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Produced by Martin M. Pedersen
The CIA World Factbook 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Countries are listed in alphabetical order.
Notes and appendices come after the country listings.
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
Bahamas
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
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Clipperton Island
Cocos
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Congo
Cook Islands
Coral Sea Islands
Costa Rica
Cote d
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Europa Island
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern and
Gabon
Gambia
Gaza Strip
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Glorioso Islands
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Holy See
Honduras
Hong Kong
Howland Island
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jan Mayen
Japan
Jarvis Island
Jersey
Johnston Atoll
Jordan
Juan de Nova Island
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kingman Reef
Kiribati
Korea
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Man
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Midway Islands
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
Navassa Island
Nepal Country Flag of Nepal
Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Niger
Niue
Norfolk Island
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pacific Ocean
Pakistan
Palau
Palmyra Atoll
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russia Country Flag of Russia
Rwanda
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa Country Flag of Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia and Montenegro
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia Country Flag of Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Southern Ocean
South Georgia
Spain
Spratly Islands
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tromelin Island
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands
Wake Island
Wallis and Futuna
West Bank
Western Sahara
World
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Notes and Definitions
Appendices
Appendix A: Abbreviations
Appendix B: United Nations System
Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups
Appendix D: Selected International Environmental Agreements
Appendix E: Weights and Measures
Appendix F: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes
Appendix G: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes
Appendix H: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names
History
Contributors and Copyright Information
Purchase Information
AFGHANISTAN
@Afghanistan:Introduction
Background: Afghanistan was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in 1979. The USSR was forced to pull out 10 years later due to anti-communist mujahidin forces that were supplied and trained by the US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting continued between various mujahidin factions, but the fundamentalist Islamic Taliban movement managed to take control of most of the country. Besides ongoing civil conflict, the country faces extreme poverty, a decaying infrastructure, and widespread landmines.
@Afghanistan:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Geographic coordinates: 33° N, 65° E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 652,000 sq km land: 652,000 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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: dry to semi-dry; chilly winters and hot summers
Terrain: mainly rugged mountains; flat areas in the north and southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m
Natural resources: natural gas, oil, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barite, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious stones, and semi-precious stones
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 3% other: 39% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30,000 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes happen in the Hindu Kush mountains; flooding
Environment - current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (a lot of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification
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
@Afghanistan:People
Population: 25,838,797 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.37% (male 5,598,403; female 5,371,054) 15-64 years: 54.86% (male 7,362,961; female 6,839,914) 65 years and over: 2.77% (male 378,741; female 337,724) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.54% (2000 est.) note: this rate reflects the ongoing return of refugees from Iran
Birth rate: 41.82 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 18.01 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.54 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 149.28 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.88 years male: 46.62 years female: 45.1 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.87 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)
Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%
Languages: Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (mainly Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (mostly Balochi and Pashai) 4%, a lot of bilingualism
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 31.5% male: 47.2% female: 15% (1999 est.)
@Afghanistan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan; note - the self-proclaimed Taliban government refers to the country as Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan conventional short form: Afghanistan local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan local short form: Afghanestan former: Republic of Afghanistan
Data code: AF
Government type: no working central government, managed by factions
Capital: Kabul
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat);
Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni,
Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Kunar,
Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Urozgan, Paktia, Paktika,
Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Wardak, Zabul
note: there may be two new provinces of Nuristan and Khost
Independence: August 19, 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, April 28; Remembrance
Day for Martyrs and Disabled, May 4; Independence Day, August 19
Constitution: none
Legal system: a new legal system hasn't been adopted, but all parties agree they will follow Shari'a (Islamic law).
Suffrage: NA; previously males aged 15-50
Executive branch: on September 27, 1996, the ruling members of the Afghan government were overthrown by members of the Islamic Taliban movement; the Islamic State of Afghanistan currently has no functioning government, and the country remains divided among fighting factions. Note: the Taliban have declared themselves the legitimate government of Afghanistan; however, the UN still recognizes the government of Burhanuddin Rabbani; the Organization of the Islamic Conference has kept the Afghan seat vacant until the question of legitimacy can be settled through negotiations among the warring factions; the country is essentially split along ethnic lines; the Taliban controls the capital, Kabul, and about two-thirds of the country, including the predominantly Pashtun areas in southern Afghanistan; opposing factions have their stronghold in the ethnically diverse north.
Legislative branch: not functioning since June 1993
Judicial branch: not operational since March 1995, although there are local Shari'a (Islamic law) courts across the country.
Political parties and leaders: Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement)
; Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic
Revolutionary Movement) ; Hizbi
Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party) ; Hizbi
Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party) ; Hizbi
Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party) ;
Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for the
Liberation of Afghanistan) ; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli
Afghanistan (Afghanistan National Liberation Front) [Sibghatullah
MOJADDEDI]; Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front) [Sayed
Ahamad GAILANI]; Taliban (Religious Students Movement) [Mohammad
OMAR]; United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan, which included
Jumbesh-i-Melli Islami (National Islamic Movement) [Abdul Rashid
DOSTAM]; Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society) [Burhanuddin RABBANI and
Ahmad Shah MASOOD]; and Hizbi Wahdat-Khalili faction (Islamic Unity
Party)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Australia, the US, and other places have organized politically; Mellat (Social Democratic Party); groups based in Peshawar, Pakistan like the Coordination Council for National Unity and Understanding in Afghanistan (CUNUA); tribal elders represent traditional Pashtun leadership; Writers Union of Free Afghanistan (WUFA).
International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: note: embassy operations suspended 21 August 1997 chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-3770 FAX: (202) 328-3516 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US embassy in Kabul has been closed since January 1989 because of security issues.
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and below, surrounded by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder Islamic inscription above, all encircled by two crossed scimitars. note: the Taliban uses a plain white flag
@Afghanistan:Economy
Economy - overview: Afghanistan is a very poor, landlocked country that relies heavily on farming and raising livestock (sheep and goats). Economic issues have taken a backseat to political and military turmoil during two decades of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended on February 15, 1989). During that conflict, one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran hosting over 6 million refugees at one point. As of early 1999, 1.2 million Afghan refugees were still in Pakistan, and about 1.4 million were in Iran. The gross domestic product has significantly declined over the past 20 years due to the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport. Most of the population still suffers from a lack of food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Inflation remains a serious issue across the country. International aid can only address a small portion of the humanitarian crisis, let alone foster economic development. The economic situation did not improve in 1998-99, as ongoing internal strife continued to hinder both domestic economic policies and international aid efforts. Numerical data is likely to be either unavailable or unreliable. Afghanistan was by far the largest producer of opium poppies in 1999, and drug trafficking is a major source of income.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $21 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 53% industry: 28.5% services: 18.5% (1990)
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: 8 million (1997 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 68%, industry 16%, services 16% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and cement; handwoven rugs; natural gas, oil, coal, copper
Electricity - production: 430 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.86% hydro: 58.14% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 510 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 110 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: opium poppies, wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts; wool, mutton
Exports: $80 million (excluding opium) (1996 est.)
Exports - products: opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
Exports - partners: FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium,
Luxembourg, Czech Republic
Imports: $150 million (1996 est.)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, food, and petroleum products; most consumer goods
Imports - partners: FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India,
South Korea, Germany
Debt - external: $5.5 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: The US provided around $70 million in humanitarian assistance in 1997; the US continues to contribute to multilateral assistance through UN programs, including food aid, immunization, landmine removal, and various forms of support for refugees and displaced individuals.
Currency: 1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls
Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1 - 4,700 (January 2000), 4,750 (February 1999), 17,000 (December 1996), 7,000 (January 1995), 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991); note - these rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rate, which was fixed at 50.600 afghanis to the dollar until 1996, when it increased to 2,262.65 per dollar, and finally became fixed again at 3,000.00 per dollar in April 1996.
Fiscal year: March 21 - March 20
@Afghanistan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 31,200 (1983); note - there were 21,000 main lines in use in Kabul in 1998
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service; 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 Pashto, 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 30 provinces; the regional stations operate on a limited schedule; also, in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif that reached four northern Afghanistan provinces) (1998)
Televisions: 100,000 (1999)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Afghanistan:Transportation
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 the south bank of the Amu Darya
Highways: total: 21,000 km paved: 2,793 km unpaved: 18,207 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km; primarily the Amu Darya, which accommodates vessels up to around 500 DWT
Pipelines: oil products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 km
Ports and harbors: Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Airports: 46 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
@Afghanistan:Military
Military branches: NA; note - the military does not exist on a national level; some parts of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias still exist but are divided among the different groups.
Military manpower - military age: 22 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,401,980 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,432,236 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 244,958 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Afghanistan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: support for Islamic militants around the world by some groups; debate over which faction should represent Afghanistan at the UN
Illicit drugs: the world's largest illegal opium producer, surpassing Burma (potential production in 1999 - 1,670 metric tons; cultivation in 1999 - 51,500 hectares, a 23% increase from 1998); a key source of hashish; a growing number of heroin-processing labs being established in the country; significant political factions in the country are benefiting from the drug trade.
______________________________________________________________________
ALBANIA
@Albania:Introduction
Background: In 1990, Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has been challenging as corrupt governments have attempted to address severe unemployment, the failure of a fraudulent nationwide investment scheme, widespread crime, and a huge influx of refugees from neighboring Kosovo.
@Albania:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, next to the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Geographic coordinates: 41° N, 20° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 720 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, North Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro)
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, and wet winters; hot, clear, and dry summers; the interior is cooler and wetter.
Terrain: mainly mountains and hills; some small plains along the coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, wood, nickel, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 38% other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,410 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis happen along the southwestern coast.
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and residential waste
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location along the Strait of Otranto (links
Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
@Albania:People
Population: 3,490,435 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 545,329; female 507,589) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,056,583; female 1,141,664) 65 years and over: 7% (male 104,086; female 135,184) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.26% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 19.47 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -10.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 41.33 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.57 years male: 68.75 years female: 74.59 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian
Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (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 were banned; in November 1990, Albania started allowing private religious practices
Languages: Albanian (the official dialect is Tosk), Greek
Literacy: definition: age 9 and older can read and write total population: 93% (1997 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Albania:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Data code: AL
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Tirana
Administrative divisions: 36 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqizë, Delvinë, Devoll (Bilisht), Dibrë (Peshkopi), Durrës, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokastër, Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavajë, Kolonje (Ersekë), Korçë, Krujë, Kuçovë, Kukës, Kurbin, Lezhë, Librazhdi, Lushnje, Malësi e Madhe (Koplik), Mallakastër (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirditë (Rreshen), Peqin, Përmet, Pogradec, Pukë, Sarandë, Shkodër, Skrapar (Çorovodë), Tepelenë, Tiranë (Tirana), Tiranë* (Tirana), Tropojë (Bajram Curri), Vlorë note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: November 28, 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 28 (1912)
Constitution: a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote
Legal system: has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since July 24, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Ilir META (since October 29, 1999) 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; last election held on July 24, 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 122, for 110, against 3, abstained 2, invalid 7
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held June 29, 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, the chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term.
Political parties and leaders: Albanian Republican Party (PR) [Fatmir
MEHDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party (PS, formerly the Albania Workers
Party); Albanian United Right (DBSH, includes
PBK, Albanian Republican Party (PRS), and PDD);
Christian Democratic Party (PDK); Democratic Alliance
(PAD); Democratic Party (PD);
Democratic Party of the Right (PDD); Liberal Union
Party; Movement of Legality Party (PLL);
National Front (Balli Kombetar, PBK); Party of
National Unity (PUK); Right National Front [Hysni
SELFO]; Social Democratic Party (PSD); Unity for
Human Rights Party (PBDNJ); note - Teodar LACO
of the Liberal Union Party was the leader of the Social Democratic Union
of Albania (PBSD)
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 223-4942 FAX: (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph LIMPRECHT embassy: Rruga Elbasanit 103, Tirana mailing address: American Embassy, Tirana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-9510 telephone: (42) 47285 through 47289 FAX: (42) 32222
Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the middle
@Albania:Economy
Economy - overview: A very poor country by European standards, Albania is navigating the tough shift to a more open market economy. The economy bounced back in 1993-95 after a serious depression that followed the collapse of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and 1991. However, a decline in the government's commitment to maintaining stabilization policies during the 1996 election year contributed to the resurgence of inflationary pressures, driven by a budget deficit that surpassed 12%. The collapse of financial pyramid schemes in early 1997—which had attracted deposits from a large portion of Albania's population—sparked significant social unrest, resulting in over 1,500 deaths, widespread destruction of property, and an 8% drop in GDP. The new government, which took office in July 1997, has implemented strong measures to restore public order and revive economic activity and trade. The economy is still supported by remittances from about 20% of the labor force that works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances help boost GDP and offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, significantly increasing peasant incomes. In 1998, Albania regained the 8% GDP drop from 1997 and grew by 7% in 1999. International aid has helped cover the high costs of accommodating and sending back refugees from the Kosovo conflict.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 8% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,650 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 54% industry: 25% services: 21% (1998)
Population below the poverty line: 19.6% (1996 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices): 0.5% (Estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 1.692 million (including 352,000 workers who have emigrated and 261,000 unemployed individuals domestically) (1994 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 49.5%, industry and services 50.5%
Unemployment rate: 14% (October 1997) officially, but it could be as high as 28%
Budget: revenues: $393 million expenditures: $676 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 5.15 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.91% hydro: 97.09% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 5.29 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 500 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products
Exports: $242 million (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - goods: textiles and shoes; asphalt, metals and metal ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco.
Exports - partners: Italy 63%, Greece 12%, Germany 6%, Netherlands,
Belgium, US (1998)
Imports: $925 million (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Imports - goods: machinery and equipment, food, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners: Italy 43%, Greece 29%, Turkey 4%, Germany 4%,
Bulgaria, North Macedonia (1998)
Debt - external: $820 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: EU pledged $100 million to share with the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1999)
Currency: 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars
Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1 - 135.31 (December 1999), 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997), 104.50 (1996), 92.70 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Albania:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 42,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3,100 (1999)
Telephone system: domestic: outdated wired system; no longer offers a phone for every village; in 1992, after the collapse of the communist government, peasants cut the wires to around 1,000 villages and repurposed them to build fences international: insufficient; international calls are transmitted via microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece
Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios: 810,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (1999)
Televisions: 405,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Albania:Transportation
Railways: total: 670 km standard gauge: 670 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)
Highways: total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 43 km plus the Albanian sections of Lake Shkodra, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 90 miles; petroleum products 34 miles; natural gas 40 miles (1991)
Ports and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 10,907 GRT/16,101 DWT ships by type: cargo 6 (1999 est.)
Airports: 10 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Albania:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Forces, Interior
Ministry Troops, Border Guards
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 856,820 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 701,194 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 35,508 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $42 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY99)
@Albania:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the Albanian Government supports protecting the rights of ethnic Albanians outside its borders but has minimized this issue to advance its main foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; the Albanian majority in Kosovo is seeking independence from the Serbian Republic; Albanians in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia claim they face discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government.
Illicit drugs: an increasingly active hub for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis moving through the Balkan route, and - to a much lesser extent - cocaine from South America heading to Western Europe; limited opium and cannabis production; ethnic Albanian drug trafficking organizations are active and rapidly expanding in Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
ALGERIA
@Algeria:Introduction
Background: After a hundred years of French rule, Algeria gained independence in 1962. The unexpected success of the fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) party in the December 1991 elections led the army to step in, clamp down on the FIS, and delay the next elections. The FIS's reaction sparked an ongoing low-intensity civil conflict with the secular government, which has still allowed elections with pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. The FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000, and many armed insurgents surrendered under an amnesty program meant to encourage national reconciliation. However, some fighting continues. Other issues include high unemployment rates and the need to diversify the petroleum-dependent economy.
@Algeria:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, next to the Mediterranean Sea, between
Morocco and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 28° N, 3° E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 2,381,740 sq km land: 2,381,740 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: just under 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: dry to semi-dry; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along the coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on the high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust and sand-filled wind commonly found in summer.
Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, uneven coastal plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m highest point: Tahat 3,003 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 2% other: 82% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,550 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: mountainous regions prone to serious earthquakes; mudslides.
Environment - current issues: soil erosion caused by overgrazing and other harmful farming practices; desertification; dumping of untreated sewage, petroleum refining waste, and other industrial discharge is resulting in the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; the Mediterranean Sea, in particular, is becoming polluted from oil waste, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; insufficient supplies of drinkable 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)
@Algeria:People
Population: 31,193,917 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 5,591,044; female 5,389,046) 15-64 years: 61% (male 9,582,864; female 9,381,088) 65 years and over: 4% (male 577,875; female 672,000) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.74% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 23.14 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.02 males/females 65 years and over: 0.86 males/females total population: 1.02 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 41.97 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.65 years male: 68.34 years female: 71.02 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim (official religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 61.6% male: 73.9% female: 49% (1995 est.)
@Algeria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria conventional short form: Algeria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Shabiyah local short form: Al Jaza'ir
Data code: AG
Government type: republic
Capital: Algiers
Administrative divisions: 48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya);
Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Algiers, 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: July 5, 1962 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, November 1 (1954)
Constitution: November 19, 1976, effective November 22, 1976; revised November 3, 1988, February 23, 1989, and November 28, 1996; note - referendum approving the revisions of November 28, 1996, was signed into law December 7, 1996
Legal system: socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in a special Constitutional Council made up of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since April 28, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed BENBITOUR (since December 2, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on April 15, 1999 (next to be held in April 2004); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA elected president; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 70%; note - six of the seven candidates withdrew, citing ongoing electoral fraud
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament includes the National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani) with 380 seats, where members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms, and the Council of Nations, which has 144 seats—one-third of the members are appointed by the president, while two-thirds are elected through indirect voting; these members serve six-year terms. This structure was established following the constitutional revision in November 1996. Elections: The last election for the National People's Assembly was held on June 5, 1997 (next scheduled for 2001); elections for two-thirds of the Council of Nations took place on December 25, 1997 (next scheduled for 2003). Election results: For the National People's Assembly, the vote by party was as follows: RND 40.8%, MSP 18.2%, FLN 16.8%, Nahda Movement 8.9%, FFS 5%, RCD 5%, PT 1.1%, Republican Progressive Party 0.8%, Union for Democracy and Freedoms 0.3%, Liberal Social Party 0.3%, and independents 2.8%. The seats by party were: RND 156, MSP 69, FLN 62, Nahda Movement 34, FFS 20, RCD 19, PT 4, Republican Progressive Party 3, Union for Democracy and Freedoms 1, Liberal Social Party 1, and independents 11. For the Council of Nations, the percentage of the vote by party is not available; the seats by party were: RND 80, FLN 10, FFS 4, MSP 2 (the remaining 48 seats were appointed by the president, with the party breakdown not available).
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders: Algerian Democratic Front (FAD); Algerian National Front (ANF); Algerian Renewal Party (PRA); Democratic National Rally (RND); Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) (banned April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exiled in Germany)]; Liberal Social Party; Movement for Democracy in Algeria (MDA) [Ahmed Ben BELLA]; Movement for Loyalty and Justice [Ahmed Taleb IBRAHIMI, president]; Movement of a Peaceful Society (MSP) [Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman]; Nahda Movement (Al Nahda); National Liberation Front (FLN) [Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; National Party for Solidarity and Development (PNSD) [Rabah BENCHERIF]; National Republican Alliance (ANR); Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD); Republican Progressive Party; Social Democratic Movement (MDS); Socialist Forces Front (FFS); Union for Democracy and Freedoms; Workers Party (PT) note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and, as of December 31, 1990, over 50 legal parties existed; a new party law was enacted in March 1997.
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,
AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC,
OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-2800 FAX: (202) 667-2174
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron R. HUME embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers telephone: (2) 69-11-86, 69-12-55, 69-18-54, 69-38-75 FAX: (2) 69-39-79
Flag description: two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white with a red, five-pointed star inside a red crescent; the crescent, star, and green color are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)
@Algeria:Economy
Economy - overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, making up about 52% of budget revenues, 25% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest natural gas reserves in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks fourteenth in oil reserves. Algiers' attempt to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world stalled in 1992 as the country fell into political chaos. Struggling with a significant foreign debt, Algiers entered a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994, and the following year signed a three-year extended fund facility that ended on April 30, 1998. Some progress on economic reform, along with debt reschedulings from the Paris Club in 1995 and 1996 and the expansion of the oil and gas sector, helped to initiate growth recovery since 1995. However, the economy still relies heavily on unpredictable oil and gas revenues. The government has continued to work on diversifying the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, but has had little success in lowering high unemployment and improving living standards.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $147.6 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.9% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,700 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 51% services: 37% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.2% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 9.1 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: government 29.5%, agriculture 22%, construction and public works 16.2%, industry 13.6%, commerce and services 13.5%, transportation and communication 5.2% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $15.5 billion expenditures: $15.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: oil, natural gas, light manufacturing, mining, electricity, petrochemicals, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 21.38 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.77% hydro: 0.23% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 19.882 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 313 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 312 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus fruits; sheep, cattle
Exports: $13.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: oil, natural gas, and oil products 97%
Exports - partners: Italy 21.2%, US 15.0%, France 12.9%, Spain 10.3%,
Brazil 5.9%, Netherlands 5.5% (1998)
Imports: $9.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Imports - commodities: machinery, food and drinks, consumer products
Imports - partners: France 29.5%, Italy 9.8%, US 7.2%, Spain 6.8%,
Germany 6.2%, Canada 4.1% (1998)
Debt - external: $30 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $897.5 million (1994)
Currency: 1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 69.046 (January 2000), 66.574 (1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996), 47.663 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Algeria:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.176 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 33,500 (1999)
Telephone system: domestic: reliable service in the north but limited in the south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 more 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 in the Atlantic Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)
Radios: 7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 18 (excluding low-power stations) (1999)
Televisions: 3.1 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Algeria:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,820 km (301 km electrified; 215 km double track) standard gauge: 3,664 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track) narrow gauge: 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge (1996)
Highways: total: 104,000 km paved: 71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,344 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 4,112 miles; petroleum products 185 miles; natural gas 1,832 miles
Ports and harbors: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys,
Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes
Merchant marine: total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 940,196 GRT/1,094,104 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas 11, petroleum tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off 13, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 137 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 51 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 86 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Algeria:Military
Military branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial
Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 8,523,257 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 5,220,318 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 373,547 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $1.3 billion (FY94)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY94)
@Algeria:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: part of the southeastern region claimed by Libya
______________________________________________________________________
AMERICAN SAMOA
@American Samoa:Introduction
Background: Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the second half of the 19th century were resolved by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the U.S. divided the Samoan archipelago. The U.S. formally took control of its portion—a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago—the following year.
@American Samoa:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.
Geographic coordinates: 14°20'S, 170°00'W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 199 sq km land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 116 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical marine, influenced by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 meters; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; minimal seasonal temperature variation.
Terrain: five volcanic islands with steep peaks and small 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 70% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons are common from December to March.
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; the water division of the government has invested significant funds in recent years to enhance water catchments and pipelines.
Geography - note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, protected by its shape from rough seas and shielded by surrounding mountains from strong winds; it has a strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean.
@American Samoa:People
Population: 65,446 (July 2000 est.)
Age distribution: 0-14 years: 39% (male 13,071; female 12,304) 15-64 years: 56% (male 18,358; female 18,597) 65 years and older: 5% (male 1,631; female 1,485) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.53% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 25.81 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.26 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 3.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.63 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.12 years male: 70.66 years female: 79.84 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.6 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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 others 30%
Languages: Samoan (which is closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English. Note: most people are bilingual.
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.)
@American Samoa:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa abbreviation: AS
Data code: AQ
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: Territorial Flag Day, April 17 (1900)
Constitution: ratified in 1966, effective in 1967
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997) and Lieutenant Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 3 January 1997) cabinet: N/A 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 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: Tauese P. SUNIA elected governor; percent of vote - Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 51%, Peter REID (independent) 49%
Legislative branch: The bicameral Fono, or Legislative Assembly, is made up of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 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). Elections: House of Representatives - last held in November 1998 (next scheduled for November 2000); Senate - last held on 3 November 1996 (next scheduled for 7 November 2000). Election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - N/A; Senate - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - N/A. Note: American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; the last election was held on 3 November 1998 (next scheduled for 7 November 2000); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) was reelected as delegate for a sixth term.
Judicial branch: High Court (the chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party ;
Republican Party
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (part of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (part of the US)
Flag description: blue, with a white triangle bordered in red that starts from the outer side and stretches to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is holding two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club.
@American Samoa:Economy
Economy - overview: This is a traditional Polynesian economy where more than 90% of the land is owned collectively. Economic activities are closely tied to the US, which accounts for most of American Samoa’s foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants form the foundation of the private sector, with canned tuna being the main export. Transfers from the US Government significantly contribute to American Samoa's economic health. Efforts by the government to build a larger and more diverse economy are limited by Samoa's remote location, insufficient transportation, and destructive hurricanes. The tourism sector is growing, but it could be hindered by the current financial challenges in East Asia.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $150 million (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,600 (estimated in 1995)
GDP - Composition by Sector: Agriculture: NA% Industry: NA% Services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 13,949 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)
Budget: revenues: $121 million (37% from local revenue and 63% from US grants) expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)
Industries: tuna canneries (mostly reliant on foreign fishing boats), handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 125 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 116 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Exports: $313 million (1996)
Exports - commodities: canned tuna 93%
Exports - partners: US 99.6%
Imports: $471 million (1996)
Imports - commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6%
Imports - partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, New Zealand 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - significant financial support from the US
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: The US dollar is used
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@American Samoa:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 10,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,200 (1994)
Telephone system: domestic: good telex, telegraph, fax, and mobile phone 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@American Samoa:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 350 km paved: 150 km unpaved: 200 km
Ports and harbors: Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu,
Pago Pago, Ta'u
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@American Samoa:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@American Samoa:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
ANDORRA
@Andorra:Introduction
Background: Long isolated and poor, mountainous Andorra has achieved significant prosperity since World War II thanks to its tourism industry. Many immigrants (both legal and illegal) are drawn to the booming economy because there are no income taxes.
@Andorra:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 42.5° N, 1.5° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 468 sq km land: 468 sq km water: 0 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: mild; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Terrain: rough mountains split 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: 4% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 45% forests and woodland: 35% other: 16% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: snowslides, 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
@Andorra:People
Population: 66,824 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 5,382; female 4,883) 15-64 years: 72% (male 25,463; female 22,837) 65 years and over: 13% (male 4,160; female 4,099) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.22% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 10.58 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.27 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 6.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.08 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.46 years male: 80.56 years female: 86.56 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA%
@Andorra:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra
Data code: AN
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 the bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by the 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 established under the shared authority of France and Spain)
National holiday: Our Lady of Meritxell, September 8 (1278)
Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was created in 1991; approved by referendum on March 14, 1993; went into effect on May 4, 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 old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since May 17, 1995), represented by Mr. Frederic de SAINT-SERNIN (since NA); Spanish Coprince Episcopal Monseigneur Joan MARTI Alanis (since January 31, 1971), represented by Mr. Nemesi MARQUES OSTE (since NA) head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne (since December 21, 1994) cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president elections: Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; last election held on February 16, 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - 64%
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 on February 16, 1997 (next to be held in February 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%, ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party - UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2
Judicial branch: Court of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Court
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; Public Prosecutor's Office or
Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party of Andorra (Partit
Liberal d'Andorra) or PLA; Liberal Union or UL [Francesc
CERQUEDA]; National Democratic Group or AND;
National Democratic Initiative or IDN; New
Democracy or ND; Unio Parroquial d'Ordino or
UPO
note: there are two other small parties
International organization participation: CCC, CE, ECE, ICRM, IFRCS,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent Representative to the UN) chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 750-8064 FAX: (212) 750-6630
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is assigned 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 don't have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does have a national emblem.
@Andorra:Economy
Economy - overview: Tourism, the backbone of Andorra's small, prosperous economy, makes up about 80% of GDP. Approximately 9 million tourists visit each year, drawn by Andorra's duty-free status and its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's competitive edge has recently diminished as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have opened up, offering a wider range of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also plays a significant role in the economy. Agricultural production is limited due to a lack of arable land, so most food must be imported. The main livestock activity is sheep farming. Manufacturing primarily involves cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is part 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 - $1.2 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,000 (1996 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.62% (1998)
Labor force: 30,787 salaried employees (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 72%, other 6% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 0%
Budget: revenues: $385 million expenditures: $342 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries: tourism (especially skiing), cattle ranching, logging, tobacco, banking
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 116 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh (1998 estimate)
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh; note - imports electricity from Spain and France
Agriculture - products: small amounts of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep
Exports: $58 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - products: tobacco items, furniture
Exports - partners: France 34%, Spain 58% (1998)
Imports: $1.077 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, food, electricity
Imports - partners: Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (1998)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: none
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 143.39 (January 1999), 149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Andorra:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 31,980 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 8,618 (1997)
Telephone system: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Andorra:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 269 km paved: 198 km unpaved: 71 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
@Andorra:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
@Andorra:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
ANGOLA
@Angola:Introduction
Background: Civil war has been the norm in Angola since it gained independence from Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace agreement between the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) allowed former UNITA fighters to be integrated into the government and military. A national unity government was established in April 1997, but serious fighting broke out again in late 1998, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost in the conflict over the past 25 years.
@Angola:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, next to the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 12°30′S, 18°30′E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: just under twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 5,198 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 220 km is the boundary of the separate Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km
Coastline: 1,600 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: semiarid in the south and along the coast to Luanda; the north has a cool, dry season (May to October) and a hot, rainy season (November to April).
Terrain: a narrow coastal plain quickly rises to a large interior plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
Natural resources: oil, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 23% forests and woodland: 43% other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 750 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: heavy rainfall in the area leads to regular flooding on the plateau.
Environment - current issues: excessive use of pastures and resulting soil erosion driven by population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rainforests due to both global demand for tropical timber and local use as fuel, leading to a loss of biodiversity; soil erosion causing water pollution and sediment buildup in rivers and dams; insufficient access to clean drinking water.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change
Geography - note: Cabinda is separated from the rest of the country by the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
@Angola:People
Population: 10,145,267 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 2,215,706; female 2,172,106) 15-64 years: 54% (male 2,792,313; female 2,692,790) 65 years and over: 3% (male 124,404; female 147,948) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.15% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 46.89 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 25.01 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 195.78 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 38.31 years male: 37.11 years female: 39.56 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.52 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan
Ethnic groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestizo (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 various other African languages
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and over can read and write total population: 42% male: 56% female: 28% (1998 est.)
@Angola:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Angola conventional short form: Angola local long form: República de Angola local short form: Angola former: People's Republic of Angola
Data code: AO
Government type: transitional government, officially a multiparty democracy with a robust presidential system.
Capital: Luanda
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bié, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza
Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda
Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uíge, Zaire
Independence: November 11, 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 11, 1975
Constitution: November 11, 1975; revised January 7, 1978, August 11, 1980, March 6, 1991, and August 26, 1992
Legal system: based on the Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently updated to support political diversity and a stronger emphasis on free markets.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since September 21, 1979); note - the president is both the chief of state and the head of government head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since January 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and the head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: President DOS SANTOS was originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and ran for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections on September 28-29, 1992; these were the last elections held (next elections TBD) election results: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place candidate Jonas SAVIMBI (40.1% of the vote); the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) rejected 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 September 29-30, 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: The Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the
Supreme Court 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; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA, the largest opposition party that spent years in armed resistance before joining the current unity government in April 1997; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA, the 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 won 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 engaged in a limited, deeply divided armed conflict for the independence of Cabinda Province.
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu" chancery: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 785-1156 FAX: (202) 785-1258 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN embassy: 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6484, Luanda; pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 telephone: (2) 345-481, 346-418 FAX: (2) 346-924
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem featuring a five-pointed star inside half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (similar to a hammer and sickle)
@Angola:Economy
Economy - overview: Angola's economy is in chaos due to a quarter-century of nearly continuous warfare. Despite having abundant natural resources, its output per capita is among the lowest in the world. Subsistence farming is the primary source of income for 85% of the population. Oil production and its related industries are crucial to the economy, accounting for about 45% of GDP and 90% of exports. Although a peace agreement was signed in November 1994, violence persists, millions of landmines remain, and many farmers are hesitant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country's food still needs to be imported. To capitalize on its rich resources—gold, diamonds, vast forests, Atlantic fisheries, and sizable oil reserves—Angola will need to implement the peace agreement and reform its governmental policies. Despite an increase in civil warfare in late 1998, the economy grew by an estimated 4% in 1999. The government introduced new currency denominations in 1999, including 1 and 5 kwanza notes. Increased oil production raises hopes for 2000, but internal conflict discourages investment outside the petroleum sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,030 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 53% services: 34% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 270% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 5 million (1997 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: widespread unemployment and underemployment affecting over half the population (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $928 million expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.)
Industries: oil; 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: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.886 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 24.97% hydro: 75.03% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.754 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Exports: $5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Exports - partners: US 63%, Benelux 9%, China, Chile, France (1998)
Imports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; pharmaceuticals, food, textiles, military supplies
Imports - partners: Portugal 20%, US 17%, South Africa 10%, Spain,
Brazil, France (1998)
Debt - external: $10.5 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $493.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei
Exchange rates: kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 577,304 (January 2000), 2,790,706 (1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995); note - starting in June 1998, the official rate is set weekly based on a crawling peg system.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Angola:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 60,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,994 (1995)
Telephone system: telephone service mostly limited to government and business use; HF radiotelephone widely used for military connections. Domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter. International: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 34, FM 7, shortwave 9 (1999)
Radios: 630,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (1999)
Televisions: 150,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Angola:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,952 km (inland, much of the track is unusable due to land mines left from the civil war) narrow gauge: 2,798 km of 1.067-meter gauge; 154 km of 0.600-meter gauge (1997)
Highways: total: 76,626 km paved: 19,156 km unpaved: 57,470 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 1,295 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 179 km
Ports and harbors: Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo, Namibe,
Porto Amboim, Soyo
Merchant marine: total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 39,305 GRT/63,067 DWT ships by type: cargo 8, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 249 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 217 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 96 under 914 m: 83 (1999 est.)
@Angola:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Forces, National
Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,429,842 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,221,277 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 101,434 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $1.2 billion (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 25% (FY97/98)
@Angola:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: more and more being used as a transit point for cocaine and heroin heading to Western Europe and other African nations.
______________________________________________________________________
ANGUILLA
@Anguilla:Introduction
Background: Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was governed by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island—against the wishes of its people—was merged into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts to separate were unsuccessful. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to break away; this arrangement was officially recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming a standalone British dependency.
@Anguilla:Geography
Location: Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18.25° N, 63.17° W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 91 sq km land: 91 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 61 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; softened by northeast trade winds
Terrain: flat, low-lying island made 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, a few trees, some commercial salt ponds)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues: supplies of drinking water sometimes can't meet the growing demand, mainly due to a bad distribution system.
@Anguilla:People
Population: 11,797 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 1,565; female 1,519) 15-64 years: 67% (male 4,040; female 3,839) 65 years and over: 7% (male 369; female 465) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.93% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 15.34 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.76 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 19.75 migrant(s)/1,000 people (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.44 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.11 years male: 73.22 years female: 79.09 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Anguillan(s) adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%,
Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Languages: English (official)
Literacy: definition: ages 12 and up can read and write total population: 95% male: 95% female: 95% (1984 est.)
@Anguilla:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Anguilla
Data code: AV
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: The Valley
Administrative divisions: none (British overseas territory)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Anguilla Day, May 30
Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Order April 1, 1982; amended 1990
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952); represented by Governor Alan HOOLE (since November 1, 1995) head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since March 16, 1994) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from the elected members of the House of Assembly elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (11 total seats, 7 elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on March 4, 1999 (next scheduled for March 10, 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1
Judicial branch: High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean
Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders: Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP)
; Anguilla National Alliance (ANA);
Anguilla United Party (AUP)
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, featuring the flag of the UK in the upper left corner and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer part of the flag; the coat of arms shows three orange dolphins in a circular design on a white background with blue wavy water underneath.
@Anguilla:Economy
Economy - overview: Anguilla has limited natural resources, and the economy is largely reliant on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and money sent back by emigrants. The economy, particularly the tourism sector, faced a setback in late 1995 due to Hurricane Luis's impact in September but bounced back in 1996. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which fueled growth in the construction sector, contributed to economic expansion in 1997-98. Anguillan officials have made significant efforts to develop the offshore finance sector. A comprehensive set of financial services laws was passed in late 1994. In the medium term, the economy's prospects will hinge on the tourism sector and, therefore, on continued income growth in developed countries as well as favorable weather conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $88 million (1998 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.5% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,900 (1998 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): 2.5% (1998 estimate)
Labor force: 4,400 (1992)
Labor force - by occupation: commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%
Unemployment rate: 7% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $20.4 million expenditures: $23.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.8 million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: 3.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: small amounts of tobacco, vegetables; cattle farming
Exports: $4.5 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: lobster, fish, livestock, salt
Exports - partners: NA
Imports: $57.6 million (1998)
Imports - commodities: NA
Imports - partners: NA
Debt - external: $8.8 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $3.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Anguilla:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 4,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: modern internal phone system international: microwave radio relay to the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Anguilla:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 279 km paved: 253 km unpaved: 26 km (1998 est.)
Ports and harbors: Blowing Point, Road Bay
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Anguilla:Military
Military - note: defense is the UK's responsibility
@Anguilla:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
ANTARCTICA
@Antarctica:Geography
Location: continent mainly located south of the Antarctic Circle
Geographic coordinates: 90° S, 0° E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area: total: 14 million sq km land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km ice-covered) (est.) note: fifth-largest continent, after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but bigger than Australia and the European subcontinent.
Area - comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the U.S.
Land boundaries: 0 km note: see entry on International disputes
Coastline: 17,968 km
Maritime claims: none, but see the Disputes - international section
Climate: extreme low temperatures change with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica due to its higher elevation; the Antarctic Peninsula has the mildest climate; warmer temperatures happen in January along the coast and average just below freezing.
Terrain: about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 6,600 and 13,100 feet; mountain ranges up to 16,864 feet; 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 create ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves make up 11% of the continent's area.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Southern Ocean 0 m highest point: Vinson Massif 5,140 m
Natural resources: none currently being used; iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum, and other minerals, along with coal and hydrocarbons, have been discovered in small, unprofitable amounts.
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow toward the coast from the high interior; frequent blizzards occur near the base of the plateau; cyclonic storms develop over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanic activity happens on Deception Island and some isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity is rare and weak.
Environment - current issues: in 1998, NASA satellite data revealed that the Antarctic ozone hole was the largest ever recorded, spanning 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 discovered that the heightened ultraviolet light filtering through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an Antarctic fish that lacks hemoglobin; ozone depletion had previously been shown to negatively impact one-celled Antarctic marine plants.
Geography - note: the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation hits the surface at the South Pole than what the Equator receives in the same amount of time; mostly unlivable.
@Antarctica:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants, but there are research stations staffed seasonally. Note: around 29 countries, all signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, send personnel for seasonal (summer) and year-round research on the continent and its surrounding oceans; the number of people involved in and supporting science on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the area covered by the Antarctic Treaty) changes from about 4,000 in the summer to 1,000 in the winter; additionally, around 1,000 personnel, including ship crew and scientists conducting onboard research, are located 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); additionally, during the austral summer, some countries have many occupied locations like tent camps, temporary facilities for the summer, and mobile traverses to support research (July 2000 est.)
@Antarctica:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica
Data code: AY
Government type: Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on December 1, 1959, and effective June 23, 1961, establishes the legal framework for managing Antarctica. Administration is conducted through meetings of consultative members - the 23rd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting took place in Peru in May 1999. By the end of 1999, there were 44 treaty member nations: 27 consultative and 17 acceding. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim parts of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 20 nonclaimant nations. The US and some other nations that have made no claims have reserved the right to do so. The US does not recognize the claims of others. The year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date means 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. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with the year of accession in parentheses, are Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1988), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), 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 - the area is to be used solely for peaceful purposes; military activities, such as weapons testing, are prohibited, but military personnel and equipment can be used for scientific research or other peaceful purposes; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation will continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel in cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims, and no new claims can be made while the treaty is in effect; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or the disposal of radioactive waste; Article 6 - includes all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south under the treaty; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and can inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and the introduction of military personnel must be provided; Article 8 - allows jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings occur among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that contradict the treaty; Article 11 - disputes will be settled peacefully by the involved parties or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - address upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among the participating nations. Other agreements - about 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964); 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 was later rejected; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed October 4, 1991, and went into effect January 14, 1998; this agreement aims to protect the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes on marine pollution, fauna, flora, environmental impact assessments, waste management, and protected areas; it prohibits all activities related to mineral resources except for scientific research.
Legal system: US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under the jurisdiction of other countries. 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 or statute: taking native mammals or birds; introducing nonindigenous plants and animals; entering specially protected or scientific areas; discharging or disposing of pollutants; and importing certain items from Antarctica into the US. Violating the Antarctic Conservation Act can result in penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and a year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires US expeditions to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports these plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information, contact the Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone: (703) 306-1031, or visit their website at www.nsf.gov.
@Antarctica:Economy
Economy - overview: Currently, there is no economic activity taking place, aside from fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both of which are based internationally. Antarctic fisheries in 1998-99 (from July 1 to June 30) reported a catch of 119,898 metric tons. Unregulated fishing accounted for five to six times more than the regulated fishery, and supposedly illegal fishing in Antarctic waters in 1998 led to the seizure (by France and Australia) of at least eight fishing vessels. A total of 10,013 tourists visited during the summer of 1998-99, compared to 9,604 the previous year. Nearly all of them were passengers on 16 commercial (non-governmental) ships and several yachts that made 116 trips over the summer. Most tourist trips lasted around two weeks.
@Antarctica:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 0 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: N/A international: N/A
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (American Forces Antarctic
Network-McMurdo) (1999)
Televisions: several hundred at McMurdo Sound
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Antarctica:Transportation
Ports and harbors: McMurdo (77° 51' S, 166° 40' E), Palmer (64° 43' S, 64° 03' W); for government use only unless you have a permit (see Permit Office under "Legal System"); offshore anchorage.
Airports: 18 note: 27 stations, run by 16 national governments that are part of the Antarctic Treaty, have landing facilities for either helicopters and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial businesses manage two additional air facilities; helicopter pads are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are made of gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; out of these, 1 is longer than 3 km, 6 are between 2 km and 3 km, 3 are between 1 km and 2 km, 3 are less than 1 km, and 2 have unknown lengths; snow surface skiways, which can only be used by ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of these, 4 are longer than 3 km, 3 are between 2 km and 3 km, 2 are between 1 km and 2 km, 2 are less than 1 km, and 4 have unknown lengths; airports are generally subject to strict restrictions and limitations due to extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do not meet ICAO standards; prior approval from the relevant governmental or nongovernmental operating organization is required for landing (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Antarctica:Military
Military - note: the Antarctic Treaty bans any military activities, like setting up military bases and fortifications, conducting military exercises, or testing any weapons; it allows for the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or other peaceful purposes.
@Antarctica:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The Antarctic Treaty puts a hold on claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in Government type entry); sections (some overlapping) are claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and the UK; the US and most other countries do not acknowledge the territorial claims of other nations and haven’t made any claims of their own (the US keeps the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the area between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west.
______________________________________________________________________
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
@Antigua and Barbuda:Introduction
Background: The islands of Antigua and Barbuda became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. Since 1995, around 3,000 refugees escaping a volcanic eruption on nearby Montserrat have settled in Antigua and Barbuda.
@Antigua and Barbuda:Geography
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: 442 sq km (Antigua 281 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) land: 442 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Redonda
Area - comparative: 2.5 times larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 153 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; minimal seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mainly flat limestone and coral islands, with a few elevated volcanic regions
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
Natural resources: NEGL; a nice climate encourages tourism
Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 11% other: 62% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); occasional droughts
Environment - current issues: water management - a major concern because of limited natural freshwater resources - is further hindered by deforestation to boost crop production, which causes 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
@Antigua and Barbuda:People
Population: 66,422 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 9,414; female 9,098) 15-64 years: 67% (male 22,199; female 22,341) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,424; female 1,946) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.73% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 19.6 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.99 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23.05 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.46 years male: 68.19 years female: 72.84 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic groups: Black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religions: Anglican (main), other Protestant, some Roman
Catholic
Languages: English (official), local dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older has completed five or more years of schooling total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% (1960 est.)
@Antigua and Barbuda:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Data code: AC
Government type: constitutional monarchy with a Westminster-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: November 1, 1981 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 1st (1981)
Constitution: 1 November 1981
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since March 8, 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is inherited; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 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). Elections: House of Representatives - last held on March 9, 1999 (next to be held in March 2004). Election results: percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - ALP 12, UPP 4, independent 1.
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia) (one judge from the Supreme Court lives on the islands and oversees the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders: Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM); Antigua Labor Party (ALP); Barbuda People's Movement (BPM); Progressive Labor Movement (PLM); United National Democratic Party (UNDP); United Progressive Party (UPP), a coalition of three opposition political parties - UNDP, ACLM, and PLM.
Political pressure groups and leaders: Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU); People's Democratic Movement (PDM) [Hugh MARSHALL]
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 362-5211 FAX: (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed June 30, 1994); the US Ambassador to Barbados is assigned to Antigua and Barbuda.
Flag description: red, with an upside-down isosceles triangle along the top edge of the flag; the triangle features three horizontal stripes of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black stripe.
@Antigua and Barbuda:Economy
Economy - overview: Tourism remains the leading activity in the economy, directly or indirectly making up more than half of GDP. In 1999, the emerging offshore financial sector was significantly impacted by financial sanctions imposed by the US and UK due to relaxed money-laundering controls. The government has worked to meet international demands to have these sanctions lifted. The agricultural production of the dual island nation is mainly aimed at the local market; this sector faces challenges from limited water supply and labor shortages, as workers are drawn to higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing involves enclave-type assembly for export, with major products including bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Expectations for medium-term economic growth will continue to rely on income growth in developed countries, particularly in the US, which accounts for about one-third of all tourist arrivals.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $524 million (est. 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.8% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,200 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 12.5% services: 83.5% (1996 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% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 30,000
Labor force - by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $122.6 million expenditures: $141.2 million, including capital expenditures of $17.3 million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, home appliances)
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1997 estimate)
Electricity - production: 90 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 84 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, fruits, veggies, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock
Exports: $38 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: petroleum products 48%, manufactured goods 23%, food and live animals 4%, machinery and transportation equipment 17%
Exports - partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and
Tobago 2%, US 0.3%
Imports: $330 million (1998)
Imports - goods: food and live animals, machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured products, chemicals, oil
Imports - partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%
Debt - external: $357 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $2.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Antigua and Barbuda:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 20,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: reliable 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Antigua and Barbuda:Transportation
Railways: total: 77 km narrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane)
Highways: total: 250 km (1996 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Saint John's
Merchant marine: total: 607 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,528,944 GRT/4,590,590 DWT ships by type: bulk 17, cargo 385, chemical tanker 9, combination bulk 2, container 149, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off 28 (1999 est.) note: flag of convenience registry: Germany owns 10 ships, Slovenia 2, and Cyprus 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Antigua and Barbuda:Military
Military branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal
Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Antigua and Barbuda:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: seen as a small transfer point for narcotics headed to the US and Europe; more notably as a center for laundering drug money.
