Kabul),
FM 1, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian (Dari),
Urdu, and English) (1999)
Albania
AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)
Algeria
AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)
American Samoa
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Andorra
AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)
Angola
AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000)
Anguilla
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Antarctica
AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1
note: information for US bases only (2002)
Antigua and Barbuda
AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Argentina
AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably
more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)
Armenia
AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Aruba
AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Australia
AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)
Austria
AM 2, FM 160 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1
(2001)
Azerbaijan
AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Bahamas, The
AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Bahrain
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Bangladesh
AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)
Barbados
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Belarus
AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)
Belgium
FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Belize
AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Benin
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Bermuda
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Bhutan
AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Bolivia
AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)
Botswana
AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)
Brazil
AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated
with AM stations) (1999)
British Indian Ocean Territory
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
British Virgin Islands
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Brunei
AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Bulgaria
AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)
Burkina Faso
AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Burma
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998)
Burundi
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Cambodia
AM 7, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1999)
Cameroon
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)
Canada
AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)
Cape Verde
AM 0, FM 15 (and 17 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)
Cayman Islands
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Central African Republic
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Chad
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)
Chile
AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive)
(1998)
China
AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)
Christmas Island
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
Colombia
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Comoros
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)
Congo, Republic of the
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)
Cook Islands
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Costa Rica
AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998)
Cote d'Ivoire
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)
Croatia
AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)
Cuba
AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)
Cyprus
Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish
Cypriot area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Czech Republic
AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)
Denmark
AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
Djibouti
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Dominica
AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Dominican Republic
AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)
East Timor
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Ecuador
AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
Egypt
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
El Salvador
AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)
Equatorial Guinea
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002)
Eritrea
AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)
Estonia
AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)
Ethiopia
AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Faroe Islands
AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Fiji
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Finland
AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)
France
AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and
includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
French Guiana
AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6
(including 5 repeaters) (1998)
French Polynesia
AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Gabon
AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)
Gambia, The
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Gaza Strip
AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Georgia
AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)
Germany
AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998)
Ghana
AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001)
Gibraltar
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Greece
AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
Greenland
AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Grenada
AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Guadeloupe
AM 1, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Guam
AM 4, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2003)
Guatemala
AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)
Guernsey
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Guinea
AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters),
shortwave 3 (2001)
Guinea-Bissau
AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0
(2002)
Guyana
AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Haiti
AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)
Holy See (Vatican City)
AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)
Honduras
AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)
Hong Kong
AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Hungary
AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)
Iceland
AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
India
AM 153, FM 91, shortwave 68 (1998)
Indonesia
AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998)
Iran
AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)
Iraq
AM 19 (5 are inactive), FM 51, shortwave 4 (1998)
Ireland
AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)
Israel
AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2 (1998)
Italy
AM about 100, FM about 4,600, shortwave 9 (1998)
Jamaica
AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Jan Mayen
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
Japan
AM 215 plus 370 repeaters, FM 89 plus 485 repeaters, shortwave
21 (2001)
Jersey
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Johnston Atoll
AM NA, FM 7 (1 island-run morale, welfare, and
recreation station and 6 all-music digital radio stations broadcast
over FM band), shortwave NA (2002)
Jordan
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)
Kazakhstan
AM 60, FM 17, shortwave 9 (1998)
Kenya
AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)
Kiribati
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station may be inactive (2002)
Korea, North
AM 16, FM 14, shortwave 12 (1999)
Korea, South
AM 104, FM 136, shortwave 5 (2001)
Kuwait
AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Kyrgyzstan
AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2
(1998)
Laos
AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Latvia
AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Lebanon
AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)
Lesotho
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Liberia
AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)
Libya
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)
Liechtenstein
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Lithuania
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Luxembourg
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Macau
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0
(1998)
Madagascar
AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9,
shortwave 6 (2001)
Malawi
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a
third station held in standby status) (2001)
Malaysia
AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)
Maldives
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Mali
AM 1, FM 28, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station in Bamako has seven frequencies and five
transmitters and relays broadcasts for China Radio International
(2001)
Malta
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Man, Isle of
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Marshall Islands
AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television
Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station
on Kwajalein (2002)
Martinique
AM 0, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
Mauritania
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Mauritius
AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002)
Mayotte
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)
Mexico
AM 851, FM 598, shortwave 16 (2000)
Micronesia, Federated States of
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Moldova
AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)
Monaco
AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)
Mongolia
AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001)
Montserrat
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Morocco
AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Mozambique
AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)
Namibia
AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Nauru
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Nepal
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)
Netherlands
AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998)
Netherlands Antilles
AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
New Caledonia
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
New Zealand
AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Nicaragua
AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Niger
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)
Nigeria
AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)
Niue
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Norfolk Island
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Northern Mariana Islands
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Norway
AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)
Oman
AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Pakistan
AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)
Palau
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)
Panama
AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)
Papua New Guinea
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Paraguay
AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)
Peru
AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)
Philippines
AM 366, FM 290, shortwave 5
note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the
language of the target audience (2002)
Pitcairn Islands
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Poland
AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)
Portugal
AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Puerto Rico
AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Qatar
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Reunion
AM 2, FM 55, shortwave 0 (2001)
Romania
AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)
Russia
AM 420, FM 447, shortwave 56 (1998)
Rwanda
AM 0, FM 3 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a
system of repeaters and the third FM program is a 24 hour BBC
program), shortwave 1 (2002)
Saint Helena
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Saint Lucia
AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Samoa
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
San Marino
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Sao Tome and Principe
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Saudi Arabia
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Senegal
AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)
Serbia and Montenegro
AM 113, FM 194, shortwave 2 (1998)
Seychelles
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Sierra Leone
AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)
Singapore
AM 0, FM 16, shortwave 2 (1998)
Slovakia
AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)
Slovenia
AM 17, FM 160, shortwave 0 (1998)
Solomon Islands
AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Somalia
AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1
FM in Somaliland (2001)
South Africa
AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
0 (2003)
Spain
AM 208, FM 715, shortwave 1 (1998)
Sri Lanka
AM 26, FM 45, shortwave 1 (1998)
Sudan
AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Suriname
AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)
Svalbard
AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Swaziland
AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2001)
Sweden
AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)
Switzerland
AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2
(1998)
Syria
AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Taiwan
AM 218, FM 333, shortwave 50 (1999)
Tajikistan
AM 8, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2002)
Tanzania
AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)
Thailand
AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)
Togo
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Tokelau
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of unknown type that
broadcasts shipping and weather reports (1998)
Tonga
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001)
Trinidad and Tobago
AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Tunisia
AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Turkey
AM 16, FM 107, shortwave 6 (2001)
Turkmenistan
AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)
Turks and Caicos Islands
AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0
(1998)
Tuvalu
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1999)
Uganda
AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)
Ukraine
AM 134, FM 289, shortwave 4 (1998)
United Arab Emirates
AM 13, FM 7, shortwave 2 (1998)
United Kingdom
AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998)
United States
AM 4,762, FM 5,542, shortwave 18 (1998)
Uruguay
AM 91, FM 149, shortwave 7 (2001)
Uzbekistan
AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)
Vanuatu
AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2002)
Venezuela
AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)
Vietnam
AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)
Virgin Islands
AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)
Wake Island
AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite (1998)
Wallis and Futuna
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
West Bank
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
note: the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts from an AM
station in Ramallah on 675 kHz; numerous local, private stations are
reported to be in operation (2000)
Western Sahara
AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
World
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Yemen
AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Zambia
AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)
Zimbabwe
AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2015 Television broadcast stations
Afghanistan
at least 10 (one government-run central television
station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 32 provinces;
the regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997,
there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern
Afghanistan provinces) (1998)
Albania
3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)
Algeria
46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)
American Samoa
1 (1997)
Andorra
0 (1997)
Angola
6 (2000)
Anguilla
1 (1997)
Antarctica
1 (cable system with six channels; American Forces
Antarctic Network-McMurdo)
note: information for US bases only (2002)
Antigua and Barbuda
2 (1997)
Argentina
42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)
Armenia
3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998)
Aruba
1 (1997)
Australia
104 (1997)
Austria
45 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)
Azerbaijan
2 (1997)
Bahamas, The
1 (1997)
Bahrain
4 (1997)
Bangladesh
15 (1999)
Barbados
1 (plus two cable channels) (1997)
Belarus
47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)
Belgium
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Belize
2 (1997)
Benin
1;; (2001)
Bermuda
3 (1997)
Bhutan
0 (1997)
Bolivia
48 (1997)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)
Botswana
1 (2001)
Brazil
138 (1997)
British Indian Ocean Territory
1 (1997)
British Virgin Islands
1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Brunei
2 (1997)
Bulgaria
39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)
Burkina Faso
1 (2002)
Burma
2 (1998)
Burundi
1 (2001)
Cambodia
6 (2003)
Cameroon
1 (2002)
Canada
80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Cape Verde
1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)
Cayman Islands
1 with cable system
Central African Republic
1 (2001)
Chad
1 (2002)
Chile
63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)
China
3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television,
31 are provincial TV stations and nearly 3,000 are local city
stations) (1997)
Christmas Island
NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA
Colombia
60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)
Comoros
NA
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
4 (2001)
Congo, Republic of the
1 (2002)
Cook Islands
2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Costa Rica
6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)
Cote d'Ivoire
14 (1999)
Croatia
36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)
Cuba
58 (1997)
Cyprus
Greek Cypriot area: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters)
(September 1995);; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 (plus 5 repeaters)
(September 1995)
Czech Republic
150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)
Denmark
26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)
Djibouti
1 (2002)
Dominica
0 (however, there is one cable television company) (1997)
Dominican Republic
25 (1997)
East Timor
NA
Ecuador
7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)
Egypt
98 (September 1995)
El Salvador
5 (1997)
Equatorial Guinea
1 (2002)
Eritrea
1 (2000)
Estonia
3 (2001)
Ethiopia
1 plus 24 repeaters (2002)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
2 (operated by the British Forces
Broadcasting Service)
note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)
Faroe Islands
3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Fiji
NA
Finland
120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)
France
584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
French Guiana
3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
French Polynesia
7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Gabon
4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Gambia, The
1 (government-owned) (1997)
Gaza Strip
2 (operated by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation)
(1997)
Georgia
12 (plus repeaters) (1998)
Germany
373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995)
Ghana
10 (2001)
Gibraltar
1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (1997)
Greece
36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the
US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
Greenland
1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations,
and three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)
Grenada
2 (1997)
Guadeloupe
5 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Guam
5 (1997)
Guatemala
26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)
Guernsey
1 (1997)
Guinea
6 low-power stations (2001)
Guinea-Bissau
NA (1997)
Guyana
3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US
satellite services) (1997)
Haiti
2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)
Holy See (Vatican City)
1 (1996)
Honduras
11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Hong Kong
4 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Hungary
35 (plus 161 low-power repeaters) (1995)
Iceland
14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)
India
562 (of which 82 stations have 1 kW or greater power and 480
stations have less than 1 kW of power) (1997)
Indonesia
41 (1999)
Iran
28 (plus 450 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Iraq
13 (1997); note - unknown number were destroyed during the
March-April 2003 war
Ireland
4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)
Israel
17 (plus 36 low-power repeaters) (1995)
Italy
358 (plus 4,728 repeaters) (1995)
Jamaica
7 (1997)
Japan
211 plus 7,341 repeaters
note: in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV
cable services (1999)
Jersey
2 (1997)
Johnston Atoll
commercial satellite television system, with 30
channels (2002)
Jordan
20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)
Kazakhstan
12 (plus nine repeaters) (1998)
Kenya
8 (2002)
Kiribati
1 (not reported to be active) (2002)
Korea, North
38 (1999)
Korea, South
121 (plus 850 repeater stations and the eight-channel
American Forces Korea Network) (1999)
Kuwait
13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Kyrgyzstan
NA (repeater stations throughout the country relay
programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997)
Laos
4 (1999)
Latvia
44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Lebanon
15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)
Lesotho
1 (2000)
Liberia
1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Libya
12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)
Liechtenstein
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Lithuania
27
note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may
have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)
Luxembourg
5 (1999)
Macau
1 (2003)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
31 (plus 166 repeaters)
(1995)
Madagascar
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Malawi
1 (2001)
Malaysia
1 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (2001)
Maldives
1 (1997)
Mali
1 (plus repeaters) (2001)
Malta
6 (2000)
Man, Isle of
0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)
Marshall Islands
2 (both are US military stations) (2002)
Martinique
11 (plus nine repeaters) (1997)
Mauritania
1 (2002)
Mauritius
2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)
Mayotte
3 (2001)
Mexico
236 (plus repeaters) (1997)
Micronesia, Federated States of
2 (1997)
Moldova
1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)
Monaco
5 (1998)
Mongolia
4 (plus 18 provincial repeaters and many low power
repeaters) (1999)
Montserrat
1 (1997)
Morocco
35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
Mozambique
1 (2001)
Namibia
8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Nauru
1 (1997)
Nepal
1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)
Netherlands
21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
Netherlands Antilles
3 (there is also a cable service, which
supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and
two Venezuelan channels) (1997)
New Caledonia
6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
New Zealand
41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Nicaragua
3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Niger
3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)
Nigeria
3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations
and 15 repeater stations) (2002)
Niue
1 (1997)
Norfolk Island
1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that
bring in Australian programs by satellite) (1998)
Northern Mariana Islands
1 (on Saipan and one station planned for
Rota; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied
programming from satellite networks) (1997)
Norway
360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)
Oman
13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)
Pakistan
22 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Palau
1 (1997)
Panama
38 (including repeaters) (1998)
Papua New Guinea
3 (all in the Port Moresby area)
note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are
planned (2002)
Paraguay
4 (2001)
Peru
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
Philippines
75 (2000)
Pitcairn Islands
0 (1997)
Poland
179 (plus 256 repeaters) (September 1995)
Portugal
62 (plus 166 repeaters)
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)
Puerto Rico
18 (plus three stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and
Television Service) (1997)
Qatar
1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)
Reunion
35 (plus 18 low-power repeaters) (2001)
Romania
48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)
Russia
7,306 (1998)
Rwanda
NA
Saint Helena
0
note: television programs are received in Saint Helena via satellite
and distributed by cable (2002)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Saint Lucia
3 (of which two are commercial stations and one is a
community antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 (there are, however, two repeaters which
rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Samoa
2 (2002)
San Marino
1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from
Italy) (1997)
Sao Tome and Principe
2 (2002)
Saudi Arabia
117 (1997)
Senegal
1 (1997)
Serbia and Montenegro
more than 771 (including 86 strong stations
and 685 low-power stations, plus 20 repeaters in the principal
networks; also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and
Vojvodina) (1997)
Seychelles
2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)
Sierra Leone
2 (1999)
Singapore
6 (2000)
Slovakia
38 (plus 864 repeaters) (1995)
Slovenia
48 (2001)
Solomon Islands
0 (1997)
Somalia
4
note: two in Mogadishu; two in Hargeisa (2001)
South Africa
556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
0 (2003)
Spain
224 (plus 2,105 repeaters)
note: these figures include 11 television broadcast stations and 88
repeaters in the Canary Islands (1995)
Sri Lanka
21 (1997)
Sudan
3 (1997)
Suriname
3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)
Svalbard
NA
Swaziland
5 plus 7 relay stations (2001)
Sweden
169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)
Switzerland
115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Syria
44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)
Taiwan
29 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Tajikistan
13 (2001)
Tanzania
3 (1999)
Thailand
5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters) (1997)
Togo
3 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Tonga
2 (2001)
Trinidad and Tobago
4 (1997)
Tunisia
26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Turkey
635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)
Turkmenistan
3 (much programming relayed from Russia and Turkey)
(1997)
Turks and Caicos Islands
0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are
received; cable television is established) (1997)
Tuvalu
0 (1997)
Uganda
8 (plus one low-power repeater) (2001)
Ukraine
at least 33 (plus 21 repeaters that relay broadcasts from
Russia) (1997)
United Arab Emirates
15 (1997)
United Kingdom
228 (plus 3,523 repeaters) (1995)
United States
more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations
affiliated with the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and
PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)
Uruguay
20 (2001)
Uzbekistan
4 (plus two repeaters that relay Russian programs), 1
cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in
regional capitals (2003)
Vanuatu
1 (2002)
Venezuela
66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
Vietnam
at least 7 (plus 13 repeaters) (1998)
Virgin Islands
2 (2002)
Wake Island
0 (1997)
Wallis and Futuna
2 (2000)
West Bank
NA
Western Sahara
NA
World
NA
Yemen
7 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Zambia
9 (2002)
Zimbabwe
16 (1997)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2018 Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
Afghanistan
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: 1.11 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Albania
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Algeria
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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
American Samoa
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Andorra
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Angola
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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Anguilla
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Argentina
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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Armenia
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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Aruba
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Australia
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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Austria
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: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Azerbaijan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Bahamas, The
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Bahrain
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.42 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Bangladesh
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Barbados
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Belarus
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: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Belgium
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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Belize
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: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Benin
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Bermuda
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Bhutan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Bolivia
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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Botswana
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Brazil
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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
British Virgin Islands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Brunei
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Bulgaria
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Burkina Faso
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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Burma
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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Burundi
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Cambodia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Cameroon
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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Canada
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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Cape Verde
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Cayman Islands
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 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 (2003 est.)
Central African Republic
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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Chad
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Chile
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
China
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Christmas Island
NA (2003 est.)
Colombia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Comoros
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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Cook Islands
NA (2003 est.)
Costa Rica
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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Croatia
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Cuba
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Cyprus
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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Czech Republic
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Denmark
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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Djibouti
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Dominica
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Dominican Republic
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
East Timor
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: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Ecuador
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Egypt
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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
El Salvador
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Eritrea
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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Estonia
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: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Ethiopia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Faroe Islands
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Fiji
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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Finland
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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
France
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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
French Guiana
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
French Polynesia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Gabon
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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Gambia, The
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: 1.08 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Gaza Strip
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Georgia
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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Germany
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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Ghana
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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Gibraltar
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Greece
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Greenland
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Grenada
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Guadeloupe
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Guam
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Guatemala
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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Guernsey
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Guinea
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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Guyana
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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Haiti
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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Honduras
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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Hong Kong
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Hungary
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Iceland
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
India
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Indonesia
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 (2003 est.)
Iran
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Iraq
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 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 (2003 est.)
Ireland
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Israel
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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Italy
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 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 (2003 est.)
Jamaica
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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Japan
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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Jersey
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Jordan
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Kazakhstan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Kenya
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Kiribati
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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Korea, North
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: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Korea, South
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Kuwait
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Laos
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Latvia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 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 (2003 est.)
Lebanon
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Lesotho
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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Liberia
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: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Libya
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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Liechtenstein
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 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 (2003 est.)
Lithuania
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: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Luxembourg
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Macau
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
at birth: 1.08
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 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 (2003 est.)
Madagascar
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Malawi
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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Malaysia
at birth: 1.07 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: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Maldives
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Mali
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Malta
at birth: 1.09 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Man, Isle of
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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Marshall Islands
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: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Martinique
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Mauritania
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Mauritius
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Mayotte
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Mexico
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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Moldova
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Monaco
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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Mongolia
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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Montserrat
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Morocco
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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Mozambique
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Namibia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Nauru
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Nepal
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Netherlands
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
New Caledonia
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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
New Zealand
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Nicaragua
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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Niger
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Nigeria
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Niue
NA (2003 est.)
Norfolk Island
NA (2003 est.)
Northern Mariana Islands
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Norway
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Oman
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Pakistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Palau
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Panama
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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Papua New Guinea
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Paraguay
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 (2003 est.)
Peru
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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Philippines
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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
NA (2003 est.)
Poland
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: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Portugal
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Puerto Rico
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Qatar
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.36 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.65 male(s)/female
total population: 1.9 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Reunion
at birth: 1.05 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Romania
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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Russia
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: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Rwanda
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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Saint Helena
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
at birth: 1.06 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Saint Lucia
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Samoa
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.68 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
San Marino
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Saudi Arabia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.37 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.29 male(s)/female
total population: 1.22 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Senegal
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Seychelles
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Sierra Leone
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Singapore
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Slovakia
at birth: 1.05 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: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Slovenia
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: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Solomon Islands
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: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Somalia
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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
South Africa
at birth: 1.02 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Spain
at birth: 1.07 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 (2003 est.)
Sri Lanka
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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Sudan
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: 1.23 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suriname
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: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Svalbard
NA (2003 est.)
Swaziland
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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Sweden
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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Switzerland
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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Syria
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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Taiwan
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Tajikistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Tanzania
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 (2003 est.)
Thailand
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Togo
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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Tokelau
NA (2003 est.)
Tonga
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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Tunisia
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Turkey
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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Turkmenistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Tuvalu
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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Uganda
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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Ukraine
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
United Arab Emirates
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.65 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.56 male(s)/female
total population: 1.47 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
United Kingdom
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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
United States
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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Uruguay
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Uzbekistan
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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Vanuatu
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: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Venezuela
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Vietnam
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Virgin Islands
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
West Bank
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Western Sahara
NA (2003 est.)
World
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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Yemen
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 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Zambia
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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Zimbabwe
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2019 Heliports
Afghanistan
5 (2002)
Albania
1 (2002)
Algeria
1 (2002)
Antarctica
27 stations have helicopter landing facilities (helipads)
(2002)
Austria
1 (2002)
Bahamas, The
1 (2002)
Bahrain
1 (2002)
Belgium
1 (2002)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
5 (2002)
Brunei
3 (2002)
Bulgaria
1 (2002)
Burma
1 (2002)
Cambodia
2 (2002)
Canada
12 (2002)
Colombia
1 (2002)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
1 (2002)
Croatia
1 (2002)
Cyprus
10 (2002)
Czech Republic
2 (2002)
East Timor
1 (2002)
Ecuador
1 (2002)
Egypt
2 (2002)
El Salvador
1 (2002)
France
3 (2002)
Germany
40 (2002)
Greece
7 (2002)
Holy See (Vatican City)
1 (2002)
Hong Kong
2 (2002)
Hungary
5 (2002)
India
19 (2002)
Indonesia
9 (2002)
Iran
13 (2002)
Iraq
5 (2002)
Israel
3 (2002)
Italy
4 (2002)
Japan
15 (2002)
Jordan
2 (2002)
Korea, South
204 (2002)
Kuwait
3 (2002)
Libya
1 (2002)
Luxembourg
1 (2002)
Malaysia
1 (2002)
Mexico
2 (2002)
Monaco
1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice,
France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille) (2002)
Morocco
1 (2002)
Netherlands
1 (2002)
New Caledonia
5 (2002)
New Zealand
1 (2002)
Nigeria
1 (2002)
Northern Mariana Islands
1 (2002)
Oman
1 (2002)
Pakistan
13 (2002)
Papua New Guinea
2 (2002)
Philippines
2 (2002)
Poland
3 (2002)
Qatar
1 (2002)
Romania
1 (2002)
Saudi Arabia
5 (2002)
Serbia and Montenegro
4 (2002)
Sierra Leone
2 (2002)
Slovakia
1 (2002)
Spain
7 (2002)
Sudan
2 (2002)
Sweden
2 (2002)
Switzerland
1 (2002)
Syria
7 (2002)
Taiwan
3 (2002)
Thailand
2 (2002)
Turkey
8 (2002)
United Arab Emirates
2 (2002)
United Kingdom
11 (2002)
United States
149 (2002)
Venezuela
1 (2002)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2020 Elevation extremes (m)
Afghanistan
lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m
Albania
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m
Algeria
lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
highest point: Tahat 3,003 m
American Samoa
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m
Andorra
lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Angola
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
Anguilla
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m
Antarctica
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 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
Antigua and Barbuda
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
Arctic Ocean
lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Argentina
lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula
Valdes)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m
Armenia
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Aruba
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Atlantic Ocean
lowest point: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico
Trench -8,605 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Australia
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
Austria
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
Azerbaijan
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Bahamas, The
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Bahrain
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Baker Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Bangladesh
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Barbados
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Bassas da India
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Belarus
lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m
highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Belgium
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Belize
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Benin
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Bermuda
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Bhutan
lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Bolivia
lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
Bosnia and Herzegovina
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maglic 2,386 m
Botswana
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513
m
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Bouvet Island
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m
Brazil
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
British Indian Ocean Territory
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
British Virgin Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Brunei
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Bulgaria
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Burkina Faso
lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Burma
lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Burundi
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m
Cambodia
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Cameroon
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako (on Cameroon Mountain) 4,095 m
Canada
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Cape Verde
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Cayman Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Central African Republic
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Chad
lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Chile
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m
China
lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)
Christmas Island
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Clipperton Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Colombia
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
Comoros
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110
m
Congo, Republic of the
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Cook Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Coral Sea Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Costa Rica
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Cote d'Ivoire
lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Croatia
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,830 m
Cuba
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Cyprus
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,951 m
Czech Republic
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Denmark
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m
Djibouti
lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Dominica
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Dominican Republic
lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
East Timor
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Ecuador
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Egypt
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
El Salvador
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Equatorial Guinea
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Eritrea
lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m
Estonia
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Ethiopia
lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 m
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,620 m
Europa Island
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Faroe Islands
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Fiji
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Finland
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Halti 1,328 m
France
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
French Guiana
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
French Polynesia
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m
Gabon
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Gambia, The
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
Gaza Strip
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Georgia
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
Germany
lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m
highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m
Ghana
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Gibraltar
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Glorioso Islands
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 12 m
Greece
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Greenland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Grenada
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Guadeloupe
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,484 m
Guam
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Guatemala
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Guernsey
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m
Guinea
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Guinea-Bissau
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the
country 300 m
Guyana
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Haiti
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m
Holy See (Vatican City)
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Honduras
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Hong Kong
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Howland Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Hungary
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Iceland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
India
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
Indian Ocean
lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Indonesia
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Iran
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m
Iraq
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unamed peak 3,611 m; note - this peak is not Gundah
Zhur 3,607 m or Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m
Ireland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Israel
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Italy
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a
secondary peak of Mont Blanc)
Jamaica
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Jan Mayen
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Japan
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m
Jarvis Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Jersey
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Johnston Atoll
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Jordan
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Juan de Nova Island
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 10 m
Kazakhstan
lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Kenya
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Kingman Reef
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Kiribati
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Korea, North
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Korea, South
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Kuwait
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Kyrgyzstan
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Laos
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Latvia
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Lebanon
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m
Lesotho
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers
1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Liberia
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Libya
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Liechtenstein
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Lithuania
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Luxembourg
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Macau
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
lowest point: Vardar
River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m
Madagascar
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Malawi
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international
boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Malaysia
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Maldives
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m
Mali
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Malta
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Man, Isle of
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 621 m
Marshall Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Martinique
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Mauritania
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Mauritius
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Mayotte
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m
Mexico
lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
Micronesia, Federated States of
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Midway Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 13 m
Moldova
lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Monaco
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Mongolia
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Montserrat
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic
complex) 914 m
Morocco
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jbel Toubkal 4,165 m
Mozambique
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Namibia
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Nauru
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
Navassa Island
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m