______________________________________________________________________
ARCTIC OCEAN
@Arctic Ocean:Introduction
Background: A decision made by the International Hydrographic Organization in spring 2000 defined a fifth world ocean, which is formed by the southern parts of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. This new ocean stretches from the coast of Antarctica up to 60 degrees south latitude, aligning with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Arctic Ocean is still the smallest of the world’s five oceans, following the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Southern Ocean.
@Arctic Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle
Geographic coordinates: 90° N, 0° 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: about 1.5 times smaller than the size of the US
Coastline: 45,389 km
Climate: a polar climate marked by lasting cold and relatively small annual temperature ranges; winters are defined by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather, and clear skies; summers feature continuous daylight, damp and foggy conditions, and weak cyclones bringing rain or snow.
Terrain: a central area covered by a long-lasting drifting polar ice pack that is usually about 3 meters thick, though pressure ridges can be three times that height; it has a clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyre Stream, but the ice moves almost in a straight line from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to the Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the ice pack is surrounded by open seas during the summer but more than doubles in size in the winter and reaches the surrounding landmasses; the ocean floor consists of about 50% continental shelf (the highest percentage of any ocean), with the rest being a central basin interrupted by three underwater 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, and marine mammals (seals and whales)
Natural hazards: ice islands sometimes break off from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs break away from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost on islands; basically ice locked from October to June; ships at risk of superstructure icing from October to May
Environment - current issues: endangered marine species include walruses and whales; the fragile ecosystem changes slowly and takes a long time to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar ice pack
Geography - note: the main chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean through the Bering Strait); it's strategically located between North America and Russia; the shortest marine link between the far ends of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations run by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April is around 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts for about 10 months.
@Arctic Ocean:Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix
@Arctic Ocean:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic activity focuses on the use of natural resources, such as oil, natural gas, fish, and seals.
@Arctic Ocean:Transportation
Ports and harbors: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay
(US)
Transportation - note: limited network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are significant seasonal waterways.
@Arctic Ocean:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see coastal states); Svalbard is the center of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway and Russia.
______________________________________________________________________
ARGENTINA
@Argentina:Introduction
Background: After gaining independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina went through times of political conflict between conservatives and liberals, as well as between civilian and military groups. After World War II, there was a lengthy period of Peronist rule followed by a military junta that came to power in 1976. Democracy was restored in 1983, and the four free elections held since then highlight Argentina's progress in strengthening its democracy.
@Argentina:Geography
Location: Southern South America, along the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Geographic coordinates: 34° S, 64° 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: just under thirty percent 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 continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly mild; dry in the southeast; subantarctic in the southwest
Terrain: fertile plains of the Pampas in the northern half, flat to gently rolling plateau of Patagonia in the south, rugged Andes along the 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, oil, uranium
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 52% forests and woodland: 19% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 17,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: San Miguel de Tucumán and Mendoza areas in the Andes are prone to earthquakes; pamperos are fierce windstorms that can hit the Pampas and northeast; severe flooding.
Environment - current issues: environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution. Note: Argentina is a world leader in establishing voluntary greenhouse gas targets.
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note: the second-largest country in South America (after
Brazil); a strategic location concerning the sea lanes between the South
Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel,
Drake Passage)
@Argentina:People
Population: 36,955,182 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27% (male 5,061,588; female 4,827,582) 15-64 years: 63% (male 11,625,574; female 11,613,358) 65 years and over: 10% (male 1,582,861; female 2,244,219) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.16% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 18.59 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.59 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.31 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.05 years male: 71.67 years female: 78.61 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine
Ethnic groups: white (mainly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo,
Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%
Religions: about 92% Roman Catholic (fewer than 20% actively practicing),
2% Protestant, 2% Jewish, 4% other
Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 96.2% male: 96.2% female: 96.2% (1995 est.)
@Argentina:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina
Data code: AR
Government type: republic
Capital: Buenos Aires
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires;
Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes; Federal District*;
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, Antarctica and Atlantic Islands
Sur; Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
Independence: July 9, 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday: Revolution Day, May 25 (1810)
Constitution: May 1, 1853; revised August 1994
Legal system: a blend of US and Western European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Fernando DE LA RUA (since December 10, 1999); Vice President Carlos Alberto ALVAREZ (since December 10, 1999); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fernando DE LA RUA (since December 10, 1999); Vice President Carlos Alberto ALVAREZ (since December 10, 1999); note - the president serves as 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 four-year terms; last election held on October 24, 1999 (next one scheduled for October 2003) election results: Fernando DE LA RUA elected president; percent of vote - 48.5%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; previously, three members were appointed by each provincial legislature; now, they are transitioning to having one-third of the members elected every two years for six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; half of the members are elected every two years for four-year terms). Elections: Senate - the transition phase will start in the 2001 elections when all seats will be contested; winners will randomly draw lots to decide if they will serve a two-year, four-year, or full six-year term, starting a rotating cycle that renovates a third of the body every two years; Chamber of Deputies - last held on October 24, 1999 (next to be held in October 2001). Election results: Senate - percentage of vote by bloc or party - N/A; seats by bloc or party - Peronist 40, UCR 20, Frepaso 1, other 11; Chamber of Deputies - percentage of vote by bloc or party - N/A; seats by bloc or party - Alliance 124 (UCR 85, Frepaso 36, others 3), Peronist 101, AR 12, other 20.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with the Senate's approval.
Political parties and leaders: Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo
CAVALLO]; Alliance (UCR, Frepaso, and others); Front for a
Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Carlos
ALVAREZ]; Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist
umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Raul
ALFONSIN]; 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); Armed Forces; 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,
CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Guillermo GONZALEZ Enrique chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 238-6400 FAX: (202) 238-6471 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires mailing address: for international mail: use street address; APO address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034 telephone: (1) 777-4533, 4534 FAX: (1) 777-0197
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a bright yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May
@Argentina:Economy
Economy - overview: Argentina has rich natural resources, a highly educated population, an agriculture sector focused on exports, and a varied industrial base. However, when President Carlos MENEM took office in 1989, the country was struggling with huge external debts, inflation soaring at 200% per month, and a sharp decline in production. To tackle the economic crisis, the government initiated trade liberalization, deregulation, and privatization. In 1991, it introduced significant monetary reforms that tied the peso to the US dollar and legally restricted the growth of the monetary base to match the growth in reserves. Inflation dropped significantly in the following years. In 1995, the Mexican peso crisis led to capital flight, a loss of deposits in the banking system, and a deep, short-term recession; a series of reforms were introduced to strengthen the domestic banking system. Real GDP growth bounced back strongly, hitting 8% in 1997. In 1998, international financial instability due to issues in Russia and growing investor concerns about Brazil led to the highest domestic interest rates in over three years, cutting the economy's growth rate in half. The situation worsened in 1999 with GDP declining by 3%. President Fernando DE LA RUA, who began his term in December 1999, proposed tax hikes and spending cuts to reduce a deficit that had reached 2.5% of GDP that year. The new administration also arranged a $7.4 billion standby facility with the IMF for emergency use—almost three times the size of the previous agreement. Key challenges facing the new government include reforming the country’s strict labor laws and addressing the precarious financial condition of several heavily indebted provinces.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $367 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -3% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 29% services: 64% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 36% (1998 estimate)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -2% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 15 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 14% (December 1999)
Budget: revenues: $44 billion expenditures: $48 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA billion (2000 est.)
Industries: food processing, vehicles, consumer goods, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate: -7% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 75.237 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.71% hydro: 47.55% nuclear: 9.47% other: 0.27% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 75.57 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 250 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 5.85 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock
Exports: $23 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - products: cooking oils, fuels and energy, grains, animal feed, cars
Exports - partners: Brazil 24%, EU 21%, US 11% (1999 est.)
Imports: $25 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, cars, chemicals, metal products, plastics
Imports - partners: EU 28%, US 22%, Brazil 21% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $149 billion (1999 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $2.833 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 peso = 100 cents
Exchange rates: the peso is tied to the US dollar at a rate of 1 peso = $1
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Argentina:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 7.5 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.8 million (1997)
Telephone system: 12,000 public phones; a comprehensive modern system, but many families still don’t have phones. Despite widespread use of microwave radio relay, the phone system often fails during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires. domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations support the trunk network international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two international gateways near Buenos Aires; Atlantis II submarine cable (1999)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM
NA (likely 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 47 (1999)
@Argentina:Transportation
Railways: total: 38,326 km (160 km electrified) broad gauge: 24,481 km 1.676-m gauge (134 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified) narrow gauge: 11,080 km 1.000-m gauge (1999)
Highways: total: 215,434 km paved: 63,553 km (including 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 151,881 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 10,950 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km
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: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 218,540 GRT/333,413 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, petroleum tanker 11, rail car carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 1,359 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 142 over 10,000 ft: 5 8,000 to 10,000 ft: 26 5,000 to 8,000 ft: 60 3,000 to 5,000 ft: 44 under 3,000 ft: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,217 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 614 under 914 m: 536 (1999 est.)
@Argentina:Military
Military branches: Argentine Army, Navy of Argentina (includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 9,287,499 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males aged 15-49: 7,530,476 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 341,544 (2000 est.)
Military spending - total amount: $4.3 billion (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.3% (FY99)
@Argentina:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims over UK-administered Falkland Islands
(Islas Malvinas); claims over UK-administered South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica
Illicit drugs: growing use as a transit country for cocaine heading to Europe and the US; rising use as a money-laundering hub; domestic drug consumption has surged.
______________________________________________________________________
ARMENIA
@Armenia:Introduction
Background: Armenia, an Orthodox Christian country, was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and then into the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders are still focused on the ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, an area primarily populated by Armenians that was assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over this exclave in 1988, and the struggle intensified after both countries gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire was established, Armenian forces controlled not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant part of Azerbaijan itself. The economies of both sides have suffered due to their inability to make meaningful progress toward a peaceful resolution.
@Armenia:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 40° N, 45° E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 29,800 sq km land: 28,400 sq km water: 1,400 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 1,254 km border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: highland continental, with hot summers and cold winters.
Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; limited forest land; fast-flowing rivers; fertile soil in the Aras River valley
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
Natural resources: small amounts of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 15% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: sometimes serious earthquakes; droughts
Environment - current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals like DDT; energy blockade due to conflict with Azerbaijan has caused deforestation as people search for firewood; pollution of the Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Lake Sevan, which is used for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; the restart of the Metsamor nuclear power plant without sufficient (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note: landlocked
@Armenia:People
Population: 3,344,336 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 415,297; female 400,590) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,084,588; female 1,131,387) 65 years and over: 10% (male 129,890; female 182,584) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.28% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 10.97 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.53 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -4.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 41.48 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.4 years male: 61.98 years female: 71.04 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989) note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had left
Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94%
Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)
@Armenia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Armenia local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form: Hayastan former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
Data code: AM
Government type: republic
Capital: Yerevan
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (marzer, singular - marz) and 1
city* (k'aghak'ner, singular - k'aghak'); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir,
Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor,
Yerevan*
Independence: May 28, 1918 - December 2, 1920 (First Armenian Republic); September 23, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Referendum Day, September 21
Constitution: approved by national vote on July 5, 1995
Legal system: based on a civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since March 30, 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Aram SARKISYAN (since November 3, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special election last held March 30, 1998 (next to be held March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 59%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 41%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on May 30, 1999 (next to be held in spring 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - unity bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20), Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a bloc) 21, ACP 10, independents 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6, Law-Governed Party 6, unfilled 2; note - seats by party change frequently
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Armenian Communist Party or ACP
; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Vano
SIRADEGIAN, chair]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak"
Party) or ARF; Christian Democratic Union or CDU
; Democratic Liberal Party [Ramkavar
AZATAKAN, chair]; Free Armenian's Mission [Ruben MNATSANIAN,
chair]; Law and Unity Party;
Law-Governed Party; Mission Party
; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen
MANUKIAN]; National State Party; People's Party of
Armenia; Republican Party;
Shamiram Women's Movement or SWM; Social Democratic
(Hnchakian) Party; Stability Group [Vartan
AYVAZIAN, chair]; Union of National Self-Determination or NSDU
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSIAN chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 319-1976 FAX: (202) 319-2982 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LEMMON embassy: 18 General Bagramian Avenue, Yerevan mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7020 telephone: (2) 151-551 FAX: (2) 151-550
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and orange.
@Armenia:Economy
Economy - overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia developed a modern industrial sector, producing machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods for sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the collapse of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has shifted to small-scale agriculture instead of 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 progressed slowly but has been given renewed focus by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are limited. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnically Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union led to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program that resulted in positive growth rates from 1995 to 1999. Armenia also managed to reduce inflation and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages faced by Armenia in recent years have been largely mitigated by energy supplied from one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Ongoing financial difficulties in Russia have negatively impacted the trade sector, but this has been balanced by international aid, domestic restructuring, and foreign direct investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.9 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,900 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 25% services: 35% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 45% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1999)
Labor force: 1.5 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 55%, services 25%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 20% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1998 est.) note: official rate is 9.3% for 1998
Budget: revenues: $360 million expenditures: $566 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted clothing, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, washing machines, chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, microelectronics
Industrial production growth rate: -2% (1998)
Electricity - production: 5.764 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 48.92% hydro: 26.44% nuclear: 24.64% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 5.361 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
Exports: $240 million (1999 est.)
Exports – commodities: diamonds, scrap metal, machinery and equipment, cognac, copper ore
Exports - partners: Belgium, Russia, Iran, Turkmenistan, US, Georgia (1998)
Imports: $782 million (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: natural gas, oil, tobacco products, food items, diamonds
Imports - partners: Russia, USA, UK, Iran, Turkey, Belgium (1998)
Debt - external: $862.7 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $245.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma
Exchange rates: dram per US$1 - 527.02 (January 2000), 535.06 (1999), 504.92 (1998), 490.85 (1997), 414.04 (1996), 405.91 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Armenia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 583,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: the system is inadequate; now 90% is privately owned and is being modernized and expanded. domestic: most subscribers and the latest 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 via microwave radio relay and landline connections to other countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, through the Moscow international switch, and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 850,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1998)
Televisions: 825,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Armenia:Transportation
Railways: total: 825 km in public transport service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 825 km 1.520-m gauge (825 km electrified) (1995)
Highways: total: 15,998 km paved: 15,998 km (including 7,567 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: NA km
Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 11 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
@Armenia:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense Aviation, Air
Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 896,646 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males age 15-49: 708,940 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 33,391 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $75 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 4% (FY99)
@Armenia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Armenia backs ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh area of Azerbaijan in the ongoing separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional claims about former Armenian territories in Turkey have decreased.
Illicit drugs: illegal cultivation of cannabis mainly for personal use; increasingly used as a transit point for illegal drugs - mainly opium and hashish - to Western Europe and the US through Iran, Central Asia, and Russia.
______________________________________________________________________
ARUBA
@Aruba:Introduction
Background: Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba became an independent territory of the Netherlands in 1986.
@Aruba:Geography
Location: Caribbean, an 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 land: 193 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical marine; minimal seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with some hills; sparse 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: 7% aloe plantations included (0.01%) permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 93% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 0.01 sq km
Natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane zone
Environment - current issues: NA
@Aruba:People
Population: 69,539 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 7,770; female 7,194) 15-64 years: 69% (male 22,944; female 24,810) 65 years and over: 9% (male 2,831; female 3,990) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.7% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 13.1 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.13 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.51 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.37 years male: 75 years female: 81.9 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban
Ethnic groups: 80% mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian
Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,
Confucian, Jewish
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a mix of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch,
English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 97% male: NA% female: NA%
@Aruba:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba
Data code: AA
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; gained full autonomy in internal affairs in 1986 after separating from the Netherlands Antilles.
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; in 1990, Aruba asked for and received from the Netherlands a cancellation of the agreement to automatically grant independence to the island in 1996)
National holiday: Flag Day, March 18
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: based on the Dutch civil law system, with some influence from English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since April 30, 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since January 1, 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since July 29, 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten) 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 July 12, 1997 (next to be held by December 2001) election results: Jan (Henny) H. EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA; Dr. Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ elected deputy prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on December 12, 1997 (next to be held by NA December 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 43%, MEP 39%, OLA 9% PPA 4%, ADN 2%, PARA 1%, MAS 0.5%; seats by party - AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the king or queen)
Political parties and leaders: Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo
BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA; Aruban
Patriotic Party or PPA; Aruban People's Party or AVP
; Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS;
Democratic Action '86 or AD '86; Electoral Movement
Party or MEP; Electoral People's Movement or MEP
; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA;
National Democratic Action or ADN; New Patriotic
Party or PPN
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS embassy: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: (9) 461-3066 FAX: (9) 461-6489
Flag description: blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower part and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper left corner
@Aruba:Economy
Economy - overview: Tourism is the backbone of the Aruban economy, but offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also significant. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the past decade has led to a considerable expansion of other industries. Construction has surged, with hotel capacity now five times what it was in 1985. Additionally, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, which is a major source of jobs and foreign exchange earnings, has further driven growth. Aruba's small workforce and unemployment rate of less than 1% have resulted in many unfilled job openings, even with the significant increases in wage rates in recent years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.6 billion (estimated in 1998)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1998)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,800 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 41,501 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: most jobs are in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $541 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: tourism, shipping terminals, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 475 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 442 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: aloe; livestock; fish
Exports: $1.17 billion (including oil reexports)(1998)
Exports - items: transportation equipment, live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical gear
Exports - partners: US 53.2%, Colombia 14.9%, Netherlands 8.8% (1998)
Imports: $1.52 billion (1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport; food products
Imports - partners: US 55.5%, Netherlands 12.3%, Japan 3.5% (1998)
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: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Aruba:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 27,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,718 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: more than sufficient 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Aruba:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 800 km paved: 513 km unpaved: 287 km note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large areas of the interior (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Aruba:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands
@Aruba:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: center for laundering drug money and a transit point for narcotics heading to the US and Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 12° 14' S, 123° 05' E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: tropical
Terrain: flat 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: surrounded by shallow waters and reefs that can create dangers for navigation.
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in
August 1983
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands:People
Population: no native residents note: there are only seasonal caretakers (July 2000 est.)
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Data code: AT
Dependency status: territory of Australia; managed from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory, Australia
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
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; regular visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
ATLANTIC OCEAN
@Atlantic Ocean:Introduction
Background: In spring 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization designated a fifth world ocean, forming it from the southern parts of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. This new ocean stretches from the coast of Antarctica up to 60 degrees south latitude, which aligns with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Atlantic Ocean is still the second-largest of the world's five oceans, following the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean.
@Atlantic Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and the Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references: World
Area: total: 76.762 million sq km note: includes the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of the Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than 6.5 times the size of the US
Coastline: 111,866 km
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) form off the coast of
Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea;
hurricanes can happen from May to December, but they're most common from
August to November
Terrain: surface typically covered with sea ice in the Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; a clockwise warm-water gyre (a broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic and a counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is primarily characterized 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 -28,202 ft highest point: sea level 0 ft
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Natural hazards: icebergs are common in the Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been seen as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships are at risk of ice buildup on their superstructures in the far northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can pose a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes occur from May to December.
Environment - current issues: endangered marine species include manatees, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is speeding up the decline of fish stocks and causing international disputes; municipal sludge pollution is affecting the eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution is present in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution are impacting the 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
@Atlantic Ocean:Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix
@Atlantic Ocean:Economy
Economy - overview: The Atlantic Ocean hosts some of the busiest sea routes in the world, connecting and separating the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activities involve the use of natural resources, such as fishing, dredging aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and producing crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
@Atlantic Ocean:Transportation
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 significant waterways
@Atlantic Ocean:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see coastal states)
______________________________________________________________________
AUSTRALIA
@Australia:Introduction
Background: Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It leveraged its natural resources to quickly grow its agricultural and manufacturing sectors and made a significant contribution to the British efforts in World Wars I and II. Ongoing issues include pollution, especially the depletion of the ozone layer, and the management and conservation of coastal areas, particularly the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to change Australia's status from a commonwealth led by the British monarch to an independent republic was defeated in 1999.
@Australia:Geography
Location: Oceania, the 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 land: 7,617,930 sq km water: 68,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than the US
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 25,760 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: generally dry to semi-dry; mild in the south and east; tropical in the north
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 54% forests and woodland: 19% other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 21,070 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; extreme droughts
Environment - current issues: soil erosion caused by overgrazing, industrial growth, urban expansion, and bad farming practices; increasing soil salinity from the use of low-quality water; desertification; land clearing for agriculture threatens the natural habitats of many unique plant and animal species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is at risk due to increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist destination; limited natural freshwater resources.
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification
Geography - note: the world's smallest continent but the sixth-largest country; the population is concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; a regular, tropical, refreshing sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer.
@Australia:People
Population: 19,169,083 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 2,052,095; female 1,954,543) 15-64 years: 67% (male 6,458,083; female 6,322,475) 65 years and over: 12% (male 1,040,950; female 1,340,937) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 13.08 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.12 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 4.26 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.04 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.75 years male: 76.9 years female: 82.74 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born per woman (estimated in 2000)
Nationality: noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, Indigenous and other 1%
Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%
Languages: English, native languages
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1980 est.)
@Australia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia conventional short form: Australia
Data code: AS
Government type: democratic, federal system recognizing the
British monarch as the 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: January 1, 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday: Australia Day, January 26 (1788)
Constitution: July 9, 1900, effective January 1, 1901
Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Sir William DEANE (since February 16, 1996) head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since March 11, 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON (since NA) cabinet: Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal Parliament 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 leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term note: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party
Legislative branch: The bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the two territories; half of the members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (148 seats; members are elected by popular vote based on proportional representation to serve three-year terms; no state can have fewer than five representatives). Elections: Senate - last held on October 3, 1998 (next to be held by October 2001); House of Representatives - last held on October 3, 1998 (next to be held by October 2001). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 35, Australian Labor Party 29, Australian Democratic Party 9, Green Party 1, One Nation Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 80, Australian Labor Party 67, independent 1.
Judicial branch: The High Court, the Chief Justice, and six other justices are appointed by the governor-general.
Political parties and leaders: Australian Democratic Party ;
Australian Labor Party ; Green Party ; Liberal
Party ; National Party ; One
Nation Party
Political pressure groups and leaders: Australian Democratic Labor
Party (splinter group of the anti-Communist Labor Party); Peace and Nuclear
Disarmament Action (splinter group of the Nuclear Disarmament Party)
International organization participation: ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD,
OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
UNITAR, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael THAWLEY chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 797-3000 FAX: (202) 797-3168 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 mailing address: APO AP 96549 telephone: (6) 6214-5600 FAX: (6) 6214-5970 consulates: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
Flag description: blue with the UK flag in the upper left corner and a big seven-pointed star in the lower left corner; the other half shows the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger seven-pointed stars.
@Australia:Economy
Economy - overview: Australia has a thriving Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to the top four Western European economies. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities make up 57% of the total export value, meaning that a drop in global commodity prices can significantly impact the economy. The government is pushing for more exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets remains tough. Although Australia experienced low growth and high unemployment like many OECD countries in the early 1990s and during the recent financial issues in East Asia, the economy has grown at a solid pace of 4% annually over the last five years. Canberra's focus on reforms is a key reason for the economy's resilience during the regional crisis and its better-than-expected growth rate. Growth in 2000 will depend on vital international commodity prices, the recovery of nearby Asian economies, and the strength of US and European markets.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $416.2 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,200 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.8% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 8.9 million (December 1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $90.73 billion expenditures: $89.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 186.387 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.85% hydro: 8.35% nuclear: 0% other: 1.8% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 173.34 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
Exports: $58 billion (f.o.b., estimated in 1999)
Exports - commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery, and transportation equipment
Exports - partners: Japan 20%, EU 14%, ASEAN 11%, US 10%, South Korea,
NZ, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1998)
Imports: $67 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products
Imports - partners: EU 24%, US 22%, Japan 14%, ASEAN 12% (1998)
Debt - external: $222 billion (1999)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar (A$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.52068 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Australia:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 92 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 5.29 million (1998)
Telephone system: great domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system 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)
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 Service Providers (ISPs): 709 (1999)
@Australia:Transportation
Railways: total: 33,819 km (2,540 km electrified) broad gauge: 3,719 km 1.600-m gauge standard gauge: 15,422 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 14,506 km 1.067-m gauge dual gauge: 172 km NA gauges (1999)
Highways: total: 913,000 km paved: 353,331 km (including 13,630 km of expressways) unpaved: 559,669 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 8,368 km; primarily used by small, shallow-draft boats
Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 km
Ports and harbors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport
(Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston
(Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine: total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,657,194 GRT/2,206,574 DWT ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 4, chemical tanker 4, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll-on/roll-off 6 (1999 est.)
Airports: 408 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 265 over 10,000 ft: 11 8,000 to 10,000 ft: 11 5,000 to 8,000 ft: 115 3,000 to 5,000 ft: 120 under 3,000 ft: 8 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 143 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 113 under 914 m: 12 (1999 est.)
@Australia:Military
Military branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal
Australian Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,963,948 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 4,282,821 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 135,434 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $6.9 billion (FY98/99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY98/99)
@Australia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian
Antarctic Territory)
Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's main suppliers of legal opiate products; the government strictly regulates the areas where opium poppies are grown and the production of poppy straw concentrate.
______________________________________________________________________
AUSTRIA
@Austria:Introduction
Background: Once the heart of the powerful Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was turned into a small republic after its defeat in World War I. After being annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938 and later occupied by the victorious Allies, Austria's 1955 State Treaty established the country as "permanently neutral" as a requirement for the withdrawal of Soviet forces. Neutrality, which became a key part of Austrian cultural identity, has faced scrutiny since the fall of the Soviet Union and Austria's growing involvement in European affairs. A prosperous nation, Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and adopted the euro in 1999.
@Austria:Geography
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 land: 82,738 sq km water: 1,120 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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: moderate; continental, overcast; cold winters with regular rain in the lowlands and snow in the mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
Terrain: in the west and south, mainly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern edges, mostly flat or gently sloping.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
Natural resources: iron ore, oil, wood, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 23% forests and woodland: 39% other: 20% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution comes from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution is due to emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants and industrial facilities, as well as trucks passing through 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 accessible Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is focused in the eastern lowlands due to steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures in other areas.
@Austria:People
Population: 8,131,111 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 697,283; female 663,459) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,787,555; female 2,731,446) 65 years and over: 15% (male 474,067; female 777,301) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.25% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 9.9 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.91 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 2.46 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 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: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.68 years male: 74.52 years female: 80.99 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups: German 98%, Croatian, Slovene, and others (includes
Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma)
Religions: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, Muslim and others 17%
Languages: German
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 98% male: NA% female: NA%
@Austria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich
Data code: AU
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Vienna
Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Kärnten, Niederösterreich, Oberösterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence: 1156 (from Bavaria)
National holiday: National Day, October 26 (1955)
Constitution: 1920; updated 1929 (reinstated May 1, 1945)
Legal system: civil law system with roots in Roman law; the Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts; separate supreme courts for administrative and civil/penal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 19 years old; universal; mandatory for presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since July 8, 1992) head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP) (since February 4, 2000); Vice Chancellor Susanne RIESS-PASSER (FPOe) (since February 4, 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president based on the chancellor’s advice elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held on April 19, 1998 (next to be held in spring 2004); chancellor traditionally selected by the president from the plurality party in the National Council; in the current coalition, the chancellor was chosen from a different party after the plurality party couldn't form a government; vice chancellor appointed by the president based on the chancellor’s advice election results: Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent of vote - Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%, Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2% note: government coalition - FPOe and OeVP
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of the Federal Council or Bundesrat (64 members; representatives from each state based on population, 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). Elections: National Council - last held on October 3, 1999 (next to be held in fall 2003). Election results: National Council - percentage of votes by party - SPOe 33.2%, OeVP 26.9%, FPOe 26.9%, Greens 7.4%; seats by party - SPOe 65, OeVP 52, FPOe 52, Greens 14.
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court; Administrative Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Austrian People's Party or ÖVP
; Communist Party or KPÖ [Walter BAIER,
chairman]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPÖ ;
Liberal Forum or LF ; Social Democratic Party of
Austria or SPÖ ; The Greens or Die Grünen [Alexander
VAN DER BELLEN, party spokesman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Austrian Trade Union Federation (mainly Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-affiliated League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its main lay organization, Catholic Action; three combined leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU,
ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, 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, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WCL,
WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter MOSER chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: (202) 895-6700 FAX: (202) 895-6750 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Walt HALL embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (1) 313-39 FAX: (1) 310-0682
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), white, and red.
@Austria:Economy
Economy - overview: Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely connected to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Being a member of the EU has attracted many foreign investors drawn to Austria's access to the single European market. Through privatization efforts, budget consolidation programs from 1996-98, and austerity measures, Austria has reduced its total public sector deficit to 2.1% of GDP in 1999, and public debt, which was 63.1% of GDP in 1998, is roughly in line with the 60% of GDP required by the EMU's Maastricht criteria. The budget cuts have primarily impacted the civil service and Austria's generous social benefits system, which are the two main contributors to the government's deficit. To handle growing competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria will need to focus on knowledge-based sectors of the economy and deregulate the service sector. Growth, which slowed to 2.0% in 1999, is expected to bounce back to 2.8% in both 2000 and 2001.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $190.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,400 (estimated in 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.3% industry: 32.4% services: 66.3% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1999)
Labor force: 3.7 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 68%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry 3% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.4% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $54 billion expenditures: $59.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism (1997)
Industrial production growth rate: 2.3% (1999)
Electricity - production: 56.066 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.46% hydro: 65.92% nuclear: 0% other: 2.62% (1998)
Electricity consumption: 51.891 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 10.5 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 10.25 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber
Exports: $62.9 billion (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, paper and paperboard, metal products, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles, food items (1998)
Exports - partners: EU 65% (Germany 36%, Italy 9%, France 5%),
Switzerland 5%, Hungary 5%, US 4.5% (1999 est.)
Imports: $69.9 billion (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metal products, oil and oil products; food items (1998)
Imports - partners: EU 70% (Germany 42%, Italy 8%, France 5%), US 5%,
Hungary 3%, Switzerland 3% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $31.7 billion (1998)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $452 million (1998)
Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (AS) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Austrian schillings (AS) per US$1 - 11.86 (January 1999), 12.91 (1999), 12.379 (1998), 12.204 (1997), 10.587 (1996), 10.081 (1995) Note: On January 1, 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 13.7603 Austrian schillings per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in participating countries for all transactions in 2002.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Austria:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.726 million (plus 83,100 ISDN or
Integrated Services Digital Network connections) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.31 million (1998)
Telephone system: domestic: very advanced and efficient international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Atlantic Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 61 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 6.08 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 51 (plus 920 repeaters) (1999)
Televisions: 4.25 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 35 (1999)
@Austria:Transportation
Railways: total: 6,123 km (3,523 km electrified) standard gauge: 5,639 km 1.435-m gauge (3,429 km electrified) narrow gauge: 484 km (13 km 0.600-m gauge, 468 km 0.760-m gauge - 94 km electrified, and 3 km 0.600-m gauge) (1999)
Highways: 200,000 km paved: 200,000 km (including 1,613 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways: 358 km (1999)
Pipelines: crude oil 777 km; natural gas 840 km (1999)
Ports and harbors: Linz, Vienna, Enns, Krems
Merchant marine: total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 65,284 GRT/91,951 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 15, combination bulk 2, container 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 55 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 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: 12 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 29 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Austria:Military
Military branches: Army (includes Aviation Division)
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,088,993 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 1,733,681 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 51,335 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $1.7 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY98)
@Austria:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a key hub for Southwest Asian heroin and
South American cocaine headed for Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
AZERBAIJAN
@Azerbaijan:Introduction
Background: Azerbaijan - a country of Turkic Muslims - has been an independent republic since the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991. Even though there’s been a cease-fire since 1994, Azerbaijan still hasn't managed to settle its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh area (which is mostly populated by Armenians). Azerbaijan has lost nearly 20% of its land and has to take care of around 750,000 refugees due to the conflict. Corruption is everywhere, and the expected wealth from Azerbaijan's untapped oil resources has mostly not been realized.
@Azerbaijan:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, next to the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 40° 30' N, 47° 30' E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 86,600 sq km land: 86,100 sq km water: 500 sq km note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by the Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on November 26, 1991
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 2,013 km border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan Nakhchivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan Nakhchivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) note: Azerbaijan is next to the Caspian Sea (about 800 km)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it
below sea level) with the Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag
Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) to the west; Baku sits on the Abseron Yasaqligi
(Apsheron Peninsula) that extends into the Caspian Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, iron ore, non-ferrous metals, alumina
Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 11% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas at risk from rising levels of the Caspian Sea
Environment - current issues: local scientists consider the Apsheron Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the most environmentally damaged area in the world due to extreme air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution is caused by the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in cotton production.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography - note: landlocked
@Azerbaijan:People
Population: 7,748,163 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 1,172,944; female 1,127,624) 15-64 years: 63% (male 2,388,737; female 2,525,797) 65 years and over: 7% (male 210,774; female 322,287) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.27% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 18.08 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.47 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -5.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 83.41 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.87 years male: 58.51 years female: 67.45 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 estimate)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.)
@Azerbaijan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: none former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: AJ
Government type: republic
Capital: Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions: 59 districts (districts; district - singular), 11
cities* (cities; city - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (autonomous
republic); Absheron District, Agjabadi District, Agdam District, Aghdas
District, Agstafa District, Agsu District, Ali Bayramli City*, Astara
District, Baku City*, Balakan District, Barda District, Beylagan District,
Bilasuvar District, Jabrayil District, Jalilabad District, Dashkasan District,
Davachi District, Fuzuli District, Gadabay District, Ganja City*, Goranboy
District, Goychay District, Hajigabul District, Imishli District, Ismayilli
District, Kalbacar District, Kurdamir District, Lachin District, Lankaran
District, Lankaran City*, Lerik District, Masally District, Mingachevir
City*, Naftalan City*, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic**, Neftchala
District, Oguz District, Gabala District, Gakh District, Gazakh District, Gobustan
District, Guba District, Qubadli District, Qusar District, Saatli District,
Sabirabad District, Saki District, Saki City*, Salyan District, Samaxi
District, Samkir District, Samukh District, Siyazan District, Sumgayit City*,
Shusha District, Shusha City*, Tartar District, Tovuz District, Ucar District,
Ganja District, Khankandi City*, Khanlar District, Goychay District, Khojaly
District, Khojavend District, Yardimli District, Yevlakh District, Yevlakh
City*, Zangilan District, Zaqatala District, Zardab District
Independence: August 30, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, May 28 (1918)
Constitution: adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system: based on a civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since June 18, 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since November 26, 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on October 11, 1998 (next one scheduled for October 2003); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly election results: Heydar ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Heydar ALIYEV 76%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on November 12 and 26, 1995 (next to be held in 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NAP and allies 115, APF 4, PNIA 3, Musavat Party 1, vacant 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP)
; Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF) [Abulfaz ELCHIBEY,
chairman]; Civic Solidarity; Communist Party of
Azerbaijan (CPA-2); Democratic Party of
Independence of Azerbaijan; Liberal Party of
Azerbaijan; Motherland Party; Musavat
Party; New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) [Heydar
ALIYEV, chairman]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan (PNIA); People's Democratic Party of
Azerbaijan; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan
(SDP); Vahdat Party [Leyla YUNUSOV,
Jabrayil ALIZADE]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 or P. O. Box 28790, Washington, DC 20038-8790 telephone: (202) 842-0001 FAX: (202) 842-0004
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO embassy: Azadliq Prospekt 83, Baku 370007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: (9412) 98-03-35, 36, 37 FAX: (9412) 90-66-71
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of blue (top), red, and green; a white crescent and an eight-pointed star are centered in the red stripe.
@Azerbaijan:Economy
Economy - overview: Azerbaijan is not as industrially developed as Armenia or Georgia, the other Caucasian countries. It has similarities with Central Asian countries, including a mostly Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and a low standard of living. The main products of the economy include oil, cotton, and natural gas. Production from the Caspian oil field decreased until 1997 but saw a rise in 1998-99. Negotiations for 19 production-sharing agreements (PSAs) with foreign companies, which have committed $60 billion to oil field development, are expected to generate the funds necessary for future industrial growth. Oil production under the first PSA, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, started in November 1997. Azerbaijan faces many of the same challenges as other former Soviet republics in transitioning from a command to a market economy, but its significant energy resources improve its long-term outlook. Baku has only recently begun to make headway on economic reforms, and outdated economic connections and structures are gradually being replaced. The ongoing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region poses a barrier to economic progress and increased foreign investment. Trade with Russia and other former Soviet states is becoming less significant, while trade with Turkey, Iran, the UAE, and European countries is growing. Economic growth in 2000 is expected to match that of 1999. Long-term prospects will depend on global oil prices and the placement of new pipelines in the region.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,770 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 18% services: 60% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 60% (1999 est.)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -6.8% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 2.9 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 15%, services 53% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $565 million expenditures: $682 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: oil and gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 18.062 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.98% hydro: 9.02% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 15.508 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 1.2 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, grains, rice, grapes, fruits, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cows, pigs, sheep, goats
Exports: $885 million (f.o.b., 1999 estimated)
Exports - commodities: oil and gas 70%, machinery, cotton, food products
Exports - partners: Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Italy, Iran
Imports: $1.62 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - goods: machinery and equipment, food, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners: Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, UAE, Iran
Debt - external: $684 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $113 million (1996)
Currency: 1 manat = 100 gopiks
Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 4,342 (October 1999), 4,373 (1999), 3,869 (1998), 3,985.38 (1997), 4,301.26 (1996), 4,413.54 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Azerbaijan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 640,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 6,000 (1995)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 175,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 170,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Azerbaijan:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)
Highways: total: 24,981 km paved: 23,057 km unpaved: 1,924 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 1,240 km
Ports and harbors: Baku (Baki)
Merchant marine: total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 248,155 GRT/304,215 DWT ships by type: cargo 12, petroleum tanker 40, roll-on/roll-off 2, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 69 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 33 (1996 est.)
@Azerbaijan:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Forces, Border Guards
Military personnel - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,073,067 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,662,435 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 74,496 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $121 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY99)
@Azerbaijan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Armenia backs ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh area of Azerbaijan in the ongoing separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; the boundaries of the Caspian Sea are still undecided among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.
Illicit drugs: restricted illegal growing of cannabis and opium poppy, mainly for consumption in the CIS; minimal government eradication efforts; a transshipment point for opiates traveling through Iran, Central Asia, and Russia to Western Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
BAHAMAS
______________________________________________________________________
BAHRAIN
@Bahrain:Introduction
Background: Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to navigate a careful balance in foreign relations with its larger neighbors. With limited oil reserves, Bahrain has shifted focus to petroleum processing and refining, becoming an international banking hub. The new amir is advocating for economic and political reforms and has made efforts to enhance relations with the Shi'a community.
@Bahrain:Geography
Location: Middle East, a group of islands in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 26°00' N, 50°33' E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 620 sq km land: 620 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 3.5 times larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: dry; mild, enjoyable winters; extremely hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly flat desert land gradually rising to a low central cliff
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Natural resources: oil, both associated and non-associated natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: regular droughts; dust storms
Environment - current issues: desertification caused by the loss of limited farmland, drought periods, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to shorelines, coral reefs, and underwater plants) from oil spills and other waste from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; a lack of natural freshwater resources, so 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: near key Middle Eastern oil sources; strategic position in the Persian Gulf where a significant portion of the Western world's oil must pass through to get to the open ocean.
@Bahrain:People
Population: 634,137 note: includes 228,424 non-citizens (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 96,240; female 93,846) 15-64 years: 67% (male 252,767; female 173,072) 65 years and over: 3% (male 9,270; female 8,942) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.78% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 20.61 births per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 3.89 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 1.12 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1.03 males/females 15-64 years: 1.46 males/females 65 years and over: 1.04 males/females total population: 1.3 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.48 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.98 years male: 70.58 years female: 75.45 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.82 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25%
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 85.2% male: 89.1% female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
@Bahrain:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn
Data code: BA
Government type: traditional 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: August 15, 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, December 16 (1971)
Constitution: May 26, 1973, effective December 6, 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since March 6, 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born October 21, 1969) head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since N/A 1971) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: the unicameral National Assembly was dissolved on August 26, 1975, and the Cabinet took over its legislative powers; an appointed Advisory Council was established on December 16, 1992.
Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: political parties banned
Political pressure groups and leaders: Shi'a activists have sparked unrest occasionally since late 1994, calling for the reinstatement of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, underground leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active.
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 342-0741 FAX: (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: Building Number 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 311, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; International Mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: 273-300 FAX: 272-594
Flag description: red with a white zigzag band (eight white points) on the left side
@Bahrain:Economy
Economy - overview: In Bahrain, oil production and processing make up about 60% of export earnings, 60% of government revenue, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have varied with the ups and downs of oil since 1985, particularly during and after the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its advanced communication and transportation infrastructure, Bahrain hosts many multinational companies operating in the Gulf. A significant portion of exports consists of oil products derived from imported crude. Construction continues on several large industrial projects. High unemployment, especially among young people, along with the depletion of oil and groundwater resources, are significant long-term economic issues.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $13,700 (estimated in 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 46% services: 53% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 295,000 (1998 est.) note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)
Industries: oil processing and refining, aluminum production, offshore banking, ship repairs; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1995)
Electricity - production: 4.77 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.09 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Exports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: oil and oil products 61%, aluminum 7%
Exports - partners: India 18%, Japan 11%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South Korea 7%, UAE 5% (1997)
Imports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: non-oil 59%, crude oil 41%
Imports - partners: Saudi Arabia 45%, US 10%, UK 6%, Japan 5%, Germany 4% (1997)
Debt - external: $2 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $48.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Bahrain:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 141,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 130,000 (1999 estimate)
Telephone system: modern setup; great local services and outstanding international connections domestic: advanced fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with a rapidly rising use of mobile cellular phones 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 for the Atlantic Ocean and 1 for the Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 338,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 275,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@Bahrain:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,164 km paved: 2,433 km unpaved: 731 km (1998 est.) note: there is a paved causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
Ports and harbors: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 228,273 GRT/304,654 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Bahrain:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police
Force
Military manpower - military age: 15 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 221,109 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 121,442 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 5,699 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $318 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 5.2% (FY99)
@Bahrain:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Qatar are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
______________________________________________________________________
BAKER ISLAND
@Baker Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, an atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia.
Geographic coordinates: 0° 13' N, 176° 31' W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 1.4 sq km land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; minimal rain, steady winds, scorching sun
Terrain: a low, almost flat coral island encircled by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits were mined until 1891)
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef around the island can be a marine hazard.
Environment - current issues: no natural freshwater resources
Geography - note: treeless, with sparse and scattered plants including grasses, low-lying vines, and short shrubs; mainly a habitat for nesting, roosting, and foraging for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife.
@Baker Island:People
Population: uninhabited note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by the US military during World War II but abandoned after the war; public entry is only allowed with a special-use permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and is 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 the US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2000 est.)
@Baker Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island
Data code: FQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; managed 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: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Baker Island:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Baker Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available; note - there is one boat landing area in the middle of the west coast.
Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway measuring 1,665 m, completely overgrown with vegetation and not usable.
Transportation - note: there is a day marker near the center of the west coast.
@Baker Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
@Baker Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
BANGLADESH
@Bangladesh:Introduction
Background: Bangladesh was formed in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan broke away from its union with West Pakistan. A third of this extremely poor country floods every year during the monsoon season, hindering normal economic development.
@Bangladesh:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, next to the Bay of Bengal, between Myanmar and India
Geographic coordinates: 24° N, 90° 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 Wisconsin
Land boundaries: total: 4,246 km border countries: Myanmar 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mainly flat alluvial plain; hilly in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources: natural gas, farmland, wood
Land use: arable land: 73% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 15% other: 5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 31,000 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country regularly floods during the summer monsoon season.
Environment - current issues: many people are without land and have to live on and farm areas that are prone to flooding; limited access to clean drinking water; widespread water-borne diseases; water pollution, especially in fishing areas, due to the use of commercial pesticides; irregular water shortages caused by declining water tables in the northern and central regions of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation.
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: Law of the Sea
@Bangladesh:People
Population: 129,194,224 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 24,055,675; female 22,918,354) 15-64 years: 60% (male 39,924,040; female 37,992,459) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,342,134; female 1,961,562) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.59% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 25.44 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.73 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 1.19 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.66 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.16 years male: 60.4 years female: 59.91 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladesh
Ethnic groups: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, and tribals less than 1 million
Religions: Muslim 88.3%, Hindu 10.5%, other 1.2%
Languages: Bangla (official), English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.1% male: 49.4% female: 26.1% (1995 est.)
@Bangladesh:Government
Country name: conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh conventional short form: Bangladesh former: East Pakistan
Data code: BG
Government type: republic
Capital: Dhaka
Administrative divisions: 5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi note: there may be one additional division named Sylhet
Independence: December 16, 1971 (from Pakistan)
National holiday: Independence Day, March 26 (1971)
Constitution: November 4, 1972, effective December 16, 1972, suspended after the coup on March 24, 1982, restored on November 10, 1986, amended numerous times
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Shahabuddin AHMED (since October 9, 1996); note - the president's duties are usually ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes important when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is set up - at the president's direction - to oversee the elections. head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed (since June 23, 1996) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister and appointed by the president elections: president elected by the National Parliament for a five-year term; last election held on July 24, 1996 (next to be held by NA October 2001); after legislative elections, the leader of the party with the most seats is typically appointed prime minister by the president election results: Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without opposition; percent of National Parliament vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad (330 seats; 300 elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies, 30 seats reserved for women; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%; seats by party - AL 178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 2, election still to be held for 1 seat; note - the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an Awami League government for the first time in twenty-one years; held under a neutral, caretaker administration, the elections were characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massive voter turnout, ending a bitter two-year deadlock between the former BNP and opposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to widespread street violence.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice and other judges, are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA
Wazed]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP ;
Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP ;
Jamaat-E-Islami or JI ; Jatiyo Party or JP
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC,
UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Khwaja Mohammad SHEHABUDDIN chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 342-8372 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John C. HOLZMAN embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000 telephone: (2) 884700 through 884722 FAX: (2) 883744
Flag description: green with a large red circle slightly towards the left side of the center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to gain independence; the green background symbolizes the rich countryside, and additionally, the traditional color of Islam
@Bangladesh:Economy
Economy - overview: Despite ongoing domestic and international efforts to enhance economic and demographic conditions, Bangladesh remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed countries. The economy is primarily agricultural, with rice cultivation being the most important activity. Key obstacles to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, the inefficiency of state-owned enterprises, a rapidly expanding labor force that agriculture cannot absorb, delays in tapping into energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed's Awami League government has made some progress in improving the environment for foreign investors and liberalizing capital markets; for instance, it has engaged with foreign companies for oil and gas exploration, improved distribution of cooking gas nationwide, and the construction of natural gas pipelines and power plants. Progress on other economic reforms has been inconsistent due to pushback from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other interest groups. The particularly severe floods of 1998 heightened the country's dependence on large-scale international aid. So far, the East Asian financial crisis has not significantly affected the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $187 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,470 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 17% services: 53% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 35.6% (FY95/96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 23.7% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (FY98/99 estimate)
Labor force: 56 million (1995-96) note: significant export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, and Singapore
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY95/96)
Unemployment rate: 35.2% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $4.3 billion expenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries: cotton textiles, jute, clothing, tea processing, newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizers, light engineering, sugar
Industrial production growth rate: 2.5% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 12.5 billion kWh (estimated in 1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98% hydro: 2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 11.039 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes; beef, milk, poultry, tobacco, legumes, oilseeds, spices, fruit
Exports: $5.1 billion (1998)
Exports - commodities: clothing, jute and jute products, leather, frozen fish and seafood
Exports - partners: US 33%, Germany 10%, UK 9%, France 6%, Italy 5% (1997)
Imports: $8.01 billion (1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, raw cotton, food, crude oil and petroleum products, cement
Imports - partners: India 12%, China 9%, Japan 7%, Hong Kong 6%, South
Korea 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $16.5 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.475 billion (FY 1996/1997)
Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poisha
Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1 - 51.000 (January 2000), 49.085 (1999), 46.906 (1998), 43.892 (1997), 41.794 (1996), 40.278 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Bangladesh:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 470,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 41,000 (1998)
Telephone system: domestic: updating; implementing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave, and some fiber-optic cable in cities international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries
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 Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999)
@Bangladesh:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,745 km broad gauge: 923 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (1998 est.)
Highways: total: 201,182 km paved: 19,112 km unpaved: 182,070 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km of navigable waterways (includes 2,575-3,058 km of main cargo routes)
Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km
Ports and harbors: Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port
Merchant marine: total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a total of 284,489 GRT/405,845 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 28, container 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 16 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 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: 6 (1999 est.)
@Bangladesh:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps), Armed Police battalions
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 34,683,414 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 20,565,193 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $559 million (FY96/97)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1.8% (FY96/97)
@Bangladesh:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: part of the boundary with India is unclear; there is a dispute with India over South Talpatty/New Moore Island.
Illicit drugs: a transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
______________________________________________________________________
BARBADOS
@Barbados:Introduction
Background: The island was uninhabited when the British first settled it in 1627. Its economy relied heavily on sugar, rum, and molasses production for most of the 20th century. By the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing overtook the sugar industry in economic significance.
@Barbados:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 13° 10' N, 59° 32' W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 97 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat; gradually slopes up to the central highland area.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources: oil, fish, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 37% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 12% other: 46% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: rare hurricanes; occasional 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography - note: the easternmost Caribbean island
@Barbados:People
Population: 274,540 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 30,687; female 30,172) 15-64 years: 69% (male 92,241; female 96,866) 65 years and over: 9% (male 9,506; female 15,068) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.55% (est. 2000)
Birth rate: 14.45 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 8.68 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.37 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73 years male: 70.43 years female: 75.6 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (informal) adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (informal)
Ethnic groups: Black 80%, White 4%, Other 16%
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.)
@Barbados:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados
Data code: BB
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 granted parish status
Independence: November 30, 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 30 (1966)
Constitution: 30 November 1966
Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative actions
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since June 1, 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since September 6, 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since September 6, 1994) 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; prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: House of Assembly - last held on January 20, 1999 (next to be held by January 2004). Election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BLP 26, DLP 2.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service)
Political parties and leaders: Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen
ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP; National
Democratic Party or NDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Barbados Workers Union [Leroy
TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union; People's
Progressive Movement; Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr.
George BELLE]
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-9200 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York consulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affairs Roland BULLEN embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055 telephone: (246) 436-4950 FAX: (246) 429-5246
Flag description: three equal vertical stripes of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident placed in the center of the gold stripe; the trident head symbolizes independence and a separation from the past (the colonial coat of arms featured a full trident)
@Barbados:Economy
Economy - overview: Historically, Barbados' economy relied heavily on sugarcane farming and related activities, but in recent years, it has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The launch of the Port Charles Marina project in Speightstown helped the tourism industry keep growing from 1996 to 1999. Offshore finance and information technology are significant sources of foreign exchange, and there is also a light manufacturing sector. The government is working to lower the unacceptably high unemployment rate, attract direct foreign investment, and privatize the remaining state-owned businesses.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1998 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.4% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,200 (1998 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.9% industry: 15.6% services: 79.5% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1998)
Labor force: 136,000 (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $725.5 million expenditures: $750.6 million, including capital expenditures of $126.3 million (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, and assembly of components for export
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (1996)
Electricity - production: 672 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity consumption: 625 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugar cane, vegetables, cotton
Exports: $211.2 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing
Exports - partners: UK 14.8%, US 11.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.6%,
Venezuela 6.1%, Jamaica 5.8% (1998)
Imports: $1.01 billion (1998)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, machinery, food, building materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical parts
Imports - partners: US 30.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.2%, Japan 8.3%,
UK 7.7%, Canada 2.2% (1998)
Debt - external: $550 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $9.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Barbados:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 90,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,614 (1995)
Telephone system: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@Barbados:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,600 km paved: 1,578 km unpaved: 22 km (1998 est.)
Ports and harbors: Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)
Merchant marine: total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 654,580 GRT/1,103,780 DWT ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 29, combination bulk 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 2 countries: Canada owns 2 ships, Hong Kong 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Barbados:Military
Military branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 77,789 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 53,472 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@Barbados:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: one of several Caribbean transit points for narcotics headed for the US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
BASSAS DA INDIA
@Bassas da India:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about halfway from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 21° 30' S, 39° 50' E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 0.2 sq km land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all rock)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually underwater during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones.
Environment - current issues: NA
@Bassas da India:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)
@Bassas da India:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India
Data code: BS
Dependency status: possession of France; managed by a high commissioner of the Republic, living in Reunion
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Bassas da India:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Bassas da India:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage
@Bassas da India:Military
Military - note: defense is France's responsibility.
@Bassas da India:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
______________________________________________________________________
BELARUS
@Belarus:Introduction
Background: After seven decades as a part of the USSR, Belarus gained its independence in 1991. It has maintained closer political and economic connections to Russia than any other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty for a two-state union on December 8, 1999, aiming for greater political and economic integration, but so far, neither side has actively worked to put the agreement into action.
@Belarus:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 53° 00' N, 28° 00' E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 207,600 sq km land: 207,600 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total: 3,098 km
border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km,
Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: cold winters, cool and humid summers; a transition between continental and maritime.
Terrain: mostly flat and includes a lot of marshland.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Natural resources: forests, peat deposits, limited amounts of oil and natural gas
Land use: arable land: 29% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 34% other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; the southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from the 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl in northern Ukraine.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked
@Belarus:People
Population: 10,366,719 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 982,959; female 942,062) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,411,684; female 3,614,453) 65 years and over: 13% (male 466,929; female 948,632) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.17% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 9.27 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 13.96 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.63 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68 years male: 61.83 years female: 74.48 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic groups: Belarusian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%,
Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic,
Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages: Byelorussian, Russian, other
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97% (1989 est.)
@Belarus:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' local short form: none former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: BO
Government type: republic
Capital: Minsk
Administrative divisions: 6 regions (singular - region) and one municipality* (city, singular - city); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyelska (Homyel'), City of Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk) note: regions have the administrative center name following in parentheses
Independence: August 25, 1991 (Belarusian Supreme Soviet declaration of independence from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 3 (1944); note - signifies
Minsk's liberation from German occupation
Constitution: March 30, 1994; revised by national referendum on November 24, 1996, which significantly increased the powers of the presidency, and became effective on November 27, 1996.
Legal system: based on a civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since July 20, 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Sergey LING (acting since November 18, 1996, confirmed February 19, 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Vasiliy DOLGOLEV (since December 2, 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir ZAMETALIN (since July 15, 1997), Ural LATYPOV (since December 30, 1997), Gennadiy NOVITSKIY (since February 11, 1997), Leonid KOZIK (since February 4, 1997), Aleksandr POPKOV (since November 10, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held June 24 and July 10, 1994 (next to be determined; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 through the November 1996 referendum); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO elected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15% note: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or National Assembly consists of the Council of the Republic (64 seats; eight appointed by the president and 56 indirectly elected by local council deputies for four-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives (110 seats; note - current members came from the former Supreme Soviet, which LUKASHENKO disbanded in November 1996). elections: last held in May and November-December 1995 (two rounds, each with a run-off; disbanded after the November 1996 referendum; next to be held NA). election results: after the November 1996 referendum, seats in the Chamber of Representatives were filled by former Supreme Soviet members as follows: PKB 24, Agrarian 14, Party of Peoples Concord 5, LDPB 1, UPNAZ 1, Green World Party 1, Belarusian Social Sports Party 1, Ecological Party 1, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1, independents 61; 58 of the 64 seats in the Council of the Republic have been appointed/elected.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, half of the judges are appointed by the president and half are appointed by the Chamber of Representatives.
Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party [Aleksandr PAVLOV,
acting chairman]; Belarusian Communist Party or KPB [Viktor CHIKIN,
chairman]; Belarusian Green Party or BPZ ;
Belarusian Labor Party or BPP ;
Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR
; Belarusian Popular Front or BNF
; Belarusian Social-Democrat or SDBP
; Belarusian Social-Democratic Party
Hramada ; Belarusian Social Sports
Party or BSSP ; Belarusian
Socialist Party ; Civic Accord Bloc (United
Civic Party) or CAB ; Ecological
Party or BEP ; Liberal-Democratic
Party or LDPB ; Party of All-Belarusian
Unity and Concord or UPNAZ ; Party of
Communists Belarusian or PKB ; Party of
Popular Accord or PPA ; Republican Party of Labor and
Justice or RPPS ; Women's Party Nadezhda
International organization participation: CCC, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Inmarsat, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Valery TSEPAKO chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 986-1604 FAX: (202) 986-1805 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD embassy: Starovilenskaya #46-220002, Minsk mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (17) 231-5000 FAX: (17) 234-7853
Flag description: a red horizontal band on top and a green horizontal band half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side features the Belarusian national ornament in red.
@Belarus:Economy
Economy - overview: Since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO set Belarus on the path of "market socialism," there has been little structural reform. In line with this policy, LUKASHENKO reinstated administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and increased the government's right to intervene in the management of private businesses. In addition to the challenges posed by high inflation, businesses face pressure from central and local governments, such as sudden changes in regulations, numerous strict inspections, and the retroactive enforcement of new business rules that ban practices that were previously allowed. Further economic issues stem from two consecutive bad harvests in 1998-99 and ongoing trade deficits. Strong ties with Russia, which could lead to a reunion, shape the course of economic developments. For now, Belarus remains isolated from the West and its open-market economies.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $55.2 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,300 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 28% services: 49% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 22% (1995 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.9% highest 10%: 19.4% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 295% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 4.3 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: industry and construction NA%, agriculture and forestry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate: 2.3% officially recorded unemployed (December 1998); many 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, earth movers, motorcycles, TVs, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators
Industrial production growth rate: 8% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 21.893 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.89% hydro: 0.11% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 28.66 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 2.3 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 10.6 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Exports: $6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, textiles, food products
Exports - partners: Russia 66%, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Lithuania (1998)
Imports: $6.4 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - products: minerals, machines and equipment, metals, chemicals, food items
Imports - partners: Russia 54%, Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Lithuania (1998)
Debt - external: $1.1 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $194.3 million (1995)
Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR)
Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1 - 730,000 (December 15, 1999), 139,000 (January 25, 1999), 46,080 (2nd quarter 1998), 25,964 (1997), 15,500 (end of 1996), 11,500 (end of 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Belarus:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 2.537 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 8,000 (1999)
Telephone system: The Ministry of Telecommunications oversees all telecommunications through its carrier, Beltelcom, which is a joint-stock company and 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 partially developed fiber-optic backbone system that currently serves at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus's fiber optics create synchronous digital hierarchy rings connecting to other countries' systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational. International: Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE), 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; there are additional analog lines to Russia, and Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios: 3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 17 (1997)
Televisions: 2.52 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Belarus:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,563 km broad gauge: 5,563 km 1.520-m gauge (894 km electrified)
Highways: total: 63,355 km paved: 60,567 km unpaved: 2,788 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: NA km; note - Belarus has a large and heavily utilized network of canals and rivers.
Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural gas 1,980 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Mazyr
Airports: 118 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 82 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 62 (1996 est.)
@Belarus:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Interior
Ministry Troops, Border Guards
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,714,420 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males ages 15-49: 2,126,655 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 82,720 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $156 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY98)
@Belarus:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: small-scale growing of opium poppy and cannabis, mainly for the local market; a transit hub for illegal drugs going to and through Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
BELGIUM
@Belgium:Introduction
Background: Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World War I and World War II. Over the past fifty years, it has thrived as a modern, technologically advanced European nation and a member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings in the north and the French-speaking Walloons in the south have resulted in recent constitutional amendments that give these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
@Belgium:Geography
Location: Western Europe, next to 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 neighboring countries exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighboring countries (extends about 68 km from the coast) territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: moderate; mild winters, cool summers; wet, humid, and overcast
Terrain: flat coastal plains in the northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of the Ardennes Forest in the 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: 24% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 21% other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: flooding is a risk in areas of reclaimed coastal land that are protected from the sea by concrete dikes.
Environment - current issues: the environment faces significant pressures from human activities: urbanization, a dense transportation network, industry, intensive animal breeding, and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also impact neighboring countries; uncertainties about federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have hindered progress in addressing environmental challenges.
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: the crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, which is the headquarters of both the EU and NATO.
@Belgium:People
Population: 10,241,506 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 919,445; female 877,896) 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,386,193; female 3,334,081) 65 years and over: 16% (male 701,842; female 1,022,049) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.18% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 10.91 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 10.13 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.76 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.8 years male: 74.47 years female: 81.3 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups: Flemish 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Languages: Dutch 58%, French 32%, German 10%, legally bilingual
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 98% male: NA% female: NA%
@Belgium:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium conventional short form: Belgium local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie local short form: Belgique/Belgie
Data code: BE
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch
Capital: Brussels
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerp, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut, Liège, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant, West Flanders. Note: the Brussels Capital Region is not included among the 10 provinces.
Independence: October 4, 1830 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: National Day, July 21 (the ascension of King Leopold I to the throne in 1831)
Constitution: February 7, 1831, last updated July 14, 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package that established 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 old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: King ALBERT II (since August 9, 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch head of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since July 13, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the prime minister is appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament note: government coalition - VLD, PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
Legislative branch: the 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 based on proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held on June 13, 1999 (next to be held in NA 2003) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, CVP 14.7%, PRL 10.6%, PS 9.7%, VB 9.4%, SP 8.9%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.1%, PSC 6.0%, VU 5.1%; seats by party - VLD 11, CVP 10, PS 10, PRL 9, VB 6, SP 6, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, PSC 5, VU 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 14.3%, CVP 14.1%, PS 10.2%, PRL 10.1%, VB 9.9%, SP 9.5%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.0%, PSC 5.9%, VU 5.6%; seats by party - VLD 23, CVP 22, PS 19, PRL 18, VB 15, SP 14, ECOLO 11, PSC 10, AGALEV 9, VU 8, FN 1 note: following the 1993 constitutional revision that advanced devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this situation results in six governments, each with its own legislative assembly; for other acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leaders
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch, and Cour de Cassation in French. Judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch.
Political parties and leaders: AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Wilfried Bervoets]; ECOLO (Francophone Greens); Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP (Christian People's Party) [Stefaan De Clerck, president]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel De Gucht, president]; Flemish Socialist Party or SP [Patrick Janssens, president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party); Francophone Democratic Front or FDF; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL; Francophone Socialist Party or PS; National Front or FN; Vlaams Blok or VB; Volksunie or VU [Geert Bourgeois, president]; other minor parties.
Political pressure groups and leaders: Christian and Socialist trade unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; various associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; different organizations representing the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups like the Flemish Action Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi.
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA,
EU, FAO, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP,
UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 333-6900 FAX: (202) 333-3079 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CEJAS embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710 telephone: (2) 508-2111 FAX: (2) 511-2725
Flag description: three equal vertical stripes of black (on the side that attaches to the flagpole), yellow, and red; the design was inspired by the flag of France.
@Belgium:Economy
Economy - overview: This modern private enterprise economy has leveraged its central location, well-developed transport network, and diverse industrial and commercial base. Industry is mainly concentrated in the densely populated Flemish region in the north, although the government is promoting investment in the southern region of Wallonia. With few natural resources, Belgium needs to import significant amounts of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactured goods, making its economy particularly reliant on global market conditions. About 75% of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public debt decreased from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998, and the government is working to manage its spending to align more closely with other industrialized nations. Belgium was a founding member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999. The dioxin crisis, which started in June 1999 with the discovery of a cancer-causing substance in animal feed, dealt a serious blow to the food-processing industry, both at home and abroad. This crisis slowed GDP growth, with recovery anticipated in the year 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $243.4 billion (estimated for 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.8% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,900 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 27% services: 71.6% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 4%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 4.341 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $116.5 billion expenditures: $119 billion, including capital expenditures of $10.7 billion (1998 est.)
Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and drinks, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, oil, coal
Industrial production growth rate: -1% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 78.702 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.48% hydro: 0.49% nuclear: 55.72% other: 1.31% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 74.543 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 6.4 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 7.75 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Exports: $187.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals, and metal products
Exports - partners: EU 76% (Germany 19%, France 18%, Netherlands 12%,
UK 10%) (1998)
Imports: $172.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, and metal products
Imports - partners: EU 71% (Germany 18%, Netherlands 17%, France 14%,
UK 9%) (1998)
Debt - external: $28.3 billion (estimated in 1999)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $764 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995) note: on January 1, 1999, the EU launched a common currency that is now used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will take over the local currency in participating countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Belgium:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 4.632 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 664,000 (1999)
Telephone system: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities domestic: nationwide cellular phone 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: 24 (1997)
Televisions: 4.72 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 51 (1999)
@Belgium:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,437 km (2,446 km electrified; 2,563 km double track) standard gauge: 3,437 km 1.435-m gauge (1998)
Highways: total: 145,850 km paved: 117,701 km (including 1,682 km of expressways) unpaved: 28,149 km (1998)
Waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)
Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas 3,300 km
Ports and harbors: Antwerp (one of the busiest ports in the world), Bruges,
Ghent, Hasselt, Liège, Mons, Namur, Ostend, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine: total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 35,075 GRT/57,347 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, petroleum tanker 7 (1999 est.)
Airports: 42 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 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: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Belgium:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,527,752 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,090,800 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 64,165 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.8 billion (FY99)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1.2% (FY99)
@Belgium:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine producers; transfer point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana coming into Western Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
BELIZE
@Belize:Introduction
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 backbone of the economy. The country still struggles with high unemployment, increasing involvement in the South American drug trade, and rising urban crime.
@Belize:Geography
Location: Middle America, next to the Caribbean Sea, situated between
Guatemala and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 17° 15' N, 88° 45' W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 22,960 sq km land: 22,800 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
Climate: tropical; extremely hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in the south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Natural resources: farmland potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 92% other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 km² (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent, destructive hurricanes (September to
December) and coastal flooding (especially in the south)
Environment - current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: the only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
@Belize:People
Population: 249,183 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 54,009; female 51,945) 15-64 years: 54% (male 68,052; female 66,366) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,298; female 4,513) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.75% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 32.29 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.81 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.97 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.91 years male: 68.66 years female: 73.28 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups: mestizo 44.1%, Creole 31%, Maya 9.2%, Garifuna 6.2%, other 9.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib),
Creole
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.3% male: 70.3% female: 70.3% (1991 est.) note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%
@Belize:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras
Data code: BH
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Belmopan
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange
Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence: September 21, 1981 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 21 (1981)
Constitution: 21 September 1981
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since November 17, 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since August 27, 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since September 1, 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; governor general appoints the member of the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime minister
Legislative branch: The bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the governor general; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote for five-year terms). Elections: House of Representatives - last held on August 27, 1998 (next to be held in August 2003, date TBD). Election results: percent of vote by party - TBD; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 3.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, with the chief justice appointed by the governor general based on the prime minister's advice.
Political parties and leaders: People's United Party or PUP [Said
MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Society for the Promotion of
Education and Research, or SPEAR; United Workers' Front
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-9636 FAX: (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025 telephone: (2) 77161 through 77163 FAX: (2) 30802
Flag description: blue with a thin red stripe along the top and bottom edges; in the center is a large white circle displaying the coat of arms; the coat of arms has a shield supported by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all surrounded by a green garland.
@Belize:Economy
Economy - overview: The small, mainly private enterprise economy is primarily focused on agriculture, agro-based industries, and retail, with tourism and construction becoming increasingly significant. Sugar, the main crop, makes up nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's biggest employer. The government's strict austerity measures in 1997 led to an economic slowdown that continued into 1998. The trade deficit has been widening, largely due to low export prices for sugar and bananas. The new government is facing crucial challenges for economic stability. They've promised quick action to improve tax collection, but a lack of progress in controlling spending could put pressure on the exchange rate. The tourism and construction sectors showed improvement in early 1999, resulting in a preliminary growth estimate of 4%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $740 million (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,100 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 22% services: 56% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.9% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 71,000 note: shortage of skilled workers and all kinds of technical staff (1997 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 38%, industry 32%, services 30% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 14.3% (1998)
Budget: revenues: $140 million expenditures: $180 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries: clothing manufacturing, food processing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate: -4.4% (1998)
Electricity production: 175 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.14% hydro: 42.86% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 163 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, cocoa, citrus fruits, sugarcane; timber; fish, farmed shrimp
Exports: $150 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: sugar, bananas, citrus fruits, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners: US 45.5%, UK 30%, EU 10%, Caricom 4.2%, Mexico 3.4%, Canada 3.3% (1997)
Imports: $320 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners: US 52%, Mexico 13%, UK 5% (1997)
Debt - external: $380 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $23.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.0000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Belize:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 29,600 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,237 (1995)
Telephone system: above-average system domestic: trunk network relies mainly 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Belize:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft boats; navigable during certain seasons.
Ports and harbors: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozal, Punta Gorda
Merchant marine: total: 414 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,647,452 GRT/2,339,134 DWT. Ships by type: bulk 36, cargo 275, chemical tanker 7, container 9, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 51, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off 9, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.). Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 7 countries: Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Singapore 2, UAE 12, UK 1, and US 1 (1998 est.).
Airports: 44 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 30 (1999 est.)
@Belize:Military
Military branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 60,482 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males aged 15-49: 35,874 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,735 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $15 million (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY97/98)
@Belize:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territory in Belize claimed by Guatemala; the exact boundary line is under dispute.
Illicit drugs: a transshipment point for cocaine; a small-scale illegal producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; a minor money-laundering center
______________________________________________________________________
BENIN
@Benin:Introduction
Background: Dahomey gained its independence from France in 1960; the name was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989, the country was a socialist state; free elections were reestablished in 1991.
@Benin:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 9.30 N, 2.15 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 112,620 sq km land: 110,620 sq km water: 2,000 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 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; hot and humid in the south; semi-arid in the north
Terrain: generally flat with some rolling areas; a few hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources: small offshore oil reserves, limestone, marble, timber
Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 31% other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: the hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind can impact the north during winter.
Environment - current issues: recent droughts have seriously impacted small-scale farming in the north; insufficient access to drinking water; poaching endangers 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: no natural harbors
@Benin:People
Population: 6,395,919 note: estimates for this country explicitly consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and gender than would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 1,531,636; female 1,503,552) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,551,867; female 1,660,845) 65 years and over: 3% (male 63,717; female 84,302) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.03% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 44.81 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 14.51 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1.02 males/females 15-64 years: 0.93 males/females 65 years and over: 0.76 males/females total population: 0.97 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 90.84 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.18 years male: 49.24 years female: 51.16 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.32 children per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, the most significant being
Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions: Indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (the most common local languages in the south), and tribal languages (at least six major ones in the north)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and up can read and write total population: 37% male: 48.7% female: 25.8% (1995 est.)
@Benin:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin local long form: Republique du Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey
Data code: BN
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 government headquarters.
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou note: six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed; they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau; moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"
Independence: August 1, 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, August 1 (1990)
Constitution: December 1990
Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: At least 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since April 4, 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since April 4, 1996); 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 March 18, 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001) election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on March 28, 1999 (next to be held in March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - PRB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEPO 6, Alliance Etoile 4, Alliance IPD 4, CAR-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court,
Supreme Court, High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP; Benin Renaissance Party or PRB; Chameleon Alliance or AC; Car-DUNYA; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first secretary]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI; New Generation for the Republic or NG; Our Common Cause or NCC; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile); Union for National Democracy and Solidarity or UDS.
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 232-6656 FAX: (202) 265-1996
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FELDER embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92 FAX: 30-14-39, 30-19-74
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red, with a vertical green band on the left side.
@Benin:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy of Benin is still underdeveloped and relies heavily on subsistence farming, cotton production, and regional trade. From 1990 to 1995, real output growth averaged a healthy 4%, and it rose to 5% from 1996 to 1999. However, rapid population growth has countered much of this output increase. Inflation has decreased over the past three years. The commercial and transport sectors, which contribute significantly to GDP, are at risk due to developments in Nigeria, especially fuel shortages. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have improved the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still weighed down by unprofitable state enterprises and a large civil service, has been slowly implementing a structural adjustment program since 1991.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,300 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 14% services: 52% (1997)
Population below the poverty line: 33% (1995 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $299 million expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)
Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, oil
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 6 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 276 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 270 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Exports: $396 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm oil, cocoa
Exports - partners: Brazil 32%, Libya, Indonesia, Spain (1998)
Imports: $566 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: food, tobacco, oil products, capital goods
Imports - partners: France 22%, China 16%, UK, Netherlands (1998)
Debt - external: $1.6 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $281.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Central African Financial Community franc (CFAF) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: from January 1, 1999, the CFAF is fixed to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Benin:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 28,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,050 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: reliable 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 (1998)
Radios: 620,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (one privately owned) (1997)
Televisions: 60,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Benin:Transportation
Railways: total: 578 km (single track) narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 6,787 km paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,430 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: navigable in small parts, significant only in local areas
Ports and harbors: Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Benin:Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,402,566 females age 15-49: 1,445,082 note: both genders are required for military service (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males age 15-49: 717,289 females age 15-49: 732,196 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 69,065 females: 67,961 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $27 million (FY96)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1.2% (FY96)
@Benin:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for narcotics linked to
Nigerian trafficking groups and most often headed to
Western Europe and the US
______________________________________________________________________
BERMUDA
@Bermuda:Introduction
Background: Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by English colonists who got shipwrecked while on their way to Virginia. Tourism to the island, as a way to get away from North American winters, began during Victorian times. Bermuda has evolved into a very successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was decisively rejected in 1995.
@Bermuda:Geography
Location: North America, a 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: 58.8 sq km land: 58.8 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: subtropical; mild and humid; strong winds and gales are common in winter.
Terrain: gentle hills divided by rich valleys
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources: limestone, a nice climate that supports tourism
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of green spaces
Geography - note: consists of around 360 small coral islands with plenty of rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, both reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by the US Government from 1941 to 1995.
@Bermuda:People
Population: 62,997 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 6,107; female 6,212) 15-64 years: 70% (male 21,620; female 22,171) 65 years and over: 10% (male 2,972; female 3,915) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.75% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.24 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.37 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 2.67 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.82 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.94 years male: 74.89 years female: 78.86 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 older can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1970 est.)
@Bermuda:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda
Data code: BD
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: parliamentary British overseas territory with self-governance
Capital: Hamilton
Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint
Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Bermuda Day, May 24
Constitution: June 8, 1968, amended 1989
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997) head of government: Premier Jennifer SMITH (since November 10, 1998) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; governor invites the leader of the largest party in Parliament to form a government as premier
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament is made up of the Senate (an 11-member group appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: the last one was held on November 9, 1998 (next to be held in November 2003) election results: percentage of votes by party - PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%, independents 1%; seats by party - PLP 26, UBP 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Liberal Party or NLP [Charles
JEFFERS]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP; United
Bermuda Party or UBP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU
; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA [Betty
CHRISTOPHER]
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CCC,
ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Lawrence OWEN consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-5300 telephone: (441) 295-1342 FAX: (441) 295-1592
Flag description: red, featuring the flag of the UK in the upper left corner and the Bermudian coat of arms (a white and blue shield with a red lion holding a rolled-up shield depicting the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag.
@Bermuda:Economy
Economy - overview: Bermuda has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully leveraged its location to offer financial services for international companies and upscale tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors each year. The tourism industry, which makes up about 28% of GDP, mainly attracts 84% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is greatly limited due to a lack of suitable land. Approximately 80% of food is imported. International business accounts for over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; the failed independence vote in late 1995 can be partly linked to Bermudians' fears of driving away foreign companies. The government's economic priorities focus on further strengthening the tourism and international financial sectors.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2 billion (est. 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $31,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 35,296 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers 17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995)
Budget: revenues: $504.6 million expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY97/98)
Industries: tourism, finance, insurance, concrete products, paints, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 420 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 391 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers; dairy products
Exports: $32 million (1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners: UK 29.5%, US 9.8% (1997)
Imports: $624 million (1998 est.)
Imports - products: machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, chemicals, food, and live animals
Imports - partners: US 34%, UK 9%, Mexico 8% (1997)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $27.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Bermuda:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 48,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 6,324 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: modern, fully automated telephone system international: 3 submarine cables; satellite ground 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@Bermuda:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 225 km paved: 225 km unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.) note: additionally, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that are privately owned
Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine: total: 115 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a total of 6,536,975 GRT/11,337,483 DWT. Ships by type: bulk 27, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 17, liquefied gas 7, petroleum tanker 33, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off 8, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.). Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries, among which are UK 24, Canada 12, Hong Kong 11, US 11, Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, Norway 3, and Switzerland 2 (1998 est.).
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Bermuda:Military
Military branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda
Reserve Constabulary
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the UK's responsibility
@Bermuda:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
BHUTAN
@Bhutan:Introduction
Background: With British influence, a monarchy was established in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed that made the country a British protectorate. Independence was achieved in 1949, with India later helping to guide foreign relations and providing aid.
@Bhutan:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, located between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 27°30' N, 90°30' E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 47,000 sq km land: 47,000 sq km water: 0 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 the southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in the central valleys; harsh winters and cool summers in the Himalayas.
Terrain: mainly mountainous with a few fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources: wood, hydroelectric power, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 66% other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 340 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name, which translates to Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides occur during the rainy season.
Environment - current issues: soil erosion; limited access to clean drinking water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: it's landlocked; located strategically between China and
India; controls several important mountain passes in the Himalayas.
@Bhutan:People
Population: 2,005,222 note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 417,627; female 387,927) 15-64 years: 56% (male 576,533; female 544,076) 65 years and over: 4% (male 40,081; female 38,978) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.19% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 36.22 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 14.32 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 110.99 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.4 years male: 52.79 years female: 51.99 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.13 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Religions: 75% Lamaistic Buddhism, influenced by Indian and Nepalese traditions
25% Hinduism
Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak different Tibetan dialects,
Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
People - note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 96,500 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps.
@Bhutan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan
Data code: BT
Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital: Thimphu
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and
plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang,
Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
Independence: August 8, 1949 (from India)
National holiday: National Day, December 17 (1907) (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became the first hereditary king)
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights note: Bhutan uses the 1953 Royal decree as the Constitution of the National Assembly; on July 7, 1998, a Royal edict was ratified giving the National Assembly additional powers
Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: every family gets one vote in village elections.
Executive branch: chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since July 24, 1972) head of government: Foreign Minister Jigme Yoeser THINLEY (since June 1998) 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), with members nominated by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 give the National Assembly the authority to remove the monarch with a two-thirds vote
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are appointed by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: NA
Judicial branch: the Supreme Court of Appeal is the highest authority; 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 a militant anti-government campaign;
Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (in exile)
International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
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 (212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular authority in the US. Consulate(s) general: New York.
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Bhutan don't have formal diplomatic relations, but informal communication is kept up between the Bhutanese and the US Embassy in New Delhi (India).
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist 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.
@Bhutan:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy, one of the smallest and least developed in the world, relies heavily on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main source of income for 90% of the population and make up about 40% of GDP. Agriculture mainly involves subsistence farming and livestock raising. The rugged mountainous terrain makes constructing roads and other infrastructure challenging and costly. The economy is closely connected to India's due to strong trade and monetary ties. The industrial sector is technologically outdated, with most production coming from small cottage industries. Many development projects, like road construction, depend on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its appeal to tourists are significant resources. The Bhutanese Government has made strides in expanding the nation's productive capacity and enhancing social welfare. There are ongoing model education, social, and environmental programs in Bhutan supported by various multilateral development organizations. Each economic initiative considers the government's goal of protecting the country's environment and cultural heritage. However, strict regulations and unclear policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance still hinder foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.1 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,060 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 37% services: 25% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1998)
Labor force: NA note: huge shortage of skilled workers
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 (FY95/96 est.) note: the government of India covers almost three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate: 9.3% (estimated for 1996)
Electricity - production: 1.788 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.39% hydro: 99.61% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 345 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 1.339 billion kWh note: exports electricity to India (1998)
Electricity - imports: 21 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, root vegetables, citrus fruits, grains; dairy products, eggs
Exports: $111 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices
Exports - partners: India 94%, Bangladesh
Imports: $136 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
Imports - partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
Debt - external: $120 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $73.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is also accepted as legal tender.
Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 43.552 (January 2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is equal to the Indian rupee.
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Bhutan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 5,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: domestic telephone service is very limited with few phones 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Bhutan:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,285 km paved: 1,994 km unpaved: 1,291 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Bhutan:Military
Military branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia, Royal
Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 491,427 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 262,316 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 20,374 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@Bhutan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: about 96,500 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal
______________________________________________________________________
BOLIVIA
@Bolivia:Introduction
Background: Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke free from Spanish control in 1825; a significant part of its history has involved nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. More democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but leaders have encountered tough challenges like widespread poverty, social unrest, and drug production. Current goals include attracting foreign investment, improving the education system, continuing the privatization efforts, and fighting corruption.
@Bolivia:Geography
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 land: 1,084,390 sq km water: 14,190 sq km
Area - comparative: almost 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 elevation; ranging from humid and tropical to cold and semi-arid.
Terrain: rugged Andes Mountains with a high plateau (Altiplano), hills, and 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, oil, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, wood, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 53% other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,750 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: the cold, thin air of high plateaus makes it hard to burn fuel efficiently and to engage in physical activities for those who haven't grown up in that environment; flooding in the northeast (March-April)
Environment - current issues: the clearing of land for farming and the global demand for tropical timber are causing deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and bad farming practices (like slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water sources 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, Marine Dumping, 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 Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru.
@Bolivia:People
Population: 8,152,620 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.11% (male 1,624,404; female 1,564,057) 15-64 years: 56.42% (male 2,247,013; female 2,352,824) 65 years and over: 4.47% (male 164,473; female 199,849) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.83% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 28.15 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.36 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 60.44 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.7 years male: 61.19 years female: 66.34 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.66 children per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Bolivian(s) adjective: Bolivian
Ethnic groups: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed white and
Amerindian ancestry) 30%, white 15%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 83.1% male: 90.5% female: 76% (1995 est.)
@Bolivia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia conventional short form: Bolivia local long form: Republica de Bolivia local short form: Bolivia
Data code: BL
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, Potosí, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence: August 6, 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, August 6 (1825)
Constitution: February 2, 1967; updated in August 1994
Legal system: based on Spanish law and the Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old, universal and mandatory (for married individuals); 21 years old, universal and mandatory (for single individuals)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since August 6, 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since August 6, 1997); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since August 6, 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since August 6, 1997); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected together by popular vote for five-year terms; last election held on June 1, 1997 (next will be in June 2002) election results: Hugo BANZER Suarez elected president; vote percentages - Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%; Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) 17%, Juan Carlos DURAN (MNR) 18%, Ivo KULJIS (UCS) 16%, Remedios LOZA (CONDEPA) 17%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote; Hugo BANZER Suarez won a congressional runoff election on August 5, 1997 after forming a "megacoalition" with MIR, UCS, CONDEPA, NFR, and PDC
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Cámara de Senadores (27 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Cámara de Diputados (130 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held on June 1, 1997 (next to be held in June 2002). Election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADN 11, MIR 7, MNR 4, CONDEPA 3, UCS 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADN 32, MNR 26, MIR 23, UCS 21, CONDEPA 19, MBL 5, IU 4.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed for 10-year terms by the National Congress.
Political parties and leaders: Alternative of Democratic Socialism or
ASD; April 9 Revolutionary Vanguard or VR-9
; Bolivian Communist Party or PCB;
Bolivian Renovating Alliance or ARBOL [Marcelo FERNANDEZ, Hugo
VILLEGAS]; Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB; Christian
Democrat or PDC; Civic Solidarity Union or UCS
; Conscience of the Fatherland or CONDEPA [Remedios
LOZA Alvarado]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL; Front
of Katarista Unity or FULKA; Front of National
Salvation or FSN; Katarismo National Unity or
KND; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR
; Movement Towards Socialism-Popular Instrument for
Solidarity with the People or MAS-IPSP;
Nationalist Democratic Action or ADN; Nationalist
Katarista Movement or MKN; Nationalist Revolutionary
Movement or MNR; New Republican Force or
NFR; New Youth Force;
Patriotic Axis of Convergence or EJE-P; Popular
Patriotic Movement or MPP; Revolutionary Front of the
Left or FRI; Socialist Party One or PS-1;
Solidarity and Democracy or SYD; Tupac Katari
Revolutionary Liberation Movement or MRTK-L [Victor Hugo CARDENAS
Conde]; United Left or IU; Unity and Progress Movement
or MUP
note: political blocs include: left - MBL, EJE-P, VR-9, ASD, FRI, PCB,
IU, FSN, PS-1, FSB, and MAS; center left - MIR, PDC, and New Youth
Force; center - MNR; center right - ADN and NFR; populist - UCS,
CONDEPA, SYD, MUP, and MPP; evangelical - ARBOL; indigenous - MRTK-L,
MKN, and KND
Political pressure groups and leaders: Cocalero Group
International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate),
MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene FERNANDEZ del Granado chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-4410 FAX: (202) 328-3712 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032 telephone: (2) 430251 FAX: (2) 433900
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.
@Bolivia:Economy
Economy - overview: Bolivia, historically one of the poorest and least developed countries in Latin America, has made significant strides toward building a market-oriented economy. Achievements during President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA's term (1993-1997) included signing a free trade agreement with Mexico and the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur), as well as privatizing the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power company, and oil company. His successor, Hugo BANZER Suarez, has aimed to enhance the country's investment climate through an anticorruption campaign. Growth slowed in 1999, partly due to strict government budget policies that limited necessary funding for anti-poverty programs and the effects of the Asian financial crisis. Growth is expected to bounce back to around 4% in 2000 if global commodity prices remain reasonably favorable.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $24.2 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,000 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.6% industry: 35.5% services: 47.9% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 70% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.7% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 2.5 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 11.4% (1997) with widespread underemployment
Budget: revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures: $2.7 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, oil and gas, food and drinks, tobacco, handmade crafts, apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)
Electricity - production: 2.576 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.43% hydro: 55.75% nuclear: 0% other: 1.82% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.412 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 4 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 20 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber
Exports: $1.1 billion (free on board, 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: soybeans, natural gas, zinc, gold, wood
Exports - partners: UK 16%, US 12%, Peru 11%, Argentina 10%, Colombia 7% (1998)
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, raw materials, semi-manufactured goods, chemicals, petroleum, food
Imports - partners: US 32%, Japan 24%, Brazil 12%, Argentina 12%,
Chile 7%, Peru 4%, Germany 3% (1998)
Debt - external: $5.7 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $588 million (1997)
Currency: 1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1 - 6.0065 (January 2000), 5.8124 (1999), 5.5101 (1998), 5.2543 (1997), 5.0746 (1996), 4.8003 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Bolivia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 368,874 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 7,229 (1995)
Telephone system: new subscribers encounter bureaucratic challenges; the majority of telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities. Domestic: the main trunk system, which is currently being expanded, uses digital microwave radio relay; some regions are serviced by fiber-optic cable; mobile cellular systems are being upgraded. 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Bolivia:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,691 km (single track) narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge; 39 km 0.760-m gauge (13 km electrified) (1995)
Highways: total: 52,216 km paved: 2,872 km (including 27 km of expressways) unpaved: 49,344 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 10,000 km of waterways suitable for commercial navigation
Pipelines: crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural gas 1,495 km
Ports and harbors: none; however, Bolivia has free port privileges at the maritime ports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay.
Merchant marine: total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a total of 116,373 GRT/182,283 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 17, chemical tanker 3, container 1, petroleum tanker 6, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 1,109 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,096 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 67 914 to 1,523 m: 219 under 914 m: 807 (1999 est.)
@Bolivia:Military
Military branches: Army (Ejército Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval
Boliviana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Boliviana),
National Police Force (Policía Nacional de Bolivia)
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males aged 15-49: 1,949,267 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,269,228 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 86,863 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $147 million (FY99)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 1.8% (FY99)
@Bolivia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: has sought a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since losing the Atacama region to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights.
Illicit drugs: the world's third-largest grower of coca (after Peru and Colombia), with an estimated 21,800 hectares cultivated in 1999, marking a 45% decrease in overall coca cultivation from 1998 levels; intermediate coca products and cocaine are exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the US and other international drug markets; an alternative crop program aims to reduce illegal coca cultivation.
______________________________________________________________________
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
@Bosnia and Herzegovina:Introduction
Background: Bosnia and Herzegovina declared its sovereignty in October 1991, followed by a referendum for independence from the former Yugoslavia in February 1992. The Bosnian Serbs, backed by neighboring Serbia, responded with armed resistance, aiming to partition the republic along ethnic lines and combine Serb-held areas to create a "greater Serbia." In March 1994, the Bosniaks and Croats of Bosnia reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement to form a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On November 21, 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties signed a peace agreement that ended three years of interethnic civil conflict (the final agreement was signed in Paris on December 14, 1995). The Dayton Agreement roughly divides Bosnia and Herzegovina between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) consisting of 60,000 troops was deployed in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was followed by a smaller NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) tasked with deterring further hostilities. SFOR remains in place, with troop levels expected to be reduced to about 19,000 by spring 2000.
@Bosnia and Herzegovina:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, next to the Adriatic Sea and Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 44.00° N, 18.00° E
Map references: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe
Area: total: 51,129 sq km land: 51,129 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,459 km border countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km (312 km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro)
Coastline: 20 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: hot summers and cold winters; high-elevation areas have short, cool summers and long, harsh winters; mild, rainy winters along the 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: 14% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 39% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues: air pollution from steel mills; available sites for urban waste disposal are limited; widespread casualties, water shortages, and damage to infrastructure due to the civil conflict from 1992 to 1995.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: within the recognized borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (around 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (about 49% of the territory); the area known as Herzegovina shares a border with Croatia and has traditionally been inhabited by a majority of ethnic Croats.
@Bosnia and Herzegovina:People
Population: 3,835,777 note: all data about the population may have significant errors due to disruptions caused by military action and ethnic cleansing (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 401,554; female 379,303) 15-64 years: 71% (male 1,403,618; female 1,323,307) 65 years and over: 9% (male 138,173; female 189,822) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.1% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.92 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.87 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 25.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.17 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.49 years male: 68.78 years female: 74.38 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Ethnic groups: Serb 31%, Bosniak 44%, Croat 17%, Yugoslav 5.5%, other 2.5% (1991) note: Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - someone who follows 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%
@Bosnia and Herzegovina:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina local long form: none local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
Data code: BK
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Sarajevo
Administrative divisions: there are two main administrative divisions - the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note - Brcko in northeastern Bosnia is a self-governing administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; it is not part of either the Federation or Republika Srpska.
Independence: NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Bosnia and Herzegovina - BiH National Day, 25
November
Constitution: the Dayton Agreement, signed on December 14, 1995, included a new constitution that is currently in effect.