Nepal
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999)
Netherlands
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m
Netherlands Antilles
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
New Caledonia
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
New Zealand
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
Nicaragua
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Niger
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Nigeria
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Niue
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Norfolk Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
Northern Mariana Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Norway
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m
Oman
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Pacific Ocean
lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench
-10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Pakistan
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Palau
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m
Palmyra Atoll
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m
Panama
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m
Papua New Guinea
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Paracel Islands
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Paraguay
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Peru
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Philippines
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Pitcairn Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Poland
lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Portugal
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
Puerto Rico
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Qatar
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Reunion
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Romania
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Russia
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m
Rwanda
lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Saint Helena
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m
Saint Kitts and Nevis
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Saint Lucia
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Samoa
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
San Marino
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m
Sao Tome and Principe
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Saudi Arabia
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Senegal
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Serbia and Montenegro
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Seychelles
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Sierra Leone
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Singapore
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Slovakia
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Slovenia
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Solomon Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Somalia
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
South Africa
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
lowest point: Atlantic
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m
Southern Ocean
lowest point: -7,235 m at the southern end of the
South Sandwich Trench
highest point: sea level 0 m
Spain
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Spratly Islands
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Sri Lanka
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Sudan
lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Suriname
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Svalbard
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Swaziland
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Sweden
lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near
Kristianstad -2.41 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Switzerland
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Syria
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Taiwan
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
Tajikistan
lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m
Tanzania
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
Thailand
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Togo
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Tokelau
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Tonga
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Trinidad and Tobago
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Tromelin Island
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Tunisia
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Turkey
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Turkmenistan
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
Turks and Caicos Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Tuvalu
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Uganda
lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Ukraine
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m
United Arab Emirates
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
United Kingdom
lowest point: The Fens -4 m
highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
United States
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
Uruguay
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Uzbekistan
lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Vanuatu
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Venezuela
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Vietnam
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
Virgin Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Wake Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Wallis and Futuna
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m
West Bank
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Western Sahara
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m
World
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,540 m
note: in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is
the lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the Pacific
Ocean
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)
Yemen
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
Zambia
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Zimbabwe
lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2021 Natural hazards
Afghanistan
damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
flooding; droughts
Albania
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern
coast; floods; drought
Algeria
mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides
and floods in rainy season
American Samoa
typhoons common from December to March
Andorra
avalanches
Angola
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Anguilla
frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to
October)
Antarctica
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
Antigua and Barbuda
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to
October); periodic droughts
Arctic Ocean
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
Argentina
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
Armenia
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Aruba
lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
surrounded by shoals and reefs that can
pose maritime hazards
Atlantic Ocean
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)
Australia
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
Austria
landslides; avalanches; earthquakes
Azerbaijan
droughts
Bahamas, The
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive
flood and wind damage
Bahrain
periodic droughts; dust storms
Baker Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be
a maritime hazard
Bangladesh
droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
inundated during the summer monsoon season
Barbados
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Bassas da India
maritime hazard since it is usually under water
during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic
cyclones
Belarus
NA
Belgium
flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land,
protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Belize
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and
coastal flooding (especially in south)
Benin
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December
to March
Bermuda
hurricanes (June to November)
Bhutan
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
Bolivia
flooding in the northeast (March-April)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
destructive earthquakes
Botswana
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the
west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure
visibility
Bouvet Island
NA
Brazil
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost
in south
British Indian Ocean Territory
NA
British Virgin Islands
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to
October)
Brunei
typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Bulgaria
earthquakes, landslides
Burkina Faso
recurring droughts
Burma
destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides
common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
Burundi
flooding, landslides, drought
Cambodia
monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional
droughts
Cameroon
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases
from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Canada
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
Cape Verde
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces
obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active
Cayman Islands
hurricanes (July to November)
Central African Republic
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect
northern areas; floods are common
Chad
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic
droughts; locust plagues
Chile
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
China
frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and
eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts;
land subsidence
Christmas Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
Clipperton Island
NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
cyclone season is October to April
Colombia
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional
earthquakes; periodic droughts
Comoros
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April);
Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
periodic droughts in south; Congo
River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley,
there are active volcanoes
Congo, Republic of the
seasonal flooding
Cook Islands
typhoons (November to March)
Coral Sea Islands
occasional tropical cyclones
Costa Rica
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast;
frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and
landslides; active volcanoes
Cote d'Ivoire
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during
the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
Croatia
destructive earthquakes
Cuba
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October
(in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other
year); droughts are common
Cyprus
moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Czech Republic
flooding
Denmark
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
Djibouti
earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances
from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Dominica
flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes
can be expected during the late summer months
Dominican Republic
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and
subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding;
periodic droughts
East Timor
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis,
tropical cyclones
Ecuador
frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods;
periodic droughts
Egypt
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods,
landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring;
dust storms, sandstorms
El Salvador
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes
very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely
susceptible to hurricanes
Equatorial Guinea
violent windstorms, flash floods
Eritrea
frequent droughts; locust swarms
Estonia
sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Ethiopia
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Europa Island
NA
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
strong winds persist throughout
the year
Faroe Islands
NA
Fiji
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Finland
NA
France
flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest
fires in south near the Mediterranean
French Guiana
high frequency of heavy showers and severe
thunderstorms; flooding
French Polynesia
occasional cyclonic storms in January
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul
are extinct volcanoes
Gabon
NA
Gambia, The
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30
years)
Gaza Strip
droughts
Georgia
earthquakes
Germany
flooding
Ghana
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to
March; droughts
Gibraltar
NA
Glorioso Islands
periodic cyclones
Greece
severe earthquakes
Greenland
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the
island
Grenada
lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from
June to November
Guadeloupe
hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is
an active volcano
Guam
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but
potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)
Guatemala
numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent
earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and
other tropical storms
Guernsey
NA
Guinea
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during
dry season
Guinea-Bissau
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season; brush fires
Guyana
flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
Haiti
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe
storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes;
periodic droughts
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is
on Heard Island
Holy See (Vatican City)
NA
Honduras
frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely
susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean
coast
Hong Kong
occasional typhoons
Howland Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
Iceland
earthquakes and volcanic activity
India
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive
flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes
Indian Ocean
occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in
southern reaches
Indonesia
occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes,
volcanoes, forest fires
Iran
periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes
along western border and in the northeast
Iraq
dust storms, sandstorms, floods
Ireland
NA
Israel
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts;
periodic earthquakes
Italy
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice
Jamaica
hurricanes (especially July to November)
Jan Mayen
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg;
volcanic activity resumed in 1970
Japan
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic
occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
Jarvis Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses
a maritime hazard
Jersey
NA
Johnston Atoll
NA
Jordan
droughts; periodic earthquakes
Juan de Nova Island
periodic cyclones
Kazakhstan
earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
Kenya
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons
Kingman Reef
wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Kiribati
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;
occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them
very sensitive to changes in sea level
Korea, North
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding;
occasional typhoons during the early fall
Korea, South
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
low-level seismic activity common in southwest
Kuwait
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
Kyrgyzstan
NA
Laos
floods, droughts
Latvia
NA
Lebanon
dust storms, sandstorms
Lesotho
periodic droughts
Liberia
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to
March)
Libya
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to
four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Liechtenstein
NA
Lithuania
NA
Luxembourg
NA
Macau
typhoons
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
high seismic risks
Madagascar
periodic cyclones
Malawi
NA
Malaysia
flooding, landslides, forest fires
Maldives
low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level
rise
Mali
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons;
recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
Malta
NA
Man, Isle of
NA
Marshall Islands
infrequent typhoons
Martinique
hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average
of one major natural disaster every five years)
Mauritania
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in
March and April; periodic droughts
Mauritius
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded
by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Mayotte
cyclones during rainy season
Mexico
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
Micronesia, Federated States of
typhoons (June to December)
Midway Islands
NA
Moldova
landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Monaco
NA
Mongolia
dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and
"zud", which is harsh winter conditions
Montserrat
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions
(Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1996)
Morocco
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to
earthquakes; periodic droughts
Mozambique
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur in
central and southern provinces
Namibia
prolonged periods of drought
Nauru
periodic droughts
Navassa Island
NA
Nepal
severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and
famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the
summer monsoons
Netherlands
flooding
Netherlands Antilles
Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean
hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and
Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
New Caledonia
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
New Zealand
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe;
volcanic activity
Nicaragua
destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely
susceptible to hurricanes
Niger
recurring droughts
Nigeria
periodic droughts; flooding
Niue
typhoons
Norfolk Island
typhoons (especially May to July)
Northern Mariana Islands
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan;
typhoons (especially August to November)
Norway
rockslides, avalanches
Oman
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts
Pacific Ocean
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
Pakistan
frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in
north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and
August)
Palau
typhoons (June to December)
Palmyra Atoll
NA
Panama
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Papua New Guinea
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring
of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe
earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
Paracel Islands
typhoons
Paraguay
local flooding in southeast (early September to June);
poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Peru
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic
activity
Philippines
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck
by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active
volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Pitcairn Islands
typhoons (especially November to March)
Poland
flooding
Portugal
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Puerto Rico
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Qatar
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Reunion
periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de
la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Romania
earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic
structure and climate promote landslides
Russia
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
Rwanda
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
Saint Helena
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
Saint Kitts and Nevis
hurricanes (July to October)
Saint Lucia
hurricanes and volcanic activity
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
persistent fog throughout the year can be
a maritime hazard
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on
the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Samoa
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
San Marino
NA
Sao Tome and Principe
NA
Saudi Arabia
frequent sand and dust storms
Senegal
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Serbia and Montenegro
destructive earthquakes
Seychelles
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare;
short droughts possible
Sierra Leone
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Singapore
NA
Slovakia
NA
Slovenia
flooding and earthquakes
Solomon Islands
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically
active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity
Somalia
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains
in summer; floods during rainy season
South Africa
prolonged droughts
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the South Sandwich
Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them
difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active
volcanism
Southern Ocean
huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred
meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5
to 1 meter 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
Spain
periodic droughts
Spratly Islands
typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of
numerous reefs and shoals
Sri Lanka
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Sudan
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Suriname
NA
Svalbard
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
Swaziland
drought
Sweden
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf
of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Switzerland
avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Syria
dust storms, sandstorms
Taiwan
earthquakes and typhoons
Tajikistan
earthquakes and floods
Tanzania
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season;
drought
Thailand
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
depletion of the water table; droughts
Togo
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during
winter; periodic droughts
Tokelau
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Tonga
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity
on Fonuafo'ou
Trinidad and Tobago
outside usual path of hurricanes and other
tropical storms
Tromelin Island
NA
Tunisia
NA
Turkey
very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along
an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Turkmenistan
NA
Turks and Caicos Islands
frequent hurricanes
Tuvalu
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there
were three cyclones; low level of islands make them very sensitive
to changes in sea level
Uganda
NA
Ukraine
NA
United Arab Emirates
frequent sand and dust storms
United Kingdom
winter windstorms; floods
United States
tsunamis, volcanoes, and 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
Uruguay
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
occasional violent wind which 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
Uzbekistan
NA
Vanuatu
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism
causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Venezuela
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Vietnam
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive
flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
Virgin Islands
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and
severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Wake Island
occasional typhoons
Wallis and Futuna
NA
West Bank
droughts
Western Sahara
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of
time, often severely restricting visibility
World
large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones),
natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic
eruptions)
Yemen
sandstorms and dust storms in summer
Zambia
periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)
Zimbabwe
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2022 People - note
Afghanistan
large numbers of Afghan refugees create burdens on
neighboring states
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
the landing of illegal immigrants from
Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem
Cuba
illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to
depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien
smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; some 2,500 Cubans
took to the Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard
interdicted about 60% of these migrants; Cubans also use
non-maritime routes to enter the US; some 1,500 Cubans arrived
overland via the southwest border and direct flights to Miami in 2002
Ghana
there are 9,500 Liberians, 2,000 Sierra Leoneans, and 1,000
Togolese refugees residing in Ghana (2002)
Rwanda
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa
Turks and Caicos Islands
destination and transit point for illegal
Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas,
and US
United States
data for the US are based on projections that do not
take into consideration the results of the 2000 census
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2023 Area - comparative
Afghanistan
slightly smaller than Texas
Albania
slightly smaller than Maryland
Algeria
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
American Samoa
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Andorra
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Angola
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Anguilla
about half the size of Washington, DC
Antarctica
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Antigua and Barbuda
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Arctic Ocean
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Argentina
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Armenia
slightly smaller than Maryland
Aruba
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
about eight times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC
Atlantic Ocean
slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US
Australia
slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
Austria
slightly smaller than Maine
Azerbaijan
slightly smaller than Maine
Bahamas, The
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Bahrain
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Baker Island
about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Bangladesh
slightly smaller than Iowa
Barbados
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Bassas da India
about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Belarus
slightly smaller than Kansas
Belgium
about the size of Maryland
Belize
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Benin
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Bermuda
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Bhutan
about half the size of Indiana
Bolivia
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Bosnia and Herzegovina
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Botswana
slightly smaller than Texas
Bouvet Island
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Brazil
slightly smaller than the US
British Indian Ocean Territory
about 0.3 times the size of
Washington, DC
British Virgin Islands
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Brunei
slightly smaller than Delaware
Bulgaria
slightly larger than Tennessee
Burkina Faso
slightly larger than Colorado
Burma
slightly smaller than Texas
Burundi
slightly smaller than Maryland
Cambodia
slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Cameroon
slightly larger than California
Canada
somewhat larger than the US
Cape Verde
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Cayman Islands
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Central African Republic
slightly smaller than Texas
Chad
slightly more than three times the size of California
Chile
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
China
slightly smaller than the US
Christmas Island
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Clipperton Island
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
about 24 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Colombia
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Comoros
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
slightly less than one-fourth the
size of the US
Congo, Republic of the
slightly smaller than Montana
Cook Islands
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Coral Sea Islands
NA
Costa Rica
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Cote d'Ivoire
slightly larger than New Mexico
Croatia
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Cuba
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Cyprus
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Czech Republic
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Denmark
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Djibouti
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Dominica
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Dominican Republic
slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
East Timor
slightly larger than Connecticut
Ecuador
slightly smaller than Nevada
Egypt
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
El Salvador
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Equatorial Guinea
slightly smaller than Maryland
Eritrea
slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Estonia
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Ethiopia
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Europa Island
about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Faroe Islands
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Fiji
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Finland
slightly smaller than Montana
France
slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
French Guiana
slightly smaller than Indiana
French Polynesia
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
slightly less than 1.3 times the
size of Delaware
Gabon
slightly smaller than Colorado
Gambia, The
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Gaza Strip
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Georgia
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Germany
slightly smaller than Montana
Ghana
slightly smaller than Oregon
Gibraltar
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Glorioso Islands
about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Greece
slightly smaller than Alabama
Greenland
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Grenada
twice the size of Washington, DC
Guadeloupe
10 times the size of Washington, DC
Guam
three times the size of Washington, DC
Guatemala
slightly smaller than Tennessee
Guernsey
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Guinea
slightly smaller than Oregon
Guinea-Bissau
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Guyana
slightly smaller than Idaho
Haiti
slightly smaller than Maryland
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
slightly more than two times the
size of Washington, DC
Holy See (Vatican City)
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Honduras
slightly larger than Tennessee
Hong Kong
six times the size of Washington, DC
Howland Island
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Hungary
slightly smaller than Indiana
Iceland
slightly smaller than Kentucky
India
slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Indian Ocean
about 5.5 times the size of the US
Indonesia
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Iran
slightly larger than Alaska
Iraq
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Ireland
slightly larger than West Virginia
Israel
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Italy
slightly larger than Arizona
Jamaica
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Jan Mayen
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Japan
slightly smaller than California
Jarvis Island
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Jersey
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Johnston Atoll
about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Jordan
slightly smaller than Indiana
Juan de Nova Island
about seven times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Kazakhstan
slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Kenya
slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Kingman Reef
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Kiribati
four times the size of Washington, DC
Korea, North
slightly smaller than Mississippi
Korea, South
slightly larger than Indiana
Kuwait
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Kyrgyzstan
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Laos
slightly larger than Utah
Latvia
slightly larger than West Virginia
Lebanon
about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Lesotho
slightly smaller than Maryland
Liberia
slightly larger than Tennessee
Libya
slightly larger than Alaska
Liechtenstein
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Lithuania
slightly larger than West Virginia
Luxembourg
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Macau
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
slightly larger than
Vermont
Madagascar
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Malawi
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Malaysia
slightly larger than New Mexico
Maldives
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Mali
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Malta
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Man, Isle of
slightly more than three times the size of Washington,
DC
Marshall Islands
about the size of Washington, DC
Martinique
slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Mauritania
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Mauritius
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Mayotte
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Mexico
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Micronesia, Federated States of
four times the size of Washington,
DC (land area only)
Midway Islands
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Moldova
slightly larger than Maryland
Monaco
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Mongolia
slightly smaller than Alaska
Montserrat
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Morocco
slightly larger than California
Mozambique
slightly less than twice the size of California
Namibia
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Nauru
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Navassa Island
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Nepal
slightly larger than Arkansas
Netherlands
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Netherlands Antilles
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
New Caledonia
slightly smaller than New Jersey
New Zealand
about the size of Colorado
Nicaragua
slightly smaller than the state of New York
Niger
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Nigeria
slightly more than twice the size of California
Niue
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Norfolk Island
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Northern Mariana Islands
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Norway
slightly larger than New Mexico
Oman
slightly smaller than Kansas
Pacific Ocean
about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of
the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world
Pakistan
slightly less than twice the size of California
Palau
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Palmyra Atoll
about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Panama
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Papua New Guinea
slightly larger than California
Paracel Islands
NA
Paraguay
slightly smaller than California
Peru
slightly smaller than Alaska
Philippines
slightly larger than Arizona
Pitcairn Islands
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Poland
slightly smaller than New Mexico
Portugal
slightly smaller than Indiana
Puerto Rico
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Qatar
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Reunion
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Romania
slightly smaller than Oregon
Russia
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Rwanda
slightly smaller than Maryland
Saint Helena
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Saint Kitts and Nevis
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Saint Lucia
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
twice the size of Washington, DC
Samoa
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
San Marino
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Sao Tome and Principe
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Saudi Arabia
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Senegal
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Serbia and Montenegro
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Seychelles
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Sierra Leone
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Singapore
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Slovakia
about twice the size of New Hampshire
Slovenia
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Solomon Islands
slightly smaller than Maryland
Somalia
slightly smaller than Texas
South Africa
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
slightly larger than
Rhode Island
Southern Ocean
slightly more than twice the size of the US
Spain
slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Spratly Islands
NA
Sri Lanka
slightly larger than West Virginia
Sudan
slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Suriname
slightly larger than Georgia
Svalbard
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Swaziland
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Sweden
slightly larger than California
Switzerland
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Syria
slightly larger than North Dakota
Taiwan
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Tajikistan
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Tanzania
slightly larger than twice the size of California
Thailand
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Togo
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Tokelau
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Tonga
four times the size of Washington, DC
Trinidad and Tobago
slightly smaller than Delaware
Tromelin Island
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Tunisia
slightly larger than Georgia
Turkey
slightly larger than Texas
Turkmenistan
slightly larger than California
Turks and Caicos Islands
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Tuvalu
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Uganda
slightly smaller than Oregon
Ukraine
slightly smaller than Texas
United Arab Emirates
slightly smaller than Maine
United Kingdom
slightly smaller than Oregon
United States
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; about two and a
half times the size of Western Europe
Uruguay
slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Uzbekistan
slightly larger than California
Vanuatu
slightly larger than Connecticut
Venezuela
slightly more than twice the size of California
Vietnam
slightly larger than New Mexico
Virgin Islands
twice the size of Washington, DC
Wake Island
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Wallis and Futuna
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
West Bank
slightly smaller than Delaware
Western Sahara
about the size of Colorado
World
land area about 16 times the size of the US
Yemen
slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Zambia
slightly larger than Texas
Zimbabwe
slightly larger than Montana
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2024 Military manpower - military age (years of age)
Afghanistan
22 years of age (2003 est.)
Albania
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Algeria
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Angola
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Argentina
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Armenia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Australia
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Austria
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Azerbaijan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Bahrain
15 years of age (2003 est.)
Belarus
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Belgium
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Belize
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Benin
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Bhutan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Bolivia
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Botswana
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Brazil
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Brunei
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Bulgaria
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Burma
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Burundi
16 years of age (2003 est.)
Cambodia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Cameroon
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Canada
16 years of age (2003 est.)
Chad
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Chile
19 years of age (2003 est.)
China
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Colombia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Costa Rica
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Croatia
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Cuba
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Cyprus
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Czech Republic
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Denmark
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Dominican Republic
18 years of age (2003 est.)
East Timor
18-21 years of age (2003 est.)
Ecuador
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Egypt
20 years of age (2003 est.)
El Salvador
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Estonia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Ethiopia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Fiji
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Finland
18 years of age (2003 est.)
France
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Gabon
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Georgia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Germany
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Ghana
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Greece
21 years of age (2003 est.)
Guatemala
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Haiti
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Honduras
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Hong Kong
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Hungary
18 years of age (2003 est.)
India
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Indonesia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Iran
21 years of age (2003 est.)
Iraq
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Ireland
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Israel
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Italy
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Jamaica
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Japan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Jordan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Kazakhstan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Korea, North
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Korea, South
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Kuwait
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Laos
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Latvia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Libya
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Lithuania
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Luxembourg
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
19 years of age (2003
est.)
Madagascar
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Malaysia
21 years of age (2003 est.)
Mexico
18 years of age
note: starting in 2000, females were allowed to volunteer for
military service (2003 est.)
Moldova
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Mongolia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Morocco
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Nepal
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Netherlands
20 years of age (note - age 17 for cadets and
midshipmen) (2003 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
20 years of age (2003 est.)
New Zealand
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Nicaragua
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Niger
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Nigeria
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Norway
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Oman
14 years of age (2003 est.)
Pakistan
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Paraguay
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Peru
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Philippines
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Poland
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Portugal
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Qatar
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Reunion
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Romania
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Russia
18 years of age (2003)
Saudi Arabia
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Senegal
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Slovakia
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Slovenia
19 years of age (2003 est.)
South Africa
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Spain
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Sri Lanka
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Sudan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Sweden
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Switzerland
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Syria
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Taiwan
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Tajikistan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Thailand
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Tunisia
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Turkey
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Turkmenistan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Ukraine
18 years of age (2003 est.)
United Arab Emirates
18 years of age (2003 est.)
United States
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Uzbekistan
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Venezuela
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Vietnam
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Yemen
14 years of age (2003 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2025 Military manpower - fit for military service
Afghanistan
males age 15-49: 3,837,646 (2003 est.)
Albania
males age 15-49: 742,837 (2003 est.)
Algeria
males age 15-49: 5,646,418 (2003 est.)
Angola
males age 15-49: 1,290,884 (2003 est.)
Argentina
males age 15-49: 7,942,837 (2003 est.)
Armenia
males age 15-49: 727,770 (2003 est.)
Australia
males age 15-49: 4,339,011 (2003 est.)
Austria
males age 15-49: 1,725,123 (2003 est.)
Azerbaijan
males age 15-49: 1,727,340 (2003 est.)
Bahrain
males age 15-49: 121,739 (2003 est.)
Bangladesh
males age 15-49: 22,807,339 (2003 est.)
Barbados
males age 15-49: 53,282 (2003 est.)
Belarus
males age 15-49: 2,158,875 (2003 est.)
Belgium
males age 15-49: 2,059,131 (2003 est.)
Belize
males age 15-49: 39,337 (2003 est.)
Benin
males age 15-49: 805,603
females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 est.)
Bhutan
males age 15-49: 283,493 (2003 est.)
Bolivia
males age 15-49: 1,380,883 (2003 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
males age 15-49: 897,856 (2003 est.)
Botswana
males age 15-49: 201,402 (2003 est.)
Brazil
males age 15-49: 34,347,078 (2003 est.)
Brunei
males age 15-49: 63,966 (2003 est.)
Bulgaria
males age 15-49: 1,551,485 (2003 est.)
Burkina Faso
males age 15-49: 1,506,944 (2003 est.)
Burma
males age 15-49: 6,566,122
females age 15-49: 6,553,458 (2003 est.)
Burundi
males age 15-49: 723,516 (2003 est.)
Cambodia
males age 15-49: 1,829,535 (2003 est.)
Cameroon
males age 15-49: 1,928,285 (2003 est.)
Canada
males age 15-49: 7,158,016 (2003 est.)
Cape Verde
males age 15-49: 53,842 (2003 est.)
Central African Republic
males age 15-49: 449,466 (2003 est.)
Chad
males age 15-49: 1,015,982 (2003 est.)
Chile
males age 15-49: 3,070,140 (2003 est.)
China
males age 15-49: 206 million (2003 est.)
Colombia
males age 15-49: 7,403,433 (2003 est.)
Comoros
males age 15-49: 89,090 (2003 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
males age 15-49: 6,267,752 (2003
est.)
Congo, Republic of the
males age 15-49: 381,556 (2003 est.)
Costa Rica
males age 15-49: 722,043 (2003 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
males age 15-49: 2,110,276 (2003 est.)
Croatia
males age 15-49: 856,946 (2003 est.)
Cuba
males age 15-49: 1,923,967
females age 15-49: 1,875,412 (2003 est.)
Cyprus
males age 15-49: 138,336 (2003 est.)
Czech Republic
males age 15-49: 2,002,202 (2003 est.)
Denmark
males age 15-49: 1,094,611 (2003 est.)
Djibouti
males age 15-49: 63,459 (2003 est.)
Dominican Republic
males age 15-49: 1,453,705 (2003 est.)
East Timor
NA
Ecuador
males age 15-49: 2,395,178 (2003 est.)
Egypt
males age 15-49: 12,867,160 (2003 est.)
El Salvador
males age 15-49: 973,884 (2003 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
males age 15-49: 59,110 (2003 est.)
Estonia
males age 15-49: 283,278 (2003 est.)
Ethiopia
males age 15-49: 8,040,381 (2003 est.)
Fiji
males age 15-49: 129,432 (2003 est.)
Finland
males age 15-49: 1,016,693 (2003 est.)
France
males age 15-49: 12,079,413 (2003 est.)
French Guiana
males age 15-49: 33,345 (2003 est.)
Gabon
males age 15-49: 158,226 (2003 est.)
Gambia, The
males age 15-49: 170,904 (2003 est.)
Georgia
males age 15-49: 1,028,913 (2003 est.)
Germany
males age 15-49: 17,399,936 (2003 est.)
Ghana
males age 15-49: 2,911,474 (2003 est.)
Greece
males age 15-49: 2,026,409 (2003 est.)
Guatemala
males age 15-49: 2,167,270 (2003 est.)
Guinea
males age 15-49: 1,038,428 (2003 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
males age 15-49: 181,318 (2003 est.)
Guyana
males age 15-49: 156,174 (2003 est.)
Haiti
males age 15-49: 944,474 (2003 est.)
Honduras
males age 15-49: 948,957 (2003 est.)
Hong Kong
males age 15-49: 1,524,903 (2003 est.)
Hungary
males age 15-49: 2,026,912 (2003 est.)
Iceland
males age 15-49: 62,552 (2003 est.)
India
males age 15-49: 169 million (2003 est.)
Indonesia
males age 15-49: 38,290,550 (2003 est.)
Iran
males age 15-49: 12,094,551 (2003 est.)
Iraq
males age 15-49: 3,541,467 (2003 est.)
Ireland
males age 15-49: 821,378 (2003 est.)
Israel
males age 15-49: 1,279,277
females age 15-49: 1,237,926 (2003 est.)
Italy
males age 15-49: 12,349,356 (2003 est.)
Jamaica
males age 15-49: 528,689 (2003 est.)
Japan
males age 15-49: 25,405,779 (2003 est.)
Jordan
males age 15-49: 1,113,787 (2003 est.)
Kazakhstan
males age 15-49: 3,658,815 (2003 est.)
Kenya
males age 15-49: 5,017,501 (2003 est.)
Korea, North
males age 15-49: 3,654,223 (2003 est.)
Korea, South
males age 15-49: 8,994,941 (2003 est.)
Kuwait
males age 15-49: 508,399 (2003 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
males age 15-49: 1,026,063 (2003 est.)
Laos
males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.)
Latvia
males age 15-49: 465,788 (2003 est.)
Lebanon
males age 15-49: 630,657 (2003 est.)
Lesotho
males age 15-49: 250,560 (2003 est.)
Liberia
males age 15-49: 396,725 (2003 est.)
Libya
males age 15-49: 914,649 (2003 est.)
Lithuania
males age 15-49: 735,536 (2003 est.)
Luxembourg
males age 15-49: 93,994 (2003 est.)
Macau
males age 15-49: 71,826 (2003 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
males age 15-49: 446,726
(2003 est.)
Madagascar
males age 15-49: 2,300,587 (2003 est.)
Malawi
males age 15-49: 1,347,248 (2003 est.)
Malaysia
males age 15-49: 3,672,517 (2003 est.)
Maldives
males age 15-49: 43,386 (2003 est.)
Mali
males age 15-49: 1,400,711 (2003 est.)
Malta
males age 15-49: 79,080 (2003 est.)
Mauritania
males age 15-49: 322,288 (2003 est.)
Mauritius
males age 15-49: 171,556 (2003 est.)
Mexico
males age 15-49: 20,123,970 (2003 est.)
Moldova
males age 15-49: 936,629 (2003 est.)
Mongolia
males age 15-49: 516,502 (2003 est.)
Morocco
males age 15-49: 5,411,846 (2003 est.)
Mozambique
males age 15-49: 2,373,444 (2003 est.)
Namibia
males age 15-49: 274,015 (2003 est.)
Nauru
males age 15-49: 1,762 (2003 est.)
Nepal
males age 15-49: 3,467,511 (2003 est.)
Netherlands
males age 15-49: 3,536,586 (2003 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
males age 15-49: 30,840 (2003 est.)
New Zealand
males age 15-49: 859,505 (2003 est.)
Nicaragua
males age 15-49: 825,906 (2003 est.)
Niger
males age 15-49: 1,288,396 (2003 est.)
Nigeria
males age 15-49: 18,259,696 (2003 est.)
Norway
males age 15-49: 910,628 (2003 est.)
Oman
males age 15-49: 438,326 (2003 est.)
Pakistan
males age 15-49: 23,328,575 (2003 est.)
Panama
males age 15-49: 544,967 (2003 est.)
Papua New Guinea
males age 15-49: 757,421 (2003 est.)
Paraguay
males age 15-49: 1,056,437 (2003 est.)
Peru
males age 15-49: 5,045,619 (2003 est.)
Philippines
males age 15-49: 15,428,043 (2003 est.)
Poland
males age 15-49: 8,077,706 (2003 est.)
Portugal
males age 15-49: 2,017,678 (2003 est.)
Qatar
males age 15-49: 168,416 (2003 est.)
Reunion
males age 15-49: 101,116 (2003 est.)
Romania
males age 15-49: 4,974,240 (2003 est.)
Russia
males age 15-49: 24 million (2003 est.)
Rwanda
males age 15-49: 982,909 (2003 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
males age 15-49: 19,443 (2003 est.)
Saudi Arabia
males age 15-49: 3,431,281 (2003 est.)
Senegal
males age 15-49: 1,256,973 (2003 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
males age 15-49: 2,077,660 (2003 est.)
Seychelles
males age 15-49: 11,639 (2003 est.)
Sierra Leone
males age 15-49: 596,617 (2003 est.)
Singapore
males age 15-49: 1,012,498 (2003 est.)
Slovakia
males age 15-49: 1,135,612 (2003 est.)
Slovenia
males age 15-49: 413,453 (2003 est.)
Somalia
males age 15-49: 1,072,689 (2003 est.)
South Africa
males age 15-49: 7,211,075 (2003 est.)
Spain
males age 15-49: 8,391,612 (2003 est.)
Sri Lanka
males age 15-49: 4,172,921 (2003 est.)
Sudan
males age 15-49: 5,558,462 (2003 est.)
Suriname
males age 15-49: 72,039 (2003 est.)
Swaziland
males age 15-49: 165,005 (2003 est.)
Sweden
males age 15-49: 1,800,376 (2003 est.)
Switzerland
males age 15-49: 1,552,728 (2003 est.)
Syria
males age 15-49: 2,629,148 (2003 est.)
Taiwan
males age 15-49: 5,019,268 (2003 est.)
Tajikistan
males age 15-49: 1,397,188 (2003 est.)
Tanzania
males age 15-49: 4,911,235 (2003 est.)
Thailand
males age 15-49: 10,724,565 (2003 est.)
Togo
males age 15-49: 666,132 (2003 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
males age 15-49: 233,488 (2003 est.)
Tunisia
males age 15-49: 1,629,241 (2003 est.)
Turkey
males age 15-49: 11,801,267 (2003 est.)
Turkmenistan
males age 15-49: 1,005,686 (2003 est.)
Uganda
males age 15-49: 2,974,259 (2003 est.)
Ukraine
males age 15-49: 9,597,172 (2003 est.)
United Arab Emirates
males age 15-49: 416,963 (2003 est.)
United Kingdom
males age 15-49: 12,353,942 (2003 est.)
United States
NA
Uruguay
males age 15-49: 672,030 (2003 est.)
Uzbekistan
males age 15-49: 5,635,099 (2003 est.)
Venezuela
males age 15-49: 4,870,751 (2003 est.)
Vietnam
males age 15-49: 14,366,732 (2003 est.)
Yemen
males age 15-49: 2,493,612 (2003 est.)
Zambia
males age 15-49: 1,279,846 (2003 est.)
Zimbabwe
males age 15-49: 2,003,572 (2003 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2026 Military manpower - reaching military age annually
Afghanistan
males: 275,223 (2003 est.)
Albania
males: 36,985 (2003 est.)
Algeria
males: 412,545 (2003 est.)
Angola
males: 109,752 (2003 est.)
Argentina
males: 331,011 (2003 est.)
Armenia
males: 37,209 (2003 est.)
Australia
males: 142,377 (2003 est.)
Austria
males: 49,090 (2003 est.)
Azerbaijan
males: 82,925 (2003 est.)
Bahrain
males: 6,126 (2003 est.)
Belarus
males: 86,654 (2003 est.)
Belgium
males: 60,921 (2003 est.)
Belize
males: 3,046 (2003 est.)
Benin
males: 75,021
females: 78,998 (2003 est.)
Bhutan
males: 22,755 (2003 est.)
Bolivia
males: 96,003 (2003 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
males: 29,861 (2003 est.)
Botswana
males: 20,476 (2003 est.)
Brazil
males: 1,744,148 (2003 est.)
Brunei
males: 3,277 (2003 est.)
Bulgaria
males: 54,107 (2003 est.)
Burma
males: 453,420
females: 455,422 (2003 est.)
Burundi
males: 79,462 (2003 est.)
Cambodia
males: 165,395 (2003 est.)
Cameroon
males: 179,586 (2003 est.)
Canada
males: 216,488 (2003 est.)
Chad
males: 86,953 (2003 est.)
Chile
males: 131,324 (2003 est.)
China
males: 10,973,761 (2003 est.)
Colombia
males: 392,468 (2003 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
males: 31,644 (2003 est.)
Costa Rica
males: 41,453 (2003 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
males: 198,115 (2003 est.)
Croatia
males: 30,096 (2003 est.)
Cuba
males: 81,095
females: 87,780 (2003 est.)
Cyprus
males: 6,638 (2003 est.)
Czech Republic
males: 67,777 (2003 est.)
Denmark
males: 28,198 (2003 est.)
Dominican Republic
males: 89,073 (2003 est.)
East Timor
NA
Ecuador
males: 137,433 (2003 est.)
Egypt
males: 743,305 (2003 est.)
El Salvador
males: 69,534 (2003 est.)
Estonia
males: 11,123 (2003 est.)
Ethiopia
males: 714,165 (2003 est.)
Fiji
males: 9,359 (2003 est.)
Finland
males: 31,926 (2003 est.)
France
males: 392,824 (2003 est.)
Gabon
males: 12,853 (2003 est.)
Georgia
males: 43,359 (2003 est.)
Germany
males: 472,946 (2003 est.)
Ghana
males: 239,742 (2003 est.)
Greece
males: 74,650 (2003 est.)
Guatemala
males: 151,294 (2003 est.)
Haiti
males: 94,349 (2003 est.)
Honduras
males: 74,895 (2003 est.)
Hong Kong
males: 47,477 (2003 est.)
Hungary
males: 64,305 (2003 est.)
India
males: 11,035,174 (2003 est.)
Indonesia
males: 2,213,727 (2003 est.)
Iran
males: 870,711 (2003 est.)
Iraq
males: 292,930 (2003 est.)
Ireland
males: 31,437 (2003 est.)
Israel
males: 51,080
females: 53,496 (2003 est.)
Italy
males: 291,529 (2003 est.)
Jamaica
males: 27,398 (2003 est.)
Japan
males: 725,281 (2003 est.)
Jordan
males: 58,840 (2003 est.)
Kazakhstan
males: 174,111 (2003 est.)
Korea, North
males: 180,875 (2003 est.)
Korea, South
males: 345,331 (2003 est.)
Kuwait
males: 18,885 (2003 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
males: 54,445 (2003 est.)
Laos
males: 67,260 (2003 est.)
Latvia
males: 19,477 (2003 est.)
Libya
males: 61,511 (2003 est.)
Lithuania
males: 29,420 (2003 est.)
Luxembourg
males: 2,636 (2003 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
males: 17,909 (2003 est.)
Madagascar
males: 163,864 (2003 est.)
Malaysia
males: 218,216 (2003 est.)
Mexico
males: 1,093,752 (2003 est.)
Moldova
males: 44,084 (2003 est.)
Mongolia
males: 32,529 (2003 est.)
Morocco
males: 351,671 (2003 est.)
Nepal
males: 303,222 (2003 est.)
Netherlands
males: 94,034
note: Netherlands has an all-volunteer, 74,100 force in 2001 (2003
est.)
Netherlands Antilles
males: 1,643 (2003 est.)
New Zealand
males: 26,803 (2003 est.)
Nicaragua
males: 59,903 (2003 est.)
Niger
males: 119,367 (2003 est.)
Nigeria
males: 1,418,099 (2003 est.)
Norway
males: 27,249 (2003 est.)
Oman
males: 29,485 (2003 est.)
Pakistan
males: 1,767,502 (2003 est.)
Paraguay
males: 61,706 (2003 est.)
Peru
males: 281,717 (2003 est.)
Philippines
males: 846,994 (2003 est.)
Poland
males: 343,500 (2003 est.)
Portugal
males: 67,816 (2003 est.)
Qatar
males: 7,192 (2003 est.)
Reunion
males: 6,795 (2003 est.)
Romania
males: 157,840 (2003 est.)
Russia
males: 1.243 million (2003 est.)
Saudi Arabia
males: 253,685 (2003 est.)
Senegal
males: 116,688 (2003 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
males: 81,547 (2003 est.)
Slovakia
males: 44,287 (2003 est.)