Legal system: based on a civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years old if employed; 18 years old for everyone
Executive branch: chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Alija IZETBEGOVIC (chairman since February 14, 2000, presidency member since March 14, 1996 - Bosniak); other members of the three-member rotating (every 8 months) presidency: Zivko RADISIC (since October 13, 1998 - Serb) and Ante JELAVIC (since NA September 1998 - Croat) head of government: vacant; note - in February 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that the structure of the Council of Ministers was unconstitutional; a new structure is being negotiated cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairmen note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ejup GANIC (since December 28, 1999; Vice President Ivo ANDRIC-LUZANIC (since December 28, 1999); note - president and vice president rotate every year; President of the Republika Srpska: vacant since Nikola POPLASEN was removed by the Office of the High Representative on March 5, 1999 (see Government note) 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; election last held September 12-13, 1998 (next to be held NA September 2002); the cochairmen of the Council of Ministers are appointed by the presidency election results: percent of vote - Zivko RADISIC with 52% of the Serb vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the first 8 months; Ante JELAVIC with 52% of the Croat vote followed RADISIC in the rotation; Alija IZETBEGOVIC with 87% of the Bosniak vote won the highest number of votes in the election but was ineligible to serve a second term until RADISIC and JELAVIC had each served a first term as Chairman of the Presidency
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the National House of Representatives or Vijece Opcina (42 seats - 14 Serb, 14 Croat, and 14 Bosniak; members elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) and the House of Peoples or Vijece Gradanstvo (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 two-year terms) elections: National House of Representatives - elections last held 12-13 September 1998 (next to be held in fall 2000); House of Peoples - last constituted 4 December 1998 (next to be constituted in fall 2000) election results: National House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - KCD 17, HDZ-BiH 6, SDP-BiH 6, Sloga 4, SDS 4, SRS-RS 2, DNZ 1, NHI 1, RSRS 1; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - NA note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that consists of a House of Representatives (140 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms); elections last held fall 1998 (next to be held fall 2000); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - KCD 68, HDZ-BiH 28, SDP-BiH 25, NHI 4, DNZ 3, DSP 2, BPS 2, HSP 2, SPRS 2, BSP 1, KC 1, BOSS 1, HSS 1; and a House of Peoples (72 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30 Croat, and 12 others); last constituted November 1998; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms); elections last held fall 1998 (next to be held fall 2000); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDS 19, KCD 15, SNS 12, SRS-RS 11, SPRS 10, SNSD 6, RSRS 3, SKRS 2, SDP 2, KKO 1, HDZ-BiH 1, NHI 1; as of January 1999, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a permanent election law; a draft law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order administrative division entity legislatures
Judicial branch: The Constitutional Court has nine members: four
members are chosen by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of
Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska's National
Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members appointed by the president of the
European Court of Human Rights
Political parties and leaders: Bosnian Party of Rights or BSP [leader
NA]; Bosnian Party or BOSS; Bosnian Patriotic Party
or BPS; Center Coalition or KC (includes LBO, RS)
; Civic Democratic Party or GDS; Coalition
for King and Fatherland or KKO (Dubravko Prstojevic); Coalition for a
United and Democratic BIH or KCD [Alija IZETBEGOVIC; includes SDA and
SBH]; Croatian Democratic Union of BiH or HDZ-BiH;
Croatian Party of Rights or HSP; Croatian Peasants
Party of BiH or HSS-BiH; Democratic Party for Banja Luka
and Krajina; Democratic Party of Pensioners or DSP
; Democratic Peoples Union or DNZ;
Liberal Bosniak Organization or LBO; Liberal Party
or LS; Muslim-Bosnia Organization or MBO
; New Croatian Initiative or NHI;
Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBH; Party for
Democratic Action or SDA; Party of Democratic
Progress of the Republika Srpska; Party of Independent
Social Democrats or SNSD; Radical Party Republika
Srpska of RSRS; Republican Party or RS [Stjepan
KLJUIC]; Serb Coalition for Republika Srpska or SKRS [Predrag
LAZAREVIC]; Serb Democratic Party or Serb Lands or SDS [Dragan
KALINIC]; Serb National Alliance or SNS; Serb
Radical Party-Republika Srpska or SRS-RS (banned by
the Office of the High Representative - see Government note - from
participation in the April elections); Sloga or Unity
(includes SNS, SPRS, SNSD); Social Democratic Party BIH or SDP-BiH
; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska or SPRS
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, ECE,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OAS
(observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ; note - Igor DAVIDOVIC should become ambassador in early 2000 chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 337-1500 FAX: (202) 337-1502 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. MILLER embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo mailing address: use street address telephone: (71) 445-700 FAX: (71) 659-722
Flag description: a broad medium blue vertical stripe on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle next to the stripe and at the top of the flag; the rest of the flag is medium blue featuring seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars at the top and bottom along the triangle's hypotenuse.
Government - note: The Dayton Agreement, signed in Paris on December 14, 1995, preserved Bosnia's external borders and established a shared, multi-ethnic, democratic government. This national government—based on proportional representation similar to that in the former socialist regime—is responsible for managing foreign, economic, and fiscal policy. The Dayton Agreement also recognized a second level of government, consisting of two entities: a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska (RS), each governing roughly half of the territory. The Federation and RS governments are responsible for handling internal affairs. The Dayton Agreement established the Office of the High Representative (OHR) to oversee the enforcement of the civilian elements of the agreement. About 250 international staff members and 450 local staff members work for the OHR.
@Bosnia and Herzegovina:Economy
Economy - overview: Bosnia and Herzegovina was ranked alongside The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the former Yugoslav federation. While agriculture has mostly been privately owned, farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic has historically been a net importer of food. Industry has been significantly overstaffed, reflecting the socialist economic structure of Yugoslavia. TITO promoted the development of military industries in the republic, resulting in Bosnia hosting a large portion of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The intense interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to drop by 80% from 1990 to 1995, leading to skyrocketing unemployment and increased human suffering. With a shaky peace established, production rebounded in 1996-98 at high rates from a low starting point; however, output growth slowed notably in 1999, and GDP remains well below the 1990 level. Economic data is of limited usefulness because, although both entities provide figures, national-level statistics are unavailable. Additionally, official data do not account for the significant amount of activity that occurs in the black market. In 1999, the convertible mark—the national currency introduced in 1998—found broader acceptance, and the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina significantly increased its reserve holdings. The implementation of privatization, however, has stalled in both areas. Banking reform is also falling behind. The country continues to receive considerable reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but will need to prepare for a period of decreasing support.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,770 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 23% services: 58% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (estimated in 1997)
Labor force: 1.026 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, home appliances, oil refining (a lot of capacity damaged or shut down) (1995)
Industrial production growth rate: 5%-10% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 2.22 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 32.43% hydro: 67.57% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.065 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports: $450 million (1997 est.)
Exports - commodities: NA
Exports - partners: NA
Imports: $2.95 billion (1997 est.)
Imports - commodities: NA
Imports - partners: NA
Debt - external: $4.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.2 billion (1997 pledged)
Currency: 1 convertible mark (KM) = 100 convertible pennies
Exchange rates: convertible marks per US$1 - 1.9 (1999)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Bosnia and Herzegovina:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 238,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1999)
Telephone system: the telephone and telegraph network needs to be modernized and expanded; many urban areas are below average compared to 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 292 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Bosnia and Herzegovina:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,021 km (795 km electrified; operating on diesel or steam until the grids are fixed) standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1995); note - some sections still require repair and/or reconstruction
Highways: total: 21,846 km paved: 11,425 km unpaved: 10,421 km (1996 est.) note: roads need maintenance and repair
Waterways: NA km; major parts of the Sava are blocked by fallen bridges, silt, and debris.
Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992); note - pipelines are currently disrupted
Ports and harbors: Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava, none of which are fully operational), Orasje
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 27 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1999 est.)
@Bosnia and Herzegovina:Military
Military branches: Federation Army or VF (made up of both Croatian and Bosniak elements), Army of the Serb Republic (made up of Bosnian Serb elements); note - within both of these forces, air and air defense are subordinate commands
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,114,180 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 886,464 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 29,325 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@Bosnia and Herzegovina:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: disputes with Serbia over areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina that are populated by Serbs
Illicit drugs: small transit hub for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes to Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
BOTSWANA
@Botswana:Introduction
Background: Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. The economy, closely tied to South Africa's, is dominated by cattle raising and mining.
@Botswana:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, to the north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22° S, 24° E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 600,370 sq km land: 585,370 sq km water: 15,000 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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: semi-arid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain: mostly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari
Desert in the 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: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 47% other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can reduce 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 the eastern part of the country
@Botswana:People
Population: 1,576,470 note: estimates for this country clearly consider the impacts of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to reduced life expectancy, increased infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and shifts in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would typically be anticipated (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 321,766; female 318,304) 15-64 years: 55% (male 417,734; female 453,947) 65 years and over: 4% (male 26,436; female 38,283) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.76% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 29.63 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 22.08 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s) per female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s) per female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s) per female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s) per female total population: 0.94 male(s) per female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 61.68 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.27 years male: 38.63 years female: 39.93 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%, white 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christianity 50%
Languages: English (official), Setswana
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 69.8% male: 80.5% female: 59.9% (1995 est.)
@Botswana:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland
Data code: BC
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: Gaborone
Administrative divisions: 10 districts and four town councils*;
Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng,
Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Pikwe*, South-East,
Southern
Independence: September 30, 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 30 (1966)
Constitution: March 1965, effective September 30, 1966
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customs; judicial review is limited to interpretation issues; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since April 1, 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government; vice president KHAMA is on a one-year leave of absence, starting January 1, 2000, but keeps the title of vice president head of government: President Festus MOGAE (since April 1, 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government; vice president KHAMA is on a one-year leave of absence, starting January 1, 2000, but keeps the title of vice president cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; last election held on October 16, 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 - 61.3%
Legislative branch: The bicameral Parliament includes the House of Chiefs, which is a mostly advisory 15-member group made up of the chiefs from the eight main tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members chosen by the other 12. The National Assembly has 44 seats, with 40 members directly elected by popular vote and 4 appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms. Elections: The most recent National Assembly elections were held on October 16, 1999 (the next ones are scheduled for October 2004). Election results: Party vote percentage - BDP 61.3%, other 38.7%; Seats by party - BDP 33, other 7.
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP); Botswana National Front (BNF); Botswana Congress Party (BCP); Botswana People's Party (BPP). Note: The main parties are BDP, BNF, and BCP; other minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) [Kenneth KOMA, chairman] but did not win any parliamentary seats. The BAM parties are the United Action Party, the Social Democratic Union, the Independence Freedom Party [Motsamai MPHO], and the Botswana Progressive Union.
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kgosi SEEPAPITSO IV chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 244-4990 FAX: (202) 244-4164
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John E. LANGE embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: 353982 FAX: 356947
Flag description: light blue with a horizontal black stripe in the center edged in white.
@Botswana:Economy
Economy - overview: Agriculture still supports over 80% of the population but only meets about 50% of food needs and makes up just 3% of GDP. Subsistence farming and cattle raising are the main activities. The sector struggles with inconsistent rainfall and poor soil quality. Diamond mining and tourism also play significant roles in the economy. Major mineral deposits were discovered in the 1970s, and the mining sector grew from 25% of GDP in 1980 to 38% in 1998. Official unemployment stands at 21%, but unofficial estimates suggest it's closer to 40%. The Orapa 2000 project, which will double the capacity of the country's largest diamond mine, is expected to be completed in early 2000. This project will be the primary driver of ongoing economic growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.7 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,900 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 46% (including 36% mining) services: 50% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 47% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.7% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 235,000 formal sector employees (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: 100,000 in the public sector; 135,000 in the private sector, including 14,300 working in different mines in South Africa; the majority are involved in cattle farming and subsistence agriculture (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20%-40% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $560 million (FY96/97)
Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.6% (FY 92/93)
Electricity - production: 1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.619 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 689 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sorghum, corn, millet, legumes, peanuts, beans, cowpeas, sunflower seeds; livestock
Exports: $2.36 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: diamonds 72%, vehicles, copper, nickel, meat (1998)
Exports - partners: EU 74%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 21%,
Zimbabwe 3% (1996)
Imports: $2.05 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - goods: food, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles, oil products
Imports - partners: Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 78%, Europe 8%, Zimbabwe 6% (1996)
Debt - external: $651 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $73 million (1995)
Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
Exchange rates: pulas (P) per US$1 - 4.6168 (January 2000), 4.6244 (1999), 4.2259 (1998), 3.6508 (1997), 3.3242 (1996), 2.7722 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Botswana:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 78,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: sparse system domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations international: two international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 15, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: 237,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 31,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Botswana:Transportation
Railways: total: 971 km narrow gauge: 971 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 18,482 km paved: 4,343 km unpaved: 14,139 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 92 (1999 est.)
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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 82 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 57 under 914 m: 21 (1999 est.)
@Botswana:Military
Military branches: Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air Wing), Botswana National Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 373,990 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 196,572 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 19,132 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $61 million (FY99/00)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1.2% (FY99/00)
@Botswana:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: dispute with Namibia over uninhabited
Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River resolved by the ICJ
in favor of Botswana (13 December 1999); at least one other island in
Linyanti River is contested
______________________________________________________________________
BOUVET ISLAND
@Bouvet Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, south-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 land: 58.5 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic; highest point around 800 m; coast is mostly hard to access.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Southern Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 780 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (93% ice)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: covered by glacial ice; designated as a nature reserve
@Bouvet Island:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)
@Bouvet Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Data code: BV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; managed by the Polar
Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
@Bouvet Island:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity; designated a nature reserve
@Bouvet Island:Communications
Communications - note: automated weather station
@Bouvet Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage.
@Bouvet Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
@Bouvet Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
BRAZIL
@Brazil:Introduction
Background: After three centuries of Portuguese rule, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. As the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has moved past over fifty years of military intervention in its government to focus on industrial and agricultural growth and the development of its interior. By taking advantage of its extensive natural resources and a large workforce, Brazil emerged as Latin America's top economic power by the 1970s. However, highly unequal income distribution continues to be a significant issue.
@Brazil:Geography
Location: Eastern South America, next to the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 10° S, 55° W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 8,511,965 sq km land: 8,456,510 sq km water: 55,455 sq km note: includes Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Martin Vaz Islands, and Penedos de São Pedro e São Paulo
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mainly tropical, but mild in the south
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in the north; some plains, hills, mountains, and a narrow coastal area.
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: 5% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 58% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 28,000 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: frequent droughts in the northeast; floods and occasional frost in the south.
Environment - current issues: deforestation in the Amazon Basin is destroying habitats and threatening the survival of numerous plant and animal species native to the region; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and several other major cities; land degradation and water pollution resulting from improper mining practices. Note: President CARDOSO signed an environmental crime bill into law in September 1999, which for the first time classifies pollution and deforestation as crimes that can lead to heavy fines and jail sentences.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Environmental Protocol, 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: the largest country in South America; shares borders with every South American country except for Chile and Ecuador.
@Brazil:People
Population: 172,860,370 note: Brazil conducted an intercensal count in August 1996, which reported a population of 157,079,573; that number was about 5% lower than projections from the US Census Bureau, which aligns closely with the estimated undercount of 4.6% for the 1991 census. Estimates for this country explicitly consider the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, decreased population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex compared to what would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 25,607,074; female 24,670,960) 15-64 years: 66% (male 55,793,005; female 57,598,489) 65 years and over: 5% (male 3,727,912; female 5,462,930) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.94% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 18.84 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.37 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 0.97 males/females 65 years and over: 0.68 males/females total population: 0.97 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.04 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.94 years male: 58.54 years female: 67.56 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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, Indigenous) 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.3% male: 83.3% female: 83.2% (1995 est.)
@Brazil:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil conventional short form: Brazil local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil local short form: Brasil
Data code: BR
Government type: federative republic
Capital: Brasilia
Administrative divisions: 26 states and 1
federal district*; Acre, Alagoas, Amapá, Amazonas,
Bahia, Ceará, Federal District*, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato
Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná,
Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do
Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence: September 7, 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 7 (1822)
Constitution: 5 October 1988
Legal system: based on Roman codes; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: optional for those aged 16 to 18 and over 70; required for those over 18 and under 70 years old.
Executive branch: chief of state: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since January 1, 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since January 1, 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since January 1, 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since January 1, 1995); 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 four-year terms; election last held October 4, 1998 (next to be held in October 2002) election results: Fernando Henrique CARDOSO reelected president; percent of vote - 53%
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 by majority vote to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after four years, two-thirds elected after the next four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Câmara dos Deputados (513 seats; members elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms). elections: Federal Senate - last held on October 4, 1998, for one-third of the Senate (next to be held in October 2002 for two-thirds of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held on October 4, 1998 (next to be held in October 2002). election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMDB 27, PFL 20, PSDB 16, PT 7, PPB 5, PSB 3, PDT 2, PPS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PFL 106, PSDB 99, PMDB 82, PPB 60, PT 58, PTB 31, PDT 25, PSB 19, PL 12, PCdoB 7, other 14.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Federal Tribunal has 11 judges who are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Political parties and leaders: Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB); Brazilian Labor Party (PTB) [Jose Carlos MARTINEZ, president]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB); Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB); Brazilian Progressive Party (PPB) [Paulo MALUF, president]; Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) [Joao AMAZONAS, chairman]; Democratic Labor Party (PDT); Liberal Front Party (PFL); Liberal Party (PL); Popular Socialist Party (PPS); Worker’s Party (PT) [Jose DIRCEU, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders: the left wing of the Catholic Church, the Landless Workers' Movement, and labor unions associated with the leftist Workers' Party are critical of the government's social and economic policies.
International organization participation: AfDB, BIS, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, NAM
(observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 238-2700 FAX: (202) 238-2827 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony S. HARRINGTON embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900 Brazil mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 telephone: (61) 321-7272 FAX: (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 featuring a blue 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)
@Brazil:Economy
Economy - overview: With its extensive and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy surpasses all other South American countries and is increasing its presence in global markets. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, high inflation stifled economic activity and investment. The Real Plan, launched in the spring of 1994, aimed to break inflationary expectations by linking the real to the US dollar. Inflation was reduced to single-digit annual rates, but this wasn't fast enough to prevent significant real exchange rate appreciation during the transition phase of the Real Plan. This appreciation made Brazilian goods more expensive compared to those from other countries, leading to significant current account deficits. However, there was no shortage of foreign currency because the financial community regained interest in Brazilian markets as inflation rates stabilized and the debt crisis of the 1980s became a distant memory. Relying on capital account surpluses to sustain large current account deficits became problematic as investors grew more risk-averse to exposure in emerging markets following the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the Russian bond default in August 1998. After implementing a fiscal adjustment program and committing to structural reforms, 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 tied to the US dollar. This devaluation helped soften the economic downturn in 1999 that investors had expressed concerns about during the summer of 1998. Brazil's debt-to-GDP ratio of 48% for 1999 exceeded the IMF target and helped reassure investors that Brazil would maintain strict fiscal and monetary policies even with a floating currency. The economy is projected to grow by 3% in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.057 trillion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.8% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,150 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 36% services: 50% (1997)
Population below the poverty line: 17.4% (1990 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 47.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1999)
Labor force: 74 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $151 billion expenditures: $149 billion, including capital expenditures of $36 billion (1998)
Industries: textiles, footwear, chemicals, cement, wood, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, and other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate: -2.6% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 316.927 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 4.92% hydro: 91.02% nuclear: 0.99% other: 3.07% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 336.242 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 41.5 billion kWh note: imports electricity from Paraguay (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Exports: $46.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods, iron ore, soybeans, shoes, coffee
Exports - partners: US 18%, Argentina 13%, Germany 5%, Netherlands 5%,
Japan 4% (1999)
Imports: $48.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemical products, oil, electricity
Imports - partners: US 23%, Argentina 12%, Germany 10%, Japan 5%,
Italy 5% (1999)
Debt - external: $200 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.012 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 real (R$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: reals (R$) per US$1 - 1.804 (January 2000), 1.815 (1999), 1.161 (1998), 1.078 (1997), 1.005 (1996), 0.918 (1995) note: from October 1994 through January 14, 1999, the official rate was set by a managed float; since January 15, 1999, the official rate floats independently in relation to the US$
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Brazil:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 19 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4 million (1997)
Telephone system: 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 located with AM stations) (1999)
Radios: 71 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 138 (1997)
Televisions: 36.5 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 197 (1999)
@Brazil:Transportation
Railways: total: 27,882 km (1,122 km electrified); note - excludes urban rail broad gauge: 4,057 km 1.600-m gauge narrow gauge: 23,489 km 1.000-m gauge dual gauge: 336 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (1999 est.)
Highways: total: 1.98 million km paved: 184,140 km unpaved: 1,795,860 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 50,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 2,980 km; petroleum products 4,762 km; natural gas 4,246 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus,
Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador,
Santos, Vitoria
Merchant marine: total: 174 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 3,964,808 GRT/6,403,284 DWT ships by type: bulk 34, cargo 28, chemical tanker 5, combination ore/oil 9, container 10, liquefied gas 10, multifunctional large load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 59, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 11, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 3,277 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 541 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 138 914 to 1,523 m: 346 under 914 m: 32 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2,736 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 1,306 under 914 m: 1,357 (1999 est.)
@Brazil:Military
Military branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (which includes naval aviation and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 47,732,285 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males aged 15-49: 32,029,873 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 1,830,195 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $13.408 billion (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY99)
@Brazil:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: two short sections of the boundary with Uruguay
are in dispute - Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada) area of the
Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the meeting point of the Rio
Quarai and the Uruguay River
Illicit drugs: limited illegal cannabis production, minor coca farming in the Amazon region, primarily for local use; the government has a large-scale eradication program to manage cannabis; it is an important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine destined for the US and Europe; increasingly used by traffickers as a stopover for narcotics air transfers between Peru and Colombia; a rise in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling.
______________________________________________________________________
BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about halfway from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6°00′S, 71°30′E
Map references: World
Area: total: 60 sq km land: 60 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 698 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: tropical marine; warm, humid, balanced by trade winds
Terrain: flat and low (most areas do not rise above 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
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: an archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, the largest and southernmost island, is located in a key spot in the central Indian Ocean; the island hosts a joint US-UK military facility.
@British Indian Ocean Territory:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: around 3,000 native inhabitants, known as the Chagosians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius before the construction of UK-US military facilities; in 1995, there were about 1,700 UK and US military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors living on the island (July 2000 est.)
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Government
Country name: conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT
Data code: IO
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; managed by a commissioner who is based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
Legal system: NA
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952) head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA 1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note - both live in the UK cabinet: NA elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
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 top left corner; the striped section features a palm tree and a yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Economy
Economy - overview: All economic activity is focused on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are situated. Construction projects and various services required to support the military installations are carried out by military personnel and contract workers from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity - production: NA kWh note: electricity provided by the US military
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: NA
Telephone system: 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 provided via satellite (2000)
Radio stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Transportation
Highways: total: NA km paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Diego Garcia
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Military
Military - note: defense is the UK’s responsibility; the US lease on Diego Garcia ends in 2016.
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: both Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago.
______________________________________________________________________
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
@British Virgin Islands:Introduction
Background: First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were soon after (1672) taken over by the English. The economy is closely linked to the larger and more populated US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the official currency.
@British Virgin Islands:Geography
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: 150 sq km land: 150 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the island of Anegada
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures balanced by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands are mostly flat; volcanic islands are steep and 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: 7% permanent pastures: 33% forests and woodland: 7% other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (other than a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater collection)
Geography - note: strong connections to the nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto
Rico
@British Virgin Islands:People
Population: 19,615 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 2,022; female 1,975) 15-64 years: 75% (male 7,517; female 7,102) 65 years and over: 5% (male 545; female 454) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.34% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 15.86 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.59 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 12.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 1.2 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.05 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.44 years male: 74.57 years female: 76.35 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: Black 90%, White, Asian
Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@British Virgin Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI
Data code: VI
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
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, July 1
Constitution: 1 June 1977
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor Francis J. SAVAGE (since NA) head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since May 15, 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct public vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, and four at-large members; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, made up of the
High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal; (one judge from the
Supreme Court lives in the islands and leads the High
Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary
Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) [E. Walwyn Brewley]; Independent People's Movement (IPM) [Omar Hodge and Allen O'Neal]; United Party (UP); Virgin Islands Party (VIP)
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, featuring the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side corner and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms shows a woman flanked on each side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll with the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
@British Virgin Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, relies heavily on tourism, which accounts for about 45% of the national income. In 1997, around 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands. In the mid-1980s, the government started offering offshore registration for companies wanting to incorporate in the islands, and the fees from this have become a significant source of revenue. By the end of 1997, there were about 250,000 companies on the offshore registry. The introduction of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which ensures confidentiality while allowing regulated access for investigating criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more appealing to international business. Raising livestock is the most important agricultural activity; however, poor soil quality limits the islands' capacity to meet local food needs. Due to longstanding connections with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $287 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.8% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1998)
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 manufacturing, construction, rum, concrete blocks, offshore finance center
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1985)
Electricity - production: 42 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 39 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Exports: $6 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners: U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S.
Imports: $175 million (1998)
Imports - commodities: construction materials, cars, food products, machinery
Imports - partners: US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, US
Debt - external: $36.1 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $2.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: The US dollar is used
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@British Virgin Islands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 9,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: global 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@British Virgin Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 113 km (1995 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Road Town
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@British Virgin Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the UK's responsibility
@British Virgin Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
BRUNEI
@Brunei:Introduction
Background: Although much smaller now than in its peak during the 16th century, the Sultanate of Brunei sits on vast petroleum and natural gas fields, which contribute to one of the highest per capita GDPs among less developed countries.
@Brunei:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, next to the South China Sea and
Malaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4° 30' N, 114° 40' E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 5,770 sq km land: 5,270 sq km water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles or to the median line territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain: a flat coastal plain that rises to mountains in the east; hilly lowland in the west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, wood
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 85% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards like typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are quite rare.
Environment - current issues: seasonal smoke and haze 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: it's near important sea routes in the South China Sea connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans; two sections are physically separated by Malaysia; nearly an enclave of Malaysia.
@Brunei:People
Population: 336,376 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 53,812; female 51,628) 15-64 years: 66% (male 118,207; female 103,819) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,317; female 4,593) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.17% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 20.81 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 3.39 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.84 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.58 years male: 71.23 years female: 76.06 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 62%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 17%
Religions: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and others 10%
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 88.2% male: 92.6% female: 83.4% (1995 est.)
@Brunei:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei
Data code: BX
Government type: constitutional sultanate
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (districts, singular - district); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence: January 1, 1984 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, February 23 (1984)
Constitution: September 29, 1959 (some provisions suspended under a
State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on January 1,
1984)
Legal system: based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic
Shari'a law takes precedence over civil law in several areas
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and led by the monarch; handles executive matters note: there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious issues, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that addresses constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the line of succession to the throne if needed elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative role; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch) elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970, the Council was converted into an appointed body by the 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: The Supreme Court, along with the chief justice and judges, is appointed by the monarch for three-year terms.
Political parties and leaders: Brunei Solidarity National Party, or PPKB in Malay; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei. It was registered in 1985 but became mostly inactive after 1988. It was revived in 1995 and again in 1998. It has fewer than 200 registered party members. Other parties include the Brunei People's Party, or PRB (banned in 1962), and the Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988).
International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni Mohammad Alam chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 342-0159 FAX: (202) 342-0158
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sylvia Gaye STANFIELD embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507 telephone: (2) 229670 FAX: (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 placed at the center; the emblem features a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two raised hands.
@Brunei:Economy
Economy - overview: This small, wealthy economy is a mix of foreign and local entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare programs, and village traditions. It heavily relies on exports of crude oil and natural gas, with earnings from the petroleum sector making up over half of GDP. Per capita GDP is significantly higher than in most other developing countries, and substantial income from international investments boosts income from domestic production. The government covers all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. Progress has been made in diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders worry that increasing integration into the global economy might disrupt internal social unity, although they have taken steps to become more influential, such as chairing the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Growth in 1999 is estimated at 2.5% due to rising oil prices in the latter half of the year.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (estimated for 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,400 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 144,000 (1995 est.); note - includes foreign workers and military personnel note: temporary residents make up 41% of the labor force (1991)
Labor force - by occupation: government 48%, oil and natural gas production, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768 million (1995 est.)
Industries: oil, oil refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 2.56 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.381 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo
Exports: $2.04 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1998)
Exports - commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products
Exports - partners: Japan 51%, UK 14%, US 10%, Singapore 8%, Thailand 3% (1998)
Imports: $1.38 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: Singapore 32%, UK 17%, Malaysia 12%, France 12%,
US 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $0
Economic aid - recipient: $4.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.6733 (January 2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995); note - the Bruneian dollar is equal to the Singapore dollar.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Brunei:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 68,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 57,000 (1998)
Telephone system: service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to Europe, the US, and East Asia. domestic: N/A international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Indian Ocean and 1 in the Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 319,408 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 196,009 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Brunei:Transportation
Railways: total: 13 km (private line) narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge
Highways: total: 1,150 km paved: 399 km unpaved: 751 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 209 km; navigable by vessels with a draft of less than 1.2 m
Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km
Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria,
Tutong
Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT ships by type: liquefied gas 7 (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
@Brunei:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 104,447 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 60,395 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,957 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $343 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 5.1% (FY98)
@Brunei:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: possibly involved in a complicated dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei set up an exclusive fishing zone that includes Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but hasn't publicly claimed the island.
______________________________________________________________________
BULGARIA
@Bulgaria:Introduction
Background: After being on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell under Soviet influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist rule ended in 1991 with the collapse of the USSR, and Bulgaria started the difficult journey towards political democracy and a market economy while dealing with inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization are guiding Bulgaria toward eventual integration into the EU and NATO.
@Bulgaria:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, next to the Black Sea, between
Romania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 43° N, 25° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 110,910 sq km land: 110,550 sq km water: 360 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,808 km border countries: Greece 494 km, North Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (all with Serbia), Turkey 240 km
Coastline: 354 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: moderate; chilly, wet winters; warm, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with low areas in the north and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, wood, farmable land
Land use: arable land: 43% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 38% other: 3% (1999 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,370 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted by raw sewage, heavy metals, and detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial waste.
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, 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,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: strategic location near the Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to the Middle East and Asia.
@Bulgaria:People
Population: 7,796,694 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 623,285; female 591,655) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,610,573; female 2,685,190) 65 years and over: 16% (male 546,029; female 739,962) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.16% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 8.06 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 14.63 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.13 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.91 years male: 67.45 years female: 74.56 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 83%, Turk 8.5%, Roma 2.6%, Macedonian,
Armenian, Tatar, Gagauz, Circassian, others (1998)
Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 83.5%, Muslim 13%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Jewish 0.8%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 1% (1998)
Languages: Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to the ethnic composition.
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1999)
@Bulgaria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria
Data code: BU
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Sofia
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast);
Burgas, Sofia City, Haskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofia,
Varna
Independence: September 22, 1908 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, March 3 (1878)
Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system: civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Petar STOYANOV (since January 22, 1997); Vice President Todor KAVALDZHIEV (since January 22, 1997) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Ivan KOSTOV (since May 19, 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Petur ZHOTEV (since December 21, 1999) 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 on October 27 and November 3, 1996 (next to be held in 2001); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister election results: Petar STOYANOV elected president; percent of vote - Petar STOYANOV 59.73%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 19 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - UtdDF 52%, BSP 22%, ANS 7%, Euro-left 5.5%, BBB 4.95%; seats by party - UtdDF 137, BSP 58, ANS 19, Euro-left 14, BBB 12; note - seating as of May 1997: UtdDF 126, DL 58, ANS 19, Euro-left 17, PU 11, independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chair appointed for a seven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for National Salvation or ANS
(coalition mainly led by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS)
; Bulgarian Business Bloc or BBB ;
Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP ;
Democratic Left or DL ; Euro-left ;
Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS (member of LDU) ;
People's Union or PU ; Union of Democratic Forces or
UtdDF (an alliance of pro-democratic parties)
Political pressure groups and leaders: agrarian movement; Bulgarian
Agrarian National Union - United or BZNS; Bulgarian Democratic Center;
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB;
Democratic Alliance for the Republic or DAR; Gergiov Den; Internal
Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO; New Union for Democracy
or NUD; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian National Union; Podkrepa
Labor Confederation; various regional, ethnic, and national interest
groups with different agendas
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE,
CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG,
OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Philip DIMITROV chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-0174, 387-0365, 483-1386 FAX: (202) 234-7973 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILES embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5740 telephone: (2) 980-52-41 through 48 FAX: (2) 981-89-77
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the national emblem that used to be on the hoist side of the white stripe has been removed - it featured a rearing lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon with the dates 681 (establishment of the first Bulgarian state) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi control)
@Bulgaria:Economy
Economy - overview: In April 1997, the current ruling Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) government won early parliamentary elections and introduced an IMF currency board system that successfully stabilized the economy. The triple-digit inflation of 1996 and 1997 gave way to an official consumer price increase of 6.2% in 1999. After declines in GDP in both 1996 and 1997, the economy grew an estimated 3.5% in 1998 and 2.5% in 1999. In September 1998, the IMF approved a three-year Extended Fund Facility, providing credits worth about $900 million to support Bulgaria's reform efforts. In 1999, an unfavorable international environment—primarily due to the Kosovo conflict—and structural reforms slowed economic growth, but forecasters predict accelerated growth in the coming years. The government's structural reform program includes: (a) privatization and, where necessary, liquidation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs); (b) liberalization of agricultural policies, including establishing conditions for a land market's development; (c) reform of the country's social insurance programs; and (d) reforms to strengthen contract enforcement and combat crime and corruption.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $34.9 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 29% services: 50% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 24.7% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.2% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 3.82 million (est. 1998)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $4.69 billion expenditures: $5.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: machinery manufacturing and metalworking, food processing, chemicals, building materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals, nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate: -3% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 38.423 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 52.34% hydro: 7.35% nuclear: 40.31% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 35.493 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 2 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 1.76 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets
Exports: $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment; metals, minerals, and fuels; chemicals and plastics; food, tobacco, clothing (1998)
Exports - partners: Italy 13%, Germany 10%, Greece 9%, Turkey 8%,
Russia (1998)
Imports: $5.3 billion (free on board, 1999 estimated)
Imports - commodities: fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles (1998)
Imports - partners: Russia 20%, Germany 14%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, US 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $10 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki
Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1 - 1.9295 (January 2000), 1.8364 (1999), 1,760.36 (1998), 1,681.88 (1997), 177.89 (1996), 67.17 (1995) note: on July 5, 1999, the lev was re-denominated; the lev after July 5, 1999, is equal to 1,000 of the lev before July 5, 1999.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Bulgaria:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 3.186 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 300,000 (1999)
Telephone system: over two-thirds of the lines are for homes. Domestic: there is a large but outdated transmission system using coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; telephone service is accessible in most villages; a newer digital cable trunk line now links switching centers in most regions, with the others connected through digital microwave. 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 24, FM 93, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 4.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 33 (1999)
Televisions: 3.31 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 20 (1999)
@Bulgaria:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,294 km standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified; 917 km double track) narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (1998)
Highways: total: 36,759 km paved: 33,818 km (including 319 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,941 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 470 km (1987)
Pipelines: oil products 525 km; natural gas 1,500 km (1999)
Ports and harbors: Burgas, Lom, Nesebar, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
Merchant marine: total: 85 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 947,711 GRT/1,449,416 DWT ships by type: bulk 43, cargo 18, chemical tanker 4, container 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, rail car carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 5, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 216 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 129 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 93 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 75 (1999 est.)
@Bulgaria:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Forces, Border
Troops, Internal Troops, Railway and Construction Troops
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,913,857 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,599,379 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 57,461 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $379 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY99)
Military - note: the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has started a new downsizing, modernization, and reform program (PLAN 2004) that will lead to a smaller force structure of about 50,000 personnel, focusing on a Rapid Reaction Force and two additional corps headquarters, each with subordinate brigades.
@Bulgaria:Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs: a major European hub for the transshipment of Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine for the European market; a limited producer of precursor chemicals.
______________________________________________________________________
BURKINA FASO
@Burkina Faso:Introduction
Background: Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) gained independence from France in 1960. The 1970s and 1980s were marked by governmental instability, which was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Every year, several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.
@Burkina Faso:Geography
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 13° N, 2° W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 3,192 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Côte d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 548 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, rainy summers
Terrain: mostly flat to broken up, rolling plains; hills in the 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: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 50% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: recent droughts and desertification seriously impacting 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
@Burkina Faso:People
Population: 11,946,065 note: estimates for this country explicitly consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex than would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age distribution: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,866,361; female 2,822,990) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,808,797; female 3,097,048) 65 years and older: 3% (male 149,474; female 201,395) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.71% (estimated for 2000)
Birth rate: 45.26 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 17.04 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1.02 males/females 15-64 years: 0.91 males/females 65 years and over: 0.74 males/females total population: 0.95 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 108.53 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.73 years male: 46.29 years female: 47.18 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.44 children born per woman (2000 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 from the Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 19.2% male: 29.5% female: 9.2% (1995 est.)
@Burkina Faso:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta
Data code: UV
Government type: parliamentary
Capital: Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,
Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,
Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno,
Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
Note: a new electoral code was approved by the National Assembly in
January 1997; the number of administrative provinces was increased
from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,
Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga,
Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala,
Naumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie,
Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,
Zondomo, Zoundweogo), however, this change has not yet been approved
by the US Board on Geographic Names
Independence: August 5, 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, August 4 (1983)
Constitution: Approved by referendum on June 2, 1991; formally adopted on June 11, 1991.
Legal system: based on the French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since October 15, 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Kadre Desire OUEDRAOGO (since February 6, 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president based on the prime minister's recommendation elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the president can serve unlimited terms; the last election was on November 15, 1998 (next one to be held in 2005); prime minister appointed by the president with the legislature's consent election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 88% of the vote, with a 56% voter turnout note: despite his reelection, President COMPAORE is facing a growing political crisis due to his mishandling of an investigation into the assassination of a newspaper editor and increasing pressure for political reform
Legislative branch: bicameral; consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (ADP) (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants (178 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms) elections: National Assembly election last held on May 11, 1997 (next to be held in 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDP 101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders: African Democratic Rally or RDA [Gerard
Kango OUEDRAOGO, Clement SANOU]; Alliance for Democracy and Federation
or ADF; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP
; Group for Progressive Democrats or GDP [Issa
TIENDREBEOGO]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP
; Party for African Independence or PAI
; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph
KI-ZERBO]; Party for Progress and Social Development or PPDS [leader
NA]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram
OVEDRAGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor (CGTB); Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights (HBDHP); Group of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers (CNTB); National Organization of Free Unions (ONSL); watchdog and political action groups across the country in various organizations and communities.
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bruno ZIDOUEMBA chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-5577 FAX: (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy J. KOLKER embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou telephone: 306723 through 306725 FAX: 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
@Burkina Faso:Economy
Economy - overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, limited natural resources, and fragile soil. About 90% of the population is involved in (mostly subsistence) agriculture, which is very vulnerable to changes in rainfall. The industry is still largely controlled by unprofitable government-run companies. After the African franc was devalued in January 1994, the government revised its development program with international agencies, leading to increases in exports and economic growth. Maintaining its macroeconomic progress in 2000-2001 relies on continued low inflation, reducing the trade deficit, and reforms aimed at encouraging private investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.4 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (1999 estimated)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 36% industry: 20% services: 44% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 4.679 million (people 10 years old and older, based on a sample survey conducted in 1991) note: a significant portion of the male labor force migrates each year to neighboring countries for seasonal work
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $277 million expenditures: $492 million, including capital expenditures of $233 million (1995 est.)
Industries: cotton, drinks, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1995)
Electricity - production: 225 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 64.44% hydro: 35.56% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 209 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock
Exports: $311 million (free on board, 1998 estimate)
Exports - commodities: cotton, livestock products, gold
Exports - partners: Ivory Coast, Taiwan, France, Colombia, Italy,
Mali
Imports: $572 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - products: machinery, food items, oil
Imports - partners: Ivory Coast, France, Senegal, Togo, Nigeria, USA
Debt - external: $1.3 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $484.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 West African CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Burkina Faso:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 30,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: all services are only fair domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 370,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 100,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Burkina Faso:Transportation
Railways: total: 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Côte d'Ivoire border and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya) narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 33 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 16 (1999 est.)
@Burkina Faso:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National
Police, People's Militia
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,500,962 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,282,483 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $66 million (FY96)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY96)
@Burkina Faso:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
BURMA
@Burma:Introduction
Background: Even though multiparty elections in 1990 led to a significant win for the main opposition party, the military junta in charge of the country refused to transfer power. Key opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, still faces restrictions on her activities; her supporters are regularly harassed or imprisoned.
@Burma:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, next to the Andaman Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates: 22° N, 98° E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 678,500 sq km land: 657,740 sq km water: 20,760 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical monsoon; overcast, rainy, hot, and humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less overcast, minimal rainfall, mild temperatures, and lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
Terrain: central lowlands surrounded by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources: oil, wood, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, gemstones, natural gas, hydroelectric power
Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 49% other: 34% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,680 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: damaging earthquakes and storms; flooding and landslides often occur during the rainy season (June to September); occasional droughts.
Environment - current issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; poor sanitation and water treatment lead 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: key location close to important Indian Ocean shipping routes
@Burma:People
Population: 41,734,853 note: estimates for this country explicitly consider the impact of excess mortality from AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and shifts in the age and sex distribution of the population than would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 6,341,546; female 6,086,650) 15-64 years: 65% (male 13,565,379; female 13,764,242) 65 years and over: 5% (male 885,583; female 1,091,453) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 20.61 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 12.35 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 75.3 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.91 years male: 53.6 years female: 56.29 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Burmese (singular and plural) adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%,
Mon 2%, Indian 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: ages 15 and up 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.)
@Burma:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Union of Burma conventional short form: Burma local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar) local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
Data code: BM
Government type: military regime
Capital: Yangon (the regime calls the capital Rangoon)
Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular - yin) and 7
states (pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*,
Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State,
Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*
Independence: January 4, 1948 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, January 4, 1948
Constitution: January 3, 1974 (suspended since September 18, 1988); national convention began on January 9, 1993, to create a new constitution; chapter titles and three out of 15 sections have been approved.
Legal system: does not accept mandatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; everyone has the right to vote.
Executive branch: chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since April 23, 1992); note - the prime minister serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since April 23, 1992); note - the prime minister serves as both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, named on November 15, 1997, which initially took power on September 18, 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council; the SPDC oversees the cabinet elections: none; the prime minister took power after the resignation of the former prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held May 27, 1990, but Assembly never convened election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NLD 396, NUP 10, other 79
Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal system still exist, but there’s no assurance of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not separate from the executive.
Political parties and leaders: National League for Democracy (NLD); National Unity Party (NUP) (pro-regime); Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) (pro-regime, a social and political organization); and eight minor legal parties.
Political pressure groups and leaders: All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF); Kachin Independence Army (KIA); Karen National Union (KNU); National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) consists of individuals who were legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but are 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 (UWSA)
International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador TIN WINN chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-9044 FAX: (202) 332-9046 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Permanent Charge d'Affaires Priscilla A. CLAPP embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521) mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546 telephone: (1) 282055, 282182 FAX: (1) 280409
Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper left corner featuring, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars arranged around a cogwheel that has a stalk of rice inside; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions.
@Burma:Economy
Economy - overview: Burma has a mixed economy where private activity is dominant in agriculture, light industry, and transportation, while substantial state-controlled activity mainly focuses on energy, heavy industry, and the rice trade. Over the past 11 years, from 1989 to 1999, government policy has aimed to revitalize the economy after three decades of strict central planning. As a result, private activity has significantly increased, and foreign investment has been encouraged, though with only moderate success so far. State enterprises continue to be highly inefficient, and efforts to privatize them have stalled. Published estimates of Burma's foreign trade are greatly underestimated due to the extensive black-market trade. A major ongoing issue is the failure to achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Burma remains a poor Asian country, and living standards for most people have not improved over the past decade. The short-term outlook points to continued slow growth due to poor government planning, internal unrest, minimal foreign investment, and a large trade deficit.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $59.4 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.6% (estimated 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 59% industry: 11% services: 30% (1997 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 23% (1997 est.)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 38% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 19.7 million (FY98/99 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 10%, services 25% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.1% (official FY97/98 estimate)
Budget: revenues: $7.9 billion expenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7 billion (FY96/97)
Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 4.31 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.72% hydro: 38.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 4.008 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, oilseeds, sugarcane, legumes; hardwood
Exports: $1.2 billion (1998)
Exports - commodities: pulses and beans, shrimp, fish, rice; teak, opiates
Exports - partners: India 13%, China 11%, Singapore 10%, Thailand 8% (1998)
Imports: $2.5 billion (1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery, transport equipment, building materials, food products
Imports - partners: Singapore 31%, Japan 12%, Thailand 12%, China 9%,
Malaysia 8% (1998)
Debt - external: $5.9 billion (FY98/99 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $99 million (FY98/99)
Currency: 1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas
Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1 - official rate - 6.2665 (January 2000), 6.2858 (1999), 6.3432 (1998), 6.2418 (1997), 5.9176 (1996), 5.6670 (1995); kyats (K) per US$1 - market exchange rate - 330 (year-end 1999)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Burma:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 158,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,007 (1995)
Telephone system: meets basic needs for local and intercity service for businesses and government; international service is solid. domestic: N/A 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: 260,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 0 (1999)
@Burma:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,991 km narrow gauge: 3,991 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 28,200 km paved: 3,440 km unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 12,800 km; 3,200 km are navigable by large commercial ships.
Pipelines: crude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 km
Ports and harbors: Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein,
Myitkyina, Yangon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy
Merchant marine: total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 472,284 GRT/716,533 DWT ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 20, container 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 2 countries: Japan owns 2 ships, and the US owns 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 80 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 70 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 32 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Burma:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 11,865,696 females age 15-49: 11,894,661 note: both genders are subject to military service (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males age 15-49: 6,334,750 females age 15-49: 6,334,937 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 483,964 females: 468,221 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $39 million (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.1% (FY97/98)
@Burma:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: occasional conflict with Thailand over the position of the border
Illicit drugs: the world's second largest producer of illegal opium, after Afghanistan (potential production in 1999 - 1,090 metric tons, down 38% due to drought; cultivation in 1999 - 89,500 hectares, a 31% decline from 1998); the surrender of drug lord KHUN SA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was celebrated by Rangoon as a big win in the fight against drugs, but the lack of government will and capacity to take on major drug trafficking organizations, along with a lack of serious commitment to combat money laundering, continues to hinder the overall anti-drug efforts; becoming a major source of methamphetamines for local use.
______________________________________________________________________
BURUNDI
@Burundi:Introduction
Background: Between 1993 and 1999, ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi groups in Burundi resulted in hundreds of thousands of refugees and at least 250,000 deaths. Although many refugees have come back from nearby countries, ongoing ethnic tensions have caused others to escape. Burundian troops, aiming to protect their borders, have gotten involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
@Burundi:Geography
Location: Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Geographic coordinates: 3°30'S, 30°00'E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 27,830 sq km land: 25,650 sq km water: 2,180 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 significant altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m); average annual temperature changes with altitude, ranging from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius, but is generally moderate since the average altitude is around 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons run from February to May and September to November, while dry seasons are from June to August and December to January.
Terrain: hilly and mountainous, leading to a plateau in the east, with 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 used), vanadium, farmland, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 44% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 36% forests and woodland: 3% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding, landslides
Environment - current issues: soil erosion due to overgrazing and the spread of agriculture into less suitable lands; deforestation (very few forests are left because of uncontrolled logging for firewood); habitat loss is putting wildlife populations at risk.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked; sits on the divide of the Nile-Congo watershed
@Burundi:People
Population: 6,054,714 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the effects of excess mortality from AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and shifts in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 1,442,585; female 1,411,908) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,485,177; female 1,541,754) 65 years and over: 3% (male 71,998; female 101,292) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.15% (estimated 2000)
Birth rate: 40.46 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 16.44 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.5 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.18 years male: 45.23 years female: 47.16 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.25 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundi
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 (spoken along Lake
Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.3% male: 49.3% female: 22.5% (1995 est.)
@Burundi:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republika y'u Burundi local short form: Burundi
Data code: BY
Government type: republic
Capital: Bujumbura
Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi,
Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba,
Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
note: there may be a new province named Mwaro
Independence: July 1, 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 1 (1962)
Constitution: March 13, 1992; established a plural political system; replaced on June 6, 1998, by a Transitional Constitution that expanded the National Assembly and created two vice presidents.
Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; does not accept mandatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA years old; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (acting president since September 27, 1996, officially sworn in on June 11, 1998), First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since May 1998), Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since May 1998); note - the president serves as both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA (acting president since September 27, 1996, officially sworn in on June 11, 1998), First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since May 1998), Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since May 1998); note - the president serves as both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: N/A; the current president came to power after a coup on July 25, 1996, when former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown.
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (121 seats; note - the new Transitional Constitution increased the number of seats from 81 to 121 in 1998; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms). Elections: last held on June 29, 1993 (the next was scheduled to be in 1998, but was suspended by presidential decree in 1996). Election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, various other parties 40.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA
; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean
MINANI, president]
note: opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi
African Alliance for Salvation or ABASA; Rally for
Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Cyrille
SIGEJEJE, chairman]; Party for National Redress or PARENA
; Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB;
People's Reconciliation Party or PRP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Informally organized Tutsi militias
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC,
CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 342-2574 FAX: (202) 342-2578
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Catlin YATES embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: (2) 223454 FAX: (2) 222926
Flag description: split by a white diagonal cross into red sections (top and bottom) and green sections (hoist side and outer side) with a white circle superimposed in the center featuring three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular pattern (one star above, two stars below)
@Burundi:Economy
Economy - overview: Burundi is a landlocked country with few resources and an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is mainly agricultural, with about 90% of the population relying on subsistence farming. Its economic stability depends on the coffee crop, which makes up 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Consequently, the ability to afford imports heavily relies on unpredictable climate conditions and the international coffee market. Since October 1993, the country has experienced widespread ethnic violence, resulting in the deaths of roughly 250,000 people and displacing about 800,000 others. Food, medicine, and electricity are still in short supply.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.2 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $730 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 46% industry: 17% services: 37% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 36.2% (1990 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 26% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 1.9 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 93%, government 4%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $125 million expenditures: $176 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: light consumer goods like blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported parts; public works construction; food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 127 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.57% hydro: 98.43% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 153 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 35 million kWh note: imports some electricity from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Exports: $56 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, leather
Exports - partners: UK, Germany, Benelux, Switzerland (1998)
Imports: $108 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, oil products, food items
Imports - partners: Benelux, France, Zambia, Germany, Kenya, Japan (1998)
Debt - external: $1.247 billion (1997 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.344 billion (1999 est.)
Currency: 1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1 - 626.79 (January 2000), 563.56 (1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996), 249.76 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Burundi:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 17,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 343 (1995)
Telephone system: 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 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 440,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1999)
Televisions: 25,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Burundi:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Lake Tanganyika
Ports and harbors: Bujumbura
Airports: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Burundi:Military
Military branches: Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary
Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 16 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,344,177 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 701,367 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 76,866 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $25 million (FY93)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY93)
@Burundi:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
CAMBODIA
@Cambodia:Introduction
Background: After a five-year struggle, the communist Khmer Rouge forces took over Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from executions or extreme hardships. A Vietnamese invasion in 1978 pushed the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and started 13 years of conflict. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped bring back some level of normalcy, along with the rapid decline of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government formed after the national elections in 1998 brought renewed political stability and led to the surrender of the remaining Khmer Rouge forces.
@Cambodia:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, next to 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: a bit 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; rainy monsoon season (May to November); dry season
(December to April); minimal seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly flat plains; mountains in the southwest and north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources: wood, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, potential for hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 66% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 920 sq km (est. 1993)
Natural hazards: monsoon rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
Environment - current issues: illegal logging across the country and strip mining for gems in the western region near the border with Thailand have led to habitat loss and a drop in biodiversity (especially the destruction of mangrove swamps, which threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population lacks access to safe drinking water; toxic waste shipments from Taiwan triggered unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note: a land of rice fields and forests centered around the
Mekong River and Tonle Sap
@Cambodia:People
Population: 12,212,306 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the impact of excess mortality from AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and shifts in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 2,610,009; female 2,505,932) 15-64 years: 55% (male 3,132,198; female 3,542,655) 65 years and over: 3% (male 173,179; female 248,333) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.27% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 33.48 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 10.79 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 66.82 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.53 years male: 54.44 years female: 58.74 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.82 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions: Theravada Buddhism 95%, others 5%
Languages: Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 35% male: 48% female: 22% (1990 est.)
@Cambodia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia conventional short form: Cambodia local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea local short form: Kampuchea
Data code: CB
Government type: multiparty liberal democracy within a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993
Capital: Phnom Penh
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces (khett, singular and plural)
and 3 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean
Cheay, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu,
Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Koh Kong, Keb*, Kratie, Mondulkiri,
Oddar Meanchey, Phnom Penh*, Pursat, Preah Sihanouk*
(Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Ratannakiri, Siem Reap,
Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Takeo
note: there may be a new municipality called Pailin
Independence: November 9, 1953 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 9 (1953)
Constitution: promulgated 21 September 1993
Legal system: mainly a civil law system that combines French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and legislative acts, along with aspects of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; there has been a growing influence of common law in recent years.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated September 24, 1993) head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since November 30, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is selected by a Royal Throne Council; prime minister appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assembly
Legislative branch: bicameral consists of the National Assembly (122 seats; members elected by popular vote for 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 on July 26, 1998 (next to be held in 2003); Senate - last held on March 2, 1999 (next to be held in 2004). Election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party - CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Council of the Magistracy, established by the constitution, was created in December 1997; a Supreme Court and lower courts carry out judicial authority.
Political parties and leaders: Buddhist Liberal Party or BLP [IENG MOULY]; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party or CPP; Khmer Citizen Party or KCP; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP (formerly Khmer Nation Party or KNP)
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roland ENG chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: (202) 726-7742 FAX: (202) 726-8381
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kent M. WIEDEMANN embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: (23) 216-436, 216-438 FAX: (23) 216-811
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.
@Cambodia:Economy
Economy - overview: After four years of strong economic performance, Cambodia's economy slowed significantly in 1997-98 due to the regional economic crisis, civil unrest, and political conflicts. Foreign investment and tourism declined. Additionally, in 1998, the main harvest was affected by drought. However, in 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms, and growth resumed at 4%. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a major challenge. The population lacks education and job skills, especially in the poor rural areas, which suffer from an almost complete lack of basic infrastructure. Ongoing political instability and corruption in the government discourage foreign investment and slow down foreign aid. On a positive note, the government is tackling these issues with support from bilateral and multilateral donors. As long as political stability is maintained, the Cambodian economy is likely to grow at a healthy rate.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.2 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $710 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 43% industry: 20% services: 37% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 36% (1997 est.)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 6 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80% (1999 estimate)
Unemployment rate: 2.8% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $327 million expenditures: $393 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: clothing, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 210 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.52% hydro: 40.48% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 195 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables
Exports: $821 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: wood, clothing, rubber, rice, fish
Exports - partners: US, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Malaysia, US
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: cigarettes, gold, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, and cars.
Imports - partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Thailand
Debt - external: $829 million (1999 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $470 million promised in grants and low-interest loans for 2000 by international donors
Currency: 1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen
Exchange rates: new riels (CR) per US$1 - 3,786.0 (January 2000), 3,807.8 (1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996), 2,450.8 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Cambodia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 21,800 (mid-1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 34,880 (1998)
Telephone system: sufficient landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have limited telephone service. domestic: N/A international: decent but costly 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: 5 (1999)
Televisions: 94,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Cambodia:Transportation
Railways: total: 603 km narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 35,769 km paved: 4,165 km unpaved: 31,604 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 3,700 km are navigable year-round for boats with a draft of 0.6 m or less; 282 km are navigable for boats with a draft of 1.8 m or less.
Ports and harbors: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh
Kong, Phnom Penh
Merchant marine: total: 211 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 953,105 GRT/1,345,766 DWT ships by type: bulk 20, cargo 166, combination bulk 1, container 5, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off 6 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 8 countries: Aruba 1, Cyprus 7, Egypt 1, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia 5, Singapore 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 19 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
@Cambodia:Military
Military branches: Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), which includes the Army, Navy, and Air Force - established in 1993 through the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and two noncommunist resistance armies. Note: there are also resistance forces made up of the Khmer Rouge (also called the National United Army or NUA) and a separate royalist resistance movement.
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,763,568 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,547,078 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 156,119 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $85 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.4% (FY98)
@Cambodia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: offshore islands and parts of the boundary with Vietnam are disputed; the maritime boundary with Vietnam is not defined; parts of the border with Thailand are unclear; the maritime boundary with Thailand is not clearly defined.
Illicit drugs: a transit point for Golden Triangle heroin; potential money laundering; drug-related corruption reportedly involving some government officials, military, and police; possible small-scale production of opium, heroin, and amphetamines; significant producer of cannabis for the international market.
______________________________________________________________________
CAMEROON
@Cameroon:Introduction
Background: The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to create the current country. Cameroon has mostly experienced stability, allowing for the growth of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite efforts towards democratic reform, political power is still firmly held by an ethnic elite.
@Cameroon:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to the Bight of Biafra, between
Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates: 6° N, 12° E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 475,440 sq km land: 469,440 sq km water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles
Climate: varies with the landscape, from tropical along the coast to semiarid and hot in the north
Terrain: varied, with a coastal plain in the southwest, a broken plateau in the center, mountains in the west, and plains in the north.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako 4,095 m
Natural resources: oil, bauxite, iron ore, wood, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 78% other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 210 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: recent volcanic activity releasing toxic gases
Environment - current issues: waterborne diseases are common; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: sometimes called the hinge of Africa
@Cameroon:People
Population: 15,421,937 note: estimates for this country explicitly consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and shifts in the age and sex distribution of the population than would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 3,326,334; female 3,251,402) 15-64 years: 54% (male 4,181,038; female 4,153,680) 65 years and over: 3% (male 235,741; female 273,742) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.47% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 36.6 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 11.89 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
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: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 70.87 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.82 years male: 54.01 years female: 55.64 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.88 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 main African language groups, English (official),
French (official)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 63.4% male: 75% female: 52.1% (1995 est.)
@Cameroon:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon former: French Cameroon
Data code: CM
Government type: unitary republic; multiparty presidential system (opposition parties legalized in 1990) note: the president holds most of the power
Capital: Yaounde
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence: January 1, 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration), October 1, 1961 (for areas governed by Britain under UN trusteeship)
National holiday: National Day, May 20 (1972)
Constitution: approved by referendum on May 20, 1972; formally adopted on June 2, 1972.
Legal system: based on the French civil law system, with some influence from common law; does not accept mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since November 6, 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since September 19, 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held October 12, 1997 (next to be held in October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president 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 Assemblée Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - the president can either extend or shorten the term of the legislature) Elections: last held on May 11, 1997 (next to be held in 2002) Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RDCP 109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC 1; note - results from 7 contested seats were canceled by the Supreme Court and have yet to be filled Note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has not been established yet.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, where judges are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC
; Cameroon Liberation and Development Movement or
MLDC ; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People or RDPC
(the RDPC or its predecessor parties have been in power since independence)
; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or
MDR ; Movement for the Liberation of Cameroonian
Youths or MLJC ; National Union for Democracy and Progress
or UNDP ; Social Democratic Front or
SDF ; Union of Cameroonian Populations or UPC-K
Political pressure groups and leaders: Alliance for Change or FAC
; Cameroon Anglophone Movement or CAM [Vishe FAI, secretary
general]; Southern Cameroon National Council
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, 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 telephone: (202) 265-8790 FAX: (202) 387-3826
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: 23-45-52 FAX: 23-07-53
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
@Cameroon:Economy
Economy - overview: Thanks to its oil resources and good agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the most well-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. However, it still faces serious challenges common to other developing countries, like a bloated civil service and a generally unfriendly environment for business. Since 1990, the government has initiated various IMF and World Bank programs aimed at encouraging business investment, increasing agricultural efficiency, improving trade, and recapitalizing the nation's banks. Nevertheless, the government has not pushed these programs forward with enough urgency. The latest enhanced structural adjustment agreement was signed in October 1997; the parties hope this will be more successful, but government mismanagement and corruption continue to be issues. Inflation has been brought back under control. Efforts to privatize the remaining state industries should support ongoing economic growth in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $31.5 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (estimated for 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 22% services: 36% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 40% (1984 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1999 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.23 billion expenditures: $2.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: oil production and refining, food processing, light consumer products, textiles, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 3.285 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.59% hydro: 97.41% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 3.055 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseeds, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, wood, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners: Italy 25%, Spain 20%, France 16%, Netherlands 7% (1997 est.)
Imports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and electronic equipment, transportation equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners: France 25%, Nigeria 8%, US 8%, Germany 6% (1997 est.)
Debt - external: $11.5 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $606.1 million (1995); note - France signed two loan agreements for a total of $55 million in September 1997, and the Paris Club agreed in October 1997 to cut the official debt by 50% and to reschedule it on favorable terms with a consolidation of payments due through 2000.
Currency: 1 West African CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Cameroon:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 60,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,800 (1995)
Telephone system: available only to businesses and government domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 2.27 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1998)
Televisions: 450,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Cameroon:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,104 km narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 34,300 km paved: 4,288 km unpaved: 30,012 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 2,090 km; of diminishing significance
Ports and harbors: Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko
Airports: 50 (1999 est.)
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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.)
@Cameroon:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (which includes Naval Infantry), Air Force,
National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,653,548 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,847,871 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 169,661 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $155 million (FY98/99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY98/99)
@Cameroon:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The delimitation of international boundaries near Lake Chad, which previously caused border incidents, is complete and just waiting for ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. There's an ongoing dispute with Nigeria regarding land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula and Lake Chad that is currently before the ICJ, along with a dispute with Equatorial Guinea over the exclusive maritime economic zone.
______________________________________________________________________
CANADA
@Canada:Introduction
Background: A country of wide-open spaces and abundant natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while still maintaining its connection to the British crown. Economically and technologically, the nation has grown alongside its southern neighbor, the US, across an unprotected border. Its main political challenge remains the relationship between the province of Quebec, home to its French-speaking population and distinct culture, and the rest of the country.
@Canada:Geography
Location: Northern North America, next to the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the contiguous US
Geographic coordinates: 60° N, 95° W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 9,976,140 sq km land: 9,220,970 sq km water: 755,170 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than the US
Land boundaries: total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline: 243,791 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: ranges from temperate in the south to subarctic and arctic in the north
Terrain: mainly flatlands with mountains to the west and low-lying areas in the 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, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other: 38% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,100 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost in the north poses a significant challenge to development; cyclonic storms develop east of the Rocky Mountains due to the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, generating most of the country's rain and snow.
Environment - current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning power plants, and vehicle emissions impacting agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming polluted 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 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, Whaling 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 the world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and the US via the North Polar route; nearly 90% of the population lives within 160 km of the US/Canada border.
@Canada:People
Population: 31,281,092 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 3,077,994; female 2,932,821) 15-64 years: 68% (male 10,714,305; female 10,591,494) 65 years and over: 13% (male 1,683,704; female 2,280,774) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 11.41 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.39 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.08 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.43 years male: 76.02 years female: 83 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups: 28% from the British Isles, 23% from France, 15% from other European countries, 2% Amerindian, 6% from other backgrounds, mostly Asian, African, or Arab, and 26% from mixed backgrounds.
Religions: Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 40%, other 18%
Languages: English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 97% (1986 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Canada:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada
Data code: CA
Government type: confederation with parliamentary democracy
Capital: Ottawa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta,
British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest
Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence: July 1, 1867 (from the UK)
National holiday: Canada Day, July 1 (1867)
Constitution: April 17, 1982 (Constitution Act); initially, the structure of the government was established in the British North America Act of 1867; rights charter and unwritten customs.
Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec, where a civil law system based on French law is used; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since October 7, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since November 4, 1993) cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament elections: none; the monarch 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 in the House of Commons is automatically designated by the governor general to become prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a group whose members are appointed to serve until they turn 75 by the governor general, based on the prime minister's recommendations; the typical limit is 104 senators) and the House of Commons (301 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: House of Commons - last held on June 2, 1997 (next to be held by TBD June 2002) Election results: percentage of votes by party - Liberal Party 38%, Reform Party 19%, Progressive Conservative Party 19%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 11%, other 2%; seats by party - Liberal Party 155, Reform Party 60, Bloc Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 21, Progressive Conservative Party 20, independents 1 Note: seats by party as of December 1999 - Liberal Party 157, Reform Party 57, Bloc Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 20, Progressive Conservative Party 19, independents 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Prime Minister through the Governor General.
Political parties and leaders: Bloc Quebecois ;
Liberal Party ; New Democratic Party ;
Progressive Conservative Party ; Reform Party [Preston
MANNING]
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, APEC,
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer),
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS,
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP,
UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 telephone: (202) 682-1740 FAX: (202) 682-7726 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 Gordon D. GIFFIN embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430 telephone: (613) 238-5335, 4470 FAX: (613) 238-5720 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
Flag description: three vertical stripes of red (hoist side), white (double the width, square), and red, featuring a red maple leaf centered in the white stripe.
@Canada:Economy
Economy - overview: As a wealthy, high-tech industrial society, Canada today is very similar to the US in its market-driven economic system, production patterns, and high living standards. Since World War II, the significant growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has changed the country from primarily rural to mainly industrial and urban. Real growth rates have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment is going down, and government budget surpluses are being used in part to reduce the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) sparked a dramatic rise in trade and economic integration with the US. With its abundant natural resources, skilled workforce, and modern infrastructure, Canada has strong economic prospects. Two significant concerns remain: the ongoing constitutional deadlock between English- and French-speaking regions, raising the possibility of a split in the federation, and the long-term issue of professionals moving to the US for higher salaries, lower taxes, and the extensive high-tech infrastructure.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $722.3 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.6% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 31% services: 66% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1999)
Labor force: 15.9 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 16%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 1% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 7.6% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $121.8 billion expenditures: $115.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1998)
Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 4.3% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 550.852 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 27.18% hydro: 59.77% nuclear: 12.25% other: 0.8% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 484.515 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 39.502 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 11.725 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, oilseeds, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports: $277 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: cars and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude oil, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment, electricity
Exports - partners: US 84%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, South Korea,
Netherlands, China (1998)
Imports: $259.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods, electricity
Imports - partners: US 77%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico,
Taiwan, South Korea (1998)
Debt - external: $253 billion (1996)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $2.1 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 Canadian dollar (C$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.4489 (January 2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Canada:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 18.5 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3 million (1999)
Telephone system: excellent service provided by modern technology domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 ground stations international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite ground stations - 5 Intelsat (4 in the Atlantic Ocean and 1 in the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 750 (1999 est.)
@Canada:Transportation
Railways: total: 36,114 km; note - there are two major transcontinental freight railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service is provided by the government-operated company VIA, which does not own any tracks. standard gauge: 36,114 km 1.435-m gauge (156 km electrified) (1998)
Highways: total: 901,902 km paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways) unpaved: 583,531 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 3,000 km, including the 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: 114 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,602,275 GRT/2,371,146 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 61, cargo 11, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 2, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 16, rail car carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off 8, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.) note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes (1998 est.)
Airports: 1,411 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 515 over 10,000 ft: 16 8,000 to 10,000 ft: 17 5,000 to 8,000 ft: 152 3,000 to 5,000 ft: 240 under 3,000 ft: 90 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 896 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 362 under 914 m: 461 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 15 (1999 est.)
@Canada:Military
Military branches: Canadian Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males aged 15-49: 8,282,846 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 7,086,335 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 212,701 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $7.4 billion (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY97/98)
@Canada:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary disputes with the US
(Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal
Island)
Illicit drugs: illegal cannabis producer for the domestic drug market; the use of hydroponics technology allows growers to cultivate large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; increasing role as a transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market.
______________________________________________________________________
CAPE VERDE
@Cape Verde:Introduction
Background: The uninhabited islands were discovered and settled by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they later became a trading hub for African slaves. Most Cape Verdeans are descendants of both groups. Independence was gained in 1975.
@Cape Verde:Geography
Location: Western Africa, a group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 16° N, 24° W
Map references: World
Area: total: 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild; warm, dry summer; limited and very unpredictable rainfall.
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, pozzolana (a siliceous volcanic ash used to make hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: extended droughts; harmattan winds can reduce visibility; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues: overgrazing by livestock and poor land use practices, like farming on steep slopes, have caused soil erosion; the demand for wood as fuel has led to deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has put several species of birds and reptiles at risk; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south shipping routes; crucial communications hub; significant sea and air refueling site
@Cape Verde:People
Population: 401,343 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 88,202; female 86,630) 15-64 years: 50% (male 95,079; female 105,928) 65 years and over: 6% (male 10,043; female 15,461) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.98% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 29.67 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.38 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -12.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 54.58 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.91 years male: 65.63 years female: 72.29 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.19 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups: Creole (mixed race) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (mixed with indigenous beliefs);
Protestant (mainly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a mix of Portuguese and West African words)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 71.6% male: 81.4% female: 63.8% (1995 est.)
@Cape Verde:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde conventional short form: Cape Verde local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde local short form: Cabo Verde
Data code: CV
Government type: republic
Capital: Praia
Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos, singular -
concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo,
Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, São Nicolau, São
Vicente, Tarrafal
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts (Boa
Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira
Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, São Domingos, São Nicolau,
São Filipe, São Vicente, Tarrafal)
Independence: July 5, 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 5, 1975
Constitution: the new constitution took effect on September 25, 1992
Legal system: based on the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since March 22, 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since January 13, 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president based on the prime minister's recommendations from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on February 18, 1996 (next to be held in February 2001); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro reelected president; percent of vote - Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held December 17, 1995 (next to be held in December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - MPD 61.3%, PAICV 29.8%, PCD 6.7%, other 2.2%; seats by party - MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de
Justia
Political parties and leaders: African Party for Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV); Movement for Democracy (MPD); Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD) [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity (PTS) [Dr. Oresimo SILVEIRA, president]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 965-6820 FAX: (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: 61 56 16 FAX: 61 13 55
Flag description: three horizontal bands of light blue (top, twice the 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.
@Cape Verde:Economy
Economy - overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP is due to a limited natural resource base, which includes significant water shortages worsened by long-term drought cycles. The economy is mainly focused on services, with commerce, transport, and public services making up nearly 70% of GDP. Although around 70% of the population lives in rural areas, agriculture contributed only 13% to GDP in 1998, and fishing made up just 1.5%. About 90% of food needs to be imported. The fishing potential, primarily for lobster and tuna, is not fully utilized. Cape Verde consistently experiences a high trade deficit, funded by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; these remittances add more than 20% to GDP. Economic reforms initiated by the new democratic government in 1991 aim to develop the private sector and attract foreign investment to diversify the economy. The outlook for 2000 heavily relies on the continuation of aid flows, remittances, and the progress of the government's development program.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $618 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1999)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $188 million expenditures: $228 million, including capital expenditures of $116 million (1996)
Industries: food and drinks, fish processing, footwear and clothing, salt mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 40 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 37 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Exports: $38 million (f.o.b., estimated 1999)
Exports - products: fuel, shoes, clothing, fish, bananas, hides
Exports - partners: Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Malaysia
Imports: $225 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - goods: food, industrial products, transportation equipment, fuels
Imports - partners: Portugal, Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, US
Debt - external: $220 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $111.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 107.280 (December 1999), 102.700 (1999), 98.158 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996), 76.853 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Cape Verde:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 22,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog and digital exchanges; work is ongoing on a submarine fiber-optic cable system that was expected to be finished in 1998 international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 73,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Cape Verde:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,100 km paved: 858 km unpaved: 242 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine: total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,523 GRT/11,795 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1999 est.)
@Cape Verde:Military
Military branches: a single branch that includes both army and navy elements
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 86,675 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 49,069 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $4 million (FY96)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY96)
@Cape Verde:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: used as a shipping point for illegal drugs coming from Latin America and Africa headed to Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
CAYMAN ISLANDS
@Cayman Islands:Introduction
Background: The Cayman Islands were colonized by the British from Jamaica during the 18th and 19th centuries. They were governed by Jamaica starting in 1863 and continued to be a British dependency even after Jamaica gained independence in 1962.
@Cayman Islands:Geography
Location: Caribbean, a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Cuba and Honduras.
Geographic coordinates: 19°30' N, 80°30' W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 259 sq km land: 259 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: flat 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 support tourism
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 23% other: 69% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July - November)
Environment - current issues: there are no natural fresh water sources; drinking water supplies must come from rainwater collection.
Geography - note: key location between Cuba and Central America
@Cayman Islands:People
Population: 34,763 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.36% (male 3,769; female 4,005) 15-64 years: 69.84% (male 11,864; female 12,416) 65 years and over: 7.79% (male 1,241; female 1,468) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.22% (estimated 2000)
Birth rate: 14.21 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.09 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 13.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: major destination for Cubans attempting to migrate to the US
Sex ratio: at birth: 0.86 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.44 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.88 years male: 76.1 years female: 81.27 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates from various ethnic groups 20%
Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican,
Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
Languages: English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older have ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)
@Cayman Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code: CJ
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, updated in 1972 and 1992
Legal system: British common law and local laws
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952) head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council Peter SMITH (since May 5, 1999) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on November 20, 1996 (next to be held in November 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - National Team coalition 9, independents 6
Judicial branch: Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties note: the National Team, an organization formed in 1992 to oppose some proposals in the constitutional draft, continues to exert legislative power
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB,
Interpol (subbureau), IOC
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 left quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white circle centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a ribbon at the bottom displaying the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
@Cayman Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: With no direct taxes, the islands are a thriving offshore financial hub. As of 1997, over 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands, including nearly 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets surpassed $500 billion. A stock exchange was launched in 1997. Tourism is also a major contributor, making up about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry targets the luxury market and mainly serves visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million in 1997. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods need to be imported. Caymanians enjoy one of the highest per capita outputs and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $930 million (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $24,500 (1997 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): 3% (1998)
Labor force: 19,820 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5.1% (1996)
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: 290 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 270 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming
Exports: $2.17 million (1997)
Exports - commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners: mostly US
Imports: $432 million (1997)
Imports - goods: food items, manufactured products
Imports - partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles,
Japan
Debt - external: $70 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (November 3, 1995), 0.85 (November 22, 1993)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Cayman Islands:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 19,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,534 (1995)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; 1 satellite earth station
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 36,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 7,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Cayman Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved: 102 km
Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine: total: 85 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,139,740 GRT/1,693,212 DWT ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 10, chemical tanker 14, container 4, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 26, roll-on/roll-off 6, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries, including Greece 15, US 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark 2, Norway 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Cayman Islands:Military
Military branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Cayman Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: susceptible to money laundering and drug trafficking
______________________________________________________________________
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
@Central African Republic:Introduction
Background: The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic when it gained independence in 1960. After three chaotic decades of poor leadership, mainly by military governments, a civilian government was established in 1993.
@Central African Republic:Geography
Location: Central Africa, north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 7° N, 21° E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 622,984 sq km land: 622,984 sq km water: 0 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, humid summers
Terrain: expansive, flat to gently rolling, somewhat uniform plateau; scattered hills in the northeast and southwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, wood, gold, oil, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 75% other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds impact northern regions; floods are common.
Environment - current issues: tap water isn't safe to drink; poaching has harmed 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; nearly the exact center of Africa
@Central African Republic:People
Population: 3,512,751 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex than would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 768,550; female 757,710) 15-64 years: 53% (male 909,463; female 946,083) 65 years and over: 4% (male 58,224; female 72,721) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.77% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 37.52 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 18.44 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 106.69 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.02 years male: 42.26 years female: 45.84 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.95 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%,
M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 1,500 French)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices have a strong influence on the Christian majority
Languages: French (official), Sangho (common and national language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 60% male: 68.5% female: 52.4% (1995 est.)
@Central African Republic:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Centrafricaine local short form: none former: Central African Empire abbreviation: CAR
Data code: CT
Government type: republic
Capital: Bangui
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (economic prefectures, singular - economic prefecture), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga
Independence: August 13, 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, December 1 (1958) (proclamation of the republic)
Constitution: approved by referendum on December 29, 1994; adopted on January 7, 1995
Legal system: based on French law
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since October 22, 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (since January 4, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held September 19, 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ange-Felix PATASSE reelected president; percent of vote - Ange-Felix PATASSE 51.63%, Andre KOLINGBA 19.38%, David DACKO 11.15%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée 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 November 22-23 and December 13, 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; note - results of election are being contested note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together they are called the Congress or Congrès
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC; Democratic Forum or FODEM; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP; People's Union for the Republic or UPR; National Unity Party or PUN; Social Democratic Party or PSD.
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC
(observer), OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-7800 FAX: (202) 332-9893
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. PERRY embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: 61 26 21 FAX: 61 44 94
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in the center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band
@Central African Republic:Economy
Economy - overview: Subsistence farming, along with forestry, continues to be the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with over 70% of the population living in rural areas. The agricultural sector makes up half of the GDP. Timber accounts for about 16% of export earnings, while the diamond industry makes up nearly 54%. Key obstacles to economic development include the CAR's landlocked location, a poor transportation network, a largely unskilled workforce, and a history of misguided macroeconomic policies. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on January 12, 1994, had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Exports of diamonds, timber, coffee, and cotton increased, contributing to an estimated GDP growth of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military uprisings and social unrest in 1996 led to widespread property destruction and a GDP decline of 2%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political representation has devastated many businesses in the capital and decreased tax revenues for the government. The IMF approved an Extended Structural Adjustment Facility in 1998. The government has set goals of 5% annual growth and 2.5% inflation for 2000-2001.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 53% industry: 21% services: 26% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 6% (1993)
Budget: revenues: $638 million expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888 million (1994 est.)
Industries: diamond mining, lumber mills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bikes and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 105 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 19.05% hydro: 80.95% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 98 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Exports: $195 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners: Benelux 36%, Ivory Coast 5%, Spain 4%, Egypt 3%,
France (1997)
Imports: $170 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: food, textiles, oil products, machinery, electrical equipment, cars, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products
Imports - partners: France 30%, Ivory Coast 18%, Cameroon 11%,
Germany 4%, Japan (1997)
Debt - external: $790 million (1999 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $172.2 million (1995); note - traditional budget subsidies from France
Currency: 1 West African Financial Community franc (CFAF) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Central African Republic:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 8,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 79 (1995)
Telephone system: fair system domestic: network mainly includes microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 283,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 18,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Central African Republic:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 23,810 km paved: 429 km unpaved: 23,381 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade conducted using shallow-draft canoes; the Oubangui is the most significant river.
Ports and harbors: Bangui, Nola
Airports: 52 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 49 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 15 (1999 est.)
@Central African Republic:Military
Military branches: Central African Armed Forces (includes Republican
Guard and Air Force), Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, Police
Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 804,941 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 420,619 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $29 million (FY96)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.2% (FY96)
@Central African Republic:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
CHAD
@Chad:Introduction
Background: Chad, which was part of France's African territories until 1960, went through thirty years of ethnic conflict and invasions from Libya before a semblance of peace was finally achieved in 1990. A transitional government eventually suppressed or negotiated with most political-military groups, resolved a territorial dispute with Libya on terms that favored Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multiparty presidential and National Assembly elections in 1996 and 1997, respectively. In 1998, a new rebellion erupted in northern Chad, escalating throughout 1999. Despite progress toward democratic reform, power continues to be held by a northern ethnic elite.
@Chad:Geography
Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates: 15.00 N, 19.00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 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 the south, desert in the north
Terrain: wide, dry plains in the center, desert in the north, mountains in the northwest, lowlands in the south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources: oil (untapped but exploration is ongoing), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 36% forests and woodland: 26% other: 35% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 140 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds happen in the north; periodic droughts; locust swarms.
Environment - current issues: not enough clean drinking water; poor waste disposal in rural areas leads 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 important water source in the Sahel.
@Chad:People
Population: 8,424,504 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,022,339; female 1,994,978) 15-64 years: 49% (male 1,964,216; female 2,204,902) 65 years and over: 3% (male 99,459; female 138,610) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.31% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 48.81 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 15.71 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s) to female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s) to female 15-64 years: 0.89 male(s) to female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s) to female total population: 0.94 male(s) to female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 96.66 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.49 years male: 48.5 years female: 52.56 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.63 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups: Muslims, often called "northerners" or "gorane" (including Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba); non-Muslims, often referred to as "southerners" (such as Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa) including nonindigenous people numbering around 150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French). Note: ethnicity and regional background are more commonly used to identify Chadians than religious affiliation.
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mainly animism) 25%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in the south), and over 100 different languages and dialects.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic total population: 48.1% male: 62.1% female: 34.7% (1995 est.)
@Chad:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form: Republique du Tchad local short form: Tchad
Data code: CD
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
Independence: August 11, 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, August 11 (1960)
Constitution: approved by referendum on March 31, 1995
Legal system: based on the French civil law system and Chadian customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since December 4, 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Nagdum YAMASSOUM (since December 13, 1999) cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president based on the prime minister's recommendations elections: president elected by popular vote for five-year terms; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total votes, the two candidates with the most votes go to a runoff; last held on June 2 and July 11, 1996 (next to be held in June 2001); prime minister appointed by the president election results: in the first round of voting, none of the 15 candidates received the required 50% of the total vote; percent of vote, first round - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 43.8%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 12.4%; percent of vote, second round - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 69.1%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 30.9% note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URD
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (125 seats; members elected by popular vote for four-year terms); replaces the Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de Transition elections: National Assembly - last held in two rounds on January 5 and February 23, 1997 (next to be held in 2001); in the first round of voting, some candidates achieved clear victories by receiving 50% or more of the vote; where this didn’t happen, the two highest-scoring candidates faced off in a second round of voting election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;
Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders: National Union for Development and Renewal (UNDR); Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) (originally in opposition but now the ruling party and the president's party); Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP); Union for Renewal and Democracy (URD)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, UDEAC, 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 telephone: (202) 462-4009 FAX: (202) 265-1937
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher GOLDTHWAIT embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: (51) 70-09, (51) 90-52, (51) 92-33 FAX: (51) 56-54
Flag description: three equal vertical stripes of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; it looks a lot like the flag of Romania and is also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, which both feature a national coat of arms in the yellow stripe; the design is based on the flag of France.
@Chad:Economy
Economy - overview: Landlocked Chad's economic development is hampered by its geographic isolation, drought, inadequate infrastructure, and political instability. Approximately 85% of the population relies on agriculture, including livestock herding. Among Africa's Francophone countries, Chad gained the least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies in January 1994. Financial assistance from the World Bank, the African Development Fund, and other sources is mainly focused on improving agriculture, particularly livestock production. Due to insufficient funding, the development of the Doba Basin oil fields, which was supposed to be completed in 2000, has faced significant delays.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.6% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 14% services: 48% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1998 estimate)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 85% (growing food for personal use, herding, and fishing)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $198 million expenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (1998 est.)
Industries: cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing beer, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995)
Electricity - production: 100 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 93 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, cassava (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports: $288 million (f.o.b., estimated 1999)
Exports - goods: cotton, cattle, textiles
Exports - partners: Portugal 30%, Germany 14%, Thailand, Costa Rica,
South Africa, France (1997)
Imports: $359 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, oil products, food items, textiles
Imports - partners: France 41%, Nigeria 10%, Cameroon 7%, India 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $1 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $238.3 million (1995); note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by the African Development Bank
Currency: 1 Central African Financial Community franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: West African CFA Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF is fixed to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Chad:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 5,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: basic system domestic: decent system of radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: 1.67 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 10,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Chad:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,000 km navigable
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 49 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
@Chad:Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and
Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Rapid Intervention Force, Police,
Rural and Nomadic Guard (GNNT)
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,749,033 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 915,664 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 79,596 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $39 million (FY96)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 3.5% (FY96)
@Chad:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the clarification of international borders around Lake Chad, which previously caused border incidents, has been finalized and is awaiting approval by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.
______________________________________________________________________
CHILE
@Chile:Introduction
Background: A three-year-old Marxist government was toppled in 1973 by a military dictatorship led by Augusto PINOCHET, which ruled until a freely elected president took office in 1990. Effective economic policies, initially adopted by the PINOCHET regime, resulted in significant growth from 1991 to 1997 and have supported the country’s dedication to democratic and representative governance. Growth slowed in 1998-99, but is expected to rebound in 2000.
@Chile:Geography
Location: Southern South America, next to the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 30° S, 71° W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 756,950 sq km land: 748,800 sq km water: 8,150 sq km note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than double 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200/350 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild; desert in the north; Mediterranean in the central region; cool and wet in the south
Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in the east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Natural resources: copper, wood, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydroelectric power
Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 22% other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: major earthquakes; active volcanoes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: air pollution from factories and vehicle emissions; water pollution from untreated sewage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Environmental Protocol, 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: strategic location in relation to the sea routes between
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake
Passage); Atacama Desert is one of the driest areas on the planet
@Chile:People
Population: 15,153,797 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 2,137,826; female 2,044,546) 15-64 years: 65% (male 4,919,060; female 4,958,030) 65 years and over: 7% (male 453,234; female 641,101) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.17% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 17.19 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.52 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.6 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.74 years male: 72.43 years female: 79.22 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups: 95% White and White-Amerindian, 3% Amerindian, 2% other
Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish negligible
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.2% male: 95.4% female: 95% (1995 est.)
@Chile:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Chile conventional short form: Chile local long form: Republica de Chile local short form: Chile
Data code: CI
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 and the Antarctic of Chile, Maule, Metropolitan Region
(Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: September 18, 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 18 (1810)
Constitution: September 11, 1980, effective March 11, 1981; amended July 30, 1989 and in 1993
Legal system: based on the Code of 1857, which comes from Spanish law, and later codes influenced by French and Austrian law; the Supreme Court conducts judicial review of legislative acts; it does not accept mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since March 11, 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since March 11, 2000); 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 six-year term; election last held December 12, 1999, with a runoff election on January 16, 2000 (next to be held in December 2005) election results: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote and 10 appointed, with all former presidents serving as senators for life); members serve eight-year terms, with 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) elections: Senate - last held on December 11, 1997 (next to be held in December 2001); Chamber of Deputies - last held on December 11, 1997 (next to be held in December 2001) election results: Senate - percentage of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPD (PDC 14, PS 4, PPD 2), UPP 17 (RN 7, UDI 10), Chile 2000 (UCCP) 1, independents 10; Chamber of Deputies - percentage of vote by party - CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS 11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%), UPP 36.23% (RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%); seats by party - CPD 70 (PDC 39, PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), UPP 46 (RN 24, UDI 21, Party of the South 1), right-wing independents 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, judges are appointed by the president and confirmed 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: Chile 2000 - the main party is UCCP
; Christian Democratic Party or PDC
; Coalition of Parties for Democracy
("Concertacion") or CPD - which includes PDC, PS,
PPD, PRSD; Independent Democratic Union or UDI ;
National Renewal or RN ; Party for Democracy or PPD
; Party of the South or PS ; Progressive
Center-Center Union or UCCP ; Radical
Social Democratic Party or PRSD ; Socialist Party or PS
; Union for the Progress of Chile ("Alliance for
Chile") or UPP - which includes RN and UDI
Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university student federations at all major universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes union members from the country's five largest labor federations.
International organization participation: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mario ARTAZA chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 785-1746 FAX: (202) 887-5579 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John O'LEARY embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago mailing address: APO AA 34033 telephone: (2) 232-2600 FAX: (2) 330-3710
Flag description: two equal horizontal stripes of white (top) and red; there’s a blue square the same height as the white stripe at the hoist-side end of the white stripe; the square features a white five-pointed star in the center; the design was inspired by the US flag.
@Chile:Economy
Economy - overview: Chile has a market-driven economy marked by a high level of foreign trade. In the early 1990s, Chile solidified its image as a model for economic reform when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN, which took power from the military in 1990, built on the economic changes started by the military government. From 1991 to 1997, real GDP growth averaged 8%, but it dropped to half that rate in 1998 due to strict monetary policies aimed at controlling the current account deficit and declining export earnings, which were affected by the global financial crisis. A severe drought worsened the recession in 1999, lowering crop yields and resulting in hydroelectric shortages and rationing. As a result, Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in over 15 years. Despite the recession's impact, Chile kept its reputation for robust financial institutions and sound policies, giving it the highest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999, exports and economic activity were starting to recover, and a return to strong growth was anticipated in 2000. The inauguration of Ricardo LAGOS in March 2000, succeeding Eduardo FREI, will maintain the presidency under the center-left Concertacion coalition that has been in power since the return of civilian rule in 1990.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $185.1 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $12,400 (estimate for 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 33% services: 61% (1999)
Population below the poverty line: 22% (1998 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 41.3% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.4% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 5.8 million (1999 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 14%, industry 27%, services 59% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $17 billion expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: copper, other minerals, food, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transportation equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -1.3% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 37.49 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 50% hydro: 50% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (December 1999)
Electricity - consumption: 26.665 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber
Exports: $15.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: copper, fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals
Exports - partners: EU 27%, US 16%, Japan 14%, Brazil 6%, Argentina 5% (1998)
Imports: $13.9 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, chemicals, cars, fuels, electrical equipment, heavy machinery, food
Imports - partners: US 24%, EU 23%, Argentina 11%, Brazil 6%, Japan 6%, Mexico 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $39 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $50.3 million (1996 estimate)
Currency: 1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 520.45 (January 2000), 508.78 (1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996), 396.77 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Chile:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 2.603 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 197,300 (1995)
Telephone system: modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 ground stations international: satellite ground 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 26 (1999)
@Chile:Transportation
Railways: total: 6,782 km broad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified) narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 km electrified) (1995)
Highways: total: 79,800 km paved: 11,012 km unpaved: 68,788 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 725 km
Pipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 km
Ports and harbors: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique,
Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano,
Valparaiso
Merchant marine: total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 580,749 GRT/860,034 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 9, chemical tanker 8, container 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll-on/roll-off 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 370 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 62 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 308 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 68 under 914 m: 223 (1999 est.)
@Chile:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force, Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations Police note: usually managed by the Ministry of Interior; during national emergencies, Carabineros and Investigations Police are regarded as part of the military.
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,012,900 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males aged 15-49: 2,973,246 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 136,912 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $2.5 billion (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 3.1% (FY99)
@Chile:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Bolivia has sought a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since it lost the Atacama region to Chile in 1884; there is a dispute with Bolivia over water rights for the Rio Lauca; a territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps with Argentine and British claims.
Illicit drugs: a growing transit country for cocaine headed to the US and Europe; economic growth has made Chile more appealing to traffickers looking to launder drug money; imported precursors are sent to Bolivia; domestic cocaine use is on the rise.
______________________________________________________________________
CHINA
@China:Introduction
Background: For centuries, China has been a leading civilization, surpassing the rest of the world in art and science. However, in the first half of the 20th century, China faced major famines, civil unrest, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists led by MAO Zedong set up a dictatorship that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over daily life and resulted in the deaths of tens of millions. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping decentralized economic decision-making. Output quadrupled in the next 20 years, and China now has the world's second-largest GDP. Political controls remain strict, even as economic regulations continue to loosen.
@China:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordered by the East China Sea, Korea Bay,
Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, situated between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 35° N, 105° E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 9,596,960 sq km land: 9,326,410 sq km water: 270,550 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than the US
Land boundaries: total: 22,143.34 km bordering countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Myanmar 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 4,673 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: very diverse; tropical in the south to subarctic in the north
Terrain: primarily mountains, elevated plateaus, and deserts in the west; flatlands, deltas, and hills in the east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, oil, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (the world's largest)
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 14% other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 498,720 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (around five each year along the southern and eastern coasts); destructive floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts
Environment - current issues: air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particles) from reliance on coal, causing acid rain; water shortages, especially in the north; water pollution from untreated waste; deforestation; an estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 due 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, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test
Ban
Geography - note: the world's fourth-largest country (after Russia,
Canada, and the US)
@China:People
Population: 1,261,832,482 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25% (male 168,040,006; female 152,826,953) 15-64 years: 68% (male 439,736,737; female 413,454,673) 65 years and over: 7% (male 41,200,297; female 46,573,816) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.9% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 16.12 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.73 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.92 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.38 years male: 69.6 years female: 73.33 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 2%-3%, Christian 1% (est.) note: officially atheist
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: 81.5% male: 89.9% female: 72.7% (1995 est.)
@China:Government
Country name: conventional long form: People's Republic of China conventional short form: China local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo local short form: Zhong Guo abbreviation: PRC
Data code: CH
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 sees Taiwan as its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau
Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin Dynasty 221 BC; Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on February 12, 1912; People's Republic established on October 1, 1949)
National holiday: National Day, October 1 (1949)
Constitution: latest version released on December 4, 1982
Legal system: a complex mix of tradition and written laws, mainly focused on criminal law; a basic civil code has been in place since January 1, 1987; new legal codes have been in effect since January 1, 1980; ongoing efforts are being made to enhance civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since March 27, 1993) and Vice President HU Jintao (since March 16, 1998) head of government: Premier ZHU Rongji (since March 18, 1998); Vice Premiers QIAN Qichen (since March 29, 1993), LI Lanqing (March 29, 1993), WU Bangguo (since March 17, 1995), and WEN Jiabao (since March 18, 1998) cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress (NPC) elections: president and vice president elected by the National People's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held March 16-18, 1998 (next to be held in March 2003); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by the National People's Congress election results: JIANG Zemin reelected president by the Ninth National People's Congress with a total of 2,882 votes (36 delegates voted against him, 29 abstained, and 32 did not vote); HU Jintao elected vice president by the Ninth National People's Congress with a total of 2,841 votes (67 delegates voted against him, 39 abstained, and 32 did not vote)
Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,979 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA December 1997-NA February 1998 (next to be held late 2002-NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the
National People's Congress
Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party or CCP [JIANG Zemin, General Secretary of the Central Committee]; eight registered small parties controlled by CCP
Political pressure groups and leaders: there are no significant political opposition groups, although the government has recognized the Falungong sect and the China Democracy Party as possible challengers.