Slovenia
males: 13,704 (2003 est.)
South Africa
males: 471,578 (2003 est.)
Spain
males: 255,826 (2003 est.)
Sri Lanka
males: 186,691 (2003 est.)
Sudan
males: 429,334 (2003 est.)
Sweden
males: 52,692 (2003 est.)
Switzerland
males: 42,761 (2003 est.)
Syria
males: 210,941 (2003 est.)
Taiwan
males: 189,967 (2003 est.)
Tajikistan
males: 82,490 (2003 est.)
Thailand
males: 520,472 (2003 est.)
Tunisia
males: 106,513 (2003 est.)
Turkey
males: 679,882 (2003 est.)
Turkmenistan
males: 53,825 (2003 est.)
Ukraine
males: 389,499 (2003 est.)
United Arab Emirates
males: 26,636 (2003 est.)
United States
males: 2,116,002 (2003 est.)
Uzbekistan
males: 310,915 (2003 est.)
Venezuela
males: 249,319 (2003 est.)
Vietnam
males: 871,036 (2003 est.)
Yemen
males: 249,292 (2003 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2028 Background
Afghanistan
Afghanistan's recent history is characterized by war and
civil unrest. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979, but was forced to
withdraw 10 years later by anti-Communist mujahidin forces supplied
and trained by the US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting
subsequently continued among the various mujahidin factions, giving
rise to a state of warlordism that eventually spawned the Taliban.
Backed by foreign sponsors, the Taliban developed as a political
force and eventually seized power. The Taliban were able to capture
most of the country, aside from Northern Alliance strongholds
primarily in the northeast, until US and allied military action in
support of the opposition following the 11 September 2001 terrorist
attacks forced the group's downfall. In late 2001, major leaders
from the Afghan opposition groups and diaspora met in Bonn, Germany,
and agreed on a plan for the formulation of a new government
structure that resulted in the inauguration of Hamid KARZAI as
Chairman of the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) on 22 December 2001.
The AIA held a nationwide Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) in June 2002,
and KARZAI was elected President by secret ballot of the
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA). The Transitional
Authority has an 18-month mandate to hold a nationwide Loya Jirga to
adopt a constitution and a 24-month mandate to hold nationwide
elections. In December 2002, the TISA marked the one-year
anniversary of the fall of the Taliban. In addition to occasionally
violent political jockeying and ongoing military action to root out
remaining terrorists and Taliban elements, the country suffers from
enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure, and widespread land
mines.
Albania
Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic
Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The
transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to
deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure,
widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents.
International observers judged legislative elections in 2001 to be
acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified
serious deficiencies that should be addressed through reforms in the
Albanian electoral code.
Algeria
After a century of rule by France, Algeria became
independent in 1962. The surprising first round success of the
fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) party in the December
1991 balloting caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS,
and postpone the subsequent elections. The fundamentalist response
has resulted in a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the
secular state apparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections
featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. The
FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January
2000 and many armed militants of other groups surrendered under an
amnesty program designed to promote national reconciliation.
Nevertheless, small numbers of armed militants persist in
confronting government forces and carrying out isolated attacks on
villages and other types of terrorist attacks. Other concerns
include Berber unrest, large-scale unemployment, a shortage of
housing, and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy.
American Samoa
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.
Andorra
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a
unique co-principality, ruled by the French chief of state and the
Spanish bishop of Urgel. In 1993, this feudal system was modified
with the titular heads of state retained, but the government
transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and
impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity
since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants
(legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its
lack of income taxes.
Angola
Civil war has been the norm in Angola since independence from
Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace accord between the government and the
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) provided
for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the government
and armed forces. A national unity government was installed in April
of 1997, but serious fighting resumed in late 1998, rendering
hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives
may have been lost in fighting over the past quarter century. The
death of insurgent leader Jonas SAVIMBI in 2002 and a subsequent
cease-fire with UNITA may bode well for the country.
Anguilla
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.
Antarctica
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.
Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th
century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific
research on the continent. A number of countries have set up
year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made
territorial claims, but no other country recognizes 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.
Antigua and Barbuda
The Siboney were the first to inhabit the
islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and Carib
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.
Arctic Ocean
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. A sparse network of air, ocean, river,
and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.
Argentina
Following independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina
experienced periods of internal political conflict between
conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military
factions. After World War II, a long period of Peronist
authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments was
followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy
returned in 1983, and numerous elections since then have underscored
Argentina's progress in democratic consolidation.
Armenia
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. It was
incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian
leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim
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,
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.
Aruba
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.
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
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, is now a marine reserve.
Atlantic Ocean
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.
Australia
Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in
1901. It was able to take advantage of its natural resources to
rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to
make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and
II. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of
the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas,
especially the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to change
Australia's status, from a commonwealth headed by the British
monarch to a republic, was defeated in 1999.
Austria
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. This neutrality, once ingrained as part
of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question
since the Soviet collapse of 1991 and Austria's entry into the
European Union in 1995. A prosperous country, Austria entered the
European Monetary Union in 1999.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim
population - 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 the Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan
has lost 16% of its territory and must support some 800,000 refugees
and internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict.
Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from
Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely
unfulfilled.
Bahamas, The
Arawak 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 have 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 its territory is used for smuggling illegal
migrants into the US.
Bahrain
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. The new
amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms
and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In
February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National
Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political
liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al
Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected
members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral
legislature, the National Assembly.
Baker Island
The US took possession of the island in 1857, and 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 was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland
Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned.
Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US
Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle
of the west coast.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East
Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of
this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy
season, hampering economic development.
Barbados
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.
Bassas da India
This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs
and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was
placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in
Reunion in 1968.
Belarus
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.
Belgium
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and
was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has 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.
Belize
Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the
independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.
Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism
has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued
by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug
trade, and increased urban crime.
Benin
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.
Bermuda
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. A
referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
Bhutan
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. 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 some 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. Maoist Assamese
separatists from India, who have established themselves in the
southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border
incursions.
Bolivia
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 counter-coups.
Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s,
but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty,
social unrest, and drug production. Current goals include attracting
foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, resolving
disputes with coca growers over Bolivia's counterdrug efforts,
continuing the privatization program, and waging an anticorruption
campaign.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
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
Agreement retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries
and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. This
national government was charged with conducting foreign, economic,
and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government
comprised 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 internal functions. 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 is to deter renewed hostilities. SFOR
remains in place although troop levels were reduced to approximately
12,000 by the close of 2002.
Botswana
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 the world's highest known rate of HIV/AIDS
infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and
comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Bouvet Island
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, Bouvet Island and the
adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since
1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the
island.
Brazil
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil
became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most
populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than
half a century of military intervention in the governance of the
country to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development
of the interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor
pool, Brazil is today South America's leading economic power and a
regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a
pressing problem.
British Indian Ocean Territory
Established as a territory of the UK
in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)
islands were 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. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the
islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the
Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court
ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded
them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of
Diego Garcia.
British Virgin Islands
First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the
islands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closely
tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west;
the US dollar is the legal currency.
Brunei
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 the
developing world.
Bulgaria
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. Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878, but having fought
on the losing side in both World Wars, it 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.
Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward
eventual integration into NATO and the EU - with which it began
accession negotiations in 2000.
Burkina Faso
Independence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly
Upper Volta) in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and
1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s.
Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources
result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens.
Every year, several hundred thousand seasonal farm workers seek
employment in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana and are adversely affected by
instability in those regions.
Burma
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 outside of the Commonwealth was
attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to
1988, first as military ruler, then as president, and later as
political kingmaker. Despite multiparty elections in 1990 that
resulted in the main opposition party winning a decisive victory,
the ruling military junta refused to hand over power. Key opposition
leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, under house
arrest from 1989 to 1995, was again placed under house detention
from September 2000 to May 2002 and again in May 2003; her
supporters are routinely harassed or jailed.
Burundi
Burundi's first democratically elected president was
assassinated in October 1993 after only four months in office. Since
then, some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often
intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of
thousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees in
neighboring countries. Burundi troops, seeking to secure their
borders, intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo in 1998. More recently, many of these troops have been
redeployed back to Burundi to deal with periodic upsurges in rebel
activity. A new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November
2001, was to be the first step toward holding national elections in
three years. While the Government of Burundi signed a cease-fire
agreement in December 2002 with three of Burundi's four Hutu rebel
groups, implementation of the agreement has been problematic and one
rebel group refuses to sign on, clouding prospects for a sustainable
peace.
Cambodia
Following a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge
forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all
cities and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from
execution or enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove
the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off almost 20 years
of fighting. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some
semblance of normalcy as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer
Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after
national elections in 1998, brought renewed political stability and
the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces in 1998.
Cameroon
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 movement toward democratic reform, political power remains
firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
Canada
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. Its paramount political problem continues to
be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its
French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of
the country.
Cape Verde
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by
the Portuguese in the 15th century; they 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.
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the
British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica
since 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the
former became independent.
Central African Republic
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.
In March 2003 a military coup deposed the civilian government of
President Ange-Felix PATASSE and has since established a new
government.
Chad
Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured
three decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya before
a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government
eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military
groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable
to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multiparty
presidential and National Assembly elections in 1996 and 1997,
respectively. In 1998, a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad,
which continued to escalate throughout 2000. A peace agreement,
signed in January 2002 between the government and the rebels,
provides for the demobilization of the rebels and their
reintegration into the political system. Despite movement toward
democratic reform, power remains in the hands of a northern ethnic
oligarchy.
Chile
A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by
a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled
until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound
economic policies, first implemented by the PINOCHET dictatorship,
led to unprecedented growth in 1991-97 and have helped secure the
country's commitment to democratic and representative government.
China
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, China was beset by civil unrest, major
famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War
II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established a dictatorship that,
while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over
everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people.
After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping gradually introduced
market-oriented reforms and decentralized economic decision-making.
Output quadrupled by 2000. Political controls remain tight while
economic controls continue to be relaxed.
Christmas Island
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the
island was annexed and settlement was begun 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.
Clipperton Island
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.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
There are 27 coral islands in the group.
Captain William Keeling discovered the islands in 1609, but they
remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in
1857, they 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.
Colombia
Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from
the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and
Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian
Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds
from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large
swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the
movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to
overthrow the government. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitaries
has grown to be several thousand strong in recent years, challenging
the insurgents for control of territory and illicit industries such
as the drug trade and the government's ability to exert its dominion
over rural areas. While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert
government control throughout the country, neighboring countries
worry about the violence spilling over their borders.
Comoros
Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups
since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands
of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In
1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve
the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the
2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new
constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of
2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a
new union president was sworn in on May 26, 2002.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Since 1997, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent by
ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow in 1994
of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. The government
of former president MOBUTU Sese Seko was toppled by a rebellion led
by Laurent KABILA in May 1997; his regime was subsequently
challenged by a Rwanda- and Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998.
Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to
support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999
by the DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and
Congolese armed rebel groups, but sporadic fighting continued.
KABILA was assassinated on 16 January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA
was named head of state ten days later. In October 2002, the new
president was successful in getting occupying Rwandan forces to
withdraw from eastern Congo; two months later, an agreement was
signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and set
up a government of national unity.
Congo, Republic of the
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 installed in 1992. A brief civil
war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, but
ushered in a period of ethnically based unrest. Southern-based rebel
groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of
Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with
significant potential for offshore development.
Cook Islands
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.
Coral Sea Islands
Scattered over some 1 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.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the
late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred
its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural
country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology
and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land
ownership is widespread.
Cote d'Ivoire
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 tropical
African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25
December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's
history - overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan
BEDIE. Junta leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but
excluded prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly
rigged the polling results, and declared himself winner. Popular
protest forced GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent
GBAGBO into power. GBAGBO spent his first two years in office trying
to consolidate power to strengthen his weak mandate, but he was
unable to appease his opponents, who 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. However, the central government has yet to exert
control over the northern regions and tension remains high between
GBAGBO and rebel leaders. Several thousand French and West African
troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and help implement
the peace accords.
Croatia
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.
Cuba
Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule
has held the country together since then. Cuba's Communist
revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin
America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country
is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990,
following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4
billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as
the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration
to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified
visas - is a continuing problem. Some 2,500 Cubans attempted the
crossing of the Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard
apprehended about 60% of the individuals.
Cyprus
Independence from the UK was approved in 1960, with
constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the
Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to
seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey,
which soon controlled almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the
Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. UN-led direct talks
between the two sides to reach a comprehensive settlement to the
division of the island began in January 2002.
Czech Republic
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. Now a member of NATO,
the Czech Republic has moved toward integration in world markets, a
development that poses both opportunities and risks. In December
2002, the Czech Republic was invited to join the European Union
(EU). It is expected that the Czech Republic will accede to the EU
in 2004.
Denmark
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) and issues concerning certain
justice and home affairs.
Djibouti
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 three consecutive six-year
terms as president. Unrest among the Afars minority during the
1990's led to multi-party elections resulting in President Ismail
Omar GUELLEH attaining office in May 1999. A peace accord in 2001
ended the final phases of a ten-year uprising by Afar rebels.
Djibouti occupies a very 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. GUELLEH
favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military
presence in the country.
Dominica
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.
Dominican Republic
Explored and claimed by 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. A
legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its
subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin
BALAGUER became president. He 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. The Dominican economy has had
one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past
decade.
East Timor
The Portuguese colony of 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 East Timor. A
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, the people
of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. During
1999-2001, pro-integrationist militias - supported by Indonesia -
conducted indiscriminate violence. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was
internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's
newest democracy.
Ecuador
The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries
that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others
being Colombia and Venezuela). 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.
Egypt
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 following World War II. 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 ready the economy for the new millennium
through economic reform and massive investment in communications and
physical infrastructure.
El Salvador
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.
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968
after 190 years of Spanish rule. President OBIANG NGUEM MBASOGO has
ruled the tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five
inhabited islands and one of the smallest countries on the African
continent, since he seized power in a coup in 1979. Although
nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002
presidential elections - as well as the 1999 legislative elections -
were widely seen as being flawed.
Eritrea
Eritrea was awarded 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 on 12 December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN
peacekeeping operation that is monitoring the border region. An
international commission, organized to resolve the border dispute,
posted its findings in 2002 but final demarcation is on hold due to
Ethiopian objections.
Estonia
After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian
rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated
into the USSR in 1940, 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. Estonia received invitations to join NATO and
the EU in 2002.
Ethiopia
Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian
monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception
being the Italian occupation of 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 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian
People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A
constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty
elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with
Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Final
demarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian
objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to
surrender sensitive territory.
Europa Island
A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily
wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a
weather station.
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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 Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.
Faroe Islands
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 attained in 1948.
Fiji
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). A 1990
constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to
heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic
difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.
Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable.
Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by
an Indo-Fijian, but a 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 and gave a
mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.
Finland
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 finally 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 on
par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland
was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation
in January 1999.
France
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 presidential democracy
resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary
democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation
with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of
Europe, including the introduction of the euro in January 2002. At
present, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to
exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a
more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus.
French Guiana
First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was
the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European
Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.
French Polynesia
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.
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
The Southern Lands consist of
two archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen, and two volcanic
islands, Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul. They contain no permanent
inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native
fauna. The Antarctic portion consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice
of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in
1840.
Gabon
Ruled by autocratic presidents since independence from France
in 1960, Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new constitution
in the early 1990s that allowed for a more transparent electoral
process and for reforms of governmental institutions. A small
population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign
support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous black
African countries.
Gambia, The
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965;
it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal
between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship
and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the
president and banned political activity, but a 1996 constitution and
presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997,
completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook
another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001
and early 2002.
Gaza Strip
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13
September 1993, provided for a transitional period not exceeding
five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip
and the West Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain
powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which
includes the Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January
1996, as part of the interim self-governing arrangements in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for
the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4
May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and
in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28
September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997
Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23
October 1998 Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm
el-Sheikh Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain
responsibility during the transitional period for external and
internal security and for public order of settlements and Israeli
citizens. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of
Gaza and West Bank had begun in September 1999 after a three-year
hiatus, but have been derailed by a second intifadah that broke out
in September 2000. The resulting widespread violence in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel's military response, and instability
within the Palestinian Authority continue to undermine progress
toward a permanent agreement.
Georgia
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. Ethnic separation in Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, poor governance, and Russian military bases deny
the government effective control over the entirety of the state's
internationally recognized territory. Despite myriad problems, some
progress on market reforms and democratization has been made. An
attempt by the government to manipulate legislative elections in
November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the
resignation of President Eduard SHEVARDNADZE.
Germany
As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation,
Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political,
and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed the
country 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 2002,
Germany and 11 other EU countries introduced a common European
currency, the euro.
Ghana
Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast
and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first
country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series
of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and
the banning of political parties. A new constitution, restoring
multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, head
of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996,
but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in
2000. He was succeeded by John KUFUOR, who defeated former Vice
President Atta MILLS in a free and fair election.
Gibraltar
Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great
Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison
was formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967
and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted
overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency.
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.
Greece
Greece achieved its 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. Following the
defeat of Communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A
military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political
liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven
years. Democratic elections in 1974 and a referendum created a
parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy; Greece joined the
European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992).
Greenland
The world's largest non-continental island, about 81%
ice-capped, Greenland was granted self-government in 1978 by the
Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year.
Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.
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.
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The
island of Saint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern
portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands
Antilles and its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part
of Guadeloupe
Guam
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.
Guatemala
Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule 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 led to the death of more than 100,000
people and had created some 1 million refugees.
Guernsey
The island of 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.
Guinea
Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold
democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the
military government) was elected president of the civilian
government. He was reelected in 1998. Unrest in Sierra Leone has
spilled over into Guinea, threatening stability and creating a
humanitarian emergency.
Guinea-Bissau
In 1994, 20 years after independence from Portugal,
the country's first multiparty legislative and presidential
elections were held. An army uprising that triggered a bloody civil
war in 1998 created hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. A
military junta ousted the president in May 1999. An interim
government turned over power in February 2000 when opposition leader
Kumba YALA took office following two rounds of transparent
presidential elections. Guinea-Bissau's transition back to democracy
will be complicated by its crippled economy, devastated in the civil
war.
Guyana
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, but
until the early 1990s it was 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. Upon his death five years later, he was succeeded by
his wife Janet, who resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her
successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001.
Haiti
The native Arawak 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,
and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the
island - 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 and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black
republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued
by political violence for most of its history since then, and it is
now one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Over
three decades of dictatorship followed by military rule ended in
1990 when Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was elected president. Most of his
term was usurped by a military takeover, but he was able to return
to office in 1994 and oversee the installation of a close associate
to the presidency in 1996. ARISTIDE won a second term as president
in 2000, and took office early in 2001. However, a political crisis
stemming from fraudulent legislative elections in 2000 has not yet
been resolved.
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
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.
Holy See (Vatican City)
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 the failing health of Pope John Paul II,
interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of
church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1
billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Honduras
Part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras
became an independent nation in 1821. After two and one-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 against leftist
guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998,
which killed about 5,600 people and caused almost $1 billion in
damage.
Hong Kong
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 China on 1 July 1997. In this
agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two
systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be
imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of
autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the
next 50 years.
Howland Island
Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the
island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British
companies mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day
beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially
destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is
named in memory of the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is
administered by the US Department of the Interior as a National
Wildlife Refuge.
Hungary
Hungary was 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 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
is scheduled to accede to the EU along with nine other states on 1
May 2004. In an April 2003 referendum, 84 percent voted in favor of
joining the EU.
Iceland
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. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion
are first-rate by world standards.
India
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world,
goes back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest
invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier inhabitants
created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in
the 8th century and Turkish in 12th were followed by European
traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century,
Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands.
Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism under Mohandas GANDHI
and Jawaharlal NEHRU led to independence in 1947. The subcontinent
was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim
state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971
resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of
Bangladesh. Fundamental concerns in India include the ongoing
dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation,
environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and
religious strife, all this despite impressive gains in economic
investment and output.
Indian Ocean
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.
Indonesia
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago; it achieved
independence from the Netherlands in 1949. Current issues include:
alleviating widespread poverty, implementing IMF-mandated reforms of
the banking sector, effecting a transition to a popularly-elected
government after four decades of authoritarianism, addressing
charges of cronyism and corruption, holding the military and police
accountable for human rights violations, and resolving growing
separatist pressures in Aceh and Papua.
Iran
Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in
1979 after the ruling shah was forced into exile. Conservative
clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with
ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar.
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 over disputed
territory. Over the past decade, popular dissatisfaction with the
government, driven by demographic changes, restrictive social
policies, and poor economic conditions, has created a powerful and
enduring pressure for political reform.
Iraq
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 military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest
being 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 resulted in the US-led
invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn
regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded
infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely
elected government.
Ireland
Celtic tribes settled on the island in the 4th century 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 United Kingdom. In 1948
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,
known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is
currently being implemented.
Israel
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 occupied by
Israel 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.
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 keeping with the framework
established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral
negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian
representatives (from the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip)
and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. But progress toward a
permanent status agreement has been undermined by the outbreak of
Palestinian-Israeli violence since September 2000.
Italy
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of
the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under
King Victor EMMANUEL. An era of parliamentary government came to a
close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist
dictatorship. His disastrous 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 European Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent
problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption,
high unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards of
southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.
Jamaica
Jamaica gained full independence within the British
Commonwealth in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the
1970s led to recurrent violence and a dropoff in tourism. Elections
in 1980 saw the democratic socialists voted out of office.
Subsequent governments have been open market oriented. Political
violence marred elections during the 1990s.
Jan Mayen
This desolate, 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 Haakon VII
Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is the
northernmost active volcano on earth.
Japan
While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly
absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to
become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the
emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual
power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and
business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown
starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented
growth.
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. Abandoned after World
War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge
administered by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is
situated near the middle of the west coast.
Jersey
The island of 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.
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. The US Navy took over the atoll in
1934, and subsequently the US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The
site was used for high-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and
1960s, and until late in 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage
and disposal site for chemical weapons. Munitions destruction is now
complete. Cleanup and closure of the facility is progressing, with
completion anticipated in 2004.
Jordan
For most of its history since independence from British
administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99).
A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures
from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states,
Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, through several
wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he resumed parliamentary elections
and gradually permitted political liberalization; in 1994 a formal
peace treaty was signed with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest
son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following
his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated
his power and established his domestic priorities, including an
aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World
Trade Organization in January 2000, and signed free trade agreements
with the United States in 2000, and with the European Free Trade
Association in 2001.
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.
Kazakhstan
Native 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-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence has caused many of
these newcomers to emigrate. Current issues include: developing a
cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the
country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets;
achieving a sustainable economic growth outside the oil, gas, and
mining sectors; and strengthening relations with neighboring states
and other foreign powers.
Kenya
Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA
led Kenya from independence 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 are viewed as
having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President
MOI stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peaceful
elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic,
united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition, defeated
KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a
campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.
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 around the reef were designated a US National
Wildlife Refuge.
Kiribati
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.
Korea, North
Following World War II, Korea was split, with the
northern half coming under Communist domination and the southern
portion becoming Western-oriented. KIM Chong-il has ruled North
Korea since his father and the country's founder, president KIM
Il-song, died in 1994. After decades of mismanagement, the North
relies heavily on international food aid to feed its population
while continuing to expend resources to maintain an army of about 1
million. North Korea's long-range missile development and research
into nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and massive
conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international
community. In December 2002, North Korea repudiated a 1994 agreement
that shut down its nuclear reactors and expelled UN monitors,
further raising fears it would produce nuclear weapons.
Korea, South
After World War II, a republic was set up in the
southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style
government was installed in the north. During the Korean War
(1950-1953), US and other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea
from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. 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 20 times
the level of North Korea. South Korea has maintained its commitment
to democratize its political processes. In June 2000, a historic
first North-South summit took place between the South's President
KIM Dae-jung and the North's leader KIM Chong-il.
Kuwait
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.
Kyrgyzstan
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and
proud nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864;
it achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Current
concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises,
expansion of democracy and political freedoms, interethnic
relations, and combating terrorism.
Laos
In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the
government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties
to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to
private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and
the admission into ASEAN in 1997.
Latvia
After a brief period of independence between the two World
Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It 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 continues to revamp its economy for eventual
integration into various Western European political and economic
institutions and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Lebanon
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political
institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 16-year civil
war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national
reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable
political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in
the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions
in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have
conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have
been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have
extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the
country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons.
Syria maintains about 16,000 troops in Lebanon, based mainly east of
Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop deployment was
legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the
Ta'if Accord. Damascus justifies its continued military presence in
Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese
Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the
Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from its security zone in southern
Lebanon in May 2000, however, has emboldened some Lebanese
Christians and Druze to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as
well.
Lesotho
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon
independence from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in
1990. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years
of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny
following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody South
African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since
restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were
held in 2002.
Liberia
Eight years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1997
when free and open presidential and legislative elections were held.
President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real
political opposition. Years of fighting, coupled with the flight of
most businesses, have disrupted formal economic activity. A still
unsettled domestic security situation has slowed the process of
rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn
country. In 2001, the UN imposed sanctions on Liberian diamonds,
along with an arms embargo and a travel ban on government officials,
for Liberia's support of the rebel insurgency in Sierra Leone.
Renewed rebel activity has further eroded stability and economic
activity. A regional peace initiative commenced in the spring of
2003 but was disrupted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL)
indictment of President TAYLOR on war crimes charges.
Libya
Since he took power in a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu
Minyar al-QADHAFI has espoused his own political system - a
combination of socialism and Islam - which he calls the Third
International Theory. Viewing himself as a revolutionary leader, he
used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology
outside Libya, even supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to
hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. Libyan military adventures
failed, e.g., the prolonged foray of Libyan troops into the Aozou
Strip in northern Chad was finally repulsed in 1987. Libyan support
for terrorism decreased after UN sanctions were imposed in 1992.
Those sanctions were suspended in April 1999.
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established
within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in
1806. 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. However, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have
resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for
money laundering.
Lithuania
Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was
annexed by the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the
first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but this
proclamation was not generally recognized until September of 1991
(following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops
withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently has restructured its
economy for eventual integration into Western European institutions
and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Luxembourg
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.
Macau
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 China on 20 December
1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"
formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in
Macau and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all
matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
International recognition
of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (F.Y.R.O.M.)
independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's
objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic
name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995,
and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, despite
continued disagreement over F.Y.R.O.M.'s use of "Macedonia."
F.Y.R.O.M.'s large Albanian minority, an ethnic Albanian armed
insurgency in F.Y.R.O.M. in 2001, and the status of neighboring
Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.
Madagascar
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a
French colony in 1886, but regained its 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.
Malawi
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland
became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades
of one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994
under a provisional constitution, which took full effect the
following year. National multiparty elections were held again in
1999.
Malaysia
Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a federation of the
former British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, including the East
Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of
Borneo. The first several years of the country's history were marred
by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to
Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the federation in 1965.
Maldives
The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and
then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three
years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on
the archipelago.
Mali
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 with a
transitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic
presidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997,
President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and
economic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali's
two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was
succeeded by Amadou TOURE.
Malta
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 become a freight transshipment point, financial center,
and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU
membership.
Man, Isle of
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 Celtic language.
Marshall Islands
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 have been home to the US Army Base
Kwajalein (USAKA) since 1964.
Martinique
Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently
remained a French possession except for three brief periods of
foreign occupation.
Mauritania
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.
Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in
1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely
seen as flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections
were generally free and open. Mauritania remains, in reality, a
one-party state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions
between its black minority population and the dominant Maur
(Arab-Berber) populace.
Mauritius
Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was
subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before
independence 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 and
declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to some
protests over standards of living in the Creole community.
Mayotte
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.
Mexico
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 nation continues to make an impressive
recovery. 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. Elections held in July 2000 marked the first time since the
1910 Mexican Revolution that the opposition defeated the party in
government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente FOX
of the National Action Party (PAN) was sworn in on 1 December 2000
as the first chief executive elected in free and fair elections.
Micronesia, Federated States of
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. Present concerns include large-scale
unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
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
national wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to
the public. It is now temporarily closed.
Moldova
Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet
Union at the close of World War II. Although 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 as
its president in 2001.
Monaco
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.
Mongolia
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under
Genghis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. 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 came under Chinese
rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A
Communist regime was installed in 1924. During the early 1990s, the
ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) gradually
yielded its monopoly on power to the Democratic Union Coalition
(DUC), which defeated the MPRP in a national election in 1996. Over
the next four years, the DUC put forward a number of key reforms to
modernize the economy and to democratize the political system. The
former Communists were a strong opposition that stalled additional
restructuring and made implementation difficult. In 2000, the MPRP
won an overwhelming victory in the legislature - with 72 of the 76
seats - and completely reshuffled the government. While it continues
many of the reform policies, the MPRP has focused on social welfare
and public order priorities.
Montserrat
Much of this island has been devastated and two-thirds of
the population has fled abroad due to the eruption of the Soufriere
Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995.
Morocco
Morocco's long struggle for independence from France ended
in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier was turned over to
the new country that same year. Morocco virtually 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 in
1997.
Mozambique
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a
close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites,
economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a
prolonged civil war hindered the country's development. The ruling
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 with rebel forces ended the
fighting in 1992. Heavy flooding in both 1999 and 2000 severely hurt
the economy. Political stability and sound economic policies have
encouraged recent foreign investment.
Namibia
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 was soon named
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. Independence came in 1990 following multi-party elections
and the establishment of a constitution. President NUJOMA is
currently serving his third term as president.
Nauru
Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th
century by a German-British consortium; the island was occupied by
Australian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved independence in
1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is the world's smallest
independent republic.
Navassa Island
This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857
for its guano, and 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.
Nepal
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. A Maoist
insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening
to bring down the regime. In 2001, the Crown Prince massacred ten
members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then
took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime
minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the
parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of
the ongoing insurgency. The country is now governed by the king and
his appointed cabinet, which has negotiated a cease-fire with the
Maoist insurgents, until elections can be held at some unspecified
future date.
Netherlands
The 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 EC (now
the EU), and participated in the introduction of the Economic and
Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999.
Netherlands Antilles
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 the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of
Saint Martin is shared with France; its northern portion is named
Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe, and its southern portion is
named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles.
New Caledonia
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 seems to
have dissipated.
New Zealand
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.
Nicaragua
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 again in 2001 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country
has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by
Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
Niger
Not until 1993, 33 years after independence from France, did
Niger hold it's first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord
ended a five-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and
1999 were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation
Council that effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999.
Nigeria
Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new
constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to
civilian government was completed. The president faces the daunting
task of rebuilding a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have
been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and
institutionalizing democracy. In addition, the OBASANJO
administration must defuse longstanding ethnic and religious
tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation for economic growth
and political stability. Despite some irregularities the April 2003
elections marked the first civilian transfer of power in Nigeria's
history.
Niue
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 about 2,100 in 2002), with substantial emigration to New
Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.
Norfolk Island
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.
Northern Mariana Islands
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. A new government and
constitution went into effect in 1978.
Norway
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 was to last for 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. Norway
remained neutral in World War I and proclaimed its neutrality at the
outset of World War II. Nevertheless, it was not able to avoid a
five-year occupation by Nazi Germany (1940-1945). 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.
Oman
In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has
ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has
opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a
long-standing political and military relationship with the UK.
Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain
good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.
Pacific Ocean
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.
Pakistan
The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim
state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely
Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved. A third war between
these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and
becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state
of Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons
testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998.
Palau
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.
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 privately owned by the Nature
Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature
preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical
mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and
Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in
January 2001.
Panama
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. On 7 September
1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal
from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the
Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over
in the intervening years. 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 turned over to Panama by
or on 31 December 1999.
Papua New Guinea
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.
Paracel Islands
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.
The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
Paraguay
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70),
Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its
territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In
the Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were
won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo
STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in
political infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular
presidential elections have been held since then.
Peru
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean
civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was
captured by the Spanish conquistadores 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. FUJIMORI
won reelection to a third term in the spring of 2000, but
international pressure and corruption scandals led to his ouster by
Congress in November of that year. A caretaker government oversaw
new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro
TOLEDO as the new head of government.
Philippines
The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898
following the Spanish-American War. They attained independence in
1946 after Japanese occupation in World War II. The 21-year rule of
Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a widespread popular rebellion
forced him into exile. In 1992, the US closed its last military
bases on the islands. The Philippines has had two electoral
presidential transitions since the removal of MARCOS. In January
2001, the Supreme Court declared Joseph ESTRADA unable to rule in
view of mass resignations from his government and administered the
oath of office to Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO as his
constitutional successor. The government continues to struggle with
Muslim insurgencies in the south.
Pitcairn Islands
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.
Poland
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived around 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, until an
agreement in 1772 between Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned
Poland. 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 currently suffers low
GDP growth and high unemployment. 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 is scheduled
to accede to the European Union along with nine other states on 1
May 2004.
Portugal
Following its heyday as a world 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 in 1822 of Brazil as a colony.
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 entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
Puerto Rico
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 and 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 to retain commonwealth status.
Qatar
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. He was
overthrown by his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani,
in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its
longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil
and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income
not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe.
Reunion
The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513.
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration,
supplemented by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar
Indians, gave the island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez
Canal in 1869 cost the island its importance as a stopover on the
East Indies trade route.
Romania
Soviet occupation following World War II led to the
formation of a Communist "peoples 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 by a fractious coalition of centrist parties. Currently,
the Social Democratic Party forms a nominally minority government,
which governs with the support of the opposition Democratic Union of
Hungarians in Romania. Bucharest must address rampant corruption,
while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms, before
Romania can achieve its hope of joining the European Union.
Russia
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 300-year old Romanov
Dynasty. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after
and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Josef STALIN (1928-53)
strengthened 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 15 independent republics. Since then,
Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political
system and market economy to replace the strict social, political,
and economic controls of the Communist period. A determined
guerrilla conflict still plagues Russia in Chechnya.
Rwanda
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, 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. Despite substantial
international assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's
first local elections in March 1999 - the country continues to
struggle to boost investment and agricultural output and to foster
reconciliation. A series of massive population displacements, a
nagging Hutu extremist insurgency, and Rwandan involvement in two
wars over the past four years in the neighboring DROC continue to
hinder Rwanda's efforts.
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.
Ascension Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield;
Gough Island has a meteorological station.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
First settled by the British in 1623, the
islands became an associated state 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.
Saint Lucia
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. Self-government was granted in 1967 and
independence in 1979.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
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.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Disputed between France and the
United Kingdom in the 18th century, Saint Vincent was ceded to the
latter in 1783. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in
1979.
Samoa
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.
San Marino
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See
and Monaco) also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According
to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus
in 301 A.D. 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.
Sao Tome and Principe
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. Although
independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not
instituted until the late 1980s. Though the first free elections
were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of
continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup
attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf
of Guinea is likely to have a significant impact on the country's
economy.
Saudi Arabia
In 1902, ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al Saud captured
Riyadh and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian
Peninsula. In the 1930s, the discovery of oil transformed the
country. 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. A burgeoning population,
aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum
output and prices are all major governmental concerns.
Senegal
Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The
Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982.
However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never
carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace
talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with
government forces since 1982. Senegal has a long history of
participating in international peacekeeping.
Serbia and Montenegro
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was
formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929.
Occupation by Nazi Germany in 1941 was resisted by various
paramilitary bands that fought themselves as well as the invaders.
The group headed by Marshal TITO took full control upon German
expulsion in 1945. Although Communist, his new government
successfully steered its own path between the Warsaw Pact nations
and the West for the next four and a half decades. In the early
1990s, post-TITO Yugoslavia began to unravel along ethnic lines:
Slovenia, Croatia, and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia all
declared their independence in 1991; Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992.
The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new
"Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) in 1992 and, under President
Slobodan MILOSEVIC, Serbia led various military intervention efforts
to unite Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." All
of these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. In 1999, massive
expulsions by FRY forces and Serb paramilitaries of ethnic Albanians
living in Kosovo provoked an international response, including the
NATO bombing of Serbia and the stationing of NATO, Russian, and
other peacekeepers in Kosovo. Federal elections in the fall of 2000,
brought about the ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav
KOSTUNICA as president. The arrest of MILOSEVIC in 2001 allowed for
his subsequent transfer to the International Criminal Tribunal for
the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague to be tried for crimes against
humanity. In 2001, the country's suspension was lifted, and it was
once more accepted into UN organizations under the name of
Yugoslavia. Kosovo has been governed by the UN Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since June 1999, under the
authority of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. In 2002, the
Serbian and Montenegrin components of Yugoslavia began negotiations
to forge a looser relationship. These talks became a reality in
February 2003 when lawmakers restructured the country into a loose
federation of two republics called Serbia and Montenegro. An
agreement was also reached to hold a referendum in each republic in
three years on full independence.
Seychelles
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. The most recent
presidential elections were held 31 August-2 September 2001.
President RENE, who has served since 1977, was re-elected.
Sierra Leone
Since 1991, civil war between the government and the
Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands
of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well
over one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in
neighboring countries. After several setbacks, the end to the
11-year conflict in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With
the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the
World Bank and international community, demobilization and
disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has
been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the
government continues to slowly reestablish its authority.
Singapore
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. It subsequently became one of the
world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading
links (its port is one of the world's busiest) and with per capita
GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.
Slovakia
In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to
form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II,
Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-ruled 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 was invited to join NATO and
the EU in 2002.
Slovenia
The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and
Austria until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in
forming a new nation, renamed 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 of 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. In December 2002, Slovenia received an invitation to
join NATO, and it is scheduled to accede to the EU along with nine
other states on 1 May 2004. In a March 2003 referendum on NATO and
EU membership, Slovenes voted 90% in favor of joining the EU and 66%
in favor of joining NATO.
Solomon Islands
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon
Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II
occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and
independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government
malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil
society.
Somalia
The SIAD BARRE regime was ousted in January 1991; turmoil,
factional fighting, and anarchy have followed for twelve years. In
May of 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,
aided by the overwhelming dominance of a ruling clan and economic
infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American
military assistance programs. The regions of Bari and Nugaal and
northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared autonomous state
of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998, but does not
aim at independence; it has also made strides towards reconstructing
a legitimate, representative government, but has suffered civil
strife in 2002. 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. The mandate of the Transitional National Government (TNG),
created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti, expires in August 2003 and
a new interim government was being created at peace talks held in
Kenya. Numerous warlords and factions are still fighting for control
of Mogadishu and the other southern regions. Suspicion of Somali
links with global terrorism further complicates the picture.
South Africa
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). The
resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid
- the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to
apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
The islands 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. The islands have large bird and seal
populations, and, 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.
Southern Ocean
A decision by the International Hydrographic
Organization in the spring of 2000 delimited a fifth world ocean -
the Southern Ocean - from 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. 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).
Spain
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). In the
second half of the 20th century, Spain has played a catch-up role in
the western international community; it joined the EU in 1986.
Continuing concerns are Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.
Spratly Islands
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 50 islands are occupied by
China (about 450 soldiers), Malaysia (70-90), the Philippines (about
100), and Vietnam (about 1,500). Brunei is a claimant but has no
outposts. (2002)
Sri Lanka
The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century
B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced
beginning 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 1000 A.D.) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070
to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty seized power
in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied 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 in violence in the mid-1980s. Tens of thousands have died in
an ethnic war that continues to fester. After two decades of
fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam began
a ceasefire in December 2001, with Norway brokering peace
negotiations.
Sudan
Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have
dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956.
Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war for all but 10 years of this
period (1972-82). The wars are rooted in northern economic,
political, and social domination of non-Muslim, non-Arab southern
Sudanese. Since 1983, the war and war- and famine-related effects
have led to more than 2 million deaths and over 4 million people
displaced. The ruling regime is a mixture of military elite and an
Islamist party that came to power in a 1989 coup. Some northern
opposition parties have made common cause with the southern rebels
and entered the war as a part of an anti-government alliance. Peace
talks gained momentum in 2002-03 with the signing of several
accords, including a cease-fire agreement.
Suriname
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 rule
through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until
1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic
election. In 1989, the military overthrew the civilian government,
but a democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.
Svalbard
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.
Swaziland
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed
by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted
1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s have pressured the
monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow
political reform and greater democracy.
Sweden
A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not
participated in any war in 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, rising
maintenance costs, and a declining position in world markets.
Indecision over the country's role in the political and economic
integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the EU until 1995,
and waived the introduction of the euro in 1999.
Switzerland
Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been
honored by the major European powers, and Switzerland 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.
Syria
Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War
I, Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946.
In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to
Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon,
ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and
Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan
Heights.
Taiwan
In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to
Japan. It 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 native 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
eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic
reform.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan has experienced three changes in government
and a five-year civil war since it gained independence in 1991 from
the USSR. A peace agreement among rival factions was signed in 1997,
and implemented in 2000. The central government's less than total
control over some areas of the country has forced it to compromise
and forge alliances among factions. Attention by the international
community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought
increased economic development assistance, which could create jobs
and increase 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.
Tanzania
Shortly after independence, 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.
Thailand
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 ally
following the conflict.
Togo
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA,
installed as military ruler in 1967, is Africa's longest-serving
head of state. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted
in the early 1990s, the government continues to be dominated by
President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party
has maintained power almost continually since 1967. In addition,
Togo has come under fire from international organizations for human
rights abuses and is plagued by political unrest. Most bilateral and
multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen.
Tokelau
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.
Tonga
The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into a
Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in
1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired its
independence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth of
Nations. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Trinidad and Tobago
The islands came under British control in the
19th century; independence was granted 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.
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.
Tunisia
Following independence from France in 1956, 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
recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in
its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising
pressure for a more open political society.
Turkey
Present-day Turkey was created in 1923 from the Turkish
remnants of the Ottoman Empire. Soon thereafter, the country
instituted secular laws to replace traditional religious fiats. In
1945 Turkey joined the UN, and in 1952 it became a member of NATO.
Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to protect Turkish
Cypriots and prevent a Greek takeover of the island; the northern 37
percent of the island remains under Turkish Cypriot control.
Relations between the two countries remain strained, but have begun
to improve over the past few years. In 1984, the Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK), a Marxist-Leninist, separatist group, initiated an
insurgency in southeast Turkey, often using terrorist tactics to try
to attain its goal of an independent Kurdistan. The group - whose
leader, Abdullah OCALAN, was captured in Kenya in February 1999 -
has observed a unilateral cease-fire since September 1999, although
there have been occasional clashes between Turkish military units
and some of the 4,000-5,000 armed PKK militants, most of whom
currently are encamped in northern Iraq. The PKK changed its name to
the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK) in April 2002.
Turkmenistan
Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan
became a Soviet republic in 1925. It achieved its independence upon
the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President NIYAZOV retains
absolute control over the country and opposition is not tolerated.
Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to
this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects can
be worked out.
Turks and Caicos Islands
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
are presently a British overseas territory.
Tuvalu
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 the next dozen years.
Uganda
Uganda achieved independence from the UK 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. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party
presidential and legislative elections.
Ukraine
Ukraine was the center of the first Slavic state, Kievan
Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and
most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and
Mongol invasions, Kievan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy
of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The cultural and religious legacy of Kievan 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 bring about a short-lived period of
independence (1917-1920), but was reconquered and forced to endure a
brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial 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 independence was achieved in 1991 with the
dissolution of the USSR, true freedom remains elusive, as many of
the former Soviet elite remain entrenched, stalling efforts at
economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties.
United Arab Emirates
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 not far below 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.
United Kingdom
Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime
power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing
parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At
its zenith, 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. 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; it currently is weighing the degree of its
integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to
remain outside the European Monetary Union for the time being.
Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. The
Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the
Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999.
United States
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) and
the Great Depression of the 1930s. 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. The economy is marked by steady
growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in
technology.
Uruguay
A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros,
launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to
military control of his administration in 1973. By yearend, the
rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its
hold throughout the government. Civilian rule was not restored until
1985. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest
on the continent.
Uzbekistan
Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century.
Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually
suppressed and a socialist republic set up 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, a nonconvertible currency, and the curtailment
of human rights and democratization.
Vanuatu
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.
Venezuela
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the
collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and
Ecuador). 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. Current concerns
include: an embattled president who is losing his once solid support
among Venezuelans, a divided military, drug-related conflicts along
the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption,
overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price
fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are
endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
Vietnam
France occupied all of Vietnam by 1884. Independence was
declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until
1954 when they were defeated by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH,
who took control of the North. US economic and military aid to South
Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the
government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a
cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese
forces overran the South. Economic reconstruction of the reunited
country has proven difficult as aging Communist Party leaders have
only grudgingly initiated reforms necessary for a free market.
Virgin Islands
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided
into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish.
Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy
during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased
the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the
abolition of slavery in 1848.
Wake Island
The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station.
An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In
December 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held
until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was
developed as a stopover and refueling site for military and
commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's
airstrip has been used by the US military and some commercial cargo
planes, as well as for emergency landings. There are over 700
landings a year on the island.
Wallis and Futuna
Although discovered by the Dutch and the British
in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the French who declared a
protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of
the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.
West Bank
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13
September 1993, provided for a transitional period not exceeding
five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip
and the West Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain
powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which
includes the Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January
1996, as part of the interim self-governing arrangements in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for
the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4
May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and
in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28
September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997
Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23
October 1998 Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm
el-Sheikh Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain
responsibility during the transitional period for external security
and for internal security and public order of settlements and
Israeli citizens. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent
status of Gaza and West Bank had begun in September 1999 after a
three-year hiatus, but have been derailed by a second intifadah that
broke out in September 2000. The resulting widespread violence in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel's military response, and
instability within the Palestinian Authority continue to undermine
progress toward a permanent agreement.
Western Sahara
Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of
Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of
the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A
guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's
sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized
referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
World
Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating
world wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of
vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology,
from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to
the landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western
alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living
standards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased
concerns about the environment, including loss of forests, shortages
of energy and water, the decline in biological diversity, and air
pollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate
emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's
population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820, to 2
billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in
1988, and 6 billion in 2000. For the 21st century, the continued
exponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes
(e.g., advances in medicine) and fears (e.g., development of even
more lethal weapons of war).
Yemen
North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918.
The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern
port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became
South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a
Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of
Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of
hostility between the states. The two countries were formally
unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist
movement in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and
Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border.
Zambia
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the
South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in
1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred
development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon
independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper
prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991
brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996
saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001
was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a
legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate
Levy MWANAWASA. The new president launched a far-reaching
anti-corruption campaign in 2002, which resulted in the 2003 arrest
of the previous president Frederick CHILUBA and many of his
supporters. Opposition parties currently hold a majority of seats in
the National Assembly.
Zimbabwe
The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa
Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored
whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its
independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more
complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country
(then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising
finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe)
in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been
the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated
the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land
redistribution campaign begun in 2000 caused an exodus of white
farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages
of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE
rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection.
Opposition and labor groups launched general strikes in 2003 to
pressure MUGABE to retire early; security forces continued their
brutal repression of regime opponents.
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@2030 Airports - with paved runways
Afghanistan
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Albania
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Algeria
total: 54
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
American Samoa
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Angola
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Anguilla
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Antigua and Barbuda
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Argentina
total: 145
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 62
914 to 1,523 m: 44
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Armenia
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Aruba
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Australia
total: 294
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 126
914 to 1,523 m: 134
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
Austria
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 14 (2002)
Azerbaijan
total: 27
over 3.047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Bahamas, The
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Bahrain
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)
Bangladesh
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Barbados
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Belarus
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Belgium
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Belize
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Benin
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Bermuda
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Bhutan
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Bolivia
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Botswana
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Brazil
total: 665
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 155
914 to 1,523 m: 435
under 914 m: 45 (2002)
British Indian Ocean Territory
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
British Virgin Islands
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Brunei
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Bulgaria
total: 128
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 92 (2002)
Burkina Faso
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Burma
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Burundi
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Cambodia
total: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Cameroon
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Canada
total: 507
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 149
914 to 1,523 m: 245
under 914 m: 80 (2002)
Cape Verde
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2002)
Cayman Islands
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Central African Republic
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Chad
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Chile
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 15 (2002)
China
total: 351
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 108
1,524 to 2,437 m: 143
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 39 (2002)
Christmas Island
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Colombia
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Comoros
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Congo, Republic of the
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
Cook Islands
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Costa Rica
total: 30
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Cote d'Ivoire
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Croatia
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Cuba
total: 70
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Cyprus
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Czech Republic
total: 44
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 19 (2002)
Denmark
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 (2002)
Djibouti
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)
Dominica
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Dominican Republic
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
East Timor
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,427 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Ecuador
total: 61
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Egypt
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
El Salvador
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Equatorial Guinea
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Eritrea
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Estonia
total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Ethiopia
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Faroe Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Fiji
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Finland
total: 74
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
France
total: 273
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 95
914 to 1,523 m: 80
under 914 m: 57 (2002)
French Guiana
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
French Polynesia
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Gabon
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Gambia, The
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Gaza Strip
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Georgia
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Germany
total: 328
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 54
1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 131 (2002)
Ghana
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Gibraltar
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Greece
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Greenland
total: 9
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: 5 (2002)
Grenada
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Guadeloupe
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Guam
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Guatemala
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Guernsey
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Guinea
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
Guinea-Bissau
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Guyana
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Haiti
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Honduras
total: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Hong Kong
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)
Hungary
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Iceland
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2002)
India
total: 232
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 47
1,524 to 2,437 m: 78
914 to 1,523 m: 73
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Indonesia
total: 153
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 46
914 to 1,523 m: 48
under 914 m: 43 (2002)
Iran
total: 122
over 3,047 m: 39
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Iraq
total: 77
over 3,047 m: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Ireland
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: 4
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Israel
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Italy
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Jamaica
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Japan
total: 141
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 32 (2002)
Jersey
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Johnston Atoll
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Jordan
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Kazakhstan
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Kenya
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Kiribati
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Korea, North
total: 34
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Korea, South
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 21 (2002)
Kuwait
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Kyrgyzstan
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Laos
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Latvia
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Lebanon
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Lesotho
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Liberia
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Libya
total: 58
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Lithuania
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Luxembourg
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Macau
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Madagascar
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Malawi
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Malaysia
total: 35
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Maldives
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Mali
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Malta
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Man, Isle of
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Marshall Islands
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Martinique
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Mauritania
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 (2002)
Mauritius
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Mayotte
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Mexico
total: 231
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 83
914 to 1,523 m: 82
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Micronesia, Federated States of
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Midway Islands
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Moldova
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Mongolia
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Morocco
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Mozambique
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Namibia
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Nauru
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Nepal
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2002)
Netherlands
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Netherlands Antilles
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2038 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
New Caledonia
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
New Zealand
total: 46
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Nicaragua
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 (2002)
Niger
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Nigeria
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Niue
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Norfolk Island
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Northern Mariana Islands
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Norway
total: 66
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Oman
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Pakistan
total: 87
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Palau
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Panama
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2002)
Papua New Guinea
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 (2002)
Paracel Islands
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Paraguay
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Peru
total: 49
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Philippines
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
Poland
total: 88
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Portugal
total: 40
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Puerto Rico
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Qatar
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Reunion
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Romania
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2002)
Russia
total: 471
over 3,047 m: 56
2,438 to 3,047 m: 178
1,524 to 2,437 m: 76
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 92 (2002)
Rwanda
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Saint Helena
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Saint Lucia
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Samoa
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Sao Tome and Principe
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Saudi Arabia
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 31
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Senegal
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Serbia and Montenegro
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Seychelles
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Sierra Leone
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Singapore
total: 9
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
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Slovakia
total: 20
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
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Slovenia
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Solomon Islands
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Somalia
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2438 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
South Africa
total: 143
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 67
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Spain
total: 93
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Spratly Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Sri Lanka
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2002)
Sudan
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
Suriname
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Svalbard
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)
Swaziland
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Sweden
total: 145
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 25 (2002)
Switzerland
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 14 (2002)
Syria
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Taiwan
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Tajikistan
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Tanzania
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Thailand
total: 62
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Togo
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Tonga
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Trinidad and Tobago
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Tunisia
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Turkey
total: 86
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Turkmenistan
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Uganda
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Ukraine
total: 182
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 81 (2002)
United Arab Emirates
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
United Kingdom
total: 334
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
914 to 1,523 m: 83
under 914 m: 59 (2002)
United States
total: 5,131
over 3,047 m: 185
2,438 to 3,047 m: 222
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,365
914 to 1,523 m: 2,390
under 914 m: 969 (2002)
Uruguay
total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Uzbekistan
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,523 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Vanuatu
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1524 to 2437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Venezuela
total: 127
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Vietnam
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Virgin Islands
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Wake Island
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Wallis and Futuna
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
West Bank
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Western Sahara
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)
Yemen
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Zambia
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Zimbabwe
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2002)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2031 Airports - with unpaved runways
Afghanistan
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Albania
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Algeria
total: 82
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 38
under 914 m: 19 (2002)
American Samoa
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Angola
total: 211
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 80 (2002)
Anguilla
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Antarctica
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Antigua and Barbuda
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Argentina
total: 1,197
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 572
under 914 m: 571 (2002)
Armenia
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Australia
total: 150
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 116
under 914 m: 14 (2002)
Austria
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Azerbaijan
total: 44
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Bahamas, The
total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Bahrain
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Bangladesh
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Belarus
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 67 (2002)
Belgium
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 15 (2002)
Belize
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Benin
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Bhutan
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Bolivia
total: 1,069
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 64
914 to 1,523 m: 225
under 914 m: 776 (2002)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Botswana
total: 76
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 55
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Brazil
total: 2,925
1,524 to 2,437 m: 70
914 to 1,523 m: 1,384
under 914 m: 1,471 (2002)
British Virgin Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Brunei
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Bulgaria
total: 88
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 74 (2002)
Burkina Faso
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Burma
total: 72
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Burundi
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Cambodia
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Cameroon
total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Canada
total: 882
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 363
under 914 m: 446 (2002)
Cape Verde
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Cayman Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Central African Republic
total: 47
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
Chad
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Chile
total: 292
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 216 (2002)
China
total: 149
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 48
under 914 m: 71 (2002)
Colombia
total: 954
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 315
under 914 m: 587 (2002)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 205
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 91 (2002)
Congo, Republic of the
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Cook Islands
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Costa Rica
total: 121
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 93 (2002)
Cote d'Ivoire
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Croatia
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Cuba
total: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 63 (2002)
Cyprus
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Czech Republic
total: 100
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 62 (2002)
Denmark
total: 76
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 71 (2002)
Djibouti
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Dominican Republic
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
East Timor
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Ecuador
total: 144
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 113 (2002)
Egypt
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
El Salvador
total: 78
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 61 (2002)
Equatorial Guinea
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Eritrea
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Estonia
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Ethiopia
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 21 (2002)
Europa Island
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Fiji
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Finland
total: 76
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 72 (2002)
France
total: 204
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 74
under 914 m: 128 (2002)
French Guiana
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
French Polynesia
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Gabon
total: 47
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Gaza Strip
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Georgia
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Germany
total: 223
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 189 (2002)
Ghana
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Glorioso Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Greece
total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Greenland
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Guadeloupe
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Guam
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Guatemala
total: 455
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 115
under 914 m: 330 (2002)
Guinea
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Guinea-Bissau
total: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Guyana
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Haiti
total: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Honduras
total: 103
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 83 (2002)
Hungary
total: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Iceland
total: 73
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 49 (2002)
India
total: 102
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 48 (2002)
Indonesia
total: 478
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 450 (2002)
Iran
total: 187
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 138
under 914 m: 39 (2002)
Iraq
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Ireland
total: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Israel
total: 24
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Italy
total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Jamaica
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Jan Mayen
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Japan
total: 31
over 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Jordan
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Juan de Nova Island
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Kazakhstan
total: 428
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 44
914 to 1,523 m: 103
under 914 m: 251 (2002)
Kenya
total: 211
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 113
under 914 m: 83 (2002)
Kiribati
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Korea, North
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Korea, South
total: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Kuwait
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Kyrgyzstan
total: 50
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 36 (2002)
Laos
total: 42
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Latvia
total: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Lebanon
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Lesotho
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Liberia
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Libya
total: 78
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Lithuania
total: 65
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 57 (2002)
Luxembourg
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Madagascar
total: 92
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 46
under 914 m: 44 (2002)
Malawi
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Malaysia
total: 79
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 72 (2002)
Maldives
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Mali
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Marshall Islands
total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Martinique
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Mauritania
total: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Mauritius
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Mexico
total: 1,592
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 69
914 to 1,523 m: 454
under 914 m: 1,067 (2002)
Micronesia, Federated States of
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Moldova
total: 28
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Mongolia
total: 40
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Morocco
total: 37
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Mozambique
total: 143
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 91 (2002)
Namibia
total: 114
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 71
under 914 m: 19 (2002)
Nepal
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 28 (2002)
Netherlands
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
New Caledonia
total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
New Zealand
total: 67
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 39 (2002)
Nicaragua
total: 165
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 141 (2002)
Niger
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Nigeria
total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Northern Mariana Islands
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Norway
total: 36
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 29 (2002)
Oman
total: 133
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 55
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 32 (2002)
Pakistan
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 19 (2002)
Palau
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Palmyra Atoll
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Panama
total: 62
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 50 (2002)
Papua New Guinea
total: 470
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 56
under 914 m: 403 (2002)
Paraguay
total: 868
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 323
under 914 m: 518 (2002)
Peru
total: 184
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 100 (2002)
Philippines
total: 175
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 71
under 914 m: 99 (2002)
Poland
total: 62
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 43 (2002)
Portugal
total: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 25 (2002)
Puerto Rico
total: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Qatar
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Romania
total: 39
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 25 (2002)
Russia
total: 2,272
over 3,047 m: 28
2,438 to 3,047 m: 118
1,524 to 2,437 m: 204
914 to 1,523 m: 324
under 914 m: 1,598 (2002)
Rwanda
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Samoa
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Saudi Arabia
total: 138
over 3047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 79
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
Senegal
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Serbia and Montenegro
total: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Seychelles
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Sierra Leone
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Slovakia
total: 17
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Slovenia
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Solomon Islands
total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Somalia
total: 54
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
South Africa
total: 584
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 298
under 914 m: 252 (2002)
Spain
total: 59
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 43 (2002)
Spratly Islands
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Sri Lanka
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Sudan
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Suriname
total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 35 (2002)
Svalbard
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Swaziland
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Sweden
total: 100
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 90 (2002)
Switzerland
total: 25
1524 to 2437 m: 1
under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Syria
total: 68
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 55 (2002)
Taiwan
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Tajikistan
total: 53
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 36 (2002)
Tanzania
total: 112
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Thailand
total: 49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Togo
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Tonga
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Trinidad and Tobago
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Tromelin Island
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Tunisia
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Turkey
total: 34
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Turkmenistan
total: 63
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 41 (2002)
Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Tuvalu
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Uganda
total: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Ukraine
total: 608
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 466 (2002)
United Arab Emirates
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
United Kingdom
total: 136
2438 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 112 (2002)
United States
total: 9,670
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 158
914 to 1,523 m: 1,702
under 914 m: 7,802 (2002)
Uruguay
total: 49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Uzbekistan
total: 246
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 211 (2002)
Vanuatu
total: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Venezuela
total: 246
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 97
under 914 m: 139 (2002)
Vietnam
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Wallis and Futuna
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Western Sahara
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Yemen
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: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Zambia
total: 98
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 30 (2002)
Zimbabwe
total: 413
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 197
under 914 m: 212 (2002)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2032 Environment - current issues
Afghanistan
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
Albania
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial
and domestic effluents
Algeria
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
American Samoa
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
Andorra
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes
to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste
disposal
Angola
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
Anguilla
supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing
demand largely because of poor distribution system
Antarctica
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 coming 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
Antigua and Barbuda
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
Arctic Ocean
endangered marine species include walruses and whales;
fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from
disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack
Argentina
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
Armenia
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
Aruba
NA
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
NA
Atlantic Ocean
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
Australia
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
Austria
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
Azerbaijan
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 as a pesticide, and from toxic
defoliants used in the production of cotton
Bahamas, The
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Bahrain
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
Baker Island
no natural fresh water resources
Bangladesh
many people are landless and forced to live on and
cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne 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
Barbados
pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships;
soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination
of aquifers
Bassas da India
NA
Belarus
soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the
country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident
at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
Belgium
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) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Belize
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial
effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
Benin
inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens
wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Bermuda
asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open
space; sustainable development
Bhutan
soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Bolivia
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
Bosnia and Herzegovina
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
Botswana
overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources
Bouvet Island
NA
Brazil
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
British Indian Ocean Territory
NA
British Virgin Islands
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)
Brunei
seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Bulgaria
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
Burkina Faso
recent droughts and desertification severely affecting
agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy;
overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Burma
deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;
inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
Burundi
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
Cambodia
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, a majority of the
population does not have access to potable water; toxic waste
delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)
in December 1998
Cameroon
water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
Canada
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
Cape Verde
soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted
in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has
threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand
extraction; overfishing
Cayman Islands
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water
supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Central African Republic
tap water is not potable; poaching has
diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification; deforestation
Chad
inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal
in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
desertification
Chile
widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural
resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage
China
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
Christmas Island
NA
Clipperton Island
NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
fresh water resources are limited to
rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Colombia
deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse
of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle
emissions
Comoros
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation
on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
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
Congo, Republic of the
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water
pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable;
deforestation
Cook Islands
NA
Coral Sea Islands
no permanent fresh water resources
Costa Rica
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
Cote d'Ivoire
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
Croatia
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
Cuba
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
Cyprus
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
Czech Republic
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
Denmark
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
Djibouti
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;
desertification; endangered species
Dominica
NA
Dominican Republic
water shortages; soil eroding into the sea
damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
East Timor
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
deforestation and soil erosion
Ecuador
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water
pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically
sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands
Egypt
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; very 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
El Salvador
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution;
contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Equatorial Guinea
tap water is not potable; deforestation
Eritrea
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing;
loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
Estonia
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 twentieth 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
Ethiopia
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor
management
Europa Island
NA
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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 Chornobyl disaster
Faroe Islands
NA
Fiji
deforestation; soil erosion
Finland
air pollution from manufacturing and power plants
contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes,
agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
France
some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage
occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); air
pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution
from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
French Guiana
NA
French Polynesia
NA
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
NA
Gabon
deforestation; poaching
Gambia, The
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases
prevalent
Gaza Strip
desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage
treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and
contamination of underground water resources
Georgia
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
Germany
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
Ghana
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
Gibraltar
limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or
natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for
drinking water) and adequate desalination plant
Glorioso Islands
NA
Greece
air pollution; water pollution
Greenland
protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the
Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Grenada
NA
Guadeloupe
NA
Guam
extirpation of native bird population by the rapid
proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
Guatemala
deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water
pollution
Guernsey
NA
Guinea
deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;
desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing,
overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to
environmental damage
Guinea-Bissau
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Guyana
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial
chemicals; deforestation
Haiti
extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land
is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion;
inadequate supplies of potable water
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
NA
Holy See (Vatican City)
NA
Honduras
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
Hong Kong
air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Howland Island
no natural fresh water resources
Hungary
the approximation of Hungary's standards in waste
management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution
with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large
investments
Iceland
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate
wastewater treatment
India
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
Indian Ocean
endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf,
and Red Sea
Indonesia
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes,
sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest
fires
Iran
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
Iraq
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
Ireland
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural
runoff
Israel
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
Italy
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
Jamaica
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
Jan Mayen
NA
Japan
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
Jarvis Island
no natural fresh water resources
Jersey
NA
Johnston Atoll
no natural fresh water resources
Jordan
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Juan de Nova Island
NA
Kazakhstan
radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its
former defense industries and test ranges throughout the country
pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is
severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which 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
Kenya
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
Kingman Reef
none
Kiribati
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
Korea, North
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water;
water-borne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Korea, South
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water
pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents;
drift net fishing
Kuwait
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
Kyrgyzstan
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
Laos
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of
the population does not have access to potable water
Latvia
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, and
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
Lebanon
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
Lesotho
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
Liberia
tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of
biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
sewage
Libya
desertification; very 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
Liechtenstein
NA
Lithuania
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
products and chemicals at military bases
Luxembourg
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of
farmland
Macau
NA
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
air pollution from
metallurgical plants
Madagascar
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to
the island are endangered
Malawi
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from
agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of
spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Malaysia
air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from
Indonesian forest fires
Maldives
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies;
global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Mali
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate
supplies of potable water; poaching
Malta
very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing
reliance on desalination
Man, Isle of
waste disposal (both household and industrial);
transboundary air pollution
Marshall Islands
inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of
Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing
vessels
Martinique
NA
Mauritania
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated
by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural
fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only
perennial river
Mauritius
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
Mayotte
NA
Mexico
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
Micronesia, Federated States of
overfishing, climate change,
pollution
Midway Islands
NA
Moldova
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned
pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater;
extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
Monaco
NA
Mongolia
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
Montserrat
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for
cultivation
Morocco
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
Mozambique
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
Namibia
very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification;
wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Nauru
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
Navassa Island
NA
Nepal
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
Netherlands
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
Netherlands Antilles
NA
New Caledonia
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
New Zealand
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna
hard-hit by species introduced from outside
Nicaragua
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Niger
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification;
wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and
lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Nigeria
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
Niue
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter
loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
Norfolk Island
NA
Northern Mariana Islands
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may
contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of
endangered species conflicts with development
Norway
water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely
affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle
emissions
Oman
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very
limited natural fresh water resources
Pacific Ocean
endangered marine species include the dugong, sea
lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in
Philippine Sea and South China Sea
Pakistan
water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and
agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a
majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Palau
inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to
the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing
practices, and overfishing
Palmyra Atoll
NA
Panama
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
Papua New Guinea
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of
growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
projects; severe drought
Paracel Islands
NA
Paraguay
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste
disposal present health risks for many urban residents; loss of
wetlands
Peru
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
Philippines
uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil
erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of
coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
Pitcairn Islands
deforestation (only a small portion of the original
forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Poland
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 European
Union code, but at substantial cost to business and the government
Portugal
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and
vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Puerto Rico
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Qatar
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing
dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Reunion
NA
Romania
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution
in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta
wetlands
Russia
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
Rwanda
deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for
fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
Saint Helena
NA
Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA
Saint Lucia
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the
northern region
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
recent test drilling for oil in waters
around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that
would impact the environment
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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
Samoa
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
San Marino
NA
Sao Tome and Principe
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Saudi Arabia
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
Senegal
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Serbia and Montenegro
pollution of coastal waters from sewage
outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air
pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water
pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows
into the Danube
Seychelles
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Sierra Leone
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 depleting natural resources; overfishing
Singapore
industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water
resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal
problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in
Indonesia
Slovakia
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human
health risks; acid rain damaging forests
Slovenia
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
Solomon Islands
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding
coral reefs are dead or dying
Somalia
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human
health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification
South Africa
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
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
NA
Southern Ocean
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
Spain
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
Spratly Islands
NA
Sri Lanka
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
Sudan
inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification;
periodic drought
Suriname
deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of
inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
Svalbard
NA
Swaziland
limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil
degradation; soil erosion
Sweden
acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North
Sea and the Baltic Sea
Switzerland
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air
burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of
agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Syria
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes;
inadequate potable water
Taiwan
air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw
sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in
endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Tajikistan
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of
soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
Tanzania
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
Thailand
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from
organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife
populations threatened by illegal hunting
Togo
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
Tokelau
very limited natural resources and overcrowding are
contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Tonga
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
Trinidad and Tobago
water pollution from agricultural chemicals,
industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches;
deforestation; soil erosion
Tromelin Island
NA
Tunisia
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
Turkey
water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air
pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for
oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic
Turkmenistan
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
Turks and Caicos Islands
limited natural fresh water resources,
private cisterns collect rainwater
Tuvalu
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
very 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
Uganda
draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake
Victoria; poaching is widespread
Ukraine
inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water
pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast
from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
United Arab Emirates
lack of natural freshwater resources
compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution
from oil spills
United Kingdom
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 towards a
domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the
government aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial
waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to
recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, increasing to
33% by 2015; between 1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling
increased from 8.8% to 10.3%
United States
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; very limited natural fresh water
resources in much of the western part of the country require careful
management; desertification
Uruguay
water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry;
inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Uzbekistan
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
Vanuatu
a majority of the population does not have access to a
potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation
Venezuela
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
Vietnam
logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute
to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and
overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater
contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban
industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading
environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Virgin Islands
lack of natural freshwater resources
Wake Island
NA
Wallis and Futuna
deforestation (only small portions of the original
forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as
the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests,
the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion;
there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of
natural fresh water resources
West Bank
adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
Western Sahara
sparse water and lack of arable land
World
large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters,
pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of
vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of
wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion
Yemen
very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate
supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Zambia
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral
extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds;
poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and
large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification;
lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks
Zimbabwe
deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and
water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest
concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly
reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste
and heavy metal pollution
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2033 Environment - international agreements
Afghanistan
party to: Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Albania
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Algeria
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Andorra
party to: Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Angola
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Antigua and Barbuda
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Argentina
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, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Armenia
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Australia
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Austria
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Azerbaijan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Bahamas, The
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Bahrain
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Bangladesh
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Barbados
party to: 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: Biodiversity
Belarus
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Belgium
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Belize
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Benin
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Bhutan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Bolivia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
Bosnia and Herzegovina
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Botswana
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Brazil
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Brunei
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Bulgaria
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Burkina Faso
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Burma
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Burundi
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, Nuclear Test Ban
Cambodia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Cameroon
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Canada
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Cape Verde
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Central African Republic
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Chad
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Chile
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
China
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Colombia
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping
Comoros
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Congo, Republic of the
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Cook Islands
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Costa Rica
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Cote d'Ivoire
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Croatia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Cuba
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Cyprus
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Czech Republic
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Denmark
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,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of
the Sea
Djibouti
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Dominica
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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
Dominican Republic
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
East Timor
NA
Ecuador
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Egypt
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
El Salvador
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Equatorial Guinea
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Eritrea
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Estonia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethiopia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Fiji
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Finland
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
France
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, 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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Gabon
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Gambia, The
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Georgia
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
Germany
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ghana
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Greece
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
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, Antarctic
Treaty, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Grenada
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Guatemala
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Guinea
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
Guinea-Bissau
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Guyana
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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
Haiti
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban
Holy See (Vatican City)
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Honduras
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Hong Kong
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship
Pollution (associate member)
Hungary
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Iceland
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Environmental Protection through Criminal Law, Hazardous Wastes,
Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Oil Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
India
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
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
Indonesia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Iran
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Iraq
party to: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Ireland
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation
Israel
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Italy
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Jamaica
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Japan
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
Jordan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Kazakhstan
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Kenya
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Kiribati
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Korea, North
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of
the Sea
Korea, South
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Kuwait
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping
Kyrgyzstan
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Laos
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Latvia
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Lebanon
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Lesotho
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping
Liberia
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation
Libya
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Liechtenstein
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Lithuania
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Luxembourg
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
party to: Air Pollution,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Madagascar
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Malawi
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Malaysia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Maldives
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Mali
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
Malta
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Marshall Islands
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Mauritania
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Mauritius
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Mexico
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Micronesia, Federated States of
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
Moldova
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Monaco
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Mongolia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Morocco
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Mozambique
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Namibia
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Nauru
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Nepal
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Netherlands
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, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
New Zealand
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Nicaragua
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Niger
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the
Sea
Nigeria
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Niue
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Norway
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,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Oman
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Pakistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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, Nuclear Test Ban
Palau
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Panama
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Papua New Guinea
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Paraguay
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: Nuclear Test Ban
Peru
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Philippines
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Poland
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Portugal
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
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental
Modification, Nuclear Test Ban
Qatar
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Romania
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Russia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Persistent Organic Pollutants
Rwanda
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Saint Kitts and Nevis
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Saint Lucia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Samoa
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
San Marino
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Sao Tome and Principe
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Saudi Arabia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Senegal
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Serbia and Montenegro
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Seychelles
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Sierra Leone
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Singapore
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Slovakia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Slovenia
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Solomon Islands
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Somalia
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
South Africa
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Southern Ocean
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 very
cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the
north
Spain
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
Sri Lanka
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Sudan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Suriname
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Swaziland
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Sweden
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,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Switzerland
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, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Syria
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Taiwan
party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's
international status
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because of
Taiwan's international status
Tajikistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Tanzania
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Thailand
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Togo
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Tonga
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Trinidad and Tobago
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Tunisia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Turkey
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Environmental Modification
Turkmenistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Tuvalu
party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Uganda
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Ukraine
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
United Arab Emirates
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
United Kingdom
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
United States
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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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
Uruguay
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 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban
Uzbekistan
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
Vanuatu
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
Venezuela
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Vietnam
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
Western Sahara
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Yemen
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Zambia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Zimbabwe
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2034 Military expenditures - percent of GDP (%)
Afghanistan
7.7% (FY02)
Albania
1.49% (FY02)
Algeria
4.1% (FY99)
Angola
5.4% (FY02)
Antigua and Barbuda
NA%
Argentina
1.3% (FY00)
Armenia
6.5% (FY01)
Australia
2.9% (FY02)
Austria
0.8% (FY01/02)
Azerbaijan
2.6% (FY99)
Bahamas, The
0.7% (FY99)
Bahrain
6.7% (FY01)
Bangladesh
1.8% (FY96)
Barbados
NA%
Belarus
1.4% (FY02)
Belgium
1.4% (FY01/02)
Belize
1.87% (FY00/01)
Benin
2.7% (FY02)
Bermuda
0.11% (FY00/01)
Bhutan
1.9% (FY02)
Bolivia
1.8% (FY99)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
4.5% (FY02)
Botswana
3.5% (FY02)
Brazil
1.9% (FY99)
Brunei
5% (FY02)
Bulgaria
2.7% (FY02)
Burkina Faso
1.4% (FY02)
Burma
2.1% (FY97)
Burundi
5.3% (FY02)
Cambodia
3% (FY01 est.)