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC,
CDB (non-regional), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer),
OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LI Zhaoxing chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-2500 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph W. PRUEHER embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: (10) 6532-3831 FAX: (10) 6532-6422 consulates general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, 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 center of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
@China:Economy
Economy - overview: Starting in late 1978, Chinese leaders have been shifting the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned system to a more market-oriented model, while still operating under strict Communist Party control. To facilitate this change, the government introduced a system of household responsibility in agriculture, replacing the old collectivization. They empowered local officials and plant managers in industries, allowed a range of small-scale businesses in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to more foreign trade and investment. This has resulted in the GDP quadrupling since 1978. By 1999, China, with its 1.25 billion people and a GDP of only $3,800 per capita, became the second largest economy in the world after the US. Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and industries made significant progress, particularly in coastal areas near Hong Kong and across from Taiwan, where foreign investment boosted both domestic and export goods production. On the downside, leadership has often faced the negative aspects of socialism (like bureaucracy, laziness, and corruption) as well as capitalism (such as unexpected profits and rising inflation) within this mixed system. Consequently, Beijing has periodically tightened central controls. In late 1993, China's leadership approved further long-term reforms to enhance market-oriented institutions while also reinforcing the central government’s control over the financial system; state-owned enterprises would continue to dominate many key industries in what was now called "a socialist market economy." Between 1995 and 1999, inflation dropped significantly, due to stricter monetary policies and stronger measures to manage food prices. At the same time, the government faced challenges in (a) collecting owed revenues from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reducing corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) keeping large state-owned enterprises afloat, most of which hadn’t benefitted from the economic boom and many of which struggled to pay full wages and pensions. Between 50 to 100 million surplus rural workers are stuck between villages and cities, many surviving on part-time low-paying jobs. Public resistance, shifts in central policy, and diminishing authority of rural officials have weakened China’s population control program, which is crucial for maintaining living standards. Another long-term challenge to sustained rapid economic growth is environmental degradation, particularly air pollution, soil erosion, and the continuous decline of the water table, especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land due to erosion and economic development. In the coming years, we will see growing tensions between a highly centralized political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.8 trillion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 35% services: 50% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 10% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.3% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 700 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 50%, industry 24%, services 26% (1998)
Unemployment rate: urban unemployment is about 10%; significant unemployment and underemployment exist in rural areas (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: iron and steel, coal, machinery, weapons, textiles and clothing, oil, cement, chemical fertilizers, footwear, toys, food processing, cars, consumer electronics, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate: 8.8% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.16 trillion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 80.31% hydro: 18.46% nuclear: 1.23% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.014 trillion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 7.935 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 89 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, oilseed; pork; fish
Exports: $194.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment; clothing and textiles, footwear, toys and sports equipment; mineral fuels, chemicals
Exports - partners: US 22%, Hong Kong 19%, Japan 17%, Germany, South
Korea, Netherlands, UK, Singapore, Taiwan (1999)
Imports: $165.8 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, plastics, chemicals, iron and steel, mineral fuels
Imports - partners: Japan 20%, US 12%, Taiwan 12%, South Korea 10%,
Germany, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore (1999)
Debt - external: $159 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 yuan = 10 jiao
Exchange rates: yuan per US$1 - 8.2793 (January 2000), 8.2783 (1999), 8.2790 (1998), 8.2898 (1997), 8.3142 (1996), 8.3514 (1995) note: starting January 1, 1994, the People's Bank of China reports the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@China:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 110 million (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 23.4 million (1998)
Telephone system: both domestic and international services are becoming more available for personal use; the domestic system is not evenly distributed, focusing on major cities, industrial hubs, and many towns. Domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular phone systems have been set up; there's also a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations. International: there are satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 in the Pacific Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (covering the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); multiple international fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, and Germany.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)
Radios: 417 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3,240 (of which 209 are run by China Central Television, 31 are provincial TV stations, and nearly 3,000 are local city stations) (1997)
Televisions: 400 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@China:Transportation
Railways: Total: 65,650 km (including 5,400 km of provincial "local" tracks) Standard gauge: 62,050 km of 1.435-m gauge (12,150 km electrified; 20,250 km double track) Narrow gauge: 3,600 km of 0.750-m gauge local industrial lines (1998 estimate) Note: A new total of 68,000 km has been predicted for early 1999
Highways: total: 1.21 million km paved: 271,300 km (including at least 24,474 km of expressways) unpaved: 938,700 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 110,000 km navigable (1999)
Pipelines: crude oil 9,070 km; petroleum products 560 km; natural gas 9,383 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Huangpu,
Lianyungang, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai,
Shantou, Tianjin, Xiamen, Xingang, Yantai, Zhanjiang
Merchant marine: total: 1,746 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,637,023 GRT/24,552,567 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 325, cargo 840, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 1, container 125, liquified gas 20, multi-functional large load carrier 5, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 46, petroleum tanker 251, refrigerated cargo 24, roll-on/roll-off 21, short-sea passenger 43, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 206 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 192 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 65 1,524 to 2,437 m: 90 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
@China:Military
Military branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the
Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air Force,
Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force), People's Armed
Police (internal security troops, nominally answerable to the Ministry of
Public Security, but recognized by the Chinese as part of the "armed
forces" and viewed as an extension of the PLA during wartime)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 363,050,980 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 199,178,361 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 10,839,039 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $12.608 billion (FY99); note - Western analysts think that China's actual defense spending is several times greater than the official amount because many important items are financed through other sources.
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1.2% (FY99)
@China:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the boundary with India is disputed; there are still disagreements over at least two small areas of the boundary with Russia, despite the 1997 boundary agreement; parts of the boundary with Tajikistan are unclear; a 33-km section of the boundary with North Korea in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is unclear; involved in a complicated dispute over the Spratly Islands with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; there is a maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin; the Paracel Islands are occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims over the Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) are also made by Taiwan; an agreement on the land border with Vietnam was signed in December 1999, but the details of the alignment have not yet been made public.
Illicit drugs: major transfer hub for heroin made in the
Golden Triangle; increasing issue with domestic drug abuse
______________________________________________________________________
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
@Christmas Island:Introduction
Background: This island was taken over by the UK in 1888, after the discovery of phosphate rock.
@Christmas Island:Geography
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 land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 138.9 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nautical miles exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; heat and humidity balanced by trade winds
Terrain: steep cliffs along the coast rise sharply to the central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources: phosphate
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% note: mostly tropical rainforest, 60%-70% of which is in a national park
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef around the island can pose a maritime danger.
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: situated along key shipping routes of the Indian Ocean
@Christmas Island:People
Population: 2,564 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 7.77% (2000 estimate)
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: NA deaths per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born per woman
Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population
Religions: Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991)
Languages: English, Chinese, Malay
@Christmas Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
Data code: KT
Dependency status: territory of Australia; managed from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories
Government type: NA
Capital: The Settlement
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system: under the authority of the Governor-General of Australia and Australian law
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by the Australian governor-general head of government: Administrator (acting) Graham NICHOLLS (since N/A) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the governor-general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms) elections: last held NA December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties 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
@Christmas Island:Economy
Economy - overview: Phosphate mining had been the only major economic activity, but in December 1987, the Australian Government shut down the mine. In 1991, union workers reopened the mine. With government support, Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas Island, which opened in 1993. By the end of 1999, the casino's gaming facilities were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic opportunity is the potential establishment of a space-launching site on the island.
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 spending 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 (almost depleted)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: 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: $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar (AUD) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.5207 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Christmas Island:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1999)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: external phone and telex services are provided by
Intelsat satellite
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 600 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Christmas Island:Transportation
Railways: 24 km to service phosphate mines
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Christmas Island:Military
Military - note: defense is Australia's responsibility
@Christmas Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
CLIPPERTON ISLAND
@Clipperton Island:Geography
Location: Middle America, an atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 10° 17' N, 109° 13' W
Map references: World
Area: total: 7 sq km land: 7 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 12 times larger than The Mall in Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 11.1 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 68-90 degrees F, rains
May-October
Terrain: coral atoll
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all coral)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: subject to tornadoes
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: reef about 8 km around
@Clipperton Island:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)
@Clipperton Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Clipperton Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Clipperton former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Data code: IP
Dependency status: owned by France; managed by France from
French Polynesia through a high commissioner of the Republic
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Clipperton Island:Economy
Economy - overview: Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing.
@Clipperton Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available
@Clipperton Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Clipperton Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
COCOS
______________________________________________________________________
COLOMBIA
@Colombia:Introduction
Background: Colombia was one of the three countries that formed after the breakup of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgency aimed at toppling the Colombian Government intensified during the 1990s, partly fueled by money from the drug trade. Although the violence is severe and large areas of the countryside are controlled by guerrilla groups, the movement doesn't have the military power or public backing needed to bring down the government. While Bogotá continues to seek a resolution, neighboring countries are concerned about the violence spreading across their borders.
@Colombia:Geography
Location: Northern South America, next to the Caribbean Sea, between
Panama and Venezuela, and next to the North Pacific Ocean, between
Ecuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates: 4° 00′ N, 72° 00′ W
Map references: South America, Central America, and the Caribbean
Area: total: 1,138,910 sq km land: 1,038,700 sq km water: 100,210 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank
Area - comparative: just under 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-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical along the coast and eastern plains; cooler in the highlands.
Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes
Mountains, eastern lowland plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 39% forests and woodland: 48% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: highlands prone to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts.
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogotá, from vehicle emissions
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: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note: the only South American country with coastlines on both
the North Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea
@Colombia:People
Population: 39,685,655 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 6,463,195; female 6,310,723) 15-64 years: 63% (male 12,206,095; female 12,854,682) 65 years and over: 5% (male 832,986; female 1,017,974) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.68% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 22.85 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 5.73 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.28 years male: 66.43 years female: 74.27 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born per woman (2000 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: 91.3% male: 91.2% female: 91.4% (1995 est.)
@Colombia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: República de Colombia local short form: Colombia
Data code: CO
Government type: republic; the executive branch dominates the government structure.
Capital: Bogota
Administrative divisions: 32 departments and 1 capital district; Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, César, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, San Andrés y Providencia, Capital District of Santa Fe de Bogotá, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés, Vichada.
Independence: July 20, 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 20 (1810)
Constitution: 5 July 1991
Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code influenced by US procedures was put into effect in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and legislative actions; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Andres PASTRANA (since August 7, 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since August 7, 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Andres PASTRANA (since August 7, 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since August 7, 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held May 31, 1998 (next to be held in May 2002); vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new process that replaces the traditional appointment of vice presidents by newly elected presidents; election last held May 31, 1998 (next to be held in May 2002) election results: no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote, so a run-off election to choose a president from the two leading candidates was held on June 21, 1998; Andres PASTRANA elected president; percent of vote - 50.3%; Gustavo BELL elected vice president; percent of vote - 50.3%
Legislative branch: The bicameral Congress, or Congreso, is made up of the Senate, or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four-year terms), and the House of Representatives, or Camara de Representantes (163 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four-year terms). Elections: Senate - last held in March 1998 (next to be held in March 2002); House of Representatives - last held in March 1998 (next to be held in March 2002). Election results: Senate - party vote percentages - PL 50%, PSC 24%, smaller parties (mostly conservative-aligned) 26%; seats by party - PL 58, PSC 28, smaller parties 16; House of Representatives - party vote percentages - PL 52%, PSC 17%, other 31%; seats by party - PL 98, PSC 52, indigenous parties 2, others 11.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia, the highest court for criminal law, with judges chosen from nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms; Council of State, the highest court for administrative law, with judges chosen from nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms; Constitutional Court, which protects the integrity and supremacy of the constitution and decides on the constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties.
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Alliance-April 19 Movement
or AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident
liberals and conservatives [Carlos Franco ECHAVARRIA, Antonio NAVARRO
Wolff, Otty PATINO, Carlos Alonso LUCIO]; Liberal Party or PL [Jose
Fernando BAUTISTA]; New Democratic Force or NDF; Patriotic
Union or UP is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia or FARC and Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Aida
ABELLA]; Social Conservative Party or PSC [Dr. Eugenio MERLANO de la
Ossa]
Political pressure groups and leaders: the two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia are the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
International organization participation: BCIE, CAN, Caricom
(observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, 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 telephone: (202) 387-8338 FAX: (202) 232-8643 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
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: APO AA 34038 telephone: (1) 315-0811 FAX: (1) 315-2197
Flag description: three horizontal stripes of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and has the Ecuadorian coat of arms placed in the center.
@Colombia:Economy
Economy - overview: Colombia is set for moderate growth in the coming years, marking an end to the severe recession in 1999 when GDP fell by about 5%. President PASTRANA's highly regarded economic team is taking steps to keep the recovery on track, such as lowering interest rates and strengthening the financial system. In its loan agreement with the IMF, the administration has committed to taking further actions to restore growth, reduce inflation, and enhance the public sector's financial health. However, many challenges to sustainable growth still exist. Unemployment hit a record 20% in 1999 and may stay high, contributing to extreme income inequality. Colombia's top exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain future: new exploration is required to counter an expected decline in oil production, and coffee harvests have decreased due to aging plantations and natural disasters. The lack of public security is a major concern for investors, making progress in the government's peace talks with insurgent groups a crucial factor for economic performance. Colombia is seeking international financial support to enhance economic recovery and improve peace prospects.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $245.1 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,200 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 26% services: 55% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17.7% (1992 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 46.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.2% (1999)
Labor force: 16.8 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $22 billion expenditures: $24 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate: -7% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 45.02 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 30.11% hydro: 69.25% nuclear: 0% other: 0.64% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 41.963 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 94 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseeds, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Exports: $11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil, coffee, coal, gold, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners: US 39%, EU 24%, Andean Community 15%, Japan 2% (1998)
Imports: $10 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Imports - commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners: US 35%, EU 20%, Andean Community 15%, Japan 7% (1998)
Debt - external: $35 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $40.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 1,925.63 (January 2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996), 912.83 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Colombia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 5,433,565 (December 1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,800,229 (December 1998)
Telephone system: modern system in many ways domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 ground stations; fiber-optic network connecting 50 cities international: satellite ground stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digital international switching centers; 8 underwater 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (1999)
@Colombia:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,380 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (links Cerrejon coal mines to the maritime port at Bahia de Portete) narrow gauge: 3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995)
Highways: total: 115,564 km paved: 13,868 km unpaved: 101,696 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 18,140 km, accessible to river boats (April 1996)
Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km
Ports and harbors: Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura,
Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco,
Turbo
Merchant marine: total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 51,343 GRT/67,168 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, container 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 1,101 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 90 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 37 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,011 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 62 914 to 1,523 m: 330 under 914 m: 618 (1999 est.)
@Colombia:Military
Military branches: Army (National Army), Navy (National Navy, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Colombian Air Force), National Police (National Police)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 10,599,704 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 7,093,676 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 370,356 (2000 est.)
Military spending - total amount: $3.4 billion (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 3.7% (FY99)
@Colombia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary conflict with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial conflicts with Nicaragua over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank.
Illicit drugs: illegal producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; the world's top coca cultivator (coca cultivation in 1998 - 101,500 hectares, a 28% rise from 1997); opium cultivation in 1998 remained steady at 6,600 hectares; potential opium production in 1997 was 66 metric tons, a 5% increase from 1996; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets, and a major supplier of heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program.
______________________________________________________________________
COMOROS
@Comoros:Introduction
Background: Unstable Comoros has experienced 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. A later attempt by the government to regain control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and currently, the Organization of African Unity is facilitating negotiations for reconciliation.
@Comoros:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, a group of islands in 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 land: 2,170 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, with interiors ranging 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: 35% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 18% other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones might occur during the rainy season (December to
April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment - current issues: soil degradation and erosion result from farming 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, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: key location at the northern tip of Mozambique
Channel
@Comoros:People
Population: 578,400 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 123,891; female 123,241) 15-64 years: 54% (male 155,062; female 159,287) 65 years and over: 3% (male 8,072; female 8,847) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.05% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 40.05 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.59 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 86.33 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.03 years male: 57.85 years female: 62.28 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.38 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions: 98% Sunni Muslim, 2% Roman Catholic
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a mix of
Swahili and Arabic)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and up can read and write total population: 57.3% male: 64.2% female: 50.4% (1995 est.)
@Comoros:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores local short form: Comores
Data code: CN
Government type: independent republic
Capital: Moroni
Administrative divisions: three islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja),
Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
Note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Independence: July 6, 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 6 (1975)
Constitution: 20 October 1996
Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new unified code
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since May 6, 1999); note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said MASSOUNDE, which took power on November 6, 1998, after the death of President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a peaceful coup on April 30, 1999. head of government: Prime Minister Bianrifi TARMIDI (since December 2, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on March 6 and 16, 1996 (next to be determined); prime minister appointed by the president note: President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup; elections, in theory, should take place in spring 2000 but are likely to depend on the island of Anjouan remaining part of the federation election results: results of the last presidential election before the coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote - 64.3%
Legislative branch: the bicameral legislature includes the Senate (15 seats: five from each island); members are chosen by regional councils for six-year terms and a Federal Assembly or Assemblée Fédérale (43 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Federal Assembly was dissolved after the coup on April 30, 1999. Elections: Federal Assembly - last held on December 1 and 8, 1996 (next to be held NA). Election results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1. Note: the constitution states that only parties winning six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) can be in opposition, but if no party achieves that, the second most successful party will be in opposition; in the December 1996 elections, the FNJ seemed to qualify as opposition.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, with two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents of the republic.
Political parties and leaders: Front National pour la Justice or FNJ
(Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed
ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M'BAPANOZA]; Rassemblement National pour le
Development or RND (government party)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
(associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN) chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: (212) 983-4712
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is assigned to Comoros.
Flag description: green with a white crescent in the center, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed stars arranged in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and green color are traditional symbols of Islam; 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 design, the latest of several, is outlined in the constitution approved by referendum on June 7, 1992.
@Comoros:Economy
Economy - overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros consists of three islands with poor transportation connections, a young and rapidly growing population, and limited natural resources. The low education level of the workforce contributes to subsistence-level economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy reliance on foreign aid and technical assistance. Agriculture, which includes fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the main sector of the economy. It accounts for 40% of GDP, employs 80% of the workforce, and generates most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the primary staple, makes up most of the imports. The government is working to enhance education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve healthcare services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and curb the high population growth rate. Ongoing foreign support is crucial if the target of 4% annual GDP growth is to be achieved.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $410 million (1998 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $725 (1998 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 5% services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1998)
Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $48 million expenditures: $53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries: tourism, fragrance production, textiles, furniture, jewelry, building materials, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 15 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 86.67% hydro: 13.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 14 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: vanilla, cloves, fragrance oils, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Exports: $9.3 million (f.o.b., 1998 estimate)
Exports - products: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, fragrance oil, copra
Exports - partners: France 43%, US 43%, Germany 7% (1997)
Imports: $49.5 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: rice and other food items, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transportation equipment
Imports - partners: France 59%, South Africa 15%, Kenya 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $197 million (1997 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $28.1 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Comorian franc (CF) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 485.44 (January 2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995) note: before January 1999, the official rate was fixed to the French franc at 75 CFs per French franc; since January 1, 1999, the CF is fixed to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Comoros:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 5,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: limited network 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 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 90,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1998)
Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Comoros:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)
@Comoros:Military
Military branches: Comoran Security Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 136,914 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 81,477 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percentage of GDP: NA%
@Comoros:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims French-administered Mayotte; the islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) are seeking to secede from Comoros.
______________________________________________________________________
CONGO
______________________________________________________________________
CONGO
______________________________________________________________________
COOK ISLANDS
@Cook Islands:Introduction
Background: Named after Captain Cook, who spotted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was passed to New Zealand; in 1965, residents opted for self-government in free association with New Zealand. The ongoing issues include the emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits.
@Cook Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.
Geographic coordinates: 21° 14' S, 159° 46' W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 240 sq km land: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.3 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 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: tropical; cooled by trade winds
Terrain: low coral atolls in the north; volcanic, hilly islands in the south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 78% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
@Cook Islands:People
Population: 20,407 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.6% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 22.18 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 5.2 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.14 years male: 69.2 years female: 73.1 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.14 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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 (most of the population are members of the Cook
Islands Christian Church)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
@Cook Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands
Data code: CW
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, 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 August 4, 1965, and has the right at any time to move to full independence through unilateral action)
National holiday: Constitution Day, August 4 (1965)
Constitution: 4 August 1965
Legal system: based on New Zealand law and English common law
Suffrage: NA years old; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since N/A); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since N/A January 1998), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since November 18, 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since N/A) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament 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; after legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister note: ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) ended on November 18, 1999, with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS; WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on November 18, 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA 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 Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party or CIP [Joe
WILLIAMS]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP; New
Alliance Party or NAP
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP (associate),
FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), 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, featuring the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side corner and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for each island) centered in the outer half of the flag.
@Cook Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: Like many other South Pacific island nations, the economic development of the Cook Islands is challenged by its isolation from foreign markets, a lack of natural resources, occasional destruction from natural disasters, and poor infrastructure. Agriculture forms the economic foundation, with major exports including copra and citrus fruits. Manufacturing is limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by money sent home from emigrants and by foreign aid, primarily from New Zealand. Efforts to tap into tourism potential, promote offshore banking, and grow the mining and fishing industries have had some success in attracting investment and fostering growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $112 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,600 (1998 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 9% services: 73% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (estimated in 1994)
Labor force: 6,601 (1993)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% (1995)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: fruit processing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 15 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 14 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coconut meat, citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, papayas, bananas, yams, taro, coffee
Exports: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Exports - commodities: coconut meat, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruits, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners: NZ 80%, Japan, Hong Kong (1993)
Imports: $85 million (c.i.f., 1994)
Imports - goods: food, clothing, fuel, wood, capital goods
Imports - partners: NZ 49%, Italy, Australia (1993)
Debt - external: $141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand provides most of it.
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Cook Islands:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 4,180 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone system: domestic: the individual islands are connected by a mix of satellite ground stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges linked to subscribers through 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Cook Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 187 km paved: 35 km unpaved: 152 km (1980 est.)
Ports and harbors: Avarua, Avatiu
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)
@Cook Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
@Cook Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
CORAL SEA ISLANDS
@Coral Sea Islands:Geography
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 land: less than 3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes many small islands and reefs spread over a sea area of about 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets being the most important
Area - comparative: NA
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,095 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: tropical
Terrain: sandy beaches 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues: no permanent fresh water sources
Geography - note: crucial nesting spot for birds and turtles
@Coral Sea Islands:People
Population: no native inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2000 est.)
@Coral Sea Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Data code: CR
Dependency status: territory of Australia; managed from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories
Legal system: the laws of Australia, where relevant, apply
Executive branch: managed 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 (part of Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
@Coral Sea Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Coral Sea Islands:Communications
Communications - note: there are automatic weather stations on many of the islands and reefs sending data to the mainland.
@Coral Sea Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available
@Coral Sea Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; regularly visited by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors.
@Coral Sea Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
COSTA RICA
@Costa Rica:Introduction
Background: Costa Rica is a success story in Central America: since the late 1800s, only two short periods of violence have interrupted its democratic growth. While it remains mostly an agricultural country, it has reached a fairly high standard of living. Land ownership is common. Tourism is a quickly growing industry.
@Costa Rica:Geography
Location: Middle America, next to both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates: 10° N, 84° W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline: 1,290 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in the highlands
Terrain: coastal plains divided by steep mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources: hydropower
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 31% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along the Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at the start of the rainy season; active volcanoes
Environment - current issues: deforestation, mainly due to clearing land for cattle ranching; soil erosion; water pollution (rivers); fisheries protection; solid waste management
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
@Costa Rica:People
Population: 3,710,558 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 609,051; female 581,302) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,177,262; female 1,150,673) 65 years and over: 5% (male 89,541; female 102,729) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.69% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 20.69 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.31 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.49 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.82 years male: 73.3 years female: 78.47 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.52 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Indigenous 1%,
Chinese 1%, other 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Evangelical Protestant around 14%, other less than 1%
Languages: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limón
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 94.8% male: 94.7% female: 95% (1995 est.)
@Costa Rica:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: República de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica
Data code: CS
Government type: democratic republic
Capital: San Jose
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José
Independence: September 15, 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 15 (1821)
Constitution: 7 November 1949
Legal system: based on the Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since May 8, 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since May 8, 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since May 8, 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since May 8, 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since May 8, 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since May 8, 1998); 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; last election held February 1, 1998 (next to be held February 2, 2002) election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES (PLN) 44.6%
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 on February 1, 1998 (next to be held on February 2, 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - PUSC 41%, PLN 35%, minority parties 24%; seats by party - PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority parties 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly.
Political parties and leaders: Agriculture Labor Action or PALA
; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC
; Democratic Force Party or PFD ;
Libertarian Movement Party or PML ; National Christian
Alliance Party or ANC ; National
Independent Party or PNI ; National Integration
Party or PIN ; National Liberation Party or PLN
; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis Manuel
CHACON]
note: mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN; numerous small parties
have less than 25% of the population's support
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; Free Costa Rica Movement or MCRL (right-wing militants); National
Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of
Educators or ANDE
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA
(observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-2945 FAX: (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tampa consulate(s): Austin
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: 220-3939 FAX: 220-2305
Flag description: five horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, red (twice the width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white circle on the hoist side of the red stripe.
@Costa Rica:Economy
Economy - overview: Costa Rica's largely stable economy relies on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has significantly decreased over the past 15 years, and a solid social safety net has been established. Economic growth bounced back from -0.9% in 1996 to 4% in 1997, 6% in 1998, and 7% in 1999. Inflation peaked at 22.5% in 1995, then fell to 11.1% in 1997, 12% in 1998, and 11% in 1999. Large government deficits—driven by interest payments on the enormous internal debt—have weakened efforts to maintain the quality of social services. Controlling inflation, reducing the deficit, and improving public sector efficiency continue to be significant challenges for the government. Political pushback against privatization has stalled liberalization efforts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $26 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,100 (estimated in 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 22% services: 64% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 34.7% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.8% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 1.377 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.6% (1998 estimate); 7.5% underemployment
Budget: revenues: $1.93 billion expenditures: $2.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: microchips, food processing, textiles and apparel, building materials, fertilizers, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate: 24.5% (1999)
Electricity - production: 5.742 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 9.28% hydro: 80.62% nuclear: 0% other: 10.1% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 5.267 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 77 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 4 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Exports: $6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: coffee, bananas, sugar; textiles, electronic components, electricity
Exports - partners: US 49%, EU 22%, Central America 10% (1999)
Imports: $6.5 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, oil, electricity
Imports - partners: US 41%, Japan 8.1%, Mexico 7.3%, Venezuela 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $3.9 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $107.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Costa Rican colon (₡) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 299.63 (February 2000), 285.68 (1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Costa Rica:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 451,000 (525,700 main lines installed) (yearend 1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 46,500 (December 1996)
Telephone system: excellent domestic telephone service domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic and coaxial cable connect rural areas; Internet service is available international: linked to the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Costa Rica:Transportation
Railways: total: 950 km narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
Highways: total: 37,273 km paved: 7,827 km unpaved: 29,446 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: about 730 km, navigable at certain times of the year
Pipelines: petroleum products 176 km
Ports and harbors: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto
Quepos, Puntarenas
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 155 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 127 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 98 (1999 est.)
@Costa Rica:Military
Military branches: Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public
Security Force (Fuerza Publica);
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,010,087 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 676,691 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 38,043 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $55 million (FY95)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY95)
@Costa Rica:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illegal cannabis is produced on small, scattered plots; domestic cocaine use has increased.
______________________________________________________________________
COTE D
______________________________________________________________________
CROATIA
@Croatia:Introduction
Background: In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes created a kingdom that was known as Yugoslavia starting in 1929. After World War II, Yugoslavia became an independent communist state under the strong leadership of Marshal TITO. Even though Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of inconsistent but often intense fighting before most occupying Serb forces were removed from Croatian territory. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held area in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.
@Croatia:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, next to the Adriatic Sea, located between
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 45° 10' N, 15° 30' E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 56,538 sq km land: 56,410 sq km water: 128 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 2,197 km
bordering countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km with
Montenegro), Slovenia 670 km
Coastline: 5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of resource extraction territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: Mediterranean and continental; predominantly continental climate with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters and dry summers along the coast.
Terrain: geographically diverse; flat plains along the Hungarian border, low mountains, and highlands near the 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-quality iron ore, calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower.
Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 38% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: common and damaging earthquakes
Environment - current issues: air pollution from metalworking plants and the resulting acid rain are damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and household waste; widespread casualties and destruction of infrastructure in border areas affected by civil conflict.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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, Desertification
Geography - note: controls most land routes from Western Europe to
Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits
@Croatia:People
Population: 4,282,216 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 396,484; female 376,267) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,445,101; female 1,420,159) 65 years and over: 15% (male 238,853; female 405,352) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.82 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 11.51 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 7.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.35 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.67 years male: 70.04 years female: 77.51 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Croat(s) adjective: Croatian
Ethnic groups: Croat 78.1%, Serb 12.2%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovenian 0.5%, Czech 0.4%, Albanian 0.3%, Montenegrin 0.3%, Roma 0.2%, others 6.6% (1991)
Religions: Roman Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%,
Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8% (1991)
Languages: Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian,
Czech, Slovak, and German)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 95% (1991 est.)
@Croatia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Croatia conventional short form: Croatia local long form: Republika Hrvatska local short form: Hrvatska
Data code: HR
Government type: presidential/parliamentary democracy
Capital: Zagreb
Administrative divisions: 20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular),
1 city (grad - singular)*: Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska County,
Brodsko-Posavska County, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska County, Istria
County, Karlovac County, Koprivnica-Križevci County,
Krapina-Zagorje County, Lika-Senj County, Međimurje
County, Osijek-Baranja County, Požega-Slavonia County,
Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Šibenik-Knin County,
Sisak-Moslavina County, Split-Dalmatia County,
Varazdin County, Virovitica-Podravina County,
Vukovar-Srijem County, Zadar County, Zagreb*, Zagreb County
Independence: June 25, 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Statehood Day, May 30 (1990)
Constitution: adopted on December 22, 1990
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal (16 years old, if employed)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since February 18, 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Ivica RACAN (since January 27, 2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Goran GRANIC (since NA February 2000), Zeljka ANTUNOVIC (since NA February 2000), Slavko LINIC (since NA February 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the president and the House of Representatives elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on February 7, 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Stjepan MESIC elected president; percent of vote - Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 56%, Drazen BUDISA (HSLS) 44% note: government coalition - SDP, HSLS, HSS, LP, HNS, IDS
Legislative branch: the bicameral Assembly, or Sabor, includes the House of Counties, or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats - 63 directly elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives, or Zastupnicki Dom (151 seats, members elected by popular vote for four-year terms). Elections: House of Counties - last held on April 13, 1997 (next scheduled for 2001); House of Representatives - last held on January 2-3, 2000 (next scheduled for 2004). Election results: House of Counties - percentage of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HDZ 42, HDZ/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2, SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note - in some districts certain parties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran separately; House of Representatives - percentage of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HDZ 46, SDP 44, HSLS 24, HSS 17, HSP/HKDU 5, IDS 4, HNS 2, independents 4, others 5.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives; Constitutional Court, judges are appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives.
Political parties and leaders: Action of the Social Democrats of
Croatia or ASH; Alliance of Croatian Coast and
Mountains Department or PGS; Croatian Christian
Democratic Union or HKDU; Croatian
Democratic Independents or HND; Croatian
Democratic Union or HDZ; Croatian
Party of Rights or HSP; Croatian Party of Rights 1861 or
HSP 1861; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko
TOMCIC]; Croatian People's Party or HNS;
Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS;
Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS;
Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS; Liberal Party or
LP; Party of Democratic Action or SDA
; Primorje Gorski Kotar Alliance; Serbian
National Party or SNS; Slavonsko-Baranja Croatian
Party or SBHS; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP
note: the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) formed a coalition, as did the HSS, HNS, LP, and IDS, which together defeated the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in the 2000 lower house parliamentary election.
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD,
ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Miomir ZUZUL chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 588-5899 FAX: (202) 588-8936 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY embassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb mailing address: use street address telephone: (1) 455-55-00 FAX: (1) 455-85-85
Flag description: horizontal bands of red, white, and blue with the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered).
@Croatia:Economy
Economy - overview: Before Yugoslavia fell apart, the Republic of Croatia was the most prosperous and industrialized region after Slovenia, with a per capita output roughly one-third higher than the Yugoslav average. Croatia is dealing with significant economic issues due to: the long-term effects of communist mismanagement; damage from the conflict to infrastructure like bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and homes; a large population of refugees and displaced people, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the breakup of economic relationships. Western aid and investment, especially in the tourism and oil sectors, could help revive the economy. The government has seen some success with reforms, including partial macroeconomic stabilization policies, and has normalized relations with its creditors. However, it still struggles with privatizing large state-owned enterprises and reforming the banking sector. The recession that started at the end of 1998 persisted through most of 1999, resulting in stagnant GDP growth for the year. Inflation was kept under control, and the kuna remained stable. The death of President TUDJMAN in December 1999 and the defeat of his ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party in the parliamentary and presidential elections in January 2000 brought in a new government focused on economic reform, but it faces the challenge of reversing the economic decline.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $23.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,100 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 24% services: 66% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1999)
Labor force: 1.65 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $6 billion expenditures: $4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)
Industries: chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, oil and oil refining, food and drinks; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: -2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 9.515 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.72% hydro: 57.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 12.949 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 900 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 5 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables; livestock, dairy products
Exports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - products: textiles, chemicals, food, fuels
Exports - partners: Italy 21%, Germany 18%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 15%, Slovenia 12% (1997)
Imports: $8.4 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery, transportation and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and oils, food products
Imports - partners: Germany 20%, Italy 19%, Slovenia 8%, Austria 8% (1997)
Debt - external: $8.1 billion (October 1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Croatian kuna (HRK) = 100 lipas
Exchange rates: Croatian kuna per US$1 - 7.591 (January 2000), 7.112 (1999), 6.362 (1998), 6.157 (1997), 5.434 (1996), 5.230 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Croatia:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 1.477 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 187,000 (end of 1998)
Telephone system: domestic: the reconstruction plan aims to replace all analog circuits with digital ones and expand 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 is involved in the TEL project, which includes 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Croatia:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,296 km standard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (983 km electrified) note: some lines are inactive or not in use; affected by territorial dispute (1997)
Highways: total: 27,840 km paved: 23,497 km (including 330 km of expressways) unpaved: 4,343 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 785 km always navigable; large parts of the Sava blocked by fallen bridges, silt, and debris
Pipelines: crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural gas 310 km (1992); note - being repaired after a territorial dispute
Ports and harbors: Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka,
Sibenik, Split, Vukovar (inland waterway port on the Danube), Zadar
Merchant marine: total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 818,887 GRT/1,232,803 DWT ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 25, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 5, container 5, liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 4, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 67 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 10,000 ft: 2 8,000 to 10,000 ft: 6 5,000 to 8,000 ft: 2 3,000 to 5,000 ft: 4 under 3,000 ft: 8 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 36 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Croatia:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense
Forces, Border Guard, Civil Defense
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,086,805 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 860,023 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 30,022 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $950 million (FY99)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 5% (FY99)
@Croatia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Eastern Slavonia, which was controlled by ethnic Serbs during the conflict between Croats and Serbs, was returned to Croatian control by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia on January 15, 1998. Croatia and Italy made progress in resolving a long-standing issue from World War II regarding property and the rights of ethnic minorities. Significant progress has also been made with Slovenia in settling a maritime border dispute over direct access to the Adriatic Sea. Serbia and Montenegro are disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia, as it controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro. Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN Military Observer Mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP).
Illicit drugs: a transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin heading to Western Europe; a minor transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine destined for Western Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
CUBA
@Cuba:Introduction
Background: Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his strong determination has kept the country united since then. Cuba's communist revolution, backed by the Soviets, spread throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The country is now gradually recovering from a severe economic downturn after the former Soviet subsidies, which amounted to $4 billion to $6 billion a year, ended in 1990. Havana attributes its challenges to the US embargo that has been in effect since 1962.
@Cuba:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
Geographic coordinates: 21.30° N, 80.00° W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 110,860 sq km land: 110,860 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; influenced by trade winds; dry season (November to
April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain: mainly flat to gently rolling plains, with rough 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, oil, farmland
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 27% forests and woodland: 24% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,100 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: the east coast experiences hurricanes from August to October (on average, the country sees about one hurricane every two years); droughts are common
Environment - current issues: pollution in Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; 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 signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: the biggest country in the Caribbean
@Cuba:People
Population: 11,141,997 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 1,221,602; female 1,157,846) 15-64 years: 69% (male 3,849,135; female 3,829,599) 65 years and over: 10% (male 503,711; female 580,104) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.39% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.68 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.31 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.51 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.21 years male: 73.84 years female: 78.73 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups: mixed-race 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religions: about 85% Roman Catholic before CASTRO took power; there are also Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and followers of Santeria.
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 96.2% female: 95.3% (1995 est.)
People - note: illegal migration is an ongoing issue; Cubans try to leave the island and get to the US using homemade rafts, human smugglers, or fake visas; around 3,800 Cubans made the journey across the Florida Straits in 1999; the US Coast Guard intercepted about 40% of these migrants.
@Cuba:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cuba conventional short form: Cuba local long form: Republica de Cuba local short form: Cuba
Data code: CU
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Havana
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantánamo, Holguín, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Río, Sancti Spíritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence: May 20, 1902 (from Spain December 10, 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)
National holiday: Rebellion Day, July 26 (1953); Liberation Day, January 1 (1959)
Constitution: February 24, 1976, amended July 1992
Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with significant elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 16 years old; 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 the 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 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 the 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 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 elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election unscheduled) election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on January 11, 1998 (next to be held in 2003) election results: percent of vote - PCC 94.39%; seats - PCC 601
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular; the president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly.
Political parties and leaders: only one party - Cuban Communist Party or
PCC
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Cuba has an
Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy, led by Principal Officer
Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss
Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; phone:
(202) 797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, led by Principal Officer Vicki HUDDLESTON; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700; Switzerland is the protecting power in Cuba.
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle on the left side has a white, five-pointed star in the center.
@Cuba:Economy
Economy - overview: The government under Fidel CASTRO’s long-lasting dictatorship plays the main role in the domestic economy and controls pretty much all foreign trade. In recent years, the government has implemented several reforms to reduce excess liquidity, boost labor incentives, and address serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The relaxed agricultural markets introduced in October 1994 allow state and private farmers to sell their extra production at unrestricted prices, which has expanded legal consumption options and lowered black market prices. The government's efforts to cut subsidies to unprofitable businesses and reduce the money supply caused the semi-official exchange rate for the Cuban peso to drop from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to 21 to the dollar by the end of 1999. New taxes introduced in 1996 have contributed to a decrease in the number of self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996. In 1995, Havana announced that GDP fell by 35% between 1989 and 1993, due to lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The GDP decline seemingly stopped in 1994, when Cuba reported a growth of 0.7%, followed by increases of 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Growth slowed again in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Growth picked up again in 1999 with a 6.2% increase in GDP, driven by the ongoing growth of tourism. Central control is complicated by the presence of the informal economy, much of which operates in dollars. Living standards for the average (dollarless) Cuban remain low compared to 1990. The continuation of gradual economic reforms and the rise in tourism suggest a growth of 4% to 5% in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.6 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.4% industry: 36.5% services: 56.1% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 4.5 million active workforce note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 23%, industry 24%, services 53%
Unemployment rate: 6% (December 1999 estimate)
Budget: revenues: $13.5 billion expenditures: $14.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: sugar, oil, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals (especially nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 estimate)
Electricity - production: 15.274 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.52% hydro: 0.65% nuclear: 0% other: 9.83% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 14.205 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus fruits, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, seafood, medical products, citrus fruits, coffee
Exports - partners: Russia 25%, Netherlands 23%, Canada 16% (1999 est.)
Imports: $3.2 billion (cost, insurance, freight, 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: oil, food, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners: Spain 16%, Venezuela 15%, Mexico 7% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $11.2 billion (convertible currency, 1998); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $68.2 million (estimated for 1997)
Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (non-convertible, official rate, tied to the US dollar)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Cuba:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 353,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,939 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: the main trunk system, stretching from one end of the country to the other, is coaxial cable; fiber-optic distribution is available in Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; there are 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old, built by the US; the other is newer, built by the Soviet Union); both analog and digital mobile cellular services are in place 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Cuba:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,807 km standard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified) note: a significant portion of the track is privately used by sugar plantations
Highways: total: 60,858 km paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway) unpaved: 31,038 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 240 km
Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas,
Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba
Merchant marine: total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,269 GRT/90,228 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 5 (1999 est.)
Airports: 170 (1999 est.)
Airports with paved runways: total: 77 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 35 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 93 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m: 61 (1999 est.)
@Cuba:Military
Military branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes ground
forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),
Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); the
Border Guard (TGF) is controlled by the Interior Ministry
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,079,352 females age 15-49: 3,022,063 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males age 15-49: 1,906,172 females age 15-49: 1,865,369 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age every year: males: 80,771 females: 76,819 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: about 4% (FY95 est.)
Military - note: Moscow, for decades the main military supporter and supplier of Cuba, stopped almost all military aid by 1993.
@Cuba:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to the US, and the lease can only be ended by mutual agreement or if the US decides to abandon the area.
Illicit drugs: territorial waters and airspace act as transshipment zones for cocaine headed for the US and Europe; the death penalty for specific drug-related crimes was established in 1999.
______________________________________________________________________
CYPRUS
@Cyprus:Introduction
Background: Independence from the UK was granted in 1960 with constitutional guarantees for the Turkish Cypriot minority from the Greek Cypriot majority. In 1974, a Greek-backed attempt to take over the government was met with military intervention from Turkey, which quickly took control of nearly 40% of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-controlled region declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but it is recognized only by Turkey. Talks about Cyprus resumed in December 1999 to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive settlement.
@Cyprus:Geography
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) land: 9,240 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Terrain: central flatlands with mountains to the north and south; scattered but notable plains along the southern coast.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Olympus 1,951 m
Natural resources: copper, pyrite, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 13% other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 390 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity
Environment - current issues: problems with water resources (lack of natural reservoir catchments, seasonal differences in rainfall, sea water intrusion into the island's largest aquifer, increased salinity in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial waste; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats due to urbanization.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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
@Cyprus:People
Population: 758,363 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 91,075; female 86,832) 15-64 years: 66% (male 252,252; female 247,464) 65 years and over: 11% (male 35,149; female 45,591) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.6% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 13.27 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.68 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.07 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.71 years male: 74.43 years female: 79.1 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups: Greek 78% (99.5% of Greeks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.5% of Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7% of Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other 4%
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 94% male: 98% female: 91% (1987 est.)
@Cyprus:Government
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)
Data code: CY
Government type: republic note: a split between the two ethnic communities living on the island began after communal violence erupted in 1963; this division was further reinforced following the Turkish intervention in July 1974 after a coup attempt led by a Greek junta, which allowed the Turkish Cypriots to gain de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots maintain the only government recognized internationally; on 15 November 1983, Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH announced independence and the establishment of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which has only been recognized by Turkey; both sides publicly advocate for resolving their differences and establishing a new federal system (Greek Cypriot stance) or a confederate system (Turkish Cypriot stance) of government.
Capital: Nicosia note: the capital of the Turkish Cypriot area is Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca,
Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - the Turkish Cypriot area's
administrative divisions include Kyrenia, nearly all of
Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Independence: August 16, 1960 (from the UK) note: Turkish Cypriot area declared self-rule on February 13, 1975 from the Republic of Cyprus
National holiday: Independence Day, October 1; note - the Turkish Cypriot area celebrates November 15 as Independence Day.
Constitution: August 16, 1960; discussions have taken place sporadically to establish a new or updated constitution to govern the island and improve relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots; in 1975, Turkish Cypriots established 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 was approved by referendum on May 5, 1985
Legal system: based on common law, with some civil law changes
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; the vice president position is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, this position is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot. head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; the vice president position is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, this position 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; last election was held on 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2003). election results: Glafcos CLERIDES reelected president; percent of vote - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%. 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); the last elections were held on 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president; percent of vote - Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%; 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.
Legislative branch: unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 allocated to Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only the seats 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) elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held on May 26, 1996 (next on May 2001); Turkish Cypriot area: last held on December 6, 1998 (next on December 2003) election results: Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives - percentage of votes by party - DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK 8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.3%; seats by party - DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic - percentage of votes 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature. Note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area.
Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party (DIKO); Democratic Rally (DISY) [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Ecologists; New Horizons; Restorative Party of the Working People (AKEL - Communist Party); United Democratic Union of Cyprus (EDEK); United Democrats Movement (EDI, formerly Free Democrats Movement - KED); Turkish Cypriot area: Communal Liberation Party (TKP); Democratic Party (DP); National Birth Party (UDP); National Unity Party (UBP); Our Party (BP); Patriotic Unity Movement (YBH); Republican Turkish Party (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: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS (associate), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-5772 FAX: (202) 483-6710 consulate(s) general: New York note: the representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone (202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. BANDLER embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836 telephone: (2) 776400 FAX: (2) 780944
Flag description: white with a copper-colored outline of the island (the name Cyprus comes from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches represent 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 with a red crescent and red star on a white background in between.
@Cyprus:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic issues are shaped by the division of the country into the southern (Greek) area governed by the Cyprus Government and the northern Turkish Cypriot-administered area. The Greek Cypriot economy is thriving but very sensitive to external shocks. Unpredictable growth rates in the 1990s highlight the economy's vulnerability to fluctuations in tourist arrivals, influenced by political instability on the island and changes in economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy in the south aims to meet the requirements for EU membership. Similarly, in the Turkish sector, water shortages are becoming a bigger issue, and several desalination plants are in the works. The Turkish Cypriot economy has about one-fifth the population and one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is only recognized by Turkey, it has faced significant challenges in securing foreign financing, and foreign companies have been reluctant to invest there. The economy still relies heavily on agriculture and government services, which together employ around half of the workforce. Additionally, the small, sensitive economy has struggled since the Turkish lira is the legal currency. To help support the economy, Turkey provides both direct and indirect aid to tourism, education, industry, and more.
GDP: Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $9 billion; Turkish
Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $820 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3.0%; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.3% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $15,400; Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 6.3%, industry 22.4%, services 71.3%; Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 11.8%, industry 20.5%, services 67.7% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Greek Cypriot area: 2.3% (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 66% (1998 est.)
Labor force: Greek Cypriot area: 289,400; Turkish Cypriot area: 80,200 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: Greek Cypriot area: services 66.6%, industry 23.2%, agriculture 10.2% (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: services 55.4%, industry 21.6%, agriculture 23% (1997)
Unemployment rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3.3% (1998 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 6.4% (1997)
Budget: revenues: Greek Cypriot area - $2.9 billion (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $171 million (1997 est.) expenditures: Greek Cypriot area - $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $345 million (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $306 million, including capital expenditures of $56.8 million (1997 est.)