Cameroon
1.4% (FY98)
Canada
1.1% (FY01/02)
Cape Verde
1.6% (FY02)
Central African Republic
1.1% (FY02)
Chad
1.9% (FY02)
Chile
3.1% (FY99)
China
4.3% (FY02)
Colombia
3.4% (FY01)
Comoros
3% (FY02)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
4.6% (FY97)
Congo, Republic of the
2.8% (FY01)
Costa Rica
1.6% (FY99)
Cote d'Ivoire
1.4% (FY02)
Croatia
2.39% (2002 est.)
Cuba
roughly 4% (FY95 est.)
Cyprus
3.8% (FY02)
Czech Republic
2.1% (FY01)
Denmark
1.4% (FY99/00)
Djibouti
4.4% (FY02)
Dominica
NA%
Dominican Republic
1.1% (FY98)
East Timor
NA%
Ecuador
3.4% (FY98)
Egypt
4.1% (FY99)
El Salvador
0.7% (FY99)
Equatorial Guinea
2.5% (FY02)
Eritrea
12% (FY02)
Estonia
2% (2002 est.)
Ethiopia
12.6% (FY00)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA%
Faroe Islands
NA%
Fiji
2.2% (FY02)
Finland
2% (FY98/99)
France
2.57% (2002)
French Guiana
NA%
Gabon
2% (FY02)
Gambia, The
0.3% (FY02)
Gaza Strip
NA%
Georgia
0.59% (FY00)
Germany
1.38% (2002)
Ghana
0.6% (FY02)
Greece
4.91% (FY99/00 est.)
Grenada
NA%
Guatemala
0.6% (FY99)
Guinea
3.3% (FY02)
Guinea-Bissau
2.8% (FY02)
Guyana
NA%
Haiti
1.3% (FY00)
Honduras
0.6% (FY99)
Hong Kong
NA% (FY02)
Hungary
1.75% (2002 est.)
India
2.3% (FY02)
Indonesia
1.3% (FY98)
Iran
3.1% (FY00)
Iraq
NA%
Ireland
0.9% (FY00/01)
Israel
8.75% (FY02)
Italy
1.64% (2002)
Jamaica
NA%
Japan
1% (FY02)
Jordan
8.6% (FY01)
Kazakhstan
0.9% (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)
Kenya
1.8% (FY02)
Kiribati
NA%
Korea, North
33.9% (FY02)
Korea, South
2.8% (FY02)
Kuwait
5.5% (FY01)
Kyrgyzstan
1.4% (FY01)
Laos
4.2% (FY96)
Latvia
1.2% (FY01)
Lebanon
4.8% (FY99)
Lesotho
NA%
Liberia
1.3% (FY02)
Libya
3.9% (FY99)
Lithuania
1.9% (FY01)
Luxembourg
0.8% (FY01/02)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
6% (FY01/02 est.)
Madagascar
1.2% (FY02)
Malawi
0.7% (FY02)
Malaysia
2.03% (FY00)
Maldives
8.6% (FY02)
Mali
15% (FY02)
Malta
1.7% (2000)
Marshall Islands
NA%
Mauritania
3.7% (FY02)
Mauritius
0.2% (FY02)
Mexico
1% (FY99)
Moldova
0.4% (FY02)
Mongolia
2.2% (FY02)
Morocco
4% (FY99)
Mozambique
1% (2000 est.)
Namibia
2.4% (FY02)
Nauru
NA%
Nepal
1.1% (FY02)
Netherlands
1.5% (FY00/01 est.)
New Caledonia
5.3% (FY96)
New Zealand
1% (FY02)
Nicaragua
1.2% (FY98)
Niger
1.1% (FY02)
Nigeria
1% (FY02)
Norway
2.13% (2002)
Oman
12.2% (FY01)
Pakistan
4.6% (FY02)
Palau
NA%
Panama
1.3% (FY99)
Papua New Guinea
1.4% (FY02)
Paraguay
1.4% (FY98)
Peru
1.8% (FY01)
Philippines
1.5% (FY98)
Poland
1.71% (2002)
Portugal
2.2% (FY99/00)
Qatar
10% (FY00)
Romania
2.47% (2002)
Russia
NA%
Rwanda
3% (FY02)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA%
Saint Lucia
$NA
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NA%
Samoa
NA%
San Marino
NA%
Sao Tome and Principe
0.8% (FY01)
Saudi Arabia
13% (FY00)
Senegal
1.4% (FY02)
Serbia and Montenegro
NA%
Seychelles
1.8% (FY02)
Sierra Leone
1.5% (FY02)
Singapore
4.9% (FY01)
Slovakia
1.89% (2002)
Slovenia
1.7% (FY00)
Solomon Islands
NA%
Somalia
0.9% (FY02)
South Africa
1.7% (FY02)
Spain
1.15% (2002)
Sri Lanka
4.2% (FY98)
Sudan
2.5% (1999)
Suriname
1.6% (FY97 est.)
Swaziland
4.75% (FY00)
Sweden
2.1% (FY01)
Switzerland
1% (FY01)
Syria
5.9% (FY00)
Taiwan
2.7% (FY02)
Tajikistan
3.9% (FY01)
Tanzania
0.2% (FY02)
Thailand
1.4% (FY00)
Togo
1.8% (FY02)
Tonga
NA%
Trinidad and Tobago
1.4% (1999)
Tunisia
1.5% (FY99)
Turkey
4.5% (2002 est.)
Turkmenistan
3.4% (FY99)
Tuvalu
NA%
Uganda
2.1% (FY02)
Ukraine
1.4% (FY02)
United Arab Emirates
3.1% (FY00)
United Kingdom
2.32% (2002)
United States
3.2% (FY99 est.)
Uruguay
1.1% (2000)
Uzbekistan
2% (FY97)
Vanuatu
NA%
Venezuela
0.9% (FY99)
Vietnam
2.5% (FY98)
West Bank
NA%
Western Sahara
NA%
World
roughly 2% of gross world product (1999 est.)
Yemen
5.2% (FY01)
Zambia
0.9% (FY02)
Zimbabwe
3.2% (FY02)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2038 Electricity - production (kWh)
Afghanistan
334.8 million kWh (2001)
Albania
5.289 billion kWh (2001)
Algeria
24.69 billion kWh (2001)
American Samoa
130 million kWh (2001)
Andorra
NA kWh
Angola
1.45 billion kWh (2001)
Anguilla
NA (2000)
Antigua and Barbuda
105.3 million kWh (2001)
Argentina
97.17 billion kWh (2001)
Armenia
6.479 billion kWh (2001)
Aruba
531.9 million kWh (2001)
Australia
198.2 billion kWh (2001)
Austria
58.75 billion kWh (2001)
Azerbaijan
18.23 billion kWh (2001)
Bahamas, The
1.56 billion kWh (2001)
Bahrain
6.257 billion kWh (2001)
Bangladesh
15.33 billion kWh (2001)
Barbados
780 million kWh (2001)
Belarus
24.4 billion kWh (2001)
Belgium
74.28 billion kWh (2001)
Belize
199.5 million kWh (2001)
Benin
274.3 million kWh (2001)
Bermuda
643.7 million kWh (2001)
Bhutan
1.896 billion kWh (2001)
Bolivia
3.901 billion kWh (2001)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
9.979 billion kWh (2001)
Botswana
409.8 million kWh (2001)
Brazil
321.2 billion kWh (2001)
British Indian Ocean Territory
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied
by the US military
British Virgin Islands
38.1 million kWh (2001)
Brunei
2.497 billion kWh (2001)
Bulgaria
41.38 billion kWh (2001)
Burkina Faso
279.2 million kWh (2001)
Burma
6.139 billion kWh (2001)
Burundi
155.4 million kWh (2001)
Cambodia
119 million kWh (2001)
Cameroon
3.613 billion kWh (2001)
Canada
566.3 billion kWh (2001)
Cape Verde
42.03 million kWh (2001)
Cayman Islands
381.9 million kWh (2001)
Central African Republic
106 million kWh (2001)
Chad
94.04 million kWh (2001)
Chile
41.66 billion kWh (2001)
China
1.42 trillion kWh (2001)
Christmas Island
NA kWh
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA kWh
Colombia
42.99 billion kWh (2001)
Comoros
21.27 million kWh (2001)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
5.243 billion kWh (2001)
Congo, Republic of the
358.1 million kWh (2001)
Cook Islands
27.43 million kWh (2001)
Costa Rica
6.839 billion kWh (2001)
Cote d'Ivoire
4.605 billion kWh (2001)
Croatia
12.12 billion kWh (2001)
Cuba
14.38 billion kWh (2001)
Cyprus
3.401 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001)
Czech Republic
70.04 billion kWh (2001)
Denmark
35.47 billion kWh (2001)
Djibouti
180 million kWh (2001)
Dominica
72.41 million kWh (2001)
Dominican Republic
9.186 billion kWh (2001)
East Timor
NA kWh (2001)
Ecuador
75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Egypt
75.23 billion kWh (2001)
El Salvador
3.729 billion kWh (2001)
Equatorial Guinea
23.56 million kWh (2001)
Eritrea
220.5 million kWh (2001)
Estonia
7.937 billion kWh (2001)
Ethiopia
1.713 billion kWh (2001)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
16.33 million kWh (2001)
Faroe Islands
160.4 million kWh (2001)
Fiji
520.1 million kWh (2001)
Finland
71.2 billion kWh (2001)
France
520.1 billion kWh (2001)
French Guiana
455 million kWh (2001)
French Polynesia
428.3 million kWh (2001)
Gabon
798.4 million kWh (2001)
Gambia, The
85.33 million kWh (2001)
Gaza Strip
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel
Georgia
7.27 billion kWh (2001)
Germany
544.8 billion kWh (2001)
Ghana
8.801 billion kWh (2001)
Gibraltar
100 million kWh (2001)
Greece
49.79 billion kWh (2001)
Greenland
245 million kWh (2001)
Grenada
138 million kWh (2001)
Guadeloupe
1.155 billion kWh (2001)
Guam
830 million kWh (2001)
Guatemala
6.237 billion kWh (2001)
Guernsey
NA kWh
Guinea
790.6 million kWh (2001)
Guinea-Bissau
55 million kWh (2001)
Guyana
852 million kWh (2001)
Haiti
580 million kWh (2001)
Holy See (Vatican City)
NA kWh
Honduras
3.778 billion kWh (2001)
Hong Kong
30.48 billion kWh (2001)
Hungary
34.39 billion kWh (2001)
Iceland
7.894 billion kWh (2001)
India
533.3 billion kWh (2001)
Indonesia
95.78 billion kWh (2001)
Iran
124.6 billion kWh (2001)
Iraq
36.01 billion kWh (2001)
Ireland
23.53 billion kWh (2001)
Israel
42.24 billion kWh (2001)
Italy
258.8 billion kWh (2001)
Jamaica
6.272 billion kWh (2001)
Japan
1.037 trillion kWh (2001)
Johnston Atoll
44.2 million kWh; note - approximate annual
production; there are six 25,000 kWh generators operated by the base
operating support contractor (1999)
Jordan
7.091 billion kWh (2001)
Kazakhstan
52.43 billion kWh (2001)
Kenya
4.033 billion kWh (2001)
Kiribati
7 million kWh (2001)
Korea, North
30.01 billion kWh (2001)
Korea, South
290.7 billion kWh (2001)
Kuwait
31.49 billion kWh (2001)
Kyrgyzstan
13.45 billion kWh (2001)
Laos
1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Latvia
4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Lebanon
6.728 billion kWh (2001)
Lesotho
0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa
(2001)
Liberia
468.8 million kWh (2001)
Libya
20.18 billion kWh (2001)
Lithuania
14.62 billion kWh (2001)
Luxembourg
457 million kWh (2001)
Macau
1.611 billion kWh (2002)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
6.465 billion kWh (2001)
Madagascar
830.2 million kWh (2001)
Malawi
769.2 million kWh (2001)
Malaysia
68.34 billion kWh (2001)
Maldives
117 million kWh (2001)
Mali
480.2 million kWh (2001)
Malta
1.768 billion kWh (2001)
Martinique
1.151 billion kWh (2001)
Mauritania
157.4 million kWh (2001)
Mauritius
1.311 billion kWh (2001)
Mayotte
NA kWh
Mexico
198.6 billion kWh (2001)
Micronesia, Federated States of
NA kWh
Moldova
3.394 billion kWh (2001)
Mongolia
2.225 billion kWh (2001)
Montserrat
2.5 million kWh (2001)
Morocco
13.35 billion kWh (2001)
Mozambique
7.193 billion kWh (2001)
Namibia
26.95 million kWh (2001)
Nauru
30 million kWh (2001)
Nepal
1.755 billion kWh (2001)
Netherlands
88.32 billion kWh (2001)
Netherlands Antilles
1.061 billion kWh (2001)
New Caledonia
1.613 billion kWh (2001)
New Zealand
37.51 billion kWh (2001)
Nicaragua
2.549 billion kWh (2001)
Niger
242 million kWh (2001)
Nigeria
15.67 billion kWh (2001)
Niue
3 million kWh (2001)
Norfolk Island
NA kWh
Northern Mariana Islands
NA kWh
Norway
120.1 billion kWh (2001)
Oman
9.274 billion kWh (2001)
Pakistan
66.96 billion kWh (2001)
Panama
4.039 billion kWh (2001)
Papua New Guinea
1.496 billion kWh (2001)
Paraguay
44.89 billion kWh (2001)
Peru
20.59 billion kWh (2001)
Philippines
45.21 billion kWh (2001)
Pitcairn Islands
NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a
small diesel-powered generator
Poland
135 billion kWh (2001)
Portugal
44.32 billion kWh (2001)
Puerto Rico
20.9 billion kWh (2001)
Qatar
9.264 billion kWh (2001)
Reunion
1.08 billion kWh (2001)
Romania
50.86 billion kWh (2001)
Russia
846.5 billion kWh (2001)
Rwanda
96.78 million kWh (2001)
Saint Helena
5 million kWh (2001)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
100.3 million kWh (2001)
Saint Lucia
120.2 million kWh (2001)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
42.03 million kWh (2001)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
92.48 million kWh (2001)
Samoa
105.1 million kWh (2001)
San Marino
NA
Sao Tome and Principe
17 million kWh (2001)
Saudi Arabia
122.4 billion kWh (2001)
Senegal
1.518 billion kWh (2001)
Serbia and Montenegro
31.71 billion kWh (2001)
Seychelles
160 million kWh (2001)
Sierra Leone
250.1 million kWh (2001)
Singapore
30.48 billion kWh (2001)
Slovakia
30.29 billion kWh (2001)
Slovenia
13.69 billion kWh (2001)
Solomon Islands
32 million kWh (2001)
Somalia
245.1 million kWh (2001)
South Africa
195.6 billion kWh (2001)
Spain
222.5 billion kWh (2001)
Sri Lanka
6.36 billion kWh (2001)
Sudan
2.389 billion kWh (2001)
Suriname
1.959 billion kWh (2001)
Svalbard
NA kWh
Swaziland
348.3 million kWh (2001)
Sweden
152.9 billion kWh (2001)
Switzerland
68.68 billion kWh (2001)
Syria
23.26 billion kWh (2001)
Taiwan
151.1 billion kWh (2001)
Tajikistan
14.18 billion kWh (2001)
Tanzania
2.906 billion kWh (2001)
Thailand
97.6 billion kWh (2001)
Togo
101.6 million kWh (2001)
Tokelau
NA kWh
Tonga
27.27 million kWh (2001)
Trinidad and Tobago
5.315 billion kWh (2001)
Tunisia
10.48 billion kWh (2001)
Turkey
116.6 billion kWh (2001)
Turkmenistan
10.18 billion kWh (2001)
Turks and Caicos Islands
5 million kWh (2001)
Uganda
1.928 billion kWh (2001)
Ukraine
164.7 billion kWh (2001)
United Arab Emirates
37.74 billion kWh (2001)
United Kingdom
360.9 billion kWh (2001)
United States
3.719 trillion kWh (2001)
Uruguay
7.963 billion kWh (2001)
Uzbekistan
44.49 billion kWh (2001)
Vanuatu
43.46 million kWh (2001)
Venezuela
87.6 billion kWh (2001)
Vietnam
29.8 billion kWh (2001)
Virgin Islands
1.03 billion kWh (2001)
Wake Island
NA
Wallis and Futuna
NA kWh
West Bank
NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East
Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to
Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank;
the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most
Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian
municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own
electricity from small power plants
Western Sahara
90 million kWh (2001)
World
14.85 trillion kWh (2001 est.)
Yemen
3.01 billion kWh (2001)
Zambia
7.751 billion kWh (2001)
Zimbabwe
6.735 billion kWh (2001)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2042 Electricity - consumption (kWh)
Afghanistan
511.4 million kWh (2001)
Albania
5.898 billion kWh (2001)
Algeria
22.9 billion kWh (2001)
American Samoa
120.9 million kWh (2001)
Andorra
NA kWh
Angola
1.348 billion kWh (2001)
Anguilla
42.6 million kWh
Antigua and Barbuda
97.89 million kWh (2001)
Argentina
92.12 billion kWh (2001)
Armenia
5.784 billion kWh (2001)
Aruba
494.7 million kWh (2001)
Australia
184.4 billion kWh (2001)
Austria
54.85 billion kWh (2001)
Azerbaijan
16.65 billion kWh (2001)
Bahamas, The
1.451 billion kWh (2001)
Bahrain
5.819 billion kWh (2001)
Bangladesh
14.25 billion kWh (2001)
Barbados
725.4 million kWh (2001)
Belarus
26.69 billion kWh (2001)
Belgium
78.18 billion kWh (2001)
Belize
185.5 million kWh (2001)
Benin
631.1 million kWh (2001)
Bermuda
598.6 million kWh (2001)
Bhutan
379.5 million kWh (2001)
Bolivia
3.634 billion kWh (2001)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
8.116 billion kWh (2001)
Botswana
1.564 billion kWh (2001)
Brazil
335.9 billion kWh (2001)
British Indian Ocean Territory
NA kWh
British Virgin Islands
35.43 million kWh (2001)
Brunei
2.322 billion kWh (2001)
Bulgaria
32.52 billion kWh (2001)
Burkina Faso
259.6 million kWh (2001)
Burma
5.709 billion kWh (2001)
Burundi
177.5 million kWh (2001)
Cambodia
110.6 million kWh (2001)
Cameroon
3.36 billion kWh (2001)
Canada
504.4 billion kWh (2001)
Cape Verde
39.08 million kWh (2001)
Cayman Islands
355.2 million kWh (2001)
Central African Republic
98.63 million kWh (2001)
Chad
87.46 million kWh (2001)
Chile
40.13 billion kWh (2001)
China
1.312 trillion kWh (2001)
Christmas Island
NA kWh
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA kWh
Colombia
39.81 billion kWh (2001)
Comoros
19.78 million kWh (2001)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
3.839 billion kWh (2001)
Congo, Republic of the
633 million kWh (2001)
Cook Islands
25.51 million kWh (2001)
Costa Rica
6.109 billion kWh (2001)
Cote d'Ivoire
2.983 billion kWh (2001)
Croatia
14.27 billion kWh (2001)
Cuba
13.38 billion kWh (2001)
Cyprus
Greek Cypriot area: 3.163 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area:
NA kWh (2001)
Czech Republic
55.6 billion kWh (2001)
Denmark
32.41 billion kWh (2001)
Djibouti
167.4 million kWh (2001)
Dominica
67.35 million kWh (2001)
Dominican Republic
8.543 billion kWh (2001)
East Timor
NA kWh (2001)
Ecuador
69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Egypt
69.96 billion kWh (2001)
El Salvador
3.777 billion kWh (2001)
Equatorial Guinea
21.91 million kWh (2001)
Eritrea
205.1 million kWh (2001)
Estonia
6.192 billion kWh (2001)
Ethiopia
1.594 billion kWh (2001)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
15.19 million kWh (2001)
Faroe Islands
149.1 million kWh (2001)
Fiji
483.7 million kWh (2001)
Finland
76.18 billion kWh (2001)
France
415.3 billion kWh (2001)
French Guiana
423.2 million kWh (2001)
French Polynesia
398.3 million kWh (2001)
Gabon
742.5 million kWh (2001)
Gambia, The
79.36 million kWh (2001)
Gaza Strip
NA kWh
Georgia
7.611 billion kWh (2001)
Germany
506.8 billion kWh (2001)
Ghana
8.835 billion kWh (2001)
Gibraltar
93 million kWh (2001)
Greece
48.8 billion kWh (2001)
Greenland
227.9 million kWh (2001)
Grenada
128.3 million kWh (2001)
Guadeloupe
1.074 billion kWh (2001)
Guam
771.9 million kWh (2001)
Guatemala
5.559 billion kWh (2001)
Guernsey
NA kWh
Guinea
735.2 million kWh (2001)
Guinea-Bissau
51.15 million kWh (2001)
Guyana
792.4 million kWh (2001)
Haiti
539.4 million kWh (2001)
Holy See (Vatican City)
NA kWh
Honduras
3.822 billion kWh (2001)
Hong Kong
37.12 billion kWh (2001)
Hungary
35.15 billion kWh (2001)
Iceland
7.341 billion kWh (2001)
India
497.2 billion kWh (2001)
Indonesia
89.08 billion kWh (2001)
Iran
115.9 billion kWh (2001)
Iraq
33.49 billion kWh (2001)
Ireland
21.63 billion kWh (2001)
Israel
37.82 billion kWh (2001)
Italy
289.1 billion kWh (2001)
Jamaica
5.833 billion kWh (2001)
Japan
964.2 billion kWh (2001)
Johnston Atoll
2.002 million kWh; note - approximate annual
consumption
Jordan
6.86 billion kWh (2001)
Kazakhstan
48.36 billion kWh (2001)
Kenya
3.981 billion kWh (2001)
Kiribati
6.51 million kWh (2001)
Korea, North
27.91 billion kWh (2001)
Korea, South
270.3 billion kWh (2001)
Kuwait
29.29 billion kWh (2001)
Kyrgyzstan
10.46 billion kWh (2001)
Laos
824.7 million kWh (2001)
Latvia
6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Lebanon
7.44 billion kWh (2001)
Lesotho
40 million kWh (2001)
Liberia
435.9 million kWh (2001)
Libya
18.77 billion kWh (2001)
Liechtenstein
NA kWh
Lithuania
8.683 billion kWh (2001)
Luxembourg
6.07 billion kWh (2001)
Macau
1.688 billion kWh (2002)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
6.112 billion kWh (2001)
Madagascar
772.1 million kWh (2001)
Malawi
715.3 million kWh (2001)
Malaysia
63.48 billion kWh (2001)
Maldives
108.8 million kWh (2001)
Mali
446.6 million kWh (2001)
Malta
1.644 billion kWh (2001)
Martinique
1.07 billion kWh (2001)
Mauritania
146.3 million kWh (2001)
Mauritius
1.219 billion kWh (2001)
Mayotte
NA kWh
Mexico
186.7 billion kWh (2001)
Micronesia, Federated States of
NA kWh
Moldova
3.216 billion kWh (2001)
Monaco
NA kWh
Mongolia
2.194 billion kWh (2001)
Montserrat
2.325 million kWh (2001)
Morocco
14.61 billion kWh (2001)
Mozambique
1.39 billion kWh (2001)
Namibia
603.1 million kWh (2001)
Nauru
27.9 million kWh (2001)
Nepal
1.764 billion kWh (2001)
Netherlands
99.42 billion kWh (2001)
Netherlands Antilles
986.8 million kWh (2001)
New Caledonia
1.5 billion kWh (2001)
New Zealand
34.88 billion kWh (2001)
Nicaragua
2.388 billion kWh (2001)
Niger
325.1 million kWh (2001)
Nigeria
14.55 billion kWh (2001)
Niue
2.79 million kWh (2001)
Norfolk Island
NA kWh
Northern Mariana Islands
NA kWh
Norway
115.3 billion kWh (2001)
Oman
8.625 billion kWh (2001)
Pakistan
62.27 billion kWh (2001)
Panama
3.681 billion kWh (2001)
Papua New Guinea
1.391 billion kWh (2001)
Paraguay
2.637 billion kWh (2001)
Peru
19.15 billion kWh (2001)
Philippines
42.04 billion kWh (2001)
Pitcairn Islands
NA kWh
Poland
118.8 billion kWh (2001)
Portugal
41.48 billion kWh (2001)
Puerto Rico
19.44 billion kWh (2001)
Qatar
8.616 billion kWh (2001)
Reunion
1.005 billion kWh (2001)
Romania
46.1 billion kWh (2001)
Russia
773 billion kWh (2001)
Rwanda
140 million kWh (2001)
Saint Helena
4.65 million kWh (2001)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
93.26 million kWh (2001)
Saint Lucia
111.8 million kWh (2001)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
39.08 million kWh (2001)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
86 million kWh (2001)
Samoa
97.74 million kWh (2001)
San Marino
NA (2000)
Sao Tome and Principe
15.81 million kWh (2001)
Saudi Arabia
113.8 billion kWh (2001)
Senegal
1.412 billion kWh (2001)
Serbia and Montenegro
32.37 billion kWh (2001)
Seychelles
148.8 million kWh (2001)
Sierra Leone
232.6 million kWh (2001)
Singapore
28.35 billion kWh (2001)
Slovakia
24.41 billion kWh (2001)
Slovenia
13.83 billion kWh (2001)
Solomon Islands
29.76 million kWh (2001)
Somalia
227.9 million kWh (2001)
South Africa
181.2 billion kWh (2001)
Spain
210.4 billion kWh (2001)
Sri Lanka
5.915 billion kWh (2001)
Sudan
2.222 billion kWh (2001)
Suriname
1.822 billion kWh (2001)
Svalbard
NA kWh
Swaziland
962.9 million kWh (2001)
Sweden
134.9 billion kWh (2001)
Switzerland
53.43 billion kWh (2001)
Syria
21.63 billion kWh (2001)
Taiwan
140.5 billion kWh (2001)
Tajikistan
14.52 billion kWh (2001)
Tanzania
2.752 billion kWh (2001)
Thailand
90.91 billion kWh (2001)
Togo
614.5 million kWh (2001)
Tokelau
NA kWh
Tonga
25.36 million kWh (2001)
Trinidad and Tobago
4.943 billion kWh (2001)
Tunisia
9.748 billion kWh (2001)
Turkey
112.6 billion kWh (2001)
Turkmenistan
8.509 billion kWh (2001)
Turks and Caicos Islands
4.65 million kWh (2001)
Uganda
1.62 billion kWh (2001)
Ukraine
152.4 billion kWh (2001)
United Arab Emirates
35.1 billion kWh (2001)
United Kingdom
346.1 billion kWh (2001)
United States
3.602 trillion kWh (2001)
Uruguay
6.152 billion kWh (2001)
Uzbekistan
47.07 billion kWh (2001)
Vanuatu
40.42 million kWh (2001)
Venezuela
81.47 billion kWh (2001)
Vietnam
27.71 billion kWh (2001)
Virgin Islands
957.9 million kWh (2001)
Wallis and Futuna
NA kWh
West Bank
NA kWh
Western Sahara
83.7 million kWh (2001)
World
13.93 trillion kWh (2001 est.)
Yemen
2.8 billion kWh (2001)
Zambia
5.458 billion kWh (2001)
Zimbabwe
9.813 billion kWh (2001)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2043 Electricity - imports (kWh)
Afghanistan
200 million kWh (2001)
Albania
1.2 billion kWh (2001)
Algeria
275 million kWh (2001)
American Samoa
0 kWh (2001)
Andorra
NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and
France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower
Angola
0 kWh (2001)
Antigua and Barbuda
0 kWh (2001)
Argentina
7.417 billion kWh (2001)
Armenia
463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from
Iran (2001)
Aruba
0 kWh (2001)
Australia
0 kWh (2001)
Austria
14.47 billion kWh (2001)
Azerbaijan
400 million kWh (2001)
Bahamas, The
0 kWh (2001)
Bahrain
0 kWh (2001)
Bangladesh
0 kWh (2001)
Barbados
0 kWh (2001)
Belarus
4.3 billion kWh (2001)
Belgium
15.82 billion kWh (2001)
Belize
0 kWh (2001)
Benin
376 million kWh (2001)
Bermuda
0 kWh (2001)
Bhutan
16 million kWh (2001)
Bolivia
9 million kWh (2001)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.405 billion kWh (2001)
Botswana
1.183 billion kWh (2001)
Brazil
37.19 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2001)
British Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Brunei
0 kWh (2001)
Bulgaria
830 million kWh (2001)
Burkina Faso
0 kWh (2001)
Burma
0 kWh (2001)
Burundi
33 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (2001)
Cambodia
0 kWh (2001)
Cameroon
0 kWh (2001)
Canada
16.11 billion kWh (2001)
Cape Verde
0 kWh (2001)
Cayman Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Central African Republic
0 kWh (2001)
Chad
0 kWh (2001)
Chile
1.386 billion kWh (2001)
China
1.55 billion kWh (2001)
Colombia
40 million kWh (2001)
Comoros
0 kWh (2001)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
60 million kWh (2001)
Congo, Republic of the
300 million kWh (2001)
Cook Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Costa Rica
128 million kWh (2001)
Cote d'Ivoire
0 kWh (2001)
Croatia
3.386 billion kWh (2001)
Cuba
0 kWh (2001)
Cyprus
0 kWh (2001)
Czech Republic
9.38 billion kWh (2001)
Denmark
8.199 billion kWh (2001)
Djibouti
0 kWh (2001)
Dominica
0 kWh (2001)
Dominican Republic
0 kWh (2001)
East Timor
0 kWh (2001)
Ecuador
0 kWh (2001)
Egypt
0 kWh (2001)
El Salvador
353 million kWh (2001)
Equatorial Guinea
0 kWh (2001)
Eritrea
0 kWh NA kWh (2001)
Estonia
0 kWh (2001)
Ethiopia
0 kWh (2001)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 kWh (2001)
Faroe Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Fiji
0 kWh (2001)
Finland
11.77 billion kWh (2001)
France
4.2 billion kWh (2001)
French Guiana
0 kWh (2001)
French Polynesia
0 kWh (2001)
Gabon
0 kWh (2001)
Gambia, The
0 kWh (2001)
Gaza Strip
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel (2001)
Georgia
850 million kWh (2001)
Germany
44 billion kWh (2001)
Ghana
950 million kWh (2001)
Gibraltar
0 kWh (2001)
Greece
3.562 billion kWh (2001)
Greenland
0 kWh (2001)
Grenada
0 kWh (2001)
Guadeloupe
0 kWh (2001)
Guam
0 kWh (2001)
Guatemala
95 million kWh (2001)
Guernsey
0 kWh (2002)
Guinea
0 kWh (2001)
Guinea-Bissau
0 kWh (2001)
Guyana
0 kWh (2001)
Haiti
0 kWh (2001)
Holy See (Vatican City)
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Honduras
308 million kWh (2001)
Hong Kong
10.36 billion kWh (2001)
Hungary
10.43 billion kWh (2001)
Iceland
0 kWh (2001)
India
1.54 billion kWh (2001)
Indonesia
0 kWh (2001)
Iran
0 kWh (2001)
Iraq
0 kWh (2001)
Ireland
38 million kWh (2001)
Israel
0 kWh (2001)
Italy
48.93 billion kWh (2001)
Jamaica
0 kWh (2001)
Japan
0 kWh (2001)
Jersey
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Jordan
267 million kWh (2001)
Kazakhstan
3.2 billion kWh (2001)
Kenya
230 million kWh (2001)
Kiribati
0 kWh (2001)
Korea, North
0 kWh (2001)
Korea, South
0 kWh (2001)
Kuwait
0 kWh (2001)
Kyrgyzstan
200 million kWh (2001)
Laos
0 kWh (2001)
Latvia
2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Lebanon
1.183 billion kWh (2001)
Lesotho
40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa
(2001)
Liberia
0 kWh (2001)
Libya
0 kWh (2001)
Liechtenstein
0 kWh (2002)
Lithuania
1.389 billion kWh (2001)
Luxembourg
6.389 billion kWh (2001)
Macau
193 million kWh (2002)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
100 million kWh (2001)
Madagascar
0 kWh (2001)
Malawi
0 kWh (2001)
Malaysia
0 kWh (2001)
Maldives
0 kWh (2001)
Mali
0 kWh (2001)
Malta
0 kWh (2001)
Martinique
0 kWh (2001)
Mauritania
0 kWh (2001)
Mauritius
0 kWh (2001)
Mexico
2.068 billion kWh (2001)
Moldova
60 million kWh (2001)
Monaco
NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by France
Mongolia
196 million kWh (2001)
Montserrat
0 kWh (2001)
Morocco
2.2 billion kWh (2001)
Mozambique
500 million kWh (2001)
Namibia
578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa
(2001)
Nauru
0 kWh (2001)
Nepal
227 million kWh (2001)
Netherlands
21.49 billion kWh (2001)
Netherlands Antilles
0 kWh (2001)
New Caledonia
0 kWh (2001)
New Zealand
0 kWh (2001)
Nicaragua
17 million kWh (2001)
Niger
100 million kWh (2001)
Nigeria
0 kWh (2001)
Niue
0 kWh (2001)
Northern Mariana Islands
0 kWh
Norway
10.76 billion kWh (2001)
Oman
0 kWh (2001)
Pakistan
0 kWh (2001)
Panama
43 million kWh (2001)
Papua New Guinea
0 kWh (2001)
Paraguay
0 kWh (2001)
Peru
0 kWh (2001)
Philippines
0 kWh (2001)
Poland
4.306 billion kWh (2001)
Portugal
3.743 billion kWh (2001)
Puerto Rico
0 kWh (2001)
Qatar
0 kWh (2001)
Reunion
0 kWh (2001)
Romania
400 million kWh (2001)
Russia
7 billion kWh (2001)
Rwanda
50 million kWh (2001)
Saint Helena
0 kWh (2001)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 kWh (2001)
Saint Lucia
0 kWh (2001)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 kWh (2001)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 kWh (2001)
Samoa
0 kWh (2001)
San Marino
0 kWh
note: electricity supplied by Italy
Sao Tome and Principe
0 kWh (2001)
Saudi Arabia
0 kWh (2001)
Senegal
0 kWh (2001)
Serbia and Montenegro
3.33 billion kWh (2001)
Seychelles
0 kWh (2001)
Sierra Leone
0 kWh (2001)
Singapore
0 kWh (2001)
Slovakia
1.381 billion kWh (2001)
Slovenia
4.1 billion kWh (2001)
Solomon Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Somalia
0 kWh (2001)
South Africa
6.2 billion kWh (2001)
Spain
7.588 billion kWh (2001)
Sri Lanka
0 kWh (2001)
Sudan
0 kWh (2001)
Suriname
0 kWh (2001)
Swaziland
639 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South
Africa (2001)
Sweden
11.14 billion kWh (2001)
Switzerland
24.1 billion kWh (2001)
Syria
0 kWh (2001)
Taiwan
0 kWh (2001)
Tajikistan
5.242 billion kWh (2001)
Tanzania
50 million kWh (2001)
Thailand
350 million kWh (2001)
Togo
520 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2001)
Tonga
0 kWh (2001)
Trinidad and Tobago
0 kWh (2001)
Tunisia
1 million kWh (2001)
Turkey
4.579 billion kWh (2001)
Turkmenistan
20 million kWh (2001)
Turks and Caicos Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Uganda
1 million kWh (2001)
Ukraine
0 kWh (2001)
United Arab Emirates
0 kWh (2001)
United Kingdom
10.66 billion kWh (2001)
United States
38.48 billion kWh (2001)
Uruguay
123 million kWh (2001)
Uzbekistan
9.7 billion kWh (2001)
Vanuatu
0 kWh (2001)
Venezuela
0 kWh (2001)
Vietnam
0 kWh (2001)
Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Wallis and Futuna
0 kWh (2002)
West Bank
NA kWh
Western Sahara
0 kWh (2001)
Yemen
0 kWh (2001)
Zambia
0 kWh (2001)
Zimbabwe
3.55 billion kWh (2001)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2044 Electricity - exports (kWh)
Afghanistan
0 kWh (2001)
Albania
221 million kWh (2001)
Algeria
340 million kWh (2001)
American Samoa
0 kWh (2001)
Andorra
0 kWh (2002)
Angola
0 kWh (2001)
Antigua and Barbuda
0 kWh (2001)
Argentina
5.662 billion kWh (2001)
Armenia
704 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to
Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan
(2001)
Aruba
0 kWh (2001)
Australia
0 kWh (2001)
Austria
14.25 billion kWh (2001)
Azerbaijan
700 million kWh (2001)
Bahamas, The
0 kWh (2001)
Bahrain
0 kWh (2001)
Bangladesh
0 kWh (2001)
Barbados
0 kWh (2001)
Belarus
300 million kWh (2001)
Belgium
6.712 billion kWh (2001)
Belize
0 kWh (2001)
Benin
0 kWh (2001)
Bermuda
0 kWh (2001)
Bhutan
1.4 billion kWh (2001)
Bolivia
3 million kWh (2001)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2.569 billion kWh (2001)
Botswana
0 kWh (2001)
Brazil
0 kWh (2001)
British Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Brunei
0 kWh (2001)
Bulgaria
6.79 billion kWh (2001)
Burkina Faso
0 kWh (2001)
Burma
0 kWh (2001)
Burundi
0 kWh (2001)
Cambodia
0 kWh (2001)
Cameroon
0 kWh (2001)
Canada
38.4 billion kWh (2001)
Cape Verde
0 kWh (2001)
Cayman Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Central African Republic
0 kWh (2001)
Chad
0 kWh (2001)
Chile
0 kWh (2001)
China
10.3 billion kWh (2001)
Colombia
210 million kWh (2001)
Comoros
0 kWh (2001)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
1.097 billion kWh (2001)
Congo, Republic of the
0 kWh (2001)
Cook Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Costa Rica
379 million kWh (2001)
Cote d'Ivoire
1.3 billion kWh (2001)
Croatia
386 million kWh (2001)
Cuba
0 kWh (2001)
Cyprus
0 kWh (2001)
Czech Republic
18.92 billion kWh (2001)
Denmark
8.775 billion kWh (2001)
Djibouti
0 kWh (2001)
Dominica
0 kWh (2001)
Dominican Republic
0 kWh (2001)
East Timor
0 kWh (2001)
Ecuador
0 kWh (2001)
Egypt
0 kWh (2001)
El Salvador
44 million kWh (2001)
Equatorial Guinea
0 kWh (2001)
Eritrea
0 kWh NA kWh (2001)
Estonia
1.19 billion kWh (2001)
Ethiopia
0 kWh (2001)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
0 kWh (2001)
Faroe Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Fiji
0 kWh (2001)
Finland
1.81 billion kWh (2001)
France
72.6 billion kWh (2001)
French Guiana
0 kWh (2001)
French Polynesia
0 kWh (2001)
Gabon
0 kWh (2001)
Gambia, The
0 kWh (2001)
Gaza Strip
0 kWh (2001)
Georgia
0 kWh (2001)
Germany
43.9 billion kWh (2001)
Ghana
300 million kWh (2001)
Gibraltar
0 kWh (2001)
Greece
1.062 billion kWh (2001)
Greenland
0 kWh (2001)
Grenada
0 kWh (2001)
Guadeloupe
0 kWh (2001)
Guam
0 kWh (2001)
Guatemala
336 million kWh (2001)
Guernsey
0 kWh (2002)
Guinea
0 kWh (2001)
Guinea-Bissau
0 kWh (2001)
Guyana
0 kWh (2001)
Haiti
0 kWh (2001)
Holy See (Vatican City)
0 kWh
Honduras
0 kWh (2001)
Hong Kong
1.581 billion kWh (2001)
Hungary
7.261 billion kWh (2001)
Iceland
0 kWh (2001)
India
321 million kWh (2001)
Indonesia
0 kWh (2001)
Iran
0 kWh (2001)
Iraq
0 kWh (2001)
Ireland
285 million kWh (2001)
Israel
1.457 billion kWh (2001)
Italy
556 million kWh (2001)
Jamaica
0 kWh (2001)
Japan
0 kWh (2001)
Jordan
2 million kWh (2001)
Kazakhstan
3.6 billion kWh (2001)
Kenya
0 kWh (2001)
Kiribati
0 kWh (2001)
Korea, North
0 kWh (2001)
Korea, South
0 kWh (2001)
Kuwait
0 kWh (2001)
Kyrgyzstan
2.25 billion kWh (2001)
Laos
400 million kWh (2001)
Latvia
703 million kWh (2001)
Lebanon
0 kWh (2001)
Lesotho
0 kWh (2001)
Liberia
0 kWh (2001)
Libya
0 kWh (2001)
Liechtenstein
0 kWh (2002)
Lithuania
6.3 billion kWh (2001)
Luxembourg
744 million kWh (2001)
Macau
1 million kWh (2001)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
0 kWh (2001)
Madagascar
0 kWh (2001)
Malawi
0 kWh (2001)
Malaysia
75 million kWh (2001)
Maldives
0 kWh (2001)
Mali
0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing
electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2001)
Malta
0 kWh (2001)
Martinique
0 kWh (2001)
Mauritania
0 kWh (2001)
Mauritius
0 kWh (2001)
Mexico
77 million kWh (2001)
Moldova
0 kWh (2001)
Mongolia
25 million kWh (2001)
Montserrat
0 kWh (2001)
Morocco
0 kWh (2001)
Mozambique
5.8 billion kWh (2001)
Namibia
0 kWh (2001)
Nauru
0 kWh (2001)
Nepal
95 million kWh (2001)
Netherlands
4.209 billion kWh (2001)
Netherlands Antilles
0 kWh (2001)
New Caledonia
0 kWh (2001)
New Zealand
0 kWh (2001)
Nicaragua
0 kWh (2001)
Niger
0 kWh (2001)
Nigeria
20 million kWh (2001)
Niue
0 kWh (2001)
Northern Mariana Islands
0 kWh
Norway
7.162 billion kWh (2001)
Oman
0 kWh (2001)
Pakistan
0 kWh (2001)
Panama
118 million kWh (2001)
Papua New Guinea
0 kWh (2001)
Paraguay
39.11 billion kWh (2001)
Peru
0 kWh (2001)
Philippines
0 kWh (2001)
Poland
11.04 billion kWh (2001)
Portugal
3.479 billion kWh (2001)
Puerto Rico
0 kWh (2001)
Qatar
0 kWh (2001)
Reunion
0 kWh (2001)
Romania
1.6 billion kWh (2001)
Russia
21.16 billion kWh (2001)
Rwanda
0 kWh (2001)
Saint Helena
0 kWh (2001)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
0 kWh (2001)
Saint Lucia
0 kWh (2001)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
0 kWh (2001)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
0 kWh (2001)
Samoa
0 kWh (2001)
San Marino
0 kWh
note: electric power supplied by Italy
Sao Tome and Principe
0 kWh (2001)
Saudi Arabia
0 kWh (2001)
Senegal
0 kWh (2001)
Serbia and Montenegro
446 million kWh (2001)
Seychelles
0 kWh (2001)
Sierra Leone
0 kWh (2001)
Singapore
0 kWh (2001)
Slovakia
5.141 billion kWh (2001)
Slovenia
3 billion kWh (2001)
Solomon Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Somalia
0 kWh (2001)
South Africa
6.91 billion kWh (2001)
Spain
4.138 billion kWh (2001)
Sri Lanka
0 kWh (2001)
Sudan
0 kWh (2001)
Suriname
0 kWh (2001)
Swaziland
0 kWh (2001)
Sweden
18.45 billion kWh (2001)
Switzerland
34.54 billion kWh (2001)
Syria
0 kWh (2001)
Taiwan
0 kWh (2001)
Tajikistan
3.909 billion kWh (2001)
Tanzania
0 kWh (2001)
Thailand
200 million kWh (2001)
Togo
0 kWh (2001)
Tonga
0 kWh (2001)
Trinidad and Tobago
0 kWh (2001)
Tunisia
0 kWh (2001)
Turkey
433 million kWh (2001)
Turkmenistan
980 million kWh (2001)
Turks and Caicos Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Uganda
174 million kWh (2001)
Ukraine
800 million kWh (2001)
United Arab Emirates
0 kWh (2001)
United Kingdom
264 million kWh (2001)
United States
18.17 billion kWh (2001)
Uruguay
1.377 billion kWh (2001)
Uzbekistan
3.998 billion kWh (2001)
Vanuatu
0 kWh (2001)
Venezuela
0 kWh (2001)
Vietnam
0 kWh (2001)
Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2001)
Wallis and Futuna
0 kWh (2002)
Western Sahara
0 kWh (2001)
Yemen
0 kWh (2001)
Zambia
1.75 billion kWh (2001)
Zimbabwe
0 kWh (2001)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2045 Electricity - production by source (%)
Afghanistan
fossil fuel: 36.3%
hydro: 63.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Albania
fossil fuel: 2.9%
hydro: 97.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Algeria
fossil fuel: 99.7%
hydro: 0.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
American Samoa
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Andorra
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Angola
fossil fuel: 36.4%
hydro: 63.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Anguilla
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Antigua and Barbuda
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Argentina
fossil fuel: 52.2%
hydro: 40.8%
nuclear: 6.7%
other: 0.2% (2001)
Armenia
fossil fuel: 42.3%
hydro: 27%
nuclear: 30.7%
other: 0% (2001)
Aruba
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Australia
fossil fuel: 90.8%
hydro: 8.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.9% (2001)
Austria
fossil fuel: 29.3%
hydro: 67.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 3.5% (2001)
Azerbaijan
fossil fuel: 89.7%
hydro: 10.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Bahamas, The
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Bahrain
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Bangladesh
fossil fuel: 93.7%
hydro: 6.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Barbados
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Belarus
fossil fuel: 99.5%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)
Belgium
fossil fuel: 38.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 59.3%
other: 1.8% (2001)
Belize
fossil fuel: 59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Benin
fossil fuel: 14.2%
hydro: 85.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Bermuda
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Bhutan
fossil fuel: 0.1%
hydro: 99.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Bolivia
fossil fuel: 44.4%
hydro: 54%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.5% (2001)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
fossil fuel: 53.5%
hydro: 46.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Botswana
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Brazil
fossil fuel: 8.3%
hydro: 82.7%
nuclear: 4.4%
other: 4.6% (2001)
British Virgin Islands
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Brunei
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Bulgaria
fossil fuel: 47.8%
hydro: 8.1%
nuclear: 44.1%
other: 0% (2001)
Burkina Faso
fossil fuel: 69.9%
hydro: 30.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Burma
fossil fuel: 44.4%
hydro: 55.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Burundi
fossil fuel: 0.6%
hydro: 99.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Cambodia
fossil fuel: 65%
hydro: 35%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Cameroon
fossil fuel: 2.7%
hydro: 97.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Canada
fossil fuel: 28%
hydro: 57.9%
nuclear: 12.9%
other: 1.3% (2001)
Cape Verde
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Cayman Islands
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Central African Republic
fossil fuel: 19.8%
hydro: 80.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Chad
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Chile
fossil fuel: 47%
hydro: 51.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.4% (2001)
China
fossil fuel: 80.2%
hydro: 18.5%
nuclear: 1.2%
other: 0.1% (2001)
Christmas Island
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Colombia
fossil fuel: 26%
hydro: 72.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.3% (2001)
Comoros
fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
fossil fuel: 1.8%
hydro: 98.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Congo, Republic of the
fossil fuel: 0.3%
hydro: 99.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Cook Islands
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Costa Rica
fossil fuel: 1.5%
hydro: 81.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 16.6% (2001)
Cote d'Ivoire
fossil fuel: 61.9%
hydro: 38.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Croatia
fossil fuel: 33.6%
hydro: 66%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)
Cuba
fossil fuel: 93.9%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.4% (2001)
Cyprus
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Czech Republic
fossil fuel: 76.1%
hydro: 2.9%
nuclear: 20%
other: 1% (2001)
Denmark
fossil fuel: 82.7%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.3% (2001)
Djibouti
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Dominica
fossil fuel: 47.1%
hydro: 52.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Dominican Republic
fossil fuel: 92%
hydro: 7.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)
East Timor
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Ecuador
fossil fuel: 81%
hydro: 19%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Egypt
fossil fuel: 81%
hydro: 19%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
El Salvador
fossil fuel: 44%
hydro: 30.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 25.1% (2001)
Equatorial Guinea
fossil fuel: 94.3%
hydro: 5.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Eritrea
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Estonia
fossil fuel: 99.8%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.2% (2001)
Ethiopia
fossil fuel: 1.3%
hydro: 97.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.2% (2001)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Faroe Islands
fossil fuel: 62.4%
hydro: 37.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Fiji
fossil fuel: 18.5%
hydro: 81.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Finland
fossil fuel: 39%
hydro: 18.7%
nuclear: 30.4%
other: 11.8% (2001)
France
fossil fuel: 8.2%
hydro: 14%
nuclear: 77.1%
other: 0.7% (2001)
French Guiana
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
French Polynesia
fossil fuel: 60.7%
hydro: 39.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%; note - sun, wind, biomass (2001)
Gabon
fossil fuel: 34.5%
hydro: 65.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Gambia, The
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Georgia
fossil fuel: 19.7%
hydro: 80.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Germany
fossil fuel: 61.8%
hydro: 4.2%
nuclear: 29.9%
other: 4.1% (2001)
Ghana
fossil fuel: 5%
hydro: 95%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Gibraltar
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Greece
fossil fuel: 94.5%
hydro: 3.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001)
Greenland
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from fossil
fuel to hydropower production (2001)
Grenada
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Guadeloupe
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Guam
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Guatemala
fossil fuel: 51.9%
hydro: 35.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 12.9% (2001)
Guernsey
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Guinea
fossil fuel: 45.5%
hydro: 54.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Guinea-Bissau
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Guyana
fossil fuel: 99.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Haiti
fossil fuel: 60.3%
hydro: 39.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Honduras
fossil fuel: 50.2%
hydro: 49.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Hong Kong
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Hungary
fossil fuel: 60.1%
hydro: 0.5%
nuclear: 39%
other: 0.3% (2001)
Iceland
fossil fuel: 0.1%
hydro: 82.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.5% (2001)
India
fossil fuel: 81.7%
hydro: 14.5%
nuclear: 3.4%
other: 0.3% (2001)
Indonesia
fossil fuel: 86.9%
hydro: 10.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 2.5% (2001)
Iran
fossil fuel: 97.1%
hydro: 2.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Iraq
fossil fuel: 98.4%
hydro: 1.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Ireland
fossil fuel: 95.9%
hydro: 2.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001)
Israel
fossil fuel: 99.9%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Italy
fossil fuel: 78.6%
hydro: 18.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 3% (2001)
Jamaica
fossil fuel: 96.8%
hydro: 1.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.5% (2001)
Japan
fossil fuel: 60%
hydro: 8.4%
nuclear: 29.8%
other: 1.8% (2001)
Jordan
fossil fuel: 99.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Kazakhstan
fossil fuel: 84.3%
hydro: 15.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Kenya
fossil fuel: 71%
hydro: 17.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 11.3% (2001)
Kiribati
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Korea, North
fossil fuel: 29%
hydro: 71%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Korea, South
fossil fuel: 62.4%
hydro: 0.8%
nuclear: 36.6%
other: 0.2% (2001)
Kuwait
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Kyrgyzstan
fossil fuel: 7.6%
hydro: 92.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Laos
fossil fuel: 1.4%
hydro: 98.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Latvia
fossil fuel: 29.1%
hydro: 70.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Lebanon
fossil fuel: 97.2%
hydro: 2.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Liberia
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Libya
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Liechtenstein
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2002)
Lithuania
fossil fuel: 16.5%
hydro: 5.7%
nuclear: 77.7%
other: 0% (2001)
Luxembourg
fossil fuel: 57.3%
hydro: 25.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.5% (2001)
Macau
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
fossil fuel: 83.7%
hydro: 16.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Madagascar
fossil fuel: 36.1%
hydro: 63.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Malawi
fossil fuel: 3.3%
hydro: 96.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Malaysia
fossil fuel: 89.5%
hydro: 10.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Maldives
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Mali
fossil fuel: 41.7%
hydro: 58.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Malta
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Marshall Islands
fossil fuel: 99%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1% (solar)
Martinique
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Mauritania
fossil fuel: 85.9%
hydro: 14.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Mauritius
fossil fuel: 90.8%
hydro: 9.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Mayotte
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Mexico
fossil fuel: 78.7%
hydro: 14.2%
nuclear: 4.2%
other: 2.9% (2001)
Micronesia, Federated States of
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Moldova
fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Mongolia
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Montserrat
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Morocco
fossil fuel: 95.4%
hydro: 4.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Mozambique
fossil fuel: 2.9%
hydro: 97.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Namibia
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Nauru
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Nepal
fossil fuel: 8.5%
hydro: 91.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Netherlands
fossil fuel: 89.9%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 4.3%
other: 5.7% (2001)
Netherlands Antilles
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
New Caledonia
fossil fuel: 76.3%
hydro: 23.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
New Zealand
fossil fuel: 31.6%
hydro: 57.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 10.7% (2001)
Nicaragua
fossil fuel: 83.9%
hydro: 7.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 8.4% (2001)
Niger
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Nigeria
fossil fuel: 61.9%
hydro: 38.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Niue
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Norfolk Island
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2002)
Norway
fossil fuel: 0.4%
hydro: 99.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)
Oman
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Pakistan
fossil fuel: 68.8%
hydro: 28.2%
nuclear: 3%
other: 0% (2001)
Palau
0%
Panama
fossil fuel: 37%
hydro: 61.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001)
Papua New Guinea
fossil fuel: 54.1%
hydro: 45.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Paraguay
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 99.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.1% (2001)
Peru
fossil fuel: 14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.8% (2001)
Philippines
fossil fuel: 55.6%
hydro: 17.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 26.9% (2001)
Poland
fossil fuel: 98.1%
hydro: 1.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)
Portugal
fossil fuel: 64.5%
hydro: 31.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 4.1% (2001)
Puerto Rico
fossil fuel: 99.2%
hydro: 0.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Qatar
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Reunion
fossil fuel: 55.5%
hydro: 44.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Romania
fossil fuel: 62.5%
hydro: 27.6%
nuclear: 9.9%
other: 0% (2001)
Russia
fossil fuel: 64.3%
hydro: 20.5%
nuclear: 14.8%
other: 0.4% (2001)
Rwanda
fossil fuel: 2.3%
hydro: 97.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Saint Helena
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Saint Lucia
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
fossil fuel: 69.3%
hydro: 30.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Samoa
fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
San Marino
fossil fuel: 41.18%
hydro: 58.82%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Sao Tome and Principe
fossil fuel: 41.2%
hydro: 58.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Saudi Arabia
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Senegal
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Serbia and Montenegro
fossil fuel: 62.9%
hydro: 37.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Seychelles
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Sierra Leone
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Singapore
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Slovakia
fossil fuel: 30.3%
hydro: 16%
nuclear: 53.6%
other: 0% (2001)
Slovenia
fossil fuel: 35.2%
hydro: 27.3%
nuclear: 36.8%
other: 0.7% (2001)
Solomon Islands
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Somalia
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
South Africa
fossil fuel: 93.5%
hydro: 1.1%
nuclear: 5.5%
other: 0% (2001)
Spain
fossil fuel: 50.4%
hydro: 18.2%
nuclear: 27.2%
other: 4.1% (2001)
Sri Lanka
fossil fuel: 51.7%
hydro: 48.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Sudan
fossil fuel: 52.1%
hydro: 47.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Suriname
fossil fuel: 25.2%
hydro: 74.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Svalbard
fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Swaziland
fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Sweden
fossil fuel: 4%
hydro: 50.8%
nuclear: 43%
other: 2.3% (2001)
Switzerland
fossil fuel: 1.3%
hydro: 59.5%
nuclear: 37.1%
other: 2% (2001)
Syria
fossil fuel: 57.6%
hydro: 42.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Taiwan
fossil fuel: 71.4%
hydro: 6%
nuclear: 22.6%
other: 0% (2001)
Tajikistan
fossil fuel: 1.9%
hydro: 98.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Tanzania
fossil fuel: 18.9%
hydro: 81.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Thailand
fossil fuel: 91.3%
hydro: 6.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 2.4% (2001)
Togo
fossil fuel: 98.7%
hydro: 1.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Tokelau
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Tonga
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Trinidad and Tobago
fossil fuel: 99.8%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.2% (2001)
Tunisia
fossil fuel: 99.5%
hydro: 0.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Turkey
fossil fuel: 79.3%
hydro: 20.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.3% (2001)
Turkmenistan
fossil fuel: 99.9%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Turks and Caicos Islands
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Tuvalu
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Uganda
fossil fuel: 0.9%
hydro: 99.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Ukraine
fossil fuel: 48.6%
hydro: 7.9%
nuclear: 43.5%
other: 0% (2001)
United Arab Emirates
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
United Kingdom
fossil fuel: 73.8%
hydro: 0.9%
nuclear: 23.7%
other: 1.6% (2001)
United States
fossil fuel: 71.4%
hydro: 5.6%
nuclear: 20.7%
other: 2.3% (2001)
Uruguay
fossil fuel: 0.7%
hydro: 99.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.3% (2001)
Uzbekistan
fossil fuel: 88.2%
hydro: 11.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Vanuatu
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Venezuela
fossil fuel: 31.7%
hydro: 68.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Vietnam
fossil fuel: 43.7%
hydro: 56.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Virgin Islands
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Wallis and Futuna
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
West Bank
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Western Sahara
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
World
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Yemen
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Zambia
fossil fuel: 0.5%
hydro: 99.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Zimbabwe
fossil fuel: 47%
hydro: 53%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2046 Population below poverty line (%)
Afghanistan
NA%
Albania
30% (2001 est.)
Algeria
23% (1999 est.)
American Samoa
NA%
Andorra
NA%
Angola
NA%
Anguilla
NA%
Antigua and Barbuda
NA%
Argentina
37% (2001 est.)
Armenia
50% (2002 est.)
Aruba
NA%
Australia
NA%
Austria
NA%
Azerbaijan
49% (2002 est.)
Bahamas, The
NA%
Bahrain
NA%
Bangladesh
35.6% (FY 95/96 est.)
Barbados
NA%
Belarus
22% (1995 est.)
Belgium
4%
Belize
33% (1999 est.)
Benin
37% (2001 est.)
Bermuda
NA%
Bhutan
NA%
Bolivia
70% (1999 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
NA%
Botswana
47%
Brazil
22% (1998 est.)
British Virgin Islands
NA%
Brunei
NA%
Bulgaria
12.6% (2001 est.)
Burkina Faso
45% (2001 est.)
Burma
25% (2000 est.)
Burundi
70% (2002 est.)
Cambodia
36% (1997 est.)
Cameroon
48% (2000 est.)
Canada
NA%
Cape Verde
30% (2000)
Cayman Islands
NA%
Central African Republic
NA%
Chad
80% (2001 est.)
Chile
21% (1998 est.)
China
10% (2001 est.)
Christmas Island
NA%
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA%
Colombia
55% (2001)
Comoros
60% (2002 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
NA%
Congo, Republic of the
NA%
Cook Islands
NA%
Costa Rica
20.6% (1999 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
37% (1995)
Croatia
NA%
Cuba
NA%
Cyprus
NA%
Czech Republic
NA%
Denmark
NA%
Djibouti
50% (2001 est.)
Dominica
30% (2002 est.)
Dominican Republic
25%
East Timor
42% (2002 est.)
Ecuador
70% (2001 est.)
Egypt
22.9% (FY 95/96 est.)
El Salvador
48% (1999 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
NA%
Eritrea
53% (1993/94)
Estonia
NA% (2000)
Ethiopia
45% (2002 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA%
Faroe Islands
NA%
Fiji
25.5% (1990-91)
Finland
NA%
France
6.4% (1999)
French Guiana
NA%
French Polynesia
NA%
Gabon
NA%
Gambia, The
NA%
Gaza Strip
60% (2002 est.)
Georgia
54% (2001 est.)
Germany
NA%
Ghana
31.4% (1992 est.)
Gibraltar
NA%
Greece
NA%
Greenland
NA%
Grenada
32% (2000)
Guadeloupe
NA%
Guam
23% (2001 est.)
Guatemala
75% (2002 est.)
Guernsey
NA%
Guinea
40% (1994 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
NA%
Guyana
NA%
Haiti
80% (2002 est.)
Holy See (Vatican City)
NA%
Honduras
53% (1993 est.)
Hong Kong
NA%
Hungary
8.6% (1993 est.)
Iceland
NA%
India
25% (2002 est.)
Indonesia
27% (1999)
Iran
40% (2002 est.)
Iraq
NA
Ireland
10% (1997 est.)
Israel
18% (2001 est.)
Italy
NA%
Jamaica
34.2% (1992 est.)
Japan
NA%
Jersey
NA%
Jordan
30% (2001 est.)
Kazakhstan
26% (2001 est.)
Kenya
50% (2000 est.)
Kiribati
NA%
Korea, North
NA%
Korea, South
4% (2001 est.)
Kuwait
NA%
Kyrgyzstan
55% (2001 est.)
Laos
40% (2002 est.)
Latvia
NA%
Lebanon
28% (1999 est.)
Lesotho
49% (1999)
Liberia
80%
Libya
NA%
Liechtenstein
NA%
Lithuania
NA%
Luxembourg
NA%
Macau
NA%
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
24% (2001 est.)
Madagascar
71% (1999 est.)
Malawi
54% (FY 90/91 est.)
Malaysia
8% (1998 est.)
Maldives
NA%
Mali
64% average; 30% of the total population living in urban areas;
70% of the total population living in rural areas) (2001 est.)
Malta
NA%
Man, Isle of
NA%
Marshall Islands
NA%
Martinique
NA%
Mauritania
50% (2001 est.)
Mauritius
10% (2001 est.)
Mayotte
NA%
Mexico
40% (2001 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
26.7%
Moldova
80% (2001 est.)
Monaco
NA%
Mongolia
36% (2001 est.)
Montserrat
NA%
Morocco
19% (1999 est.)
Mozambique
70% (2001 est.)
Namibia
50% (2002 est.)
Nauru
NA%
Nepal
42% (1995-96)
Netherlands
NA%
Netherlands Antilles
NA%
New Caledonia
NA%
New Zealand
NA%
Nicaragua
50% (2001 est.)
Niger
63% (1993 est.)
Nigeria
60% (2000 est.)
Niue
NA%
Norfolk Island
NA%
Northern Mariana Islands
NA%
Norway
NA%
Oman
NA%
Pakistan
35% (2001 est.)
Palau
NA%
Panama
37% (1999 est.)
Papua New Guinea
37% (2002 est.)
Paraguay
36% (2001 est.)
Peru
50% (2000 est.)
Philippines
40% (2001 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
NA%
Poland
18.4% (2000 est.)
Portugal
NA%
Puerto Rico
NA%
Qatar
NA%
Reunion
NA%
Romania
44.5% (2000)
Russia
25% (37622 est.)
Rwanda
60% (2001 est.)
Saint Helena
NA%
Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA%
Saint Lucia
NA%
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NA%
Samoa
NA%
San Marino
NA%
Sao Tome and Principe
NA%
Saudi Arabia
NA%
Senegal
54% (2001 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
30%
Seychelles
NA%
Sierra Leone
68% (1989 est.)
Singapore
NA%
Slovakia
NA%
Slovenia
NA%
Solomon Islands
NA%
Somalia
NA%
South Africa
50% (2000 est.)
Spain
NA%
Sri Lanka
22% (1997 est.)
Sudan
NA%
Suriname
70% (2002 est.)
Svalbard
NA%
Swaziland
40% (1995)
Sweden
NA%
Switzerland
NA%
Syria
15%-25%
Taiwan
1% (2000 est.)
Tajikistan
60% (2001 est.)
Tanzania
36% (2002 est.)
Thailand
12.5% (1998 est.)
Togo
32% (1989 est.)
Tokelau
NA%
Tonga
NA%
Trinidad and Tobago
21% (1992 est.)
Tunisia
6% (2000 est.)
Turkey
NA%
Turkmenistan
34.4% (2001 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
NA%
Tuvalu
NA%
Uganda
35% (2001 est.)
Ukraine
29% (2001 est.)
United Arab Emirates
NA%
United Kingdom
17%
United States
12.7% (2001 est.)
Uruguay
6% (1997)
Uzbekistan
NA%
Vanuatu
NA%
Venezuela
47% (1998 est.)
Vietnam
37% (1998 est.)
Virgin Islands
NA%
Wallis and Futuna
NA%
West Bank
60% (2002 est.)
Western Sahara
NA%
Yemen
NA
Zambia
86% (1993)
Zimbabwe
70% (2002 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2047 Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
Afghanistan
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Albania
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Algeria
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)
American Samoa
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Andorra
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Angola
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Anguilla
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Antigua and Barbuda
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Argentina
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Armenia
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 46.2% (1999)
Aruba
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Australia
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)
Austria
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.5% (1995)
Azerbaijan
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 27.8% (1995)
Bahamas, The
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Bahrain
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Bangladesh
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 28.6% (1995-96 est.)
Barbados
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Belarus
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 20% (1998)
Belgium
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 23% (1996)
Belize
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Benin
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Bermuda
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Bhutan
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Bolivia
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 32% (1999)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Botswana
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Brazil
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 48% (1998)
British Virgin Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Brunei
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Bulgaria
lowest 10%: 4.5%
highest 10%: 22.8% (1997)
Burkina Faso
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
Burma
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Burundi
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)
Cambodia
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Cameroon
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)
Canada
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Cape Verde
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Cayman Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Central African Republic
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)
Chad
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Chile
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 45.6% (1998)
China
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.4% (1998)
Christmas Island
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Colombia
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 44% (1999)
Comoros
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Congo, Republic of the
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Cook Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Costa Rica
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 34.6% (2001)
Cote d'Ivoire
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.8% (1995)
Croatia
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 23.3% (1998)
Cuba
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Cyprus
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Czech Republic
lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)
Denmark
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)
Djibouti
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Dominica
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Dominican Republic
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37.9% (1998)
East Timor
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Ecuador
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1995)
Egypt
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 25% (1995)
El Salvador
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)
Equatorial Guinea
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Eritrea
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Estonia
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1998)
Ethiopia
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 33.7% (1995)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Faroe Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Fiji
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Finland
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
France
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1995)
French Guiana
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
French Polynesia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Gabon
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Gambia, The
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Gaza Strip
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Georgia
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)
Germany
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1997)
Ghana
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)
Gibraltar
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Greece
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Greenland
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Grenada
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Guadeloupe
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Guam
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Guatemala
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 46% (1998)
Guernsey
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Guinea
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 32% (1994)
Guinea-Bissau
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)
Guyana
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Haiti
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Holy See (Vatican City)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Honduras
lowest 10%: 0.6%
highest 10%: 42.7% (1998)
Hong Kong
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Hungary
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 20.5% (1998)
Iceland
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
India
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1997)
Indonesia
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 26.7% (1999)
Iran
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Iraq
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Ireland
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)
Israel
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 28.3% (1997)
Italy
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)
Jamaica
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2000)
Japan
lowest 10%: 4.8%
highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)
Jersey
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Jordan
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1997)
Kazakhstan
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 27.3% (2001)
Kenya
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)
Kiribati
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Korea, North
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Korea, South
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 24.8% (1998 est.)
Kuwait
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Kyrgyzstan
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 27.7% (1999)
Laos
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
Latvia
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Lebanon
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Lesotho
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 43.4%
Liberia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Libya
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Liechtenstein
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Lithuania
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)
Luxembourg
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Macau
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Madagascar
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29% (1999)
Malawi
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Malaysia
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 38.4% (1997 est.)
Maldives
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Mali
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)
Malta
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Man, Isle of
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Marshall Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Martinique
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Mauritania
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 30.2% (2000)
Mauritius
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Mayotte
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Mexico
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2001)
Micronesia, Federated States of
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Moldova
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)
Monaco
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Mongolia
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 24.5% (1995)
Montserrat
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Morocco
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)
Mozambique
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)
Namibia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Nauru
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Nepal
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)
Netherlands
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)
Netherlands Antilles
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
New Caledonia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
New Zealand
lowest 10%: 0.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)
Nicaragua
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 48.8% (1998)
Niger
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
Nigeria
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.8% (1996-97)
Niue
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Norfolk Island
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Northern Mariana Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Norway
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)
Oman
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Pakistan
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 27.6% (1996-97)
Palau
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Panama
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)
Papua New Guinea
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Paraguay
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)
Peru
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1996)
Philippines
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 39.3% (1998)
Pitcairn Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Poland
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 24.7% (1998)
Portugal
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Puerto Rico
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Qatar
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Reunion
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Romania
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 25% (1998)
Russia
lowest 10%: 5.9%
highest 10%: 47% (2001)
Rwanda
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 24.2% (1985)
Saint Helena
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Saint Kitts and Nevis
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Saint Lucia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Samoa
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
San Marino
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Sao Tome and Principe
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Saudi Arabia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Senegal
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1995)
Serbia and Montenegro
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Seychelles
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Sierra Leone
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Singapore
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Slovakia
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)
Slovenia
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 23% (1998)
Solomon Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Somalia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
South Africa
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 45.9% (1994)
Spain
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)
Sri Lanka
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 28% (1995)
Sudan
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Suriname
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Svalbard
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Swaziland
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)
Sweden
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Switzerland
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Syria
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Taiwan
lowest 10%: 6.4%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)
Tajikistan
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1998)
Tanzania
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1993)
Thailand
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Togo
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Tokelau
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Tonga
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Trinidad and Tobago
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Tunisia
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)
Turkey
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 32.3% (1994)
Turkmenistan
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)
Turks and Caicos Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Tuvalu
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Uganda
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 21% (2000)
Ukraine
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 23.2% (1999)
United Arab Emirates
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
United Kingdom
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 27.7% (1995)
United States
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)
Uruguay
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)
Uzbekistan
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)
Vanuatu
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Venezuela
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)
Vietnam
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)
Virgin Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Wallis and Futuna
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
West Bank
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Western Sahara
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
World
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Yemen
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Zambia
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 41% (1998)
Zimbabwe
lowest 10%: 1.97%
highest 10%: 40.42% (1995)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2048 Labor force - by occupation (%)
Afghanistan
agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10% (1990 est.)
Albania
agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%
Algeria
government 29%, agriculture 25%, construction and public
works 15%, industry 11%, other 20% (1996 est.)
American Samoa
government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Andorra
agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (2000 est.)
Angola
agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.)
Anguilla
commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%,
transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%,
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4% (2000 est,)
Antigua and Barbuda
commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%,
industry 7% (1983)
Argentina
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Armenia
agriculture 45%, services 30%, industry 25% (2002 est.)
Aruba
most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair,
followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Australia
services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.)
Austria
services 67%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and
forestry 4% (2001 est.)
Azerbaijan
agriculture and forestry 41%, industry 7%, services 52%
(2001)
Bahamas, The
tourism 50%, other services 40%, industry 5%,
agriculture 5% (1999 est.)
Bahrain
industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%,
agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
Bangladesh
agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY 95/96)
Barbados
services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Belarus
industry and construction NA%, agriculture and forestry NA%,
services NA%
Belgium
services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)
Belize
agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Bermuda
clerical 22%, services 20%, laborers 17%, professional and
technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%,
agriculture and fishing 3% (2000 est.)
Bhutan
agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
Bolivia
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Bosnia and Herzegovina
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Botswana
NA
Brazil
services 53%, agriculture 23%, industry 24%
British Virgin Islands
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Brunei
government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and
construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)
Bulgaria
agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.)
Burkina Faso
agriculture 90% (2000 est.)
Burma
agriculture 70%, industry 7%, services 23% (2001 est.)
Burundi
NA
Cambodia
agriculture 80% (2001 est.)
Cameroon
agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%
Canada
services 74%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture
3%, other 3% (2000)
Cayman Islands
agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)
Chad
agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and
fishing)
Chile
agriculture 14%, industry 27%, services 59% (1997 est.)
China
agriculture 50%, industry 22%, services 28% (2001 est.)
Christmas Island
tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd.
employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers;
tourism employs others
Colombia
services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
Comoros
agriculture 80%
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
NA
Cook Islands
agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%
note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)
Costa Rica
agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Croatia
agriculture 13.2% NA, industry 25.4% NA, services 46.4% NA
(2002)
Cuba
agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)
Cyprus
Greek Cypriot area: services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture
5% (2000); Turkish Cypriot area: services 56.4%, industry 22.8%,
agriculture 20.8% (1998)
Czech Republic
agriculture 5%, industry 35%, services 60% (2001 est.)
Denmark
services 79%, industry 17%, agriculture 4% (2002 est.)
Djibouti
NA%
Dominica
agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%
Dominican Republic
services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%,
agriculture 17% (1998 est.)
East Timor
NA
Ecuador
agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Egypt
agriculture 29%, industry 22%, services 49% (2000 est.)
El Salvador
agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.)
Eritrea
agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%
Estonia
industry 20%, agriculture 11%, services 69% (1999 est.)
Ethiopia
agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and
services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
agriculture 95% (mostly
sheepherding and fishing)
Faroe Islands
fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%,
construction and private services 33%, public services 34%
Fiji
agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)
Finland
public services 32%, industry 22%, commerce 14%, finance,
insurance, and business services 10%, agriculture and forestry 8%,
transport and communications 8%, construction 6%
France
services 71%, industry 25%, agriculture 4% (1997)
French Guiana
services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry
21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
French Polynesia
agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997)
Gabon
agriculture 60%, services 25%, industry 15%
Gambia, The
agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%,
government 6%
Gaza Strip
services 66%, industry 21%, agriculture 13% (1996)
Georgia
industry 20%, agriculture 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)
Germany
industry 33.4%, agriculture 2.8%, services 63.8% (1999)
Ghana
agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.)
Gibraltar
services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL%
Greece
industry 20%, agriculture 20%, services 59% (2000 est.)
Grenada
services 62%, agriculture 24%, industry 14% (1999 est.)
Guadeloupe
NA
Guam
federal and territorial government 26%, private 74% (trade 24%,
other services 40%, industry 10%) (2000 est.)
Guatemala
agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.)
Guinea
agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
agriculture 82% (2000 est.)
Guyana
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Haiti
agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%
Holy See (Vatican City)
essentially services with a small amount of
industry; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay
workers live outside the Vatican
Honduras
agriculture 34%, industry 21%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Hong Kong
wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 31%,
financing, insurance, and real estate 13%, community and social
services 12%, manufacturing 6%, transport and communications 6%,
construction 5%, other 25% (2002 est.)
Hungary
services 65%, industry 27%, agriculture 8% (1996)
Iceland
agriculture 5.1%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%,
manufacturing 12.9%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5% (1999)
India
agriculture 60%, services 23%, industry 17% (1999)
Indonesia
agriculture 45%, industry 16%, services 39% (1999 est.)
Iran
agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Iraq
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Ireland
agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 64% (2002 est.)
Israel
public services 31.2%, manufacturing 20.2%, finance and
business 13.1%, commerce 12.8%, construction 7.5%, personal and
other services 6.4%, transport, storage, and communications 6.2%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2.6% (1996)
Italy
services 63%, industry 32%, agriculture 5% (2001)
Jamaica
services 60%, agriculture 21%, industry 19% (1998)
Japan
services 70%, industry 25%, agriculture 5% (2002 est.)
Jordan
services 82.5%, industry 12.5%, agriculture 5% (2001 est.)
Kazakhstan
industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services 50% (2002 est.)
Kenya
agriculture 75% 75%-80%
Korea, North
agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Korea, South
services 69%, industry 21.5%, agriculture 9.5% (2001)
Kuwait
agriculture NA, industries NA, services NA
Kyrgyzstan
agriculture 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (2000 est.)
Laos
agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Latvia
agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Lebanon
services NA%, industry NA%, agriculture NA%
Lesotho
86% of resident population engaged in subsistence
agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in
South Africa
Liberia
agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)
Libya
services 54%, industry 29%, agriculture 17% (1997 est.)
Liechtenstein
industry 47.4%, services 51.3%, agriculture 1.3%
(37256 est.)
Lithuania
industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services 50% (1997 est.)
Luxembourg
services 90.1%, industry 8%, agriculture 1.9% (1999 est.)
Macau
restaurants and hotels 12%, manufacturing 20%, other services
and agriculture 68% (2002 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
agriculture NA%, industry
NA%, services NA%
Malawi
agriculture 86% (1997 est.)
Malaysia
local trade and tourism 28%, manufacturing 27%,
agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 16%, services 10%, government
10%, construction 9% (2000 est.)
Maldives
agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Mali
agriculture and fishing 80% (2001 est.)
Malta
industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)
Man, Isle of
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%
Marshall Islands
agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7%
Martinique
agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)
Mauritania
agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10% (2001 est.)
Mauritius
construction and industry 36%, services 24%, agriculture
and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, transportation and
communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)
Mexico
agriculture 20%, industry 24%, services 56% (1998)
Micronesia, Federated States of
two-thirds are government employees
Moldova
agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998)
Mongolia
primarily herding/agricultural
Montserrat
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Morocco
agriculture 50%, services 35%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Mozambique
agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)
Namibia
agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
Nauru
employed in mining phosphates, public administration,
education, and transportation
Nepal
agriculture 81%, services 16%, industry 3%
Netherlands
services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86%
(2000 est.)
New Caledonia
agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)
New Zealand
services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995)
Nicaragua
services 43%, agriculture 42%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Niger
agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
Nigeria
agriculture 70%, industry 10%, services 20% (1999 est.)
Niue
most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in
government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Norfolk Island
tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%
Northern Mariana Islands
NA
Norway
services 74%, industry 22%, agriculture, forestry, and
fishing 4% (1995)
Oman
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Pakistan
agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.)
Palau
agriculture 20%, industry NA%, services NA% (1990)
Panama
agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.)
Papua New Guinea
agriculture 85%, industry NA%, services NA%
Paraguay
agriculture 45%
Peru
agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction,
transport, services
Philippines
agriculture 45%, industry 15%, services 40% (2003 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
no business community in the usual sense; some
public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Poland
industry 22.1%, agriculture 27.5%, services 50.4% (1999)
Portugal
services 60%, industry 30%, agriculture 10% (1999 est.)
Puerto Rico
agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)
Reunion
agriculture 13%, industry 12%, services 75% (2000)
Romania
agriculture 40%, industry 25%, services 35% (1998)
Russia
agriculture 12.3%, industry 22.7%, services 65% (2002 est.)
Rwanda
agriculture 90%
Saint Helena
agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly
construction) 48%, services 46% (1987 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA
Saint Lucia
agriculture 21.7%, services 53.6%, industry, commerce,
and manufacturing 24.7% (2002 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
fishing 18%, industry (mainly
fish-processing) 41%, services 41% (1996 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
agriculture 26%, industry 17%,
services 57% (1980 est.)
Samoa
NA
San Marino
services 57%, industry 42%, agriculture 1% (2000 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
population mainly engaged in subsistence
agriculture and fishing
note: shortages of skilled workers
Saudi Arabia
agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)
Senegal
agriculture 70%
Serbia and Montenegro
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Seychelles
industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989)
Sierra Leone
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Singapore
financial, business, and other services 35%, manufacturing
21%, construction 13%, transportation and communication 9%, other 22%
Slovakia
industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%,
transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)
Slovenia
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Solomon Islands
agriculture 75%, industry 5%, services 20% (2000
est.)
Somalia
agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and
services 29%
South Africa
agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)
Spain
services 64%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 29%,
agriculture 7% (2001 est.)
Sri Lanka
services 45%, agriculture 38%, industry 17% (1998 est.)
Sudan
agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 7%, government 13%
(1998 est.)
Suriname
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Swaziland
NA
Sweden
agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% (2000 est.)
Switzerland
services 69.1%, industry 26.3%, agriculture 4.6% (1998)
Syria
agriculture, industry, services NA (2002)
Taiwan
services 58%, industry 35%, agriculture 7% (2001 est.)
Tajikistan
agriculture 67.2%, industry 7.5%, services 25.3% (2000
est.)
Tanzania
agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2002 est.)
Thailand
agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services 31% (1996 est.)
Togo
agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.)
Tonga
agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
construction and utilities 12.4%, manufacturing,
mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services 64.1% (1997
est.)
Tunisia
services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
Turkey
agriculture 39.7%, services 37.9%, industry 22.4% (3rd
quarter, 2001)
Turkmenistan
agriculture 48%, industry 15%, services 37% (1998 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
about 33% in government and 20% in
agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial,
and other services
Tuvalu
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)
Uganda
agriculture 82%, industry 5%, services 13% (1999 est.)
Ukraine
industry 32%, agriculture 24%, services 44% (1996)
United Arab Emirates
services 78%, industry 15%, agriculture 7%
(2000 est.)
United Kingdom
agriculture 1%, industry 25%, services 74% (1999)
United States
managerial and professional 31%, technical, sales and
administrative support 28.9%, services 13.6%, manufacturing, mining,
transportation, and crafts 24.1%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.4%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2001)
Uruguay
agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%
Uzbekistan
agriculture 44%, industry 20%, services 36% (1995)
Vanuatu
agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (2000 est.)
Venezuela
services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)
Vietnam
agriculture 63%, industry and services 37% (2000 est.)
Virgin Islands
agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%,
government 4% (2001 est.)
West Bank
services 66%, industry 21%, agriculture 13% (1996)
Western Sahara
animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
World
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Yemen
most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services,
construction, industry, and commerce account for less than
one-fourth of the labor force
Zambia
agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%
Zimbabwe
agriculture 66%, services 24%, industry 10% (1996)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@2049 Exports - commodities
Afghanistan
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton,
hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
Albania
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores,
crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Algeria
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
American Samoa
canned tuna 93%
Andorra
tobacco products, furniture
Angola
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee,
sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Anguilla
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Antigua and Barbuda
petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%,
machinery and transport equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%,
other 8%
Argentina
edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor
vehicles
Armenia
diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
Aruba
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles,
machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Australia
coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat,
machinery and transport equipment
Austria
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and
paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles,
foodstuffs
Azerbaijan
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Bahamas, The
fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and
vegetables
Bahrain
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Bangladesh
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and
seafood (2001)
Barbados
sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages,
chemicals, electrical components
Belarus
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals,
metals; textiles, foodstuffs
Belgium
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and
metal products, foodstuffs
Belize
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses,
wood
Benin
cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Bermuda
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Bhutan
electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber,
handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Bolivia
soybeans, natural gas, zinc, gold, wood (2000)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
metals, clothing, wood products
Botswana
diamonds 90%, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Brazil
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee,
autos
British Virgin Islands
rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Brunei
crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Bulgaria
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and
equipment, fuels
Burkina Faso
cotton, livestock, gold
Burma
gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice
Burundi
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Cambodia
timber, garments, rubber, rice, fish
Cameroon
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans,
aluminum, coffee, cotton
Canada
motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Cape Verde
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Cayman Islands
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Central African Republic
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Chad
cotton, cattle, gum arabic
Chile
copper, fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals
China
machinery and equipment; textiles and clothing, footwear, toys
and sporting goods; mineral fuels
Christmas Island
phosphate
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
copra
Colombia
petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Comoros
vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
diamonds, copper, crude oil,
coffee, cobalt
Congo, Republic of the
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa,
coffee, diamonds
Cook Islands
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee;
fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Costa Rica
coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic
components, medical equipment
Cote d'Ivoire
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas,
pineapples, palm oil, fish
Croatia
transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels
Cuba
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
Cyprus
Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals,
cement, clothing and cigarettes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus,
potatoes, textiles
Czech Republic
machinery and transport equipment 44%, intermediate
manufactures 25%, chemicals 7%, raw materials and fuel 7% (2000)
Denmark
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy
products, fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills
Djibouti
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Dominica
bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Dominican Republic
ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa,
tobacco, meats, consumer goods
East Timor
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil
and vanilla exports
Ecuador
petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish
Egypt
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal
products, chemicals
El Salvador
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp,
textiles, chemicals, electricity
Equatorial Guinea
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
Eritrea
livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)
Estonia
machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles
14%, food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)
Ethiopia
coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
wool, hides, meat
Faroe Islands
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Fiji
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Finland
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper,
pulp (1999)
France
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
French Guiana
shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing
French Polynesia
cultured pearls 50%, coconut products,
mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997)
Gabon
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
Gambia, The
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels,
re-exports
Gaza Strip
citrus, flowers
Georgia
scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus
fruits, tea, wine
Germany
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures,
foodstuffs, textiles
Ghana
gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore,
diamonds
Gibraltar
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods
41%, other 8%
Greece
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,
chemicals, textiles
Greenland
fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)
Grenada
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Guadeloupe
bananas, sugar, rum
Guam
mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products;
construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
Guatemala
coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom,
meat, apparel, petroleum, electricity
Guernsey
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other
vegetables
Guinea
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural
products
Guinea-Bissau
cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
Guyana
sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum,
timber
Haiti
manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa
Honduras
coffee, bananas, shrimp, lobster, meat; zinc, lumber (2000)
Hong Kong
electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel,
footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones
Hungary
machinery and equipment 57.6%, other manufactures 31.0%,
food products 7.5%, raw materials 1.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9%
(2001)
Iceland
fish and fish products 70%, animal products, aluminum,
diatomite, ferrosilicon
India
textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals,
leather manufactures
Indonesia
oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles,
rubber
Iran
petroleum 85%, carpets, fruits and nuts, iron and steel,
chemicals
Iraq
crude oil
Ireland
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products (1999)
Israel
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural
products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
Italy
engineering products, textiles and clothing, production
machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food,
beverages and tobacco; minerals and nonferrous metals
Jamaica
alumina, bauxite; sugar, bananas, rum
Japan
motor vehicles, semiconductors, office machinery, chemicals
Jersey
light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Jordan
phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products,
manufactures, pharmaceuticals
Kazakhstan
oil and oil products 58%, ferrous metals 24%, chemicals
5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal (2001)
Kenya
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish,
cement
Kiribati
copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Korea, North
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures
(including armaments); textiles and fishery products
Korea, South
electronic products, machinery and equipment, motor
vehicles, steel, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish
Kuwait
oil and refined products, fertilizers
Kyrgyzstan
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium,
natural gas, hydropower; machinery; shoes
Laos
wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Latvia
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals,
textiles, foodstuffs
Lebanon
foodstuffs and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, precious
stones, metal products, electrical products, jewelry, paper products
Lesotho
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool
and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Liberia
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Libya
crude oil, refined petroleum products (1999)
Liechtenstein
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and
video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared
foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
Lithuania
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery
and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%,
foodstuffs 5% (2001)
Luxembourg
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals,
rubber products, glass
Macau
clothing, textiles, footwear, cement, machines, and parts
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
food, beverages, tobacco;
miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Madagascar
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth,
chromite, petroleum products
Malawi
tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood
products, apparel
Malaysia
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas,
wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals (2000)
Maldives
fish, clothing
Mali
cotton, gold, livestock
Malta
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Man, Isle of
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
Marshall Islands
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Martinique
refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
(2001 est.)
Mauritania
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Mauritius
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses
Mayotte
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts,
coffee, cinnamon
Mexico
manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits,
vegetables, coffee, cotton
Micronesia, Federated States of
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Moldova
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Mongolia
copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,
fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
Montserrat
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot
peppers, live plants, cattle
Morocco
clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude
minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products,
fruits, vegetables
Mozambique
aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber;
bulk electricity
Namibia
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle,
processed fish, karakul skins
Nauru
phosphates
Nepal
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
Netherlands
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Netherlands Antilles
petroleum products
New Caledonia
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
New Zealand
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish,
machinery
Nicaragua
coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, bananas,
beef, sugar, gold
Niger
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Nigeria
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
Niue
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit
products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Norfolk Island
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and
Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Northern Mariana Islands
garments
Norway
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment,
metals, chemicals, ships, fish
Oman
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Pakistan
textiles (garments, cotton cloth, and yarn), rice, leather,
sports goods, and carpets and rugs
Palau
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments
Panama
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing (1999)
Papua New Guinea
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee,
cocoa, crayfish, prawns
Paraguay
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity
Peru
fish and fish products, gold, copper, zinc, crude petroleum and
byproducts, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton
Philippines
electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment,
garments, coconut products, chemicals
Pitcairn Islands
fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps
Poland
machinery and transport equipment 30.2%, intermediate
manufactured goods 25.5%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 20.9%,
food and live animals 8.5% (1999)
Portugal
clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper
products, hides
Puerto Rico
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum,
beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Qatar
petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Reunion
sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster
3%, (1993)
Romania
textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery
and equipment, minerals and fuels
Russia
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood
products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and
military manufactures
Rwanda
coffee, tea, hides, tin ore
Saint Helena
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna),
coffee, handicrafts
Saint Kitts and Nevis
machinery, food, electronics, beverages,
tobacco
Saint Lucia
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits,
coconut oil
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
fish and fish products, soybeans, animal
feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen
(taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Samoa
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,
garments, beer
San Marino
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked
goods, hides, ceramics
Sao Tome and Principe
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Saudi Arabia
petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Senegal
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates,
cotton
Serbia and Montenegro
manufactured goods, food and live animals, raw
materials
Seychelles
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum
products (reexports)
Sierra Leone
diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999)
Singapore
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer
goods, chemicals, mineral fuels
Slovakia
machinery and transport equipment 39.4%, intermediate
manufactured goods 27.5%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%,
chemicals 8% (1999)
Slovenia
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, food
Solomon Islands
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
Somalia
livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal
South Africa
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals,
machinery and equipment (1998 est.)
Spain
machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, other consumer goods
Sri Lanka
textiles and apparel, tea, diamonds, coconut products,
petroleum products
Sudan
oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock,
groundnuts, gum arabic, sugar
Suriname
alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Swaziland
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Sweden
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood,
iron and steel products, chemicals
Switzerland
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural
products
Syria
crude oil 70%, petroleum products 7%, fruits and vegetables
5%, cotton fiber 4%, clothing 3%, meat and live animals 2% (2000
est.)
Taiwan
machinery and electrical equipment 54%, metals, textiles,
plastics, chemicals (2002)
Tajikistan
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil,
textiles
Tanzania
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton
Thailand
computers, transistors, seafood, clothing, rice (2000)
Togo
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Tokelau
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Tonga
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Trinidad and Tobago
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers
Tunisia
textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals,
agricultural products, hydrocarbons
Turkey
apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport
equipment
Turkmenistan
gas 57%, oil 26%, cotton fiber 3%, textiles 2% (2001)
Turks and Caicos Islands
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Tuvalu
copra, fish
Uganda
coffee, fish and fish products, tea; gold, cotton, flowers,
horticultural products
Ukraine
ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products
United Arab Emirates
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried
fish, dates
United Kingdom
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food,
beverages, tobacco
United States
capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and
raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products
Uruguay
meat, rice, leather products, wool, vehicles, dairy products
Uzbekistan
cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral
fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles
(1998 est.)
Vanuatu
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Venezuela
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals,
agricultural products, basic manufactures
Vietnam
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea,
garments, shoes
Virgin Islands
refined petroleum products
Wallis and Futuna
copra, chemicals, construction materials
West Bank
olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone
Western Sahara
phosphates 62%
World
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and
services
Yemen
crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish
Zambia
copper 55%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton
Zimbabwe
tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2050 Exports - partners (%)
Afghanistan
Pakistan 26.8%, India 26.5%, Finland 5.8%, Germany 5.1%,
UAE 4.4%, Belgium 4.3%, Russia 4.2%, US 4.2% (2002)
Albania
Italy 76.6%, Germany 5.6%, Greece 2.7% (2002)
Algeria
Italy 18.9%, Spain 13.1%, France 13%, US 12.1%, Netherlands
6%, Brazil 5.9%, Canada 5.7%, Turkey 5.3%, Belgium 5.1% (2002)
American Samoa
Indonesia 71.1%, Japan 7.7%, Samoa 7.7%, Australia
6.7% (2002)
Andorra
Spain 58%, France 34% (2000)
Angola
US 41.2%, China 13.7%, France 8%, Belgium 6.3%, Taiwan 6.3%,
Japan 4.9%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Anguilla
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2000)
Antigua and Barbuda
France 68.5%, Germany 26.4%, Italy 1.2% (2002)
Argentina
Brazil 23.6%, US 10.9%, Chile 9.7%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Armenia
Belgium 21.5%, Russia 14.6%, Israel 10.3%, Iran 9.4%, US
8.2%, Switzerland 6.8%, Germany 6.2% (2002)
Aruba
Netherlands 28.6%, Colombia 21.7%, Panama 16.8%, US 12.1%,
Netherlands Antilles 8.3%, Venezuela 7.6% (2002)
Australia
Japan 18.5%, US 9.6%, South Korea 8.3%, China 6.9%, New
Zealand 6.5%, UK 4.7%, Singapore 4.1%, Taiwan 4% (2002)
Austria
Germany 31.5%, Italy 9.3%, Switzerland 5.4%, US 4.9%, UK
4.9%, France 4.7%, Hungary 4.3% (2002)
Azerbaijan
Italy 28.7%, Germany 17.7%, Israel 10.6%, France 8.4%,
Georgia 6.7%, Russia 4.7% (2002)
Bahamas, The
US 39.1%, Germany 15.4%, Spain 10.8%, France 7.4%,
Poland 4.6%, Switzerland 4.3% (2002)
Bahrain
US 4.5%, India 3.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.1% (2002)
Bangladesh
US 27.6%, Germany 10.4%, UK 9.8%, France 5.7%, Italy 4%
(2002)
Barbados
US 14.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 12%, UK 10.6%, Jamaica 6.2%,
Saint Lucia 4.7% (2002)
Belarus
Russia 50.8%, Latvia 7.3%, Ukraine 6.3%, Lithuania 4.1%,
Germany 4.1% (2002)
Belgium
Germany 18.6%, France 16.3%, Netherlands 11.6%, UK 9.6%, US
7.9%, Italy 5.4% (2002)
Belize
US 40.5%, UK 23.2%, Peru 8.3% (2002)
Benin
India 25%, Italy 11.1%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.2%, Thailand
6.7%, Brazil 6.1%, UK 4.4%, Niger 4% (2002)
Bermuda
France 77.4%, UK 2.8%, US 2.4% (2002)
Bhutan
US 24.1%, UK 23.9%, Pakistan 23.1%, France 13.9% (2002)
Bolivia
Brazil 24.3%, Switzerland 15.7%, US 14.1%, Venezuela 12.8%,
Colombia 10.2%, Peru 5.4% (2002)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Italy 31.6%, Croatia 18%, Germany 12.9%,
Austria 10.1%, Slovenia 6.9%, Greece 4.3% (2002)
Botswana
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern
African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)
Brazil
US 23.8%, Argentina 8.5%, Germany 5%, China 4.3%, Netherlands
4.2% (2002)
British Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Brunei
Japan 40.3%, South Korea 12.3%, Thailand 12.1%, Australia
9.2%, US 8.1%, China 6.4%, Singapore 5.7% (2002)
Bulgaria
Italy 15.5%, Germany 9.6%, Turkey 9.4%, Greece 9.2%, France
5.3%, US 4.8% (2002)
Burkina Faso
Singapore 14.7%, Italy 11.3%, Colombia 8.6%, France
7.7%, India 6.9%, Ghana 6%, Japan 4.4%, Thailand 4.3% (2002)
Burma
Thailand 31.4%, US 13%, India 7.4%, China 4.7% (2002)
Burundi
Switzerland 28.8%, Germany 20.2%, Belgium 9.4%, Kenya 7.8%,
Rwanda 6.5%, Netherlands 4.6% (2002)
Cambodia
US 60.2%, Germany 9.1%, UK 7.1%, Singapore 4.4% (2002)
Cameroon
Italy 16.7%, Spain 16%, France 12.8%, US 8.3%, Netherlands
8.2%, Taiwan 7.7%, China 5.2%, UK 4.4% (2002)
Canada
US 87.7%, Japan 2%, UK 1.1% (2002)
Cape Verde
Portugal 38.5%, UK 26.4%, France 23.1%, US 8.2% (2002)
Cayman Islands
mostly US
Central African Republic
Belgium 66.8%, Spain 6.4%, Kazakhstan 4%
(2002)
Chad
Portugal 28.3%, Germany 13.6%, US 7.8%, Czech Republic 6.5%,
France 5.8%, Nigeria 5.8%, Poland 5.5%, Spain 5.2%, Morocco 4.5%
(2002)
Chile
US 19.1%, Japan 10.5%, China 6.7%, Mexico 5%, Italy 4.7%, UK
4.4% (2002)
China
US 21.5%, Hong Kong 18%, Japan 14.9%, South Korea 4.8% (2002)
Christmas Island
Australia, NZ
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Australia (1999)
Colombia
US 44.8%, Venezuela 9.4%, Ecuador 6.8% (2002)
Comoros
France 32.4%, Germany 19.4%, US 17.6%, Singapore 11.5%,
Netherlands 6.5% (2002)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Belgium 64.4%, US 13.4%, Zimbabwe
6.7%, Finland 4.9% (2002)
Congo, Republic of the
Taiwan 28.1%, South Korea 20.4%, China 9.3%,
US 8.4%, Germany 6.6%, France 5.2% (2002)
Cook Islands
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000)
Costa Rica
US 31.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, UK 4.5% (2002)
Cote d'Ivoire
France 14.5%, Netherlands 12.9%, US 7.6%, Germany
5.4%, Mali 4.6%, Belgium 4.4%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Croatia
Italy 22.4%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14.4%, Germany 12.5%,
Slovenia 8%, Austria 7.3% (2002)
Cuba
Netherlands 19.1%, Russia 18.1%, Canada 14.3%, Spain 9.5%,
China 7.3% (2002)
Cyprus
UK 28.2%, Greece 7%, UAE 5.3%, France 5.2% (2002)
Czech Republic
Germany 40.2%, Slovakia 7.1%, Austria 5.8%, UK 5.1%,
Poland 5%, France 4% (2002)
Denmark
Germany 17.1%, Sweden 11.6%, UK 7.8%, US 6.8%, France 5.8%,
Norway 5.7%, Japan 4.4% (2002)
Djibouti
Somalia 56.7%, Yemen 24.4%, Pakistan 4.8%, Ethiopia 4.4%,
UAE 4.1% (2002)
Dominica
UK 36.1%, Jamaica 18%, US 7.5%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.4%,
Guyana 5.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.4% (2002)
Dominican Republic
US 85%, Canada 1.6%, UK 1.6% (2002)
East Timor
NA
Ecuador
US 39%, Colombia 5.6%, South Korea 5.1%, Germany 5%, Italy
4.4% (2002)
Egypt
US 18.3%, Italy 13.7%, UK 8.4% (2002)
El Salvador
US 63.3%, Guatemala 12%, Honduras 6.8%, Nicaragua 4.5%
(2002)
Equatorial Guinea
US 28.3%, Spain 25.3%, China 17.4%, Canada 10.6%,
France 4.9% (2002)
Eritrea
Italy 36.9%, Germany 16.7%, France 10.3%, US 5.4%,
Netherlands 5.2% (2002)
Estonia
Finland 19.2%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 10.6%, Latvia 7.4%, Germany
7.2% (2002)
Ethiopia
UK 16.2%, Djibouti 10.9%, Germany 7.6%, Italy 7.2%, Japan
6.7%, Saudi Arabia 6.5%, US 4.4% (2002)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Spain 76.2%, UK 9.2%, US 7.1%
(2002)
Faroe Islands
Denmark 39.9%, UK 32.1%, Norway 7.4%, Netherlands 6.1%
(2002)
Fiji
US 25.1%, Australia 19.5%, UK 10.6%, Japan 6.3%, Samoa 5.5%
(2002)
Finland
Germany 11.8%, UK 9.6%, US 9%, Sweden 8.5%, Russia 6.6%,
Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.5% (2002)
France
Germany 15%, UK 9.8%, Spain 9%, Italy 9%, US 7.8%, Belgium
6.9% (2002)
French Guiana
France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (2001)
French Polynesia
France 37.4%, Japan 35.5%, US 17.5% (2002)
Gabon
US 46.5%, France 11.6%, China 6.5%, Netherlands Antilles 5.8%
(2002)
Gambia, The
France 21.9%, UK 19.1%, Malaysia 11.8%, Italy 11.1%,
Germany 7.3%, Belgium 6.3%, South Africa 4.2% (2002)
Gaza Strip
Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Georgia
Turkey 23%, Italy 12.1%, Russia 11.4%, Greece 8.5%,
Netherlands 7.5%, Spain 5.9%, Turkmenistan 4.7%, Ukraine 4.3% (2002)
Germany
France 10.7%, US 10.3%, UK 8.4%, Italy 7.3%, Netherlands
6.1%, Austria 5.1%, Belgium 4.8%, Spain 4.6%, Switzerland 4.2% (2002)
Ghana
Netherlands 14.8%, UK 9.9%, US 7%, Germany 6.6%, France 5.8%,
Nigeria 4.8%, Belgium 4.4%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
Gibraltar
UK 27.7%, Switzerland 14.3%, Germany 12%, France 6.9%,
Spain 6.1%, Turkmenistan 5%, Ukraine 4.6% (2002)
Greece
Germany 10.4%, Italy 8.5%, UK 6.3%, Bulgaria 5.4%, US 5.3%,
Cyprus 4.7% (2002)
Greenland
Denmark 60.3%, Japan 15.5%, US 6%, Thailand 5%, Germany 4%
(2002)
Grenada
Germany 14%, US 13.6%, Bangladesh 9.7%, Netherlands 8.6%,
Saint Lucia 6.4%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.3%, France 4.1% (2002)
Guadeloupe
France 60%, Martinique 18%, US 4% (1999)
Guam
Japan 81.7%, South Korea 6.1%, Canada 2.4% (2002)
Guatemala
US 58.7%, El Salvador 9.3%, Nicaragua 3.1% (2002)
Guernsey
UK (regarded as internal trade)
Guinea
South Korea 17.8%, Spain 10.1%, Cameroon 9.7%, Belgium 9.6%,
US 9.2%, Ireland 8.6%, France 7.1%, Russia 6.8%, Germany 5% (2002)
Guinea-Bissau
India 51.5%, Uruguay 19.5%, Thailand 19.4% (2002)
Guyana
Canada 21.1%, US 17.9%, Netherlands Antilles 12.9%, UK 10.4%,
Jamaica 5.3%, Portugal 4.2% (2002)
Haiti
US 83.9%, Dominican Republic 6.6%, Canada 2.4% (2002)
Honduras
US 69.5%, El Salvador 3%, Guatemala 2% (2002)
Hong Kong
China 34%, US 19.5%, UK 5.5%, Japan 4.8% (2002)
Hungary
Germany 34.3%, Austria 8.5%, Italy 5.5%, France 5.4%, US
4.9%, UK 4.5% (2002)
Iceland
Germany 18.5%, UK 17.5%, Netherlands 11.4%, US 10.9%, Spain
5.2%, Denmark 4.6%, Portugal 4.3%, Norway 4.2% (2002)
India
US 22.5%, UK 5.1%, UAE 5.1%, Hong Kong 4.5%, Germany 4.3%,
China 4.1% (2002)
Indonesia
Japan 21.1%, US 13.2%, Singapore 9.4%, South Korea 7.2%,
China 5.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2002)
Iran
Japan 17.4%, China 8.6%, UAE 7.6%, Italy 6.6%, South Korea
4.9%, South Africa 4.4% (2002)
Iraq
US 40.9%, Canada 8.2%, France 8.2%, Jordan 7.5%, Netherlands
6.4%, Italy 5.4%, Morocco 4.7%, Spain 4.4% (2002)
Ireland
UK 23.3%, US 16.7%, Belgium 14.6%, Germany 7.3%, France 5%
(2002)
Israel
US 39.2%, Belgium 6.5%, Germany 4.4%, UK 4.2% (2002)
Italy
Germany 13.7%, France 12.2%, US 9.8%, UK 6.9%, Spain 6.4%
(2002)
Jamaica
US 28.1%, Canada 12.2%, Norway 10.7%, UK 10.5%, Germany 7%,
Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
Japan
US 28.8%, China 9.6%, South Korea 6.9%, Taiwan 6.2%, Hong Kong
6.1% (2002)
Jersey
UK
Jordan
Iraq 20.1%, US 14.5%, India 8.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Israel
4.4% (2002)
Kazakhstan
Russia 16.2%, Bermuda 12.1%, China 11.3%, Germany 8.8%,
Italy 5.5%, Ukraine 4.9%, France 4% (2002)
Kenya
Uganda 18.3%, UK 12.9%, US 8%, Netherlands 7.6%, Pakistan
4.9%, Tanzania 4.4%, Egypt 4.1% (2002)
Kiribati
Japan 56.7%, Thailand 16.6%, South Korea 16.3% (2002)
Korea, North
China 23.5%, Japan 19.9%, Costa Rica 12.4%, Brazil 6.5%
(2002)
Korea, South
US 20.4%, China 14.7%, Japan 9.4%, Hong Kong 6.3% (2002)
Kuwait
Japan 24.4%, South Korea 12.9%, US 11.9%, Singapore 10.1%,
Taiwan 7%, Netherlands 4.5%, Pakistan 4.4% (2002)
Kyrgyzstan
Switzerland 19.9%, Russia 16.5%, UAE 14.2%, China 8.5%,
Kazakhstan 7.6%, US 7.4%, Uzbekistan 5.7% (2002)
Laos
Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Latvia
UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania
5.9%, Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002)
Lebanon
Switzerland 10.8%, Saudi Arabia 9%, UAE 8.6%, US 6.7%,
Jordan 4.6%, Turkey 4.3% (2002)
Lesotho
US 97.5%, Canada 0.9%, France 0.6% (2002)
Liberia
Germany 54.8%, Poland 8.9%, France 8.5%, China 4.9%, Italy
4.5%, US 4.2% (2002)
Libya
Italy 42.6%, Germany 14.1%, Spain 13.6%, Turkey 6.9%,
Switzerland 4.4% (2002)
Liechtenstein
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%,
Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%
Lithuania
Latvia 12.8%, Germany 12%, UK 7.6%, Poland 6.3%, US 5.9%,
France 5.8%, Russia 5.7%, Sweden 5%, Denmark 4.3% (2002)
Luxembourg
Germany 23.9%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.5%, UK 8.7%,
Italy 6.1%, Spain 4.5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2002)
Macau
US 48.6%, China 15.5%, Germany 7.4%, Hong Kong 5.8%, UK 5.4%
(2002)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Germany 19.2%, Italy
9.2%, US 6.7%, Croatia 5.5%, Greece 4.6% (2002)
Madagascar
France 34%, US 24.6%, Netherlands 6%, Germany 5.9%,
Mauritius 4% (2002)
Malawi
US 17.3%, Germany 13.6%, South Africa 10.2%, Egypt 6.2%,
Japan 6%, Netherlands 5.5%, Russia 4.8%, UK 4.3% (2002)
Malaysia
US 21%, Singapore 17.4%, Japan 10.9%, China 6.5%, Hong Kong
5%, Thailand 4% (2002)
Maldives
US 51.7%, Sri Lanka 16.2%, Thailand 9.3%, Japan 7.6%, UK
4.6% (2002)
Mali
Thailand 13.9%, Italy 9.8%, India 7.7%, Brazil 5.5%, Germany
5%, Spain 4.9%, Portugal 4.3%, Taiwan 4.3% (2002)
Malta
Singapore 17.3%, US 11.4%, UK 9.4%, Germany 9%, France 7.2%,
China 6.5%, Italy 6% (2002)
Man, Isle of
UK (2000 est.)
Marshall Islands
US, Japan, Australia, China (2000)
Martinique
France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2000)
Mauritania
Italy 14.3%, France 14%, Spain 11.7%, Germany 10.9%,
Belgium 9.9%, Japan 7.1% (2002)
Mauritius
UK 27.7%, France 25.5%, US 16.4%, Madagascar 6.2%, Belgium
5% (2002)
Mayotte
France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion (2000)
Mexico
US 82.7%, Canada 5.4%, Japan 1.1% (2002)
Micronesia, Federated States of
Japan, US, Guam (2000)
Moldova
Russia 35%, Italy 11.7%, Germany 8.8%, Ukraine 8.5%, Romania
5.7%, US 5.2%, Belarus 4.5%, Spain 4.1% (2002)
Mongolia
China 43.8%, US 33.6%, Russia 9.6% (2002)
Montserrat
US, Antigua and Barbuda
Morocco
France 26.5%, Spain 14.3%, UK 7.9%, Germany 5.8%, Italy
5.6%, US 4.8% (2002)
Mozambique
Belgium 24.3%, South Africa 9.1%, Germany 6.2% (2002)
Namibia
EU 79%, US 4% (2001)
Nauru
India 46.1%, South Korea 18.3%, Australia 10.6%, New Zealand
7.8%, Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
Nepal
India 47.5%, US 27.6%, Germany 7.5% (2002)
Netherlands
Germany 25.1%, Belgium 12.7%, UK 10.7%, France 10.2%,
Italy 6%, US 4.6% (2002)
Netherlands Antilles
US 20.9%, Guatemala 12%, Venezuela 10.5%,
Guyana 6.6%, Singapore 4.4%, Cuba 4% (2002)
New Caledonia
Japan 20.6%, France 20.4%, Taiwan 16.3%, South Africa
11.3%, Spain 7.7%, South Korea 5.4%, Australia 5.4%, Italy 5.3%
(2002)
New Zealand
Australia 20.3%, US 15.5%, Japan 11.5%, UK 4.8%, China
4.6%, South Korea 4.4% (2002)
Nicaragua
US 59.4%, El Salvador 7.5%, Honduras 4.8% (2002)
Niger
France 39%, Nigeria 33.2%, Japan 17.1% (2002)
Nigeria
US 32.3%, Brazil 8.3%, Spain 7.2%, Indonesia 5.9%, France
5.6%, India 4.6% (2002)
Niue
NZ mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2000)
Norfolk Island
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia,
Europe
Northern Mariana Islands
US (2000)
Norway
UK 18.1%, Germany 13.8%, France 11%, US 9.2%, Netherlands
8.2%, Sweden 8% (2002)
Oman
Japan 20.5%, South Korea 18.5%, China 14.1%, Thailand 11.7%,
UAE 9.2%, Singapore 4.3%, US 4.1% (2002)
Pakistan
US 24.5%, UAE 8.5%, UK 7.2%, Germany 4.9%, Hong Kong 4.8%
(2002)
Palau
US, Japan, Singapore (2000)
Panama
US 47.8%, Sweden 5.8%, Costa Rica 4.8%, Honduras 4.4% (2002)
Papua New Guinea
Australia 23.7%, Japan 9.3%, China 5.3% (2002)
Paraguay
Brazil 25.1%, Argentina 23%, Chile 5.5%, Bermuda 4% (2002)
Peru
US 28.1%, China 10.5%, UK 7%, Switzerland 6.1%, Japan 5.6%
(2002)
Philippines
US 26.2%, Japan 14.9%, China 7.4%, Taiwan 5.8%,
Singapore 5.7%, Hong Kong 5.3%, Malaysia 5.3%, Netherlands 5%,
Germany 4.6%, South Korea 4.3% (2002)
Pitcairn Islands
NA (2000)
Poland
Germany 33%, Italy 5.7%, France 5%, UK 4.8%, Czech Republic
4.3% (2002)
Portugal
Spain 20.3%, Germany 18.4%, France 12.6%, UK 10.5%, US
5.8%, Italy 4.8%, Belgium 4.5% (2002)
Puerto Rico
US 88.2%, UK 1.5%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2001)
Qatar
Japan 40.1%, South Korea 16.6%, Singapore 8.2%, US 4.1% (2002)
Reunion
France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (2000)
Romania
Italy 24.4%, Germany 15.5%, France 7.7%, UK 5.4%, US 5%,
Turkey 4.4% (2002)
Russia
Germany 7.5%, Italy 6.9%, Netherlands 6.7%, China 6.3%, US
6.1%, Ukraine 5.5%, Belarus 5.4%, Switzerland 5% (2002)
Rwanda
Indonesia 30.8%, Germany 14.6%, Hong Kong 9%, South Africa
5.5% (2002)
Saint Helena
US 23.7%, Japan 20.5%, Netherlands 16%, Tanzania 15.4%,
Spain 6.4%, UK 5.1%, Indonesia 4.5% (2002)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
US 66.5%, UK 7.6%, Canada 6.8%, Portugal 6%
(2002)
Saint Lucia
UK 48.6%, US 27.8%, Barbados 7.6% (2002)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
US 33.3%, Zambia 30.3%, Ecuador 16.2%,
France 5.1%, Canada 4%, Spain 4% (2002)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
France 25.2%, Greece 19.1%, Spain
16.4%, UK 9.5%, US 7.1% (2002)
Samoa
Australia 66.1%, US 10%, Japan 3.7% (2002)
Sao Tome and Principe
Netherlands 30.1%, Poland 11.8%, Canada 9.7%,
Germany 7.5%, Philippines 7.5%, Spain 7.5%, Belgium 6.5%, France
4.3%, Portugal 4.3% (2002)
Saudi Arabia
US 18.6%, Japan 15.6%, South Korea 10.1%, Singapore
5.1%, China 4.6% (2002)
Senegal
India 20.7%, France 13%, Mali 8.9%, Greece 7.7%, Italy 4.4%
(2002)
Serbia and Montenegro
Italy 32%, Germany 19.5%, Greece 7%, Austria
6.1%, France 4.6% (2002)
Seychelles
UK 28.6%, France 20%, Italy 8.7%, US 8.4%, Spain 6.7%,
Japan 6.7%, Netherlands 6.6%, Thailand 6.4% (2002)
Sierra Leone
Belgium 41.9%, Germany 28.1%, UK 3.6% (2002)
Singapore
Malaysia 17.4%, US 15.3%, Hong Kong 9.2%, Japan 7.1%,
China 5.5%, Taiwan 4.9%, Thailand 4.6%, South Korea 4.2% (2002)
Slovakia
Germany 30.1%, Czech Republic 16.4%, Austria 10.7%, Italy
7.2%, Poland 5.7%, Hungary 4.6% (2002)
Slovenia
Germany 23.9%, Italy 12.7%, Austria 9.5%, Croatia 8%,
France 7.4%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.4% (2002)
Solomon Islands
Japan 21.2%, China 18.8%, South Korea 16.3%,
Philippines 8.9%, Thailand 7.6%, Singapore 4.1% (2002)
Somalia
UAE 45.6%, Yemen 24.3%, Oman 9.5% (2002)
South Africa
UK 12.8%, US 12.7%, Germany 9%, Japan 8.8%, Italy 5.8%
(2002)
Spain
France 19%, Germany 11.4%, UK 9.6%, Portugal 9.5%, Italy 9.3%,
US 4.6% (2002)
Sri Lanka
US 39.1%, UK 12.9%, Belgium 4.7%, Germany 4.5% (2002)
Sudan
China 55.7%, Japan 14%, Saudi Arabia 4.9% (2002)
Suriname
US 25.3%, Norway 20.4%, France 8.2%, Trinidad and Tobago
6.4%, Iceland 6%, Canada 5.9%, Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
Swaziland
South Africa 72%, EU 14.2%, Mozambique 3.7%, US 3.5%, UK
(1999)
Sweden
US 11.6%, Germany 10.1%, Norway 9%, UK 8.2%, Denmark 5.9%,
Finland 5.6%, Netherlands 5.3%, France 5.1%, Belgium 4.7% (2002)
Switzerland
Germany 19.2%, US 10.2%, Italy 9.6%, France 8.9%, UK
7.7% (2002)
Syria
Germany 19.1%, Italy 17.5%, Turkey 7.8%, France 7.5%, Lebanon
5.2% (2002)
Taiwan
Hong Kong 23.9%, US 20.8%, Japan 9.3%, China 7.7% (2002)
Tajikistan
Netherlands 29.4%, Turkey 16.1%, Russia 11.9%, Uzbekistan
9.9%, Switzerland 9.3%, Hungary 5.4%, Latvia 4.2% (2002)
Tanzania
India 15.2%, Japan 12.4%, Netherlands 9.2%, UK 6.8%,
Belgium 6.5%, Kenya 5.9%, Germany 4.8% (2002)
Thailand
US 19.6%, Japan 14.5%, Singapore 8.1%, Hong Kong 5.4%,
China 5.2%, Malaysia 4.1% (2002)
Togo
Ghana 17.7%, Benin 13.3%, Burkina Faso 8.2%, Philippines 4.9%,
Niger 4.1% (2002)
Tokelau
NZ (2000)
Tonga
Japan 43.2%, US 41.2%, Greece 4% (2002)
Trinidad and Tobago
US 56.9%, Jamaica 7.3%, France 4.4% (2002)
Tunisia
France 31.3%, Italy 21.6%, Germany 11.5%, Spain 4.8%, Libya
4.7%, Belgium 4.3% (2002)
Turkey
Germany 16.6%, US 9.2%, UK 8.5%, Italy 6.4%, France 6% (2002)
Turkmenistan
Ukraine 49.7%, Italy 18%, Iran 13.1%, Turkey 6.2% (2002)
Turks and Caicos Islands
US, UK
Tuvalu
UK 58.3%, Italy 16.7%, Denmark 8.3%, Fiji 8.3% (2002)
Uganda
Belgium 16.2%, Netherlands 13.7%, Germany 7.5%, Spain 5.5%,
Hong Kong 4.9%, US 4.6%, UK 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Portugal 4.1% (2002)
Ukraine
Russia 18.6%, Italy 7.4%, Turkey 5.6%, Germany 4.1%, China
4.1% (2002)
United Arab Emirates
Japan 27.8%, South Korea 10.1%, Singapore 3.8%
(2002)
United Kingdom
US 15.5%, Germany 11.2%, France 9.4%, Ireland 8%,
Netherlands 7.1%, Belgium 5.2%, Italy 4.4%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
United States
Canada 23.2%, Mexico 14.1%, Japan 7.4%, UK 4.8% (2002)
Uruguay
Brazil 21%, Argentina 15%, US 8.1%, Germany 5.1%, Italy 4%
(2002)
Uzbekistan
Russia 17.7%, Ukraine 11%, Italy 7.6%, Tajikistan 6.8%,
Poland 5.1%, South Korea 5%, Kazakhstan 4.5%, US 4.2% (2002)
Vanuatu
India 32.5%, Thailand 22.8%, South Korea 10.5%, Indonesia
6.3%, Japan 4.9% (2002)
Venezuela
US 53.4%, Netherlands Antilles 17.3%, Canada 2.9% (2002)
Vietnam
US 15.2%, Japan 14.9%, Australia 7.6%, China 6.6%, Germany
6.5%, Singapore 5.5%, UK 4.3% (2002)
Virgin Islands
US, Puerto Rico
Wallis and Futuna
Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13%
West Bank
Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2000)
Western Sahara
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so
trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
World
US 17.4%, Germany 7.6%, UK 5.4%, France 5.1%, Japan 4.8%,
China 4% (2002)
Yemen
India 21.1%, Thailand 16.9%, South Korea 11.2%, China 11.1%,
Malaysia 7.7%, US 6.7%, Singapore 4% (2002)
Zambia
Malawi 10.3%, Thailand 9.2%, Japan 9.1%, Saint Pierre and
Miquelon 9.1%, Taiwan 8.5%, South Africa 7.8%, Egypt 6.4%, China
6.3%, Netherlands 5.5%, Tanzania 4.5% (2002)
Zimbabwe
China 6%, South Africa 5.7%, Germany 5.4%, UK 4.8%, Japan
4.7%, Netherlands 4.4%, US 4.1% (2002)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2051 Administrative divisions
Afghanistan
32 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan,
Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr,
Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar,
Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan,
Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, and
Zabol
Albania
12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku
i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku
i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes,
Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores
Algeria
48 provinces (wilayas, 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
American Samoa
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
Andorra
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la
Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant
Julia de Loria
Angola
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
Anguilla
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Antigua and Barbuda
6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*,
Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint
Peter, Saint Philip
Argentina
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, Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
Armenia
11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat,
Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,
Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
Aruba
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Australia
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital
Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South
Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Austria
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,
Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark,
Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Azerbaijan
59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities*
(saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar
respublika); Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas
Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli Sahari*, Astara
Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu,
Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan
Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*,
Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu,
Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu,
Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu,
Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar
Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax
Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu,
Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki
Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu,
Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar
Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*,
Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli
Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala
Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
Bahamas, The
21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat
Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green
Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long
Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and
Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador
and Rum Cay
Bahrain
12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd,
Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al
Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al
Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar,
Sitrah
note: all municipalities administered from Manama
Bangladesh
5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna,
Rajshahi; note - there may be one additional division named Sylhet
Barbados
11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George,
Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael,
Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of
Bridgetown may be given parish status
Belarus
6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts') and one municipality*
(harady, singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyel'skaya
(Homyel'), Horad Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya
(Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk); note - when using a
place name with the adjectival ending 'skaya,' the word voblasts'
should be added to the place name
note: voblasti have the administrative center name following in
parentheses
Belgium
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch:
provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions;
Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles),
Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur,
Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen
Belize
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek,
Toledo
Benin
12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou,
Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Bermuda
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton,
Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys,
Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Bhutan
18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang,
Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro,
Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang,
Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse
Bolivia
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa
Cruz, Tarija
Bosnia and Herzegovina
there are two first-order administrative
divisions and one 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 an administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia
and Herzegovina; the district remains under international supervision
Botswana
9 districts and four town councils*; Central, Francistown*,
Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*,
Northwest, Northeast, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern
Brazil
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
British Virgin Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Brunei
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait,
Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Bulgaria
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, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,
Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Burkina Faso
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, Namentenga, Nahouri,
Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie,
Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga,
Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Burma
7 divisions* (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi
ne-myar, singular - pyi ne); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*, Kachin
State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State,
Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*
Burundi
16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke,
Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro,
Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Cambodia
20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 4
municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay,
Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong
Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar
Mean Cheay, Pailin*, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu*, Preah
Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay
Rieng, Takev
Cameroon
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord,
Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Canada
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*
Cape Verde
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
Cayman Islands
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town,
Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Central African Republic
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
Chad
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha,
Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac,
Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari,
Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative
structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department),
and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha
Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera,
Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone
Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam,
N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile
Occidental, Tibesti
Chile
13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General
Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio,
Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos,
Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana
(Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
China
23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous
regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities**
(shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**, Chongqing**, Fujian,
Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang,
Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*,
Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan,
Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang; note -
China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for
the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau
Christmas Island
none (territory of Australia)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none (territory of Australia)
Colombia
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and
1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca,
Atlantico, Distrito Capital de 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
Comoros
3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and
Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named
Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
10 provinces (provinces, singular
- province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur,
Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema,
Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu
Congo, Republic of the
9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1
commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou,
Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Cook Islands
none
Costa Rica
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela,
Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Cote d'Ivoire
58 departments (departements, singular - departement);
Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adiake, Adzope, Agboville,
Agnibilekrou, Alepe, Bocanda, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou,
Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Dabou,
Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou,
Gagnoa, Grand-Bassam, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Jacqueville,
Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume,
Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou,
Tanda, Tiebissou, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toulepleu, Toumodi,
Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula
Croatia
20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city*
(grad - singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska
Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija,
Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija,
Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska
Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija,
Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija,
Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija,
Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija,
Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*,
Zagrebacka Zupanija
Cuba
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
Cyprus
6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia,
Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions
include Kyrenia, all but a