Industries: food, drinks, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: 2.4% (1998);
Turkish Cypriot area: 5.1% (1997)
Electricity - production: Greek Cypriot area: 2.675 billion kWh;
Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: Greek Cypriot area: 2.488 billion kWh;
Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, citrus fruits, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables
Exports: Greek Cypriot area: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: $63.9 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing, and shoes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, textiles (1998)
Exports - partners: Greek Cypriot area: UK 14.5%, Russia 14.5%, Greece 9.8%, Lebanon 5.5%, UAE 4.9%; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 47%, UK 26%, other EU 15% (1998)
Imports: Greek Cypriot area: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: $374 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports - commodities: Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery (1997)
Imports - partners: Greek Cypriot area: US 12.5%, UK 11.3%, Italy 9.4%, Germany 8.5%, Greece 8.2% (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 56.4%, UK 13.5%, other EU 12.2% (1997)
Debt - external: Greek Cypriot area: $1.27 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: $NA (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: Greek Cypriot area - $17 million (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97) that are usually forgiven
Currency: Greek Cypriot area: 1 Cypriot pound = 100 cents; Turkish
Cypriot area: 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US$1 - 0.5688 (January 2000), 0.5423 (1999), 0.5170 (1998), 0.5135 (1997), 0.4663 (1996), 0.4522 (1995); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 545,584 (January 2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Cyprus:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: Greek Cypriot area: 405,000 (1998);
Turkish Cypriot area: 70,845 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: Greek Cypriot area: 68,000 (1998);
Turkish Cypriot area: 70,000 (1999)
Telephone system: 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; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 plus 5 repeaters (September 1995)
Televisions: Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300 (1994)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Cyprus:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: Greek Cypriot area: 10,663 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km (1996 est.) paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,249 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km (1996 est.) unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,414 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos,
Vasilikos
Merchant marine: total: 1,414 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 23,497,776 GRT/37,331,506 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 442, cargo 495, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 40, combination ore/oil 8, container 144, liquefied gas 6, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 142, refrigerated cargo 41, roll-on/roll-off 45, short-sea passenger 13, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 37 countries, including Greece 611, Germany 129, Russia 49, Latvia 278, Netherlands 20, Japan 28, Cuba 16, China 15, Hong Kong 13, and Poland 15 (1998 est.)
Airports: 15 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 6 (1999 est.)
@Cyprus:Military
Military branches: Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard
(GCNG; includes air and naval elements), Hellenic Forces Regiment on
Cyprus (ELDYK), Greek Cypriot Police; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish
Cypriot Security Force (TCSF), Turkish mainland army units
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 196,317 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 134,865 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 6,541 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $320 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 5% (FY99)
@Cyprus:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The 1974 conflict split the island into two de facto autonomous regions: a Greek Cypriot area governed by the internationally recognized Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are also two UK sovereign base areas mainly located in the Greek Cypriot part of the island.
Illicit drugs: a small transit point for heroin and hashish through air routes and container traffic to Europe, particularly from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine also passes through.
______________________________________________________________________
CZECH REPUBLIC
@Czech Republic:Introduction
Background: After World War II, Czechoslovakia came under Soviet influence. In 1968, an invasion by troops from the Warsaw Pact ended the country's leaders' attempts to liberalize party control and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet protests the following year led to a time of severe repression. With the fall of Soviet power in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On January 1, 1993, the country peacefully split into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now a member of NATO, the Czech Republic is moving toward integration in global markets, bringing both opportunities and risks.
@Czech Republic:Geography
Location: Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49.75° N, 15.50° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 78,866 sq km land: 77,276 sq km water: 1,590 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: mild; cool summers; cold, overcast, humid winters
Terrain: Bohemia in the west is made up of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus bordered by low mountains; Moravia in the east features a very hilly landscape.
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: 41% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 34% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 240 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution in parts of northwest Bohemia and northern Moravia around Ostrava pose health risks; acid rain is 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, 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; strategically located along some of the oldest and most important land routes in Europe; the Moravian Gate is a historic military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe.
@Czech Republic:People
Population: 10,272,179 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 866,754; female 823,795) 15-64 years: 70% (male 3,579,454; female 3,577,919) 65 years and over: 14% (male 547,462; female 876,795) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.08% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 9.1 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 10.87 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.95 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 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: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.63 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.51 years male: 71.01 years female: 78.22 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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%
(March 1991)
Religions: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%,
Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%
Languages: Czech
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 99.9% (1999 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Czech Republic:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czech Republic local long form: Česká Republika local short form: Česká Republika
Data code: EZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Prague
Administrative divisions: 73 districts (okresi, singular - okres) and
4 municipalities* (mesta, singular - mesto); Benesov, Beroun, Blansko,
Breclav, Brno*, Brno-Venkov, Bruntal, Ceske Budejovice, Ceska Lipa,
Cesky Krumlov, Cheb, Chomutov, Chrudim, Decin, Domazlice,
Frydek-Mistek, Havlickuv Brod, Hodonin, Hradec Kralove, Jablonec nad
Nisou, Jesenik, Jicin, Jihlava, Jindrichuv Hradec, Karlovy Vary,
Karvina, Kladno, Klatovy, Kolin, Kromeriz, Kutna Hora, Liberec,
Litomerice, Louny, Melnik, Mlada Boleslav, Most, Nachod, Novy Jicin,
Nymburk, Olomouc, Opava, Ostrava*, Pardubice, Pelhrimov, Pisek,
Plzen*, Plzen-Jih, Plzen-Sever, Prachatice, Praha*, Praha-Vychod,
Praha Zapad, Prerov, Pribram, Prostejov, Rakovnik, Rokycany, Rychnov
nad Kneznou, Semily, Sokolov, Strakonice, Sumperk, Svitavy, Tabor,
Tachov, Teplice, Trebic, Trutnov, Uherske Hradiste, Usti nad Labem,
Usti nad Orlici, Vsetin, Vyskov, Zdar nad Sazavou, Zlin, Znojmo
Independence: January 1, 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and
Slovak Republics)
National holiday: National Liberation Day, May 8; Founding of the
Republic, October 28
Constitution: ratified December 16, 1992; effective January 1, 1993
Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to align with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to remove Marxist-Leninist legal theory.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since February 2, 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Milos ZEMAN (since July 17, 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir SPIDLA (since July 17, 1998), Pavel RYCHETSKY (since July 17, 1998), Pavel MERTLIK (since July 17, 1998), Jan KAZAN (since December 8, 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held January 20, 1998 (next to be held in January 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vaclav HAVEL reelected president; Vaclav HAVEL received 47 of 81 votes in the Senate and 99 out of 200 votes in the Chamber of Deputies (second round of voting)
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve staggered two-, four-, and six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms). Elections: Senate - last held November 13-14 and 20-21, 1998 (next to be held in November 2000 - to replace/reelect 20 senators serving two-year terms); Chamber of Deputies - last held June 19-20, 1998 (next to be held in June 2002). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - CSSD 23, ODS 25, KDU-CSL 16, KCSM 4, ODA 7, US 4, DEU 1, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - CSSD 74, ODS 63, KDU-CSL 20, US 19, KCSM 24.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court's chair and deputy chairs are appointed by the president for life; the Constitutional Court's chair and deputy chairs are also appointed by the president for life.
Political parties and leaders: Assembly for the Republic or SPR-RSC
; Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak
People's Party or KDU-CSL ; Civic Democratic
Alliance or ODA ; Civic Democratic Party or
ODS ; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
or KSCM ; Czech Social Democrats or
CSSD ; Democratic Union or DEU [Ratibor
MAJZLIK, chairman]; Freedom Union or US [Karel KUEHUL, acting
chairman]; Quad Coalition (includes KDU-CSL,
US, ODA, DEU)
Political pressure groups and leaders: "Thanks, Now Go"; Impulse 99;
Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CCC,
CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexsandr VONDRA chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 363-6315 FAX: (202) 966-8540 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John SHATTUCK embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (2) 5753-0663 FAX: (2) 5753-0583
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle on the hoist side (almost identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)
@Czech Republic:Economy
Economy - overview: Political and financial crises in 1997 shattered the Czech Republic's image as one of the most stable and prosperous post-Communist states. Delays in restructuring businesses and the failure to develop a functional capital market significantly contributed to the Czech economic troubles, which culminated in a currency crisis in May. The currency was forced out of its fluctuation band as investors became concerned that the current account deficit, which reached nearly 8% of GDP in 1996, would become unsustainable. After spending $3 billion in vain to support the currency, the central bank allowed it to float. The growing current account imbalance reflected a surge in domestic demand and poor export performance, as wage increases outpaced productivity. The government was forced to introduce two austerity packages later in the spring, cutting government spending by 2.5% of GDP. Growth fell to 0.3% in 1997, -2.3% in 1998, and -0.5% in 1999. The main transition issue continues to be too much direct and indirect government influence on the privatized economy. The government established a restructuring agency in 1999 and launched a revitalization program to encourage the sale of firms to foreign companies. Key priorities include speeding up legislative alignment with EU standards, restructuring enterprises, and privatizing banks and utilities. The economy, driven by increased export growth and investment, is expected to recover in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $120.8 billion (est. 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.5% (estimated for 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,700 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 42% services: 53% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.6% highest 10%: 23.5% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 5.203 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 32%, agriculture 5.6%, construction 8.7%, transport and communications 6.9%, services 46.8% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $16.4 billion expenditures: $17.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Industries: fuels, steel production, machinery and equipment, coal, vehicles, glass, weapons
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 61.466 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 75.54% hydro: 2.55% nuclear: 20.37% other: 1.54% (1998)
Electricity consumption: 54.733 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 10.8 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 8.37 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; timber products.
Exports: $26.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 41%, other manufactured goods 40%, chemicals 8%, raw materials and fuel 7% (1998)
Exports - partners: Germany 42%, Slovakia 8%, Austria 6%, Poland 6%,
France 4% (1999)
Imports: $29 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 39%, other manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 12%, raw materials and fuels 10%, food 5% (1998)
Imports - partners: Germany 34%, Slovakia 6%, Russia 6%, Austria 6%,
France 5% (1999)
Debt - external: $24.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $351.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 koruna (Kč) = 100 halers
Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 35.630 (December 1999), 34.569 (1999), 32.281 (1998), 31.698 (1997), 27.145 (1996), 26.541 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Czech Republic:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3,741,492 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 965,476 (1998)
Telephone system: domestic: 70% of exchanges are now digital; existing copper subscriber systems are being upgraded with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) equipment to support Internet and other digital signals; trunk systems include fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relays international: satellite ground stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 21, FM 199, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios: 3,173,856 (December 1999)
Television broadcast stations: 102 (including 35 low power stations), plus around 500 repeaters (1988)
Televisions: 3,428,817 (December 1999)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 35 (1999)
@Czech Republic:Transportation
Railways: total: 9,435 km standard gauge: 9,341 km of 1.435-m standard gauge (2,946 km electrified at three voltages; 1,868 km double track) narrow gauge: 94 km of 0.760-m narrow gauge (1998)
Highways: total: 127,693 km paved: 127,693 km (including 498 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 677 km; the Elbe (Labe) is the main river.
Pipelines: natural gas 53,000 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Airports: 114 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 43 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 16 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 71 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 42 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Czech Republic:Military
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense,
Railroad Units
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,669,505 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,035,194 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 70,674 (2000 est.)
Military spending - total amount: $1.2 billion (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY99)
@Czech Republic:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Liechtenstein is seeking the return of 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic that was taken from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic argues that restitution claims cannot go back further than February 1948, when the communists took power; individual Sudeten German claims for return of property taken during their expulsion after World War II; an agreement with Slovakia signed on November 24, 1998, addresses the redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal land - approval from both parliaments is expected in 2000.
Illicit drugs: a major hub for Southwest Asian heroin and a minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; domestic use—especially of locally produced synthetic drugs—is increasing.
______________________________________________________________________
DENMARK
@Denmark:Introduction
Background: Once home to Viking raiders and later a significant northern European power, Denmark has developed into a modern, thriving nation that is actively involved in the political and economic integration of Europe. However, the country has chosen to opt out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the new shared monetary system.
@Denmark:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, next to the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 56° N, 10° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 43,094 sq km land: 42,394 sq km water: 700 sq km note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Area - comparative: just under twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 68 km border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline: 7,314 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild; humid and cloudy; cool, breezy winters and pleasant summers
Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling fields
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel, and sand
Land use: arable land: 60% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 10% other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some parts of the country (e.g., areas 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, mainly from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the North Sea; drinking water and surface water being contaminated by animal waste and pesticides.
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, 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, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: controls the Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) connecting the Baltic and North Seas; about 25% of the population lives in Copenhagen
@Denmark:People
Population: 5,336,394 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 505,820; female 479,815) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,802,665; female 1,755,633) 65 years and over: 15% (male 330,055; female 462,406) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.31% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.16 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 11 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.54 years male: 73.95 years female: 79.27 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups: Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 97%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic, other
Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note: English is the most widely spoken second language
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA%
@Denmark:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark
Data code: DA
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Copenhagen
Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 municipios*; Arhus, Bornholm, Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg note: additionally, there are 275 local municipios not considered first-order administrative units; see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing administrative divisions
Independence: first formed as a unified state in the 10th century; in 1849, it became a constitutional monarchy.
National holiday: Queen's Birthday, April 16 (1940)
Constitution: 1849 was the original constitution; there was a major update on June 5, 1953, creating a unicameral legislature and allowing for a female chief of state.
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of laws; accepts mandatory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since January 14, 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, the oldest son of the monarch (born May 26, 1968) head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since January 25, 1993) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats; members are elected by popular vote based on proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on March 11, 1998 (next to be held in 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - pro-government parties: Social Democratic Party 65, Socialist People's Party 13, Radical Liberal Party 7, Unity Party 5; opposition: Liberal Party 43, Conservative Party 17, Danish People's Party 13, Center Democratic Party 8, Christian People's Party 4, Progress Party 4
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king or queen for life.
Political parties and leaders: Center Democratic Party [Mimi
JAKOBSEN]; Christian People's Party; Conservative Party
; Conservative People's Party;
Danish People's Party; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh
RASMUSSEN]; Progress Party; Radical Liberal Party
; Social Democratic Party;
Social Liberal Party; Socialist People's Party
; Unity Party
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-4300 FAX: (202) 328-1470 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716 telephone: 35 55 31 44 FAX: 35 43 02 23
Flag description: red with a white cross that stretches to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the left side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was later adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
@Denmark:Economy
Economy - overview: This fully modern market economy features advanced agriculture, contemporary small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare programs, comfortable living standards, and a strong reliance on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food. The center-left coalition government is focused on reducing the unemployment rate and the budget deficit, while also continuing the previous government's policies of keeping inflation low and maintaining a current account surplus. The coalition also promises to keep the currency stable. They have reduced marginal income tax rates while keeping overall tax revenues steady; enhanced industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms; increased funding for research and development; and improved welfare services for those in need while cutting down on paperwork and delays. Denmark opted not to join the 11 other EU members who adopted the euro on January 1, 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $127.7 billion (est. 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.3% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 27% services: 69% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 20.5% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 2.896 million
Labor force - by occupation: services 71%, industry 25%, agriculture 4% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $59.7 billion expenditures: $57.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding
Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 40.277 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 0.07% nuclear: 0% other: 9.13% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 33.037 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 7.1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 2.68 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, canola, sugar beets; beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $49.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, fuels, dairy products, ships, fish, chemicals
Exports - partners: EU 66.6% (Germany 21.4%, Sweden 11.2%, UK 9.2%,
France 5.3%, Netherlands 4.5%), Norway 6.0%, US 4.7% (1998)
Imports: $43.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, oil, chemicals, grains and food, textiles, paper
Imports - partners: EU 72.5% (Germany 22.5%, Sweden 12.9%, UK 7.9%,
France 5.9%), Norway 4.6%, US 4.1% (1998)
Debt - external: $44 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.6 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKK) = 100 øre
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Denmark:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.203 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.347 million (1999)
Telephone system: excellent telephone and telegraph services domestic: underground and submarine cables, along with microwave radio relay, make up the trunk network; 4 cellular radio communication systems international: 18 submarine fiber-optic cables connect Denmark with Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations include 6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, and 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 global Inmarsat access
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 6.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 42 (plus 44 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions: 3.121 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 12 (1999)
@Denmark:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,859 km (508 km privately owned and operated) standard gauge: 2,859 km 1.435-m gauge (600 km electrified; 760 km double track) (1998)
Highways: total: 71,437 km paved: 71,437 km (including 843 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 417 km
Pipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km
Ports and harbors: Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia,
Grenaa, Køge, Odense, Struer
Merchant marine: total: 336 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 5,190,227 GRT/6,815,128 DWT ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 132, chemical tanker 22, container 70, liquefied gas 26, livestock carrier 6, petroleum tanker 24, rail car carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off 19, short-sea passenger 8, specialized tanker 3 (1999 est.) note: Denmark has set up its own internal register, called the Danish International Ship Register (DIS); DIS ships aren’t required to comply with Danish manning regulations, serving as a flag of convenience within the Danish register (1998 est.)
Airports: 118 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 90 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 82 (1999 est.)
@Denmark:Military
Military branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish
Air Force, Home Guard
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,299,250 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,113,378 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 30,471 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $2.822 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.7% (FY98)
@Denmark:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
______________________________________________________________________
DJIBOUTI
@Djibouti:Introduction
Background: The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. A peace agreement in 1994 ended a three-year rebellion by Afar rebels.
@Djibouti:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, next to 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: 22,000 sq km land: 21,980 sq km water: 20 sq km
Area - comparative: a little smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 508 km border countries: Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: desert; torrid, dry
Terrain: coastal plain and plateau divided 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% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 0% other: 91% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclones from the Indian Ocean cause heavy rain and flash floods.
Environment - current issues: insufficient supplies of drinkable water; desertification
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 position near the world's busiest shipping routes and close to the Arabian oilfields; the endpoint of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly barren land
@Djibouti:People
Population: 451,442 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 96,482; female 96,025) 15-64 years: 55% (male 130,264; female 116,270) 65 years and over: 2% (male 6,426; female 5,975) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.45% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 40.98 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 14.87 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -11.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 103.32 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.82 years male: 49.01 years female: 52.68 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born per woman (2000 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: 46.2% male: 60.3% female: 32.7% (1995 est.)
@Djibouti:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Data code: DJ
Government type: republic
Capital: Djibouti
Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle);
'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence: June 27, 1977 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, June 27 (1977)
Constitution: multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4
September 1992
Legal system: based on the French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law
Suffrage: NA years old; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: President GUELLEH Ismail Omar (since NA 1999); head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978) 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: GUELLEH Ismail Omar elected president; percent of vote - GUELLEH Ismail Omar 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 December 19, 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - RPP 65; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN
Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD ;
People's Progress Assembly or RPP - the
governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Restoration of
Unity and Democracy or FRUD and affiliates; Movement for Unity and
Democracy or MUD
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Olhaye Oudine ROBLE chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 331-0270 FAX: (202) 331-0302
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lange SCHERMERHORN embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: 35 39 95 FAX: 35 39 40
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green, with a white isosceles triangle on the hoist side featuring a red five-pointed star in the center.
@Djibouti:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy relies on service activities due to the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the population live in the capital city, with the rest mostly being nomadic herders. Limited rainfall restricts crop production to fruits and vegetables, so most food has to be imported. Djibouti serves as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling hub. It has few natural resources and minimal industry. As a result, the nation is heavily dependent on foreign aid to support its balance of payments and fund development projects. An unemployment rate of 40% to 50% remains a significant issue. Inflation is not a concern, however, because the franc is fixed to the US dollar. Per capita consumption has dropped an estimated 35% over the past seven years due to recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (which includes immigrants and refugees). Additionally, renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea has disrupted normal external trade channels. Confronted with numerous economic challenges, the government has fallen behind on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the requirements of foreign aid donors.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $550 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 20% services: 77% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 282,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: 40%-50% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $156 million expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: limited to a few small businesses, like dairy products and bottled mineral water.
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production: 177 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 165 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Exports: $260 million (f.o.b., estimated in 1999)
Exports - commodities: reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Exports - partners: Somalia 53%, Yemen 23%, Ethiopia 5%, (1998)
Imports: $440 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: food, drinks, transportation equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners: France 13%, Ethiopia 12%, Italy 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, UK 6% (1998)
Debt - external: $350 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $106.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Djibouti:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 8,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: the telephone services in Djibouti are sufficient, as are the microwave radio relay connections to surrounding regions of the country. Domestic: microwave radio relay network International: submarine cable to Jeddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseille, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 52,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 5 low-power repeaters) (1998)
Televisions: 28,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Djibouti:Transportation
Railways: total: 100 km (Djibouti section of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge note: Djibouti and Ethiopia are planning to renovate the century-old railroad that connects their capitals by 2003
Highways: total: 2,890 km paved: 364 km unpaved: 2,526 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Djibouti
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 12 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
@Djibouti:Military
Military branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)
Military manpower - availability: males aged 15-49: 106,287 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 62,496 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $23 million (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 4.5% (FY97)
@Djibouti:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
DOMINICA
@Dominica:Introduction
Background: Dominica was the last Caribbean island to be colonized by Europeans, mainly because of the strong resistance from the native Caribs. France gave control to Great Britain in 1763, which established the island as a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after gaining independence, Dominica's situation improved when a corrupt and oppressive government was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who served for 15 years.
@Dominica:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway 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 land: 754 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; influenced by northeast trade winds; significant rainfall
Terrain: rough mountains made from volcanic activity
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: wood, water power, farmland
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 67% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: flash floods are always a threat; destructive hurricanes are likely to occur 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Dominica:People
Population: 71,540 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 10,556; female 10,254) 15-64 years: 63% (male 23,151; female 21,984) 65 years and over: 8% (male 2,294; female 3,301) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.14% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 18.27 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -22.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.13 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.35 years male: 70.5 years female: 76.36 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: black, 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% (1970 est.)
@Dominica:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica
Data code: DO
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: November 3, 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 3, 1978
Constitution: 3 November 1978
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Vernon Lorden SHAW (since October 7, 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt DOUGLAS (since February 2, 2000) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president based on the prime minister's advice elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; last election held on October 7, 1998 (next one to be held in October 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vernon Lorden SHAW elected president; percent of legislative vote - N/A
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 representatives elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on January 31, 2000 (next to be held by NA 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPD 10, UWP 9, DFP 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia), one of the six judges must live in Dominica and oversee the Court of Summary Jurisdiction.
Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) [Charles
SAVARIN]; Labor Party of Dominica (LPD); United
Workers Party (UWP)
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, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (based in Dominica) chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 364-6781 FAX: (202) 364-6791 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; US interests are handled by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Flag description: green, with a centered cross made up 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 featuring a sisserou parrot surrounded by 10 green, five-pointed stars outlined in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
@Dominica:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy relies on agriculture and is very sensitive to weather conditions, especially tropical storms. Agriculture, mainly bananas, makes up 21% of GDP and employs 40% of the workforce. Developing the tourism industry has been challenging due to the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence of an international airport. Hurricane Luis destroyed the country's banana crop in September 1995, and tropical storms had already wiped out a quarter of the crop in 1994. The economy continued to recover in 1998, driven by growth in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals. The government is working to build an offshore financial industry to diversify the island's production base.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $225 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,400 (estimated in 1998)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 16% services: 63% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1998)
Labor force: 25,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $72 million expenditures: $79.9 million, including capital expenditures of $11.5 million (FY97/98)
Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1997 estimate)
Electricity - production: 40 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 50% hydro: 50% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 37 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, citrus fruits, mangoes, root vegetables, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not utilized.
Exports: $60.8 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: bananas 50%, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Exports - partners: Caricom countries 47%, UK 36%, US 7% (1996 est.)
Imports: $120.4 million (1998)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: US 41%, Caricom countries 25%, UK 13%,
Netherlands, Canada (1996 est.)
Debt - external: $90 million (estimated in 1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $24.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Dominica:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 18,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: 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 (but there is one cable TV company) (1997)
Televisions: 6,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Dominica:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Dominica:Military
Military branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes
Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Dominica:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a transit hub for narcotics headed to the US and Europe; a small producer of cannabis; the banking sector is susceptible to money laundering.
______________________________________________________________________
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
@Dominican Republic:Introduction
Background: A history of unstable, mostly unrepresentative rule for much of the 20th century came to an end in 1996 when free and open elections brought in a new government.
@Dominican Republic:Geography
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: just over twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries: total: 275 km border countries: Haiti 275 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm
Climate: tropical maritime; minimal seasonal temperature changes; seasonal differences in rainfall.
Terrain: rough highlands and mountains with fertile valleys mixed in
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% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 12% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: located in the center of the hurricane zone and prone to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts.
Environment - current issues: water shortages; soil erosion into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti (the eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, and the western one-third is Haiti)
@Dominican Republic:People
Population: 8,442,533 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 1,486,902; female 1,422,977) 15-64 years: 61% (male 2,609,934; female 2,518,330) 65 years and over: 5% (male 192,254; female 212,136) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.64% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 25.15 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.72 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -4.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 35.93 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.2 years male: 71.12 years female: 75.38 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3 children born per woman (2000 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 older can read and write total population: 82.1% male: 82% female: 82.2% (1995 est.)
@Dominican Republic:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: República Dominicana local short form: none
Data code: DR
Government type: representative democracy
Capital: Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona,
Dajabon, National District*, 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: February 27, 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday: Independence Day, February 27, 1844
Constitution: 28 November 1966
Legal system: based on French civil law
Suffrage: 18 years old, universal, and mandatory; married individuals regardless of age. Note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote.
Executive branch: chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since August 16, 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since August 16, 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since August 16, 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since August 16, 1996); 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 a four-year term; election last held on May 16, 1996, runoff election held on June 30, 1996 (next to be held on May 16, 2000) election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna elected president; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 48.75%
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 on May 16, 1998 (next to be held in May 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held on May 16, 1998 (next to be held in May 2002). election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, judges are elected by a council consisting of legislative and executive members, with the president overseeing the process.
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy Party (APD)
;
Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA);
Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD); Democratic
Union (UD); Dominican Communist Party (PCD);
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) [Jose Tomas
PEREZ]; Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD);
Dominican Worker's Party (PTD); Independent
Revolutionary Party (PRI); Liberal Party of the Dominican
Republic (PLRD); National Progressive Force (FNP);
National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC)
; Popular Christian Party (PPC) [Rogelio
DELGADO Bogaert]; Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) [Joaquin
BALAGUER Ricardo]
Note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, came together to
form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still maintain
individual party structures.
Political pressure groups and leaders: Collective of Popular
Organizations or COP
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom (observer),
ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto Bienvenido SALADIN Selin chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-6280 FAX: (202) 265-8057 consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulates: Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles MANATT embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 telephone: (809) 221-2171 FAX: (809) 686-7437
Flag description: a centered white cross that reaches 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 is located at the center of the cross
@Dominican Republic:Economy
Economy - overview: In December 1996, incoming President FERNANDEZ introduced a bold reform package for this Caribbean economy, which included devaluing the peso, cutting income taxes, raising sales taxes by 50%, lowering import tariffs, and increasing gasoline prices—aiming to create a market-oriented economy that can compete on the international stage. Although many reforms are stalled in the legislature, such as the intellectual property rights bill, social security reform, and a new electricity law first proposed in 1993, the economy has seen significant growth under FERNANDEZ's leadership. Sectors like construction, tourism, and telecommunications are driving this progress. The government is also working to boost electric generating capacity, which is crucial for ongoing economic expansion; the state electricity company was finally privatized after many delays. The continued robust growth in 2000 will depend on the policies set by the new administration.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $43.7 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 8.3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,400 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.6% industry: 30.8% services: 55.6% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 25% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (1999)
Labor force: 2.3 million to 2.6 million
Labor force - by occupation: services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13.8% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.3 billion expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $867 million (1999 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar production, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (estimated for 1995)
Electricity - production: 8.476 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 72.04% hydro: 27.62% nuclear: 0% other: 0.34% (1998)
Electricity - usage: 7.883 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Exports: $5.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats
Exports - partners: US 61.6%, Belgium 11.1%, Asia 5.9%, Canada 2.9% (1998 est.)
Imports: $8.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: food items, oil, cotton and textiles, chemicals and medications.
Imports - partners: US 56%, Venezuela 23%, Mexico 9%, Japan 4% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $3.7 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $239.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 16.161 (January 2000), 16.033 (1999), 15.267 (1998), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996), 13.597 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Dominican Republic:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 569,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 33,000 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: a fairly efficient system built on an island-wide 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Dominican Republic:Transportation
Railways: total: 757 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad) narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominican Republic Government Railway); 240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)
Highways: total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; refined oil products 8 km
Ports and harbors: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de
Macoris, Santo Domingo
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 28 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 9 (1999 est.)
@Dominican Republic:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,239,309 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,405,845 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 86,569 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $180 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY98)
@Dominican Republic:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for South American drugs headed for the US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
ECUADOR
@Ecuador:Introduction
Background: The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that formed after Gran Colombia fell apart in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). From 1904 to 1942, Ecuador lost land due to a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that erupted in 1995 was settled in 1999.
@Ecuador:Geography
Location: Western South America, along 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 land: 276,840 sq km water: 6,720 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands
Area - comparative: a bit 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 the continental shelf between the mainland and the Galapagos Islands territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical along the coast, getting cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in the lowlands of the Amazon rainforest.
Terrain: coastal plain, inter-Andean central highlands, and flat to rolling eastern jungle
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources: oil, fish, wood, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 56% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,560 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: regular earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions; occasional droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production waste
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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: Cotopaxi in the Andes is the highest active volcano in the world.
@Ecuador:People
Population: 12,920,092 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36.23% (male 2,379,541; female 2,301,543) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 3,794,515; female 3,880,367) 65 years and over: 4.37% (male 262,701; female 301,425) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.04% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 26.51 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.52 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.03 males/females 15-64 years: 0.98 males/females 65 years and over: 0.87 males/females total population: 0.99 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 35.13 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.06 years male: 68.26 years female: 73.99 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.18 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Indigenous and Spanish) 65%, Indigenous 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish (official), Indigenous languages (especially
Quechua)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 90.1% male: 92% female: 88.2% (1995 est.)
@Ecuador:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local long form: República del Ecuador local short form: Ecuador
Data code: EC
Government type: republic
Capital: Quito
Administrative divisions: 22 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia); Azuay, Bolívar, Cañar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El
Oro, Esmeraldas, Galápagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Ríos, Manabí,
Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbíos,
Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence: May 24, 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, August 10 (1809) (independence of
Quito)
Constitution: 10 August 1998
Legal system: based on a civil law system; has not accepted mandatory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal, mandatory for literate individuals aged 18-65, optional for other qualified voters.
Executive branch: chief of state: President Gustavo NOBOA (since January 22, 2000) following the coup that removed President MAHUAD; Vice President Pedro PINTO (since January 28, 2000); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Gustavo NOBOA (since January 22, 2000) following the coup that removed President MAHUAD; Vice President Pedro PINTO (since January 28, 2000); note - the president serves as 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 a four-year term (no reelection); last election held on May 31, 1998; runoff election held on July 12, 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: results of the last election prior to the coup were: Jamil MAHUAD elected president; percent of vote - 51% note: a military-indigenous coup overthrew democratically elected President Jamil MAHAUD on January 21, 2000; the military quickly transferred power to Vice President Gustavo NOBOA on January 22; Congress then elected a new vice president from a list of candidates submitted by NOBOA; the new administration is set to complete the remainder of MAHAUD's term, which expires in January 2003
Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (121 seats; 79 members are elected by the public at-large nationally for four-year terms; 42 members are elected by province - two from each province - for four-year terms) elections: last held on May 31, 1998 (next to be held in 2002) election results: percentage of vote by party - not available; seats by party - DP 32, PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3, MPD 2, CFP 1; note - defections by members of the National Congress are common, leading to frequent changes in the number of seats held by different parties.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, new justices are elected by the entire Supreme Court.
Political parties and leaders: Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP)
; Democratic Left (ID);
Ecuadorian Conservative Party (PCE); Pachakutik-New
Country (P-NP); Popular Democracy (DP); Popular Democratic Movement (MPD) [Jaime HURTADO
Gonzalez]; Radical Alfarista Front (FRA);
Roldosist Party (PRE); Social
Christian Party (PSC)
Note: Political blocs include: far left - MPD; populist - CFP and
P-NP; populist left - PRE; center left - ID, DP, and FRA; center right
- PSC and PCE
Political pressure groups and leaders: Confederation of Indigenous
Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE
International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
NAM, 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 Ivonne A-BAKI chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 234-7200 FAX: (202) 667-3482 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gwen CLARE embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039 telephone: (2) 562-890 FAX: (2) 502-052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms placed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not have a coat of arms.
@Ecuador:Economy
Economy - overview: Ecuador has significant oil resources and fertile agricultural land. Since the country exports primary products like oil, bananas, and shrimp, changes in global market prices can significantly affect the domestic economy. Ecuador became a member of the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has not met many of its commitments since joining. Recently, economic growth has been inconsistent due to poorly planned fiscal stabilization measures. The effects of El Niño and the downturn in the oil market from 1997 to 1998 plunged Ecuador's economy into crisis in 1999. Early in 1999, the banking sector collapsed, leading to an unprecedented default on external loans later that year. Ongoing economic instability caused the currency to depreciate by 70% throughout 1999, ultimately prompting the government to adopt the U.S. dollar as its currency in 2000. This move stabilized the currency but did not prevent the government from being ousted. The new president, Gustavo Noboa, has yet to finalize negotiations for a long-desired IMF agreement. He will face challenges in implementing the reforms needed for dollarization to succeed in the long run.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.5 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -8% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 36% services: 50% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 37.6% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 59.9% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 4.2 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% with significant underemployment (November 1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: projected $5.1 billion (not including revenue from potential privatizations) expenditures: $5.1 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Industries: oil, food processing, textiles, metal fabrication, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 9.657 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 27.96% hydro: 72.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 8.981 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Exports: $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: oil, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish
Exports - partners: US 39%, Colombia 7%, Italy 6%, Peru 5%, Chile 3% (1998)
Imports: $2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - goods: machinery and equipment, raw materials, fuels; consumer products
Imports - partners: US 39%, Colombia 11%, Japan 9%, Venezuela 5%,
Mexico 3% (1998)
Debt - external: $15.3 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $695.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 sucre (S/) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1 - 24,860.7 (January 2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Ecuador:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 748,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 49,776 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: facilities are usually inadequate and unreliable international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 392, FM 27, shortwave 29 (1998)
Radios: 4.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 15 (including one station on the
Galapagos Islands) (1997)
Televisions: 1.55 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 8 (1999)
@Ecuador:Transportation
Railways: total: 812 km (single track) narrow gauge: 812 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 43,197 km paved: 8,165 km unpaved: 35,032 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 1,500 km
Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto
Bolívar, San Lorenzo
Merchant marine: total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 233,151 GRT/388,750 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 22 (1999 est.)
Airports: 182 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 57 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 125 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 89 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Ecuador:Military
Military branches: Army (Ejército Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada
Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana),
National Police (Policía Nacional)
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,296,678 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,224,033 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 130,869 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $720 million (FY98)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 3.4% (FY98)
@Ecuador:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the boundary with Peru was finalized in May 1999
Illicit drugs: major transit country for cocaine and coca derivatives from Colombia and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in making illegal narcotics; key money-laundering center; heightened activity at borders by trafficking organizations and Colombian insurgents.
______________________________________________________________________
EGYPT
@Egypt:Introduction
Background: Officially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt gained full sovereignty after World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resulting Lake Nasser have changed the traditional role of the Nile River in Egypt's agriculture and ecology. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world) will keep putting pressure on Egyptian society and strain resources as the country moves into the new millennium.
@Egypt:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, along the Mediterranean Sea, situated between
Libya and the Gaza Strip
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: just over three times larger than New
Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,689 km
border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km,
Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline: 2,450 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with mild winters
Terrain: a wide desert plateau broken up by the Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 32,460 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; a hot and intense windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms.
Environment - current issues: agricultural land is being lost to urban development and shifting sands; increasing soil salinity below the Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, untreated sewage, and industrial waste; very limited natural freshwater resources away from the Nile, which is the only consistent water source; rapid population growth is straining 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: controls the Sinai Peninsula, which is the only land bridge between Africa and the rest of the Eastern Hemisphere; controls the Suez Canal, the shortest sea route between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea; its size and position next to Israel establish its crucial role in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
@Egypt:People
Population: 68,359,979 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 12,260,343; female 11,701,253) 15-64 years: 61% (male 21,111,615; female 20,714,511) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,131,760; female 1,440,497) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.72% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 25.38 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.83 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.32 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.33 years male: 61.29 years female: 65.47 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.15 children per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and
Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (mainly
Italian and French) 1%
Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and others 6%
Languages: Arabic (official), with English and French commonly understood by educated people
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.4% male: 63.6% female: 38.8% (1995 est.)
@Egypt:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt conventional short form: Egypt local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah local short form: Misr former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Data code: EG
Government type: republic
Capital: Cairo
Administrative divisions: 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahar al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum,
Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Giza, Al Minufiyah,
Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah,
As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Port Said, Dumyat, South Sinai,
Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, North Sinai, Suhaj
Independence: February 28, 1922 (from the UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, July 23 (1952)
Constitution: 11 September 1971
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by the Supreme Court and Council of State (which oversees the validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since October 14, 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Atef OBEID (since October 5, 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: President is nominated by the People's Assembly for a six-year term, and the nomination must be confirmed by a national popular referendum; the last national referendum was held on September 26, 1999 (the next will be in October 2005); Prime Minister is appointed by the president election results: The national referendum confirmed President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly for a fourth term
Legislative branch: The 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 only functions 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 - last held on November 29, 1995 (next to be held in November 2000); Advisory Council - last held on June 7, 1995 (next to be held NA). Election results: People's Assembly - percentage of votes by party - NDP 72%, independents 25%, opposition 3%; seats by party - NDP 317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic Party 1, LSP 1; Advisory Council - percentage of votes by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA.
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Unionist Party [Mohammed
'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK]; Green Party; Misr al-Fatah Party
(Young Egypt Party); Nasserist Arab Democratic Party [Dia'
al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed
Hosni MUBARAK, leader] - governing party; National Progressive
Unionist Grouping or NPUG; New Wafd Party or NWP
; Social Justice Party;
Socialist Labor Party or SLP; Socialist Liberal Party
or LSP; Umma Party
note: formation of political parties must be approved by government
Political pressure groups and leaders: even with a constitutional ban on religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood is probably MUBARAK's most significant political opposition. MUBARAK allowed some limited political activity from the Brotherhood during his first two terms, but in the past six years, he has taken a stronger stance to diminish its influence. Trade unions and professional associations are officially recognized.
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT
(associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD,
ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
(observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nabil FAHMY chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 895-5400 FAX: (202) 244-4319, 5131 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900 telephone: (2) 3557371 FAX: (2) 3573200
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield overlaid on a golden eagle facing the left side, above a scroll that has the country's name in Arabic) positioned in the center of the white stripe; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white stripe; 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) arranged in a horizontal line in the center of the white stripe.
@Egypt:Economy
Economy - overview: A series of IMF agreements, along with significant external debt relief from Egypt's participation in the Gulf War coalition, helped Egypt enhance its economic performance during the 1990s. With effective fiscal and monetary policies, Cairo brought inflation under control, reduced budget deficits, and increased foreign reserves. Although the pace of structural reforms—like privatization and new business laws—has been slower than what the IMF expected, Egypt's movement toward a more market-driven economy has encouraged more foreign investment. The decline in hard currency inflows from tourism, worker remittances, oil revenues, and Suez Canal tolls in 1998 and the first half of 1999 put pressure on the Egyptian pound and caused occasional dollar shortages, but there was no crisis in external payments. Even with sufficient reserves, the Central Bank did not supply enough hard currency to commercial banks, and Cairo briefly limited imports; these events indicated to some investors and currency traders that government financial operations lack adequate coordination and transparency. However, monetary pressures have lessened since then, thanks to a recovery in oil prices starting in mid-1999 and a moderate rebound in tourism. Rising gas exports are a significant positive factor for future growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $200 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,000 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 32% services: 51% (1999)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 26.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1999)
Labor force: 19 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 40%, services 38%, industry 22% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.8% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $20.7 billion expenditures: $22.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99)
Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, oil, construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 57.8 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.72% hydro: 21.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 53.754 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; fish
Exports: $4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
Exports - partners: EU 47%, US 14%, Turkey 8% (1998)
Imports: $15.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, food, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners: EU 42%, US 16%, Japan 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $30 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)
Currency: 1 Egyptian pound = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds per US$1 - market rate - 3.4050 (January 2000), 3.4050 (1999), 3.3880 (1998), 3.3880 (1997), 3.3880 (1996), 3.3900 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Egypt:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.168 million (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 380,000 (1999)
Telephone system: a large system by developing country standards, but not sufficient for current needs and undergoing major upgrades; Internet access is available. domestic: major centers like Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are linked 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 stations: AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios: 20.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 51 (September 1995)
Televisions: 7.7 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 31 (1999)
@Egypt:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,955 km standard gauge: 4,955 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 1,560 km double track)
Highways: total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and many smaller canals in the delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km (including approaches), used by ocean-going vessels that can draw up to 16.1 m of water.
Pipelines: crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km
Ports and harbors: Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur
Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Merchant marine: total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,348,148 GRT/2,014,483 DWT ships by type: bulk 25, cargo 63, container 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 57, petroleum tanker 14, roll-on/roll-off 16, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 90 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 71 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 9 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Egypt:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 18,164,353 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 11,766,949 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 704,373 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3.28 billion (FY95/96)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 8.2% (FY95/96)
@Egypt:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Egypt claims the "Hala'ib Triangle," a desolate region of 20,580 sq km that is partly managed by Sudan, which is defined by an administrative boundary that overrides the treaty boundary of 1899.
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium heading to Europe, Africa, and the US; a common transit point for Nigerian couriers.
______________________________________________________________________
EL SALVADOR
@El Salvador:Introduction
Background: El Salvador gained independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A civil war lasting 12 years, which resulted in the deaths of around 75,000 people, ended in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that included military and political reforms.
@El Salvador:Geography
Location: Central America, next to 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 land: 20,720 sq km water: 320 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline: 307 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical along the coast; temperate in the highlands
Terrain: primarily mountainous with a narrow coastal area and a central plateau.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal energy, oil, farmland
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 29% forests and woodland: 5% other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes extremely destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from toxic waste disposal; Hurricane Mitch damage
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 the only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea.
@El Salvador:People
Population: 6,122,515 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38% (male 1,186,328; female 1,141,245) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,652,083; female 1,833,998) 65 years and over: 5% (male 139,919; female 168,942) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.87% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 29.02 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.27 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -4.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.22 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.74 years male: 66.14 years female: 73.52 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.38 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups: mestizo 90%, Indigenous 1%, white 9%
Religions: Roman Catholic 86% note: there is a lot of activity by Protestant groups across the country; by the end of 1992, it was estimated that there were around 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador.
Languages: Spanish, Nahuatl (spoken by some Indigenous peoples)
Literacy: definition: age 10 and older can read and write total population: 71.5% male: 73.5% female: 69.8% (1995 est.)
@El Salvador:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador
Data code: ES
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: September 15, 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 15 (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 note: Legislative Assembly passed landmark judicial reforms in 1996
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since June 1, 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since June 1, 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since June 1, 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since June 1, 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held March 7, 1999 (next to be held in March 2004) election results: Francisco FLORES Perez elected president; percent of vote - Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%, Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN) 29%, Ruben ZAMORA (CDU) 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 1997 (next to be held 12 March 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%, PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, CD 3.8%, PRSC 3.4%, PLD 3.2%, MU 2.1%, PD 1.0%, other 0.8%; seats by party - ARENA 28, FMLN 27, PCN 9, PDC 8, PRSC 3, CD 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1, independent 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are chosen by the Legislative Assembly.
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rene AGUILUZ, Secretary General]; Democratic Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA, Secretary General]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, President]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, Secretary General]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA; Popular Labor Party or PPL [Ernesto VILANOVA, Secretary General]; Social Christian Union or USC [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, President]; Social Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ and Juan MEDRANO]; United Democratic Center or CDU, bloc includes CD and PD formed by merger of Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC, National Solidarity Movement or MSN, and the Unity Movement or MU.
Political pressure groups and leaders: labor organizations: Association of Agricultural Producers (APROAS); Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador (SIES); Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport, and other activities (FESINCONTRANS); National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers (CNTS); National Union of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS); Port Industry Union of El Salvador (SIPES); Salvadoran Workers Central (CTS); Workers Union of Electrical Corporation (STCEL) business organizations: National Association of Small Enterprises (ANEP); Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association (ASIC); Salvadoran Industrial Association (ASI)
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, 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 chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-9671 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023 telephone: 278-4444 FAX: 278-6011
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and blue, with the national coat of arms in the center of the white stripe; the coat of arms shows a round emblem surrounded by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; it resembles the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms in the center of the white stripe - it features a triangle surrounded by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; it also resembles the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white stripe.
@El Salvador:Economy
Economy - overview: El Salvador is a struggling Central American economy that has faced challenges like a weak tax collection system, factory closures, the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, and low global coffee prices. On the positive side, inflation has dropped to single digits in recent years, and total exports have significantly increased. The large trade deficit has been balanced out by remittances from many Salvadorans living abroad and from outside assistance.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.1 billion (est. 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.2% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,100 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 22% services: 66% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 48% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 38.3% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 2.35 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.73 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Industries: food processing, beverages, oil, chemicals, fertilizers, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 4.1 billion kWh (1999 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 49.32% hydro: 36.46% nuclear: 0% other: 14.22% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 4.17 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 30 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 65 million kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp
Exports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity
Exports - partners: US 59%, Guatemala 12%, Germany 6%, Costa Rica 4%,
Honduras (1998)
Imports: $4.15 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: raw materials, consumer products, capital goods, fuels, food items, oil, electricity
Imports - partners: US 51%, Guatemala 9%, Mexico 6%, Japan 3%, Costa
Rica (1999)
Debt - external: $3.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: total $252 million; $57 million from the US (1999 est.)
Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 (end of period) - 8.755 fixed rate since 1993
Fiscal year: calendar year
@El Salvador:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 380,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 13,475 (1995)
Telephone system: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@El Salvador:Transportation
Railways: total: 602 km (single track; note - some sections are abandoned, unusable, or operating at reduced capacity) narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways: total: 10,029 km paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,043 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports and harbors: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union,
Puerto El Triunfo
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 85 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 81 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 64 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@El Salvador:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,428,974 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 906,656 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 67,181 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $105 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY98)
@El Salvador:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the Honduras-El Salvador Border Protocol, ratified by Honduras in May 1999, created a framework for the long-delayed border demarcation, which is currently in progress; regarding the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJ referenced the line established by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and suggested that some tripartite resolution involving El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua would probably be necessary.
Illicit drugs: a hub for cocaine trafficking; marijuana grown for local use; increase in domestic drug abuse.
______________________________________________________________________
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
@Equatorial Guinea:Introduction
Background: Made up of a mainland area and five populated islands, Equatorial Guinea has been led by harsh leaders who have poorly handled the economy since gaining independence from 190 years of Spanish control in 1968. Despite being officially a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 presidential and 1999 legislative elections were widely regarded as flawed.
@Equatorial Guinea:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to 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 land: 28,051 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparison: a bit 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains lead to interior hills; the islands are volcanic.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources: oil, petroleum, timber, small undeveloped deposits of gold, manganese, uranium
Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 46% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: severe storms, sudden floods
Environment - current issues: tap water is not drinkable; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: island and continental areas are quite far apart.
@Equatorial Guinea:People
Population: 474,214 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 101,724; female 100,787) 15-64 years: 54% (male 121,290; female 132,581) 65 years and over: 3% (male 7,960; female 9,872) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.47% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 38.13 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 13.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1.01 males/females 15-64 years: 0.91 males/females 65 years and over: 0.81 males/females total population: 0.95 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 94.83 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.56 years male: 51.53 years female: 55.65 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.94 children per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups: Bioko (mainly Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (mostly Fang), Europeans fewer than 1,000, mostly Spanish.
Religions: mostly Christian and mainly Roman Catholic, with pagan practices
Languages: Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English,
Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.5% male: 89.6% female: 68.1% (1995 est.)
@Equatorial Guinea:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea local long form: República de Guinea Ecuatorial local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial former: Spanish Guinea
Data code: EK
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: October 12, 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, October 12 (1968)
Constitution: approved by national vote on November 17, 1991; amended January 1995
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal customs
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since August 3, 1979, when he took power in a military coup) head of government: Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NZE FUMU (since NA January 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; last election held on February 25, 1996 (next set for NA February 2003); prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the president election results: President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98% of the popular vote in elections tainted by widespread fraud
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 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 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; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party); Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE; Popular Union or UP [Fabian MUSA, general secretary]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY, mayor of Malabo]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU,
OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE chancery: 1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: (202) 296-4174 FAX: (202) 296-4195
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES note: the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US relations with Equatorial Guinea are managed through the US Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon; the US State Department is looking into opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo.
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a blue isosceles triangle on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features six yellow six-pointed stars (symbolizing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield that displays a silk-cotton tree, with a scroll underneath that reads UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice).
@Equatorial Guinea:Economy
Economy - overview: The discovery and use of large oil reserves have led to significant economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing also play major roles in the GDP. Subsistence farming is the norm. Before gaining independence, Equatorial Guinea relied on cocoa production for hard currency, but the decline of the rural economy under successive oppressive regimes has reduced the potential for agriculture-driven growth. Several aid programs from the World Bank and the IMF have been halted since 1993 due to the government's widespread corruption and mismanagement. Most businesses are owned by government officials and their relatives. Untapped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. The country reacted positively to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994. Increases in production, alongside high global oil prices, are expected to further boost growth in 2000-2001.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $960 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 15% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 60% services: 20% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $47 million expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7 million (1996 est.)
Industries: oil, fishing, lumber milling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity - production: 21 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 85.71% hydro: 14.29% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 20 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
Exports: $555 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: oil, wood, cocoa
Exports - partners: US 62%, Spain 17%, China 9%, France 3%, Japan 3%, (1997)
Imports: $300 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - products: oil, manufactured items, and machinery
Imports - partners: US 35%, France 15%, Spain 10%, Cameroon 10%, UK 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $290 million (1999 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $33.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 West African Economic and Monetary Union franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Equatorial Guinea:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 3,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: inadequate system with sufficient 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 2, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 180,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 4,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Equatorial Guinea:Transportation
Railways: total: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,880 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 2,880 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine: total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 25,907 GRT/26,812 DWT ships by type: cargo 8, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Equatorial Guinea:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Response Force,
National Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 105,420 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 53,564 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3 million (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.6% (FY97/98)
@Equatorial Guinea:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: there's an ongoing exclusive maritime economic zone boundary dispute with Cameroon that's currently before the ICJ; a maritime boundary disagreement with Gabon due to conflicting claims over islands in Corisco Bay; and a maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria and Cameroon concerning disputed rights over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea.
______________________________________________________________________
ERITREA
@Eritrea:Introduction
Background: Eritrea was given to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopia's takeover of Eritrea as a province 10 years later led to a 30-year fight for independence that wrapped up in 1991 when Eritrean rebels defeated the government forces; independence was overwhelmingly supported in a 1993 referendum. A border war with Ethiopia that started in 1998 is still unresolved.
@Eritrea:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, next to the Red Sea, between Djibouti and
Sudan
Geographic coordinates: 15° N, 39° E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 121,320 sq km land: 121,320 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 1,630 km border countries: Djibouti 113 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: NA
Climate: hot, dry desert area along the Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rain each year); semiarid in the western hills and lowlands; rainfall is heaviest from June to September, except in the coastal desert.
Terrain: characterized by the expansive Ethiopian highlands that run north to south, sloping down to a coastal desert plain in the east, hilly terrain in the northwest, and flat to rolling plains in the southwest.
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: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 49% forests and woodlands: 6% other: 32% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: frequent droughts and locust swarms
Environment - current issues: deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil war
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 the world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea kept the whole coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea after gaining official independence from Ethiopia on May 24, 1993.
@Eritrea:People
Population: 4,135,933 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 888,573; female 883,939) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,104,082; female 1,122,683) 65 years and over: 3% (male 69,518; female 67,138) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.86% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 42.71 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 12.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: according to the UNHCR, about 150,000 Eritrean refugees in Sudan have signed up for voluntary repatriation since diplomatic relations between Eritrea and Sudan were restored in January 2000.
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: 1.04 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.66 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.79 years male: 53.36 years female: 58.29 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.93 children born/woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%,
Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, and others
Cushitic languages
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 25% male: NA% female: NA%
@Eritrea:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Data code: ER
Government type: transitional government note: after a successful referendum for independence in the Autonomous Region of Eritrea from April 23-25, 1993, a National Assembly made up entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) was created as a transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also set up to write a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in August 1997, did not go into effect, waiting for parliamentary and presidential elections; those elections have been postponed indefinitely due to the start of the border conflict with Ethiopia.
Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular - awraja); Akale Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye. Note: In May 1995, the National Assembly passed a resolution stating that the administrative structure of Eritrea, established by former colonial powers, would be reduced to only six provinces when the new constitution, currently being drafted, took effect in 1997. The new provinces, whose names had not been approved for recognition by the US Government pending an acceptable definition of their boundaries, were: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi Keyih Bahri, Gash-Barka, Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri. More recently, it has been reported that these provinces have been redesignated as regions and renamed Southern Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Anseba, Gash-Barka, Southern, and Central.
Independence: A referendum was held from April 23-25, 1993, with the outcome being a vote for independence; on May 24, 1993, Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia, having previously been the Eritrea Autonomous Region.
National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), May 24 (1993)
Constitution: the transitional constitution, established on May 19, 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on May 23, 1997, but not yet put into effect.
Legal system: operates on transitional laws that include pre-independence statutes of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, updated Ethiopian laws, customary laws, and laws enacted after independence.
Suffrage: 18 years old; for everyone
Executive branch: chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since June 8, 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since June 8, 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority note: the president is the head of the State Council and National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly; last election held on June 8, 1993 (next to be held NA) election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; no term limits) elections: in May 1997, after the new constitution was adopted, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (which was previously the Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly set up in 1997 to discuss and approve the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were organized into a Transitional National Assembly to act as the legislative body until national elections for a National Assembly are held; only 75 members will be elected to the National Assembly - the other 75 will be members of the Central Committee of the PFDJ
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; 10 provincial courts; 29 district courts
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS
Afworki, PETROS Solomon]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ;
Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF ; Eritrean
Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC ;
Eritrean Liberation Front-United Organization or ELF-UO [Mohammed Said
NAWD]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador SEMERE Russom chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 319-1991 FAX: (202) 319-1304
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William D. CLARKE embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: (1) 120004 FAX: (1) 127584
Flag description: red isosceles triangle (based on the side where it attaches to the pole) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, and the lower one is blue; a gold wreath surrounds a gold olive branch centered on the side where the red triangle attaches.
@Eritrea:Economy
Economy - overview: After gaining independence from Ethiopia on May 24, 1993, Eritrea dealt with the economic challenges of a small, extremely poor country. The economy mainly relies on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population engaged in farming and herding. The small industrial sector is primarily made up of light industries using outdated technologies. Domestic output (GDP) is significantly boosted by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenue comes from customs duties and taxes on income and sales. Road construction is a top domestic priority. In the long run, Eritrea could benefit from developing offshore oil, fishing, and tourism. Eritrea's economic future hinges on its ability to tackle fundamental social and economic issues, such as reducing illiteracy, promoting job creation, expanding technical training, attracting foreign investment, and streamlining the bureaucracy. However, the most immediate threat to the economy is the potential escalation of the border conflict with Ethiopia, which began in May 1998. The fighting has drained vital resources necessary for Eritrea's economic development.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $750 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 20% services: 62% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (estimated in 1998)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 20%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $283.9 million expenditures: $351.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, drinks, clothing and fabrics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 177.6 million kWh (estimated in 1997)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1997 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 177.6 million kWh (1997 estimate)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1997)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1997)
Agriculture - products: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish
Exports: $52.9 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactured goods
Exports - partners: Ethiopia 64%, Sudan 17%, Italy 5%, Saudi Arabia 2%, US, Yemen (1997)
Imports: $489.4 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: processed goods, machinery, oil products
Imports - partners: Saudi Arabia 16%, Italy 14%, UAE 13%, Ethiopia 9%,
Germany 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $76 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $123.1 million (1997)
Currency: 1 nafka = 100 cents
Exchange rates: nakfa per US$1 = 9.5 (January 2000), 7.6 (January 1999), 7.2 (March 1998 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Eritrea:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 23,578 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; the government is looking for international tenders to upgrade the system international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2000)
Radios: 345,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (2000)
Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Eritrea:Transportation
Railways: total: 317 km narrow gauge: 317 km 0.950-m gauge (1999) note: connects Ak'ordat and Asmara to the port of Massawa; nonoperational since 1978, except for about a 5 km section that was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the rest and of the rolling stock is in progress.
Highways: total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine: total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 16,069 GRT/19,549 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 21 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Eritrea:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military spending - amount: $196 million (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 28.6% (FY97)
@Eritrea:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: a disagreement over the boundary alignment with Ethiopia led to armed conflict in 1998, which remains unresolved despite attempts at arbitration.
______________________________________________________________________
ESTONIA
@Estonia:Introduction
Background: After centuries of Swedish and Russian control, Estonia gained independence in 1918. It was forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, but regained its freedom in 1991 with the fall of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been able to strengthen its economic and political relationships with Western Europe.
@Estonia:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, next to the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 59° N, 26° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 45,226 sq km land: 43,211 sq km water: 2,015 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Area - comparative: a bit 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: boundaries established in cooperation with neighboring countries territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: coastal, humid, mild winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources: shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite, amber, Cambrian blue clay, limestone, dolomite, farmland
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 44% other: 20% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1996 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding happens often in the spring
Environment - current issues: air is heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in the northeast; soil and groundwater are contaminated with petroleum products and chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has over 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, many of which in agricultural areas are seriously impacted by organic waste; coastal sea water is polluted in many places.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
@Estonia:People
Population: 1,431,471 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 129,204; female 124,269) 15-64 years: 68% (male 466,960; female 503,233) 65 years and over: 14% (male 67,781; female 140,024) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.59% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 8.45 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 13.55 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.92 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.45 years male: 63.4 years female: 75.79 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.19 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%,
Byelorussian 1.5%, Finnish 1%, other 1.8% (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, English, Finnish, other
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1998 est.)
@Estonia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: EN
Government type: parliamentary democracy
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: September 6, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, February 24 (1918)
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system: based on civil law; no judicial review of laws.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since October 5, 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since March 29, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not get two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting, then an electoral assembly (composed of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the most votes; last election held August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Lennart MERI reelected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament couldn't resolve a tie between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote - Lennart MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held March 7, 1999 (next to be held in March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria (Fatherland League) 18, Reform Party 18, Moderates 17, Country People's Party (Agrarians) 7, Coalition Party 7, UPPE 6,
Judicial branch: National Court, chairperson appointed by Parliament for life
Political parties and leaders: Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Andrus OOVEL, chairman]; Country People's Party; Moderates or M; Reform Party or RE; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit); United People's Party or UPPE
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sven JURGENSON chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 588-0101 FAX: (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (6) 312-021 FAX: (6) 312-025
Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by the Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
@Estonia:Economy
Economy - overview: In 1999, Estonia had its toughest economic year since regaining independence in 1991, mainly due to the fallout from the August 1998 Russian financial crisis. Estonia joined the WTO in November 1999, becoming the second Baltic state to do so, and continued its EU accession discussions. The GDP is projected to grow by 4% in 2000. The privatization of energy, telecommunications, railways, and other state-owned companies will keep moving forward in 2000. Estonia aims to finalize its preparations for EU membership by the end of 2002.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,600 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 30.7% services: 65.7% (1999)
Population below the poverty line: 6.3% (1994 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 28.5% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 785,500 (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 20%, agriculture and forestry 11%, services 69% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.7% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.37 billion expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production: 8.742 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.98% hydro: 0.02% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 7.58 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 700 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 150 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Exports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and appliances 19%, wood products 15%, textiles 13%, food products 12%, metals 10%, chemical products 8% (1999)
Exports - partners: Sweden 19.3%, Finland 18.8%, Russia 8.8%, Latvia 8.8%, Germany 7.3%, US 2.5% (1999)
Imports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and appliances 26%, food 15%, chemical products 10%, metal products 9%, textiles 8% (1999)
Imports - partners: Finland 23%, Russia 13.2%, Sweden 10%, Germany 9.1%, US 4.7% (1999)
Debt - external: $270 million (January 1996)
Economic aid - recipient: $137.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 sents
Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1 - 15.417 (January 2000), 4.678 (1999), 14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995); note - krooni are fixed to the German deutsche mark at a rate of 8 to 1.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Estonia:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 476,078 (end of 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 246,000 (end of 1998)
Telephone system: foreign investment through joint ventures significantly enhanced telephone services; Internet services are accessible in most of the country; there are around 150,000 pending subscriber requests. Domestic: local - the Ministry of Transport and Communications is expanding cellular phone services to create rural networks; intercity - there is a well-developed fiber-optic backbone (double loop) system currently serving at least 16 major cities (1998). International: fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia offer global packet switched service; two international switches are situated in Tallinn.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (all AM stations inactive since July 1998), FM 82, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 1.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 31 (plus five repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions: 605,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999)
@Estonia:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,018 km of common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines broad gauge: 1,018 km of 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)
Highways: total: 49,480 km paved: 10,935 km (including 75 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,545 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 320 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
Merchant marine: total: 50 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a total of 306,264 GRT/293,083 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 20, combination bulk 1, container 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 13, short-sea passenger 6 (1999 est.)
Airports: 5 (1997 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
@Estonia:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air
Defense Force (not officially recognized), Maritime Border Guard,
Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and
border troops)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 359,764 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 282,456 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 10,965 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $70 million (FY99)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1.2% (FY99)
@Estonia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Estonian and Russian negotiators came to a technical border agreement in December 1996, but it hasn't been signed or ratified as of January 1, 2000.
Illicit drugs: a key point for the transfer of opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus through Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia; potential production and/or trafficking of precursor substances.
______________________________________________________________________
ETHIOPIA
@Ethiopia:Introduction
Background: Unlike other African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy stayed free from colonial rule, with the exception of the Italian occupation from 1936 to 1941. In 1974, a military group called the Derg overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie, who had been in power since 1930, and set up a socialist state. The regime struggled with violent coups, uprisings, severe drought, and significant refugee issues before being brought down by a coalition of rebel forces, known as the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A new constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia held its first multiparty elections in 1995. A border war with Eritrea broke out in May 1998, which strengthened the ruling coalition but harmed the country's economy.
@Ethiopia:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 8.00 N, 38.00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,127,127 sq km land: 1,119,683 sq km water: 7,444 sq km
Area - comparative: just under twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,311 km
bordering countries: Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km,
Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon with significant variations caused by the landscape
Terrain: a high plateau with a central mountain range separated by the Great
Rift Valley
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Denakil -125 m highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 25% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: the geologically active Great Rift Valley is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions; it also experiences frequent droughts.
Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked - the whole coastline along the Red Sea was lost with Eritrea's official independence on May 24, 1993
@Ethiopia:People
Population: 64,117,452 note: estimates for this country specifically account for the impact of excess mortality from AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, as well as reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and gender than would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 15,167,395; female 14,977,346) 15-64 years: 50% (male 16,195,637; female 15,987,089) 65 years and over: 3% (male 816,011; female 973,974) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.76% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 45.13 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 17.63 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: The return of Ethiopians who escaped to Sudan for safety from war and famine in previous years is expected to keep going for several years; small groups of Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia due to conflict or famine in their own countries, continue to go back to their homes.
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: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 101.29 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.17 years male: 44.41 years female: 45.94 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.07 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigray 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, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (the main foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and above can read and write total population: 35.5% male: 45.5% female: 25.3% (1995 est.)
@Ethiopia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: Ityop'iya abbreviation: FDRE
Data code: ET
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions: 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi) and 2 chartered cities*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benishangul/Gumaz; Dire Dawa*; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region; Tigray
Independence: the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - for at least 2,000 years
National holiday: National Day, May 28 (1991) (overthrow of the MENGISTU regime)
Constitution: ratified December 1994; effective August 22, 1995
Legal system: currently a transitional mix of national and regional courts
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since August 22, 1995) head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers as outlined in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are chosen by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives elections: president is elected by the House of People's Representatives for a six-year term; last election held NA June 1995 (next to be held NA May 2001); prime minister is appointed by the ruling party following legislative elections election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percentage of vote by the House of People's Representatives - NA
Legislative branch: The bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation, the upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms), and the House of People's Representatives, the lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms). Elections: Regional and national elections took place in May and June 1995 (next to be held in May 2000). Election results: Percent of vote - NA; seats - EPRDF 483, regional political groupings 46, independents 8; note - 11 seats unconfirmed. Note: Many opposition groups, including the Oromo Liberation Front, boycotted the election.
Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court; the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister presents candidates chosen by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council to the House of People's Representatives for appointment.
Political parties and leaders: All-Amhara People's Organization or
AAPO; Coalition of Alternative Forces for Peace
and Democracy or CAFPD; Ethiopian Democratic Union or EDU
; Ethiopian Movement for Democracy, Peace, and Unity or
EMDPU; Ethiopian National Democratic Party or ENDP
; Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Democratic Front or EPRDF; Oromo Liberation Front or
OLF; and many small parties.
Political pressure groups and leaders: Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition; many small, ethnically based groups have emerged since the fall of the former MENGISTU regime in 1991, including several Islamic militant groups.
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-2281 FAX: (202) 328-7950
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tibor P. NAGY embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa telephone: (1) 550666 FAX: (1) 551328
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, featuring a yellow pentagram with single yellow rays extending from the angles between the points on a light blue circle centered on the three bands. Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors of its flag have been frequently adopted by other African countries upon gaining independence, becoming known as the pan-African colors.
@Ethiopia:Economy
Economy - overview: Ethiopia's economy relies heavily on agriculture, which makes up half of its GDP, accounts for 90% of its exports, and provides 80% of total jobs. The agricultural sector is frequently affected by droughts and poor farming practices, leading to around 4.6 million people requiring food aid each year. Coffee is vital to Ethiopia's economy, generating $267 million in 1999 from the export of 105,000 metric tons. Current estimates suggest that coffee contributes 10% to Ethiopia's GDP. Over 15 million people (25% of the population) depend on the coffee industry for their livelihoods. Other exports include live animals, hides, gold, and qat. In December 1999, Ethiopia entered a $1.4 billion joint venture to develop a large natural gas field in the Somali Regional State. The conflict with Eritrea has forced the government to allocate limited resources to the military and led to a reduction in ambitious development plans. Foreign investment has dropped significantly. Taxes introduced in late 1999 to fund the war are likely to further weaken an already struggling economy. While the war has prompted the government to enhance roads and other previously overlooked infrastructure, only select regions of the country have benefited.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $33.3 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $560 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 46% industry: 12% services: 42% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1999 estimate)
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 billion expenditures: $1.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $415 million (FY96/97)
Industries: food processing, drinks, textiles, chemicals, metal processing, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.36 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 7.35% hydro: 89.34% nuclear: 0% other: 3.31% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.265 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, legumes, coffee, oil seeds, sugarcane, potatoes; hides, cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $420 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: coffee, gold, leather goods, oilseeds
Exports - partners: Germany 22%, Japan 12%, Italy 9%, UK 5% (1997 est.)
Imports: $1.25 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: food and live animals, oil and oil products, chemicals, machinery, cars
Imports - partners: Italy 10%, US 9%, Japan 8%, Jordan 5% (1997 est.)
Debt - external: $10 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $367 million (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period) - 8.2 (January 2000), 7.5030 (1998), 6.8640 (1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995). Note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been set in an interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auctions; before that date, the official rate was fixed at US$1 = 5.000 birr.
Fiscal year: July 8 - July 7
@Ethiopia:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 365,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1999)
Telephone system: open wire and microwave radio relay system suitable for government use domestic: open wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites provide 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 5, FM 0, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios: 11.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 25 (1999)
Televisions: 320,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Ethiopia:Transportation
Railways: total: 681 km (Ethiopian section of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia revealed plans to restore the century-old railway connecting their capitals; since May 1998, Ethiopia has invested significant resources in repairing and maintaining the tracks.
Highways: total: 28,500 km paved: 4,275 km unpaved: 24,225 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none; Ethiopia is landlocked and had been using the ports of Assab and Massawa in agreement with Eritrea; since the border dispute with Eritrea escalated, Ethiopia has relied on the port of Djibouti for almost all of its imports.
Merchant marine: total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 84,915 GRT/112,634 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 85 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 74 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.)
@Ethiopia:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Police, Militia note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; after Eritrea gained independence, Ethiopian naval facilities stayed in Eritrean hands and ships that belonged to the former Ethiopian Navy and were based in Djibouti have been sold.
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 14,184,072 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 7,392,677 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 686,801 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $138 million (FY98/99)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 2.5% (FY98/99)
@Ethiopia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: most of the southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; there is a territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden; a disagreement over the boundary alignment with Eritrea led to armed conflict in 1998, which remains unresolved despite arbitration efforts.
Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin coming from Southwest and Southeast Asia and going to Europe and North America, as well as cocaine headed for markets in Southern Africa; produces qat (chat) for local use and regional export, mainly to Djibouti and Somalia.
______________________________________________________________________
EUROPA ISLAND
@Europa Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an island in the Mozambique Channel, approximately halfway between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique.
Geographic coordinates: 22° 20' S, 40° 22' E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 28 sq km land: 28 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
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: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: wildlife sanctuary
@Europa Island:People
Population: no native inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison (July 2000 est.)
@Europa Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa
Data code: EU
Dependency status: possession of France; managed by a high commissioner of the Republic, living in Reunion
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Europa Island:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Europa Island:Communications
Communications - note: 1 weather station
@Europa Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Europa Island:Military
Military - note: defense is France's responsibility
@Europa Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
______________________________________________________________________
FALKLAND ISLANDS
______________________________________________________________________
FAROE ISLANDS
@Faroe Islands:Introduction
Background: The population of the Faroe Islands mainly comes from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have had a political connection to Denmark since the 14th century. They gained a significant level of self-government in 1948.
@Faroe Islands:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Iceland and Norway.
Geographic coordinates: 62.00° N, 7.00° W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 1,399 sq km land: 1,399 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative: eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,117 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: mild winters, cool summers; typically cloudy; foggy, breezy
Terrain: rough, rocky, with some low hills; cliffs along most of the coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources: fish, whales, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1996)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: an archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, along with a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along key sea routes in the northeastern Atlantic; steep terrain restricts settlement to small coastal lowlands.
@Faroe Islands:People
Population: 45,296 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 5,233; female 5,163) 15-64 years: 63% (male 15,270; female 13,382) 65 years and over: 14% (male 2,788; female 3,460) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.83% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 13.58 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.7 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.94 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.43 years male: 74.96 years female: 81.92 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups: Scandinavian
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Faroese (originating from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to mainland Denmark
@Faroe Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar
Data code: FO
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)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday: Queen’s Birthday, April 16 (1940)
Constitution: June 5, 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since January 14, 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since May 9, 1998) cabinet: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; after legislative elections, the leader of the party with the most seats is typically elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; last election was on April 30, 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
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) elections: last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 18%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Coalition Party 6, other parties 3 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 1
Judicial branch: none
Political parties and leaders: Center Party ;
Christian People's Party ; Home Rule Party
; Labor Front ; People's Party [Oli
BRECKMANN]; Republican Party ; Social Democratic
Party ; The Faroese Party ;
Union Party
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: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
@Faroe Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: After experiencing serious economic issues in the early 1990s due to a decline in the essential fish catch, the Faroe Islands have made a recovery in recent years, with unemployment dropping to 5% by mid-1998. However, the economy's heavy reliance on fishing keeps it highly vulnerable. The Faroese are looking to diversify their economic activities by constructing new fish-processing plants. Recent oil discoveries near the Faroese region raise hopes for additional deposits nearby, potentially setting the stage for long-term economic growth. The Faroese receive significant annual financial support from Denmark.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $700 million (estimated 1996)
GDP - real growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $16,000 (1996 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 16% services: 64% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1996 estimate)
Labor force: 20,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: mostly involved in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce.
Unemployment rate: 5% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $467 million expenditures: $468 million, including capital expenditures of $11 million (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 186 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 53.76% hydro: 45.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0.54% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 173 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Exports: $362 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products 92%, animal feed, transportation equipment (ships)
Exports - partners: Denmark 31%, UK 25%, Germany 9%, France 7%, Spain 6%, US 2% (1996)
Imports: $315.6 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 17.0%, consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactured goods 26.9%, fuels 11.4%, fish and salt 6.7%
Imports - partners: Denmark 33%, Norway 18%, UK 8%, Germany 9%, Sweden 5%, US 2% (1996)
Debt - external: $767 million (1995 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $150 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1995)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKK) = 100 øre
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Faroe Islands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 22,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,558 (1995)
Telephone system: effective international communications; excellent domestic facilities. domestic: digitalization was supposed to be completed in 1998. international: satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 26,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (along with 51 low-power repeaters)
(September 1995)
Televisions: 15,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Faroe Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 458 km paved: 450 km unpaved: 8 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Tórshavn, Klaksvik, Tvøroyri, Runavík, Fuglafjørður
Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 22,853 GRT/13,481 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Faroe Islands:Military
Military branches: no organized native military forces; only a small
Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
@Faroe Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
FIJI
@Fiji:Introduction
Background: Fiji became independent in 1970, after almost a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was disrupted by two military coups in 1987, triggered by worries over a government seen 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 a significant emigration of Indians; this population loss resulted in economic challenges, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments made in 1997 made the constitution fairer. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian. Fiji has been a key contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world.
@Fiji:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands 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 land: 18,270 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,129 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; minimal seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mainly volcanic mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources: wood, fish, gold, copper, potential for offshore oil, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 65% other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can happen 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, about 110 of which are inhabited
@Fiji:People
Population: 832,494 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 141,779; female 136,212) 15-64 years: 63% (male 263,127; female 262,686) 65 years and over: 4% (male 13,405; female 15,285) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.41% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 23.48 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.78 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.45 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.94 years male: 65.54 years female: 70.45 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.89 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Fijian(s) adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups: Fijian 51% (mainly Melanesian with some Polynesian mix), 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 primarily Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a
Muslim minority (1986)
Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 91.6% male: 93.8% female: 89.3% (1995 est.)
@Fiji:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands conventional short form: Fiji
Data code: FJ
Government type: republic note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA officially declared Fiji a republic on October 6, 1987
Capital: Suva
Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence: October 10, 1970 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, October 10 (1970)
Constitution: October 10, 1970 (suspended October 1, 1987); a new constitution was proposed on September 23, 1988, and officially adopted on July 25, 1990; amended on July 25, 1997, to give non-ethnic Fijians more influence in government and to require a multiparty system; took effect on July 28, 1998; note - the May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and introduced open voting - not based on race - for the first time at the national level.
Legal system: based on the British system
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (acting president since December 15, 1993, president since January 12, 1994); Vice President Ratu Josefa Iloilo ULUIVUDA (since January 18, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Mahendra CHAUDHRY (since May 18, 1999); Deputy Prime Ministers Tupeni BABA (since NA 1999) and Adi Kuini Vuikaba SPEED (since NA 1999) 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 chiefly system elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA elected president; percent of Great Council of Chiefs vote - NA
Legislative branch: The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the prime minister, eight appointed by the leader of the opposition, and one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 set aside for ethnic Fijians, 19 set aside for ethnic Indians, three set aside for other ethnic groups, one set aside for the Rotuman constituency covering all of Fiji, and 25 open; members serve five-year terms). elections: House of Representatives - last held on May 11, 1999 (next to be held in May 2004) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - Fiji Labor Party 37, others 34
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, where judges are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Christian Fellowship Party (Veitokani
ni Lewenivanua Vakarisito Party) or VLV (mainly Methodist Fijian)
; Conservative Party of Fiji or CPF ; Fiji
Conservative Party or FCP ; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim)
; Fiji Indian Congress Party ; Fiji Indian
Liberal Party ; Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra
CHAUDHRY]; Fijian Association Party or FAP ; Fijian
Nationalist Party or FNP ; Fijian Political Party
or SVT (mostly Fijian) ; Four Corners
Party ; General Electors' Association ;
General Voters Party or GVP ; National Federation Party or
NFP (mainly Indian) ; National Unity Party [Apisai
TORA]
note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National
Congress or ANC merged with the Fijian Association or FA; the
remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General
Electors' Association
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OPCW,
PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador "Ratu" Napolioni MASIREWA chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 337-8320 FAX: (202) 337-1996
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Osman SIDDIQUE embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva telephone: 314466 FAX: 300081
Flag description: light blue with the UK flag in the upper left corner and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield shows a yellow lion above a white background divided by the cross of Saint George, which features stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove.
@Fiji:Economy
Economy - overview: Fiji, rich in forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed economies in the Pacific islands, although it still has a significant subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourism industry are the main sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing accounts for one-third of industrial activity. About 300,000 tourists visit every year, including thousands of Americans since the introduction of regular non-stop flights from Los Angeles. Fiji's growth slowed in 1997 due to the sugar industry facing low world prices and rental disputes between farmers and landowners. Drought in 1998 further harmed the sugar industry, but its recovery in 1999 led to strong GDP growth. Long-term issues include low investment and uncertain property rights.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7.8% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.5% industry: 25.5% services: 58% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 235,000
Labor force - by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $540.65 million expenditures: $742.65 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar, clothing, coconut products, gold, silver, lumber, small home-based businesses
Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (1995)
Electricity - production: 550 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 20% hydro: 80% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 512 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Exports: $393 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: sugar 32%, clothing, gold, processed fish, lumber
Exports - partners: Australia 34%, UK 18%, other Pacific island countries 11%, US 11%, NZ 5%, Japan 5% (1997)
Imports: $612 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: Australia 45%, New Zealand 15%, Japan 7%, United States 5%, Singapore 4% (1997)
Debt - external: $213 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $40.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.9654 (January 2000), 1.9696 (1999), 1.9868 (1998), 1.4437 (1997), 1.4033 (1996), 1.4063 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Fiji:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 65,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,300 (1998)
Telephone system: 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 the 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: 500,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 21,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Fiji:Transportation
Railways: total: 597 km; note - owned by the government-run Fiji Sugar Corporation narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized boats and 200-metric-ton barges
Ports and harbors: Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva
Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 25 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 17 (1999 est.)
@Fiji:Military
Military branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; includes ground and naval forces)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 223,496 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 123,051 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 9,426 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $24 million (FY98)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1.1% (FY98)
@Fiji:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
FINLAND
@Finland:Introduction
Background: Finland was ruled by Sweden from the 12th to the 19th century and by Russia from 1809, but it finally gained its independence in 1917. During World War II, it successfully defended its freedom against invasions from the Soviet Union and Germany. In the following fifty years, the Finns transformed from a farm and forest economy to a diverse, 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 country to adopt the euro when it was introduced in January 1999.
@Finland:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, next to the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, situated between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 64° N, 26° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 337,030 sq km land: 305,470 sq km water: 31,560 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 (does not include islands and coastal indentations)
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 6 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
Climate: cold temperate; possibly subarctic, but relatively mild due to the moderating effects of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and over 60,000 lakes.
Terrain: mostly low, flat to gently rolling plains mixed with lakes and small hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources: wood, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 76% other: 16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: air pollution from factories and power plants causing acid rain; water pollution from industrial waste and agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatening 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 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 border with Russia; Helsinki is the northernmost national capital on the European continent; population is concentrated in a small southwestern coastal plain.
@Finland:People
Population: 5,167,486 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 478,497; female 459,646) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,747,738; female 1,712,058) 65 years and over: 15% (male 295,177; female 474,370) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.17% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 10.8 births per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.73 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.82 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.41 years male: 73.74 years female: 81.2 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups: Finnish 93%, Swedish 6%, Sámi 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%
Languages: Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small
Lapp and Russian-speaking minorities
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 100% (1980 estimate) male: NA% female: NA%
@Finland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen Tasavalta local short form: Suomi
Data code: FI
Government type: republic
Capital: Helsinki
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani);
Åland, Southern Finland Province, Eastern Finland Province, Western Finland Province,
Lapland, Oulu Province
Independence: December 6, 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday: Independence Day, December 6, 1917
Constitution: 17 July 1919
Legal system: a civil law system based on Swedish law; the Supreme Court can request legislation to interpret or modify laws; it accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with some reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since March 1, 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since April 13, 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since April 13, 1995) 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 February 6, 2000 (next to be held in February 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed from the majority party by the president after parliamentary elections election results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esco AHO (Kesk) 48.4% note: government coalition - SFP, Kok, Leftist Alliance (People's Democratic Union and Democratic Alternative), SFP, and Green Union
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 21 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - SDP 22.9%, Kesk 22.5%, Kok 21.0%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.9%, SFP 5.1%, Green Union 7.2%, SKL 4.2%; seats by party - SDP 51, Kesk 48, Kok 46, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 20, SFP 11, Green Union 11, SKL 10, other 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Center Party or Kesk ;
Ecological Party or EPV ; Finnish Christian Union or
SKL ; Green Union ; Leftist Alliance
(Communist) made up of People's Democratic League and Democratic
Alternative ; Liberal People's Party or LKP [Pekka
RYTILA]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Sauli
NIINISTO]; Rural Party or SMP ; Social Democratic
Party or SDP ; Swedish People's Party or SFP [(Johan)
Ole NORRBACK]; Young Finns
Political pressure groups and leaders: Communist Workers Party [Timo
LAHDENMAKI]; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Communist
Party-Unity; Finnish Pensioners Party
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-
9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 298-5800 FAX: (202) 298-6030 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Eric EDELMAN embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki mailing address: APO AE 09723 telephone: (9) 171931 FAX: (9) 174681
Flag description: white with a blue cross that stretches to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is positioned toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
@Finland:Economy
Economy - overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, mostly free-market economy, with per capita output roughly comparable to that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. The main economic sector is manufacturing—mainly the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is crucial, with exports making up more than a third of GDP. Aside from timber and a few minerals, Finland relies on imports for raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Due to the climate, agricultural development is limited to achieving self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, which generates significant export revenue, serves as a secondary source of income for the rural population. The economy has recovered from the recession of 1990-92, triggered by economic overheating, weak foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system with the former Soviet Union. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe—Finland was one of the 11 countries that joined the euro monetary system (EMU) on January 1, 1999—will shape the economic landscape for the coming years. Growth in 2000 is likely to stay at the same level as in 1999, which should help continue the decrease in unemployment from its current high rate.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $108.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $21,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 32% services: 63% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (est. 1999)
Labor force: 2.533 million
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: 10% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $41 billion expenditures: $41 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, food products, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.8% (1999)
Electricity - production: 75.299 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.62% hydro: 19.59% nuclear: 27.59% other: 11.2% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 79.278 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 300 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 9.55 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cows; fish
Exports: $43 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, and pulp
Exports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 12%, UK 9%, Sweden 9%, France 5%),
US 7%, Russia 6%, Japan (1998)
Imports: $30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: food, oil and oil products, chemicals, transportation equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, animal feed grains
Imports - partners: EU 60% (Germany 15%, Sweden 12%, UK 7%), US 8%,
Russia 7%, Japan 6% (1998)
Debt - external: $30 billion (December 1993)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $379 million (1997)
Currency: 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennies
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); markkaa (FMk) per US$1 - 5.3441 (1998), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995) note: on January 1, 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is currently being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 5.94573 markkaa per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in participating countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Finland:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 2.861 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,162,574 (1997)
Telephone system: modern system with excellent service domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and a wide cellular network take care of 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: 130 (plus 385 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: 3.2 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 36 (1999)
@Finland:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,865 km broad gauge: 5,865 km 1.524-m gauge (2,192 km electrified; 480 km double- or multiple-track) (1998)
Highways: total: 77,895 km paved: 49,853 km (including 473 km of expressways) unpaved: 28,042 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 6,675 km in total (including the Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers
Pipelines: natural gas 580 km
Ports and harbors: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu,
Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus
Merchant marine: total: 101 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,185,966 GRT/1,153,089 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 11, rail car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 38, short-sea passenger 12 (1999 est.)
Airports: 157 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 88 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 82 (1999 est.)
@Finland:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea Guard)
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,262,526 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,041,795 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 34,651 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $1.8 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY98)
@Finland:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
FRANCE
@France:Introduction
Background: Although ultimately a winner in World Wars I and II, France faced significant losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and status as a leading nation-state. Since 1958, it has established a presidential democracy that is more stable than the earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and partnership with Germany have been crucial for the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of the euro in January 1999. Today, France is leading European countries in trying to capitalize on the momentum from monetary union to push for a more unified and effective European defense and security system.
@France:Geography
Location: Western Europe, next to the Bay of Biscay and English
Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; next to the
Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 46° N, 2° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 547,030 sq km land: 545,630 sq km water: 1,400 sq km note: includes only metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions
Area - comparative: just under 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 continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean) territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: usually cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean.
Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in the north and west; the rest is mountainous, especially the Pyrenees in the south and the Alps in the east.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, wood, zinc, potash
Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 27% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 16,300 sq km (1995 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding; avalanches
Environment - current issues: some damage to forests from acid rain (major forest damage occurred due to the severe windstorm in December 1999); air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban waste and 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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: largest Western European country; occasional strong, cold, dry wind from the north to northwest known as mistral.
@France:People
Population: 59,329,691 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 5,719,502; female 5,448,608) 15-64 years: 65% (male 19,345,269; female 19,322,902) 65 years and over: 16% (male 3,849,783; female 5,643,627) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.27 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.14 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.51 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.76 years male: 74.85 years female: 82.89 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.75 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Frenchman (men), Frenchwoman (women) adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African,
Indochinese, and Basque minorities
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (North
African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
Languages: French 100%, quickly disappearing regional dialects and languages (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1980 est.)
@France:Government
Country name: conventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: Republique Francaise local short form: France
Data code: FR
Government type: republic
Capital: Paris
Administrative divisions: 22 regions (region, singular); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comté, Haute-Normandie, Île-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrénées, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-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, Réunion) 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: National Day, Storming of the Bastille, July 14 (1789)
Constitution: September 28, 1958, updated regarding the election of the president in 1962, revised to align with the EC Maastricht Treaty provisions in 1992; revised to strengthen immigration laws in 1993
Legal system: civil law system with local concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since May 17, 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN (since June 3, 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held on April 23 and May 7, 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president election results: Jacques CHIRAC elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN (PS) 47.36%
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, or Parlement, consists of the Senate (321 seats - 296 for mainland France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French citizens abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms, with elections held in thirds every three years) and the National Assembly (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote using a single-member majoritarian system for five-year terms). elections: Senate - last held on September 27, 1998 (next scheduled for September 2001); National Assembly - last held from May 25 to June 1, 1997 (next scheduled for May 2002). election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - RPR 99, UDC 52, DL 47, PS 78, PCF 16, other 29; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - PS 245, RPR 140, UDF 109, PCF 37, PRS 13, MEI 8, MDC 7, LDI-MPF 1, FN 1, various left 9, various right 7.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation, judges are appointed by the president based on nominations from the High Council of the Judiciary; Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel, three members appointed by the president, three members appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate; Council of State or Conseil d'État.
Political parties and leaders: Citizens Movement or MdC [Jean Pierre
CHEVENEMENT]; Democratic Force or FD; Ecology Generation
or GE; French Communist Party or PCF;
Independent Ecological Movement or MEI; Left
Radical Party or PRG (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and
the Left Radical Movement or MRG); Liberal
Democracy or DL (originally Republican Party or PR);
Movement for France or LDI-MPF; National Center
of Independents and Peasants or CNIP; National Front or
FN; National Front-National Movement [Bruno
MEGRET]; Popular Party for French Democracy or PPDF [Herve de
CHARETTE]; Radical Party or RRRS; Rally for the
Republic or RPR; Reformers' Movement or MR
; Socialist Party or PS; The
Greens (Les Verts); The Right (La Droite)
; Union for French Democracy or UDF (coalition of UDC,
FD, RRRS, PPDF); Union of the Center or UDC [leader
NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: The Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, claims to have nearly 2.4 million members; the independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) has about 1 million members (estimated); the independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) claims around 340,000 members; the National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais) or CNPF, also known as Patronat; and the Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, with approximately 800,000 members (estimated).
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA
(associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, FZ, G-5, G-
7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, 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, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francois V. BUJON DE L'ESTANG chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 944-6000 FAX: (202) 944-6166 consulates general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Felix G. ROHATYN embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777 telephone: (1) 43-12-22-22 FAX: (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 Tricolor; the design and colors are similar to several other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Côte d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent territories.
@France:Economy
Economy - overview: France's economy mixes modern capitalist approaches with significant, though decreasing, government involvement. The government still has a strong influence over important parts of various sectors, holding majority stakes in railways, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunications companies. It has been gradually easing its grip on these industries since the early 1990s. The government is slowly divesting its shares in France Telecom, Air France, and the insurance, banking, and defense sectors. Additionally, large areas of fertile land, the use of modern technology, and subsidies have come together to make France the top agricultural producer in Western Europe. Persistently high unemployment remains a significant challenge for the government; a 35-hour workweek is being implemented. France has avoided cutting its very generous social welfare benefits or the large state bureaucracy, choosing instead to reduce defense spending and increase taxes to keep the deficit under control. France joined 10 other EU countries to launch the euro on January 1, 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.373 trillion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 26.1% services: 70.6% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.9% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 25.4 million (1994)
Labor force - by occupation: services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 11% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $325 billion expenditures: $360 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, cars, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 480.972 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 10.77% hydro: 12.45% nuclear: 76.24% other: 0.54% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 389.254 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 62 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 3.95 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, grains, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $304.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, iron and steel products; agricultural products, textiles, and clothing
Exports - partners: EU 63% (Germany 16%, UK 10%, Italy 9%, Spain 9%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 8%), US 7% (1998)
Imports: $280.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, chemicals; agricultural products
Imports - partners: EU 62% (Germany 17%, Italy 10%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, UK 8%, Spain 7%), US 9% (1998)
Debt - external: $117.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $6.3 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995) note: on January 1, 1999, the EU launched a common currency that is currently used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed exchange rate of 6.55957 French francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in participating countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@France:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 34.86 million (end of 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 11.078 million (end of 1998)
Telephone system: 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 a total of 5 antennas - 2 for the Indian Ocean and 3 for the Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM around 3,500 (this number is an estimate and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 55.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 574 (plus 9,634 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: 34.8 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 128 (1999)
@France:Transportation
Railways: total: 31,939 km (31,940 km are operated by French National Railways (SNCF); 14,176 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked) standard gauge: 31,840 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 99 km 1.000-m gauge (1998)
Highways: total: 893,300 km paved: 893,300 km (including 10,300 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km are frequently used
Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; natural gas 24,746 km
Ports and harbors: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La
Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mulhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen,
Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
Merchant marine: total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,155,286 GRT/1,693,030 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas 4, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 16, roll-on/roll-off 6, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.) note: France also has a captive register for French-owned ships in Iles Kerguelen (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) (1998 est.)
Airports: 474 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 267 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 92 914 to 1,523 m: 74 under 914 m: 57 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 207 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 76 under 914 m: 127 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
@France:Military
Military branches: Army (includes Marines), Navy (includes Naval Air),
Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 14,619,317 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 12,167,421 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 402,987 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $39.831 billion (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY97)
@France:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Madagascar asserts its claim over Bassas da India, Europa
Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island;
Comoros asserts its claim over Mayotte; Mauritius asserts its claim over Tromelin Island; territorial
dispute exists 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: a hub for South American cocaine and a consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
______________________________________________________________________
FRENCH GUIANA
@French Guiana:Introduction
Background: First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was home to infamous prison colonies until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.
@French Guiana:Geography
Location: Northern South America, next to the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Geographic coordinates: 4° N, 53° W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 91,000 sq km land: 89,150 sq km water: 1,850 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,183 km bordering countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline: 378 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; minimal seasonal temperature changes
Terrain: flat coastal plains gradually transitioning 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 distributed), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 90% other: 10% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: frequent heavy rain and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: mainly an undisturbed wilderness
@French Guiana:People
Population: 172,605 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 27,116; female 25,902) 15-64 years: 64% (male 59,690; female 50,621) 65 years and over: 5% (male 4,694; female 4,582) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.93% (estimated 2000)
Birth rate: 22.44 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.76 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 11.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.99 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.1 years male: 72.77 years female: 79.6 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: French Guianese (singular and plural) adjective: French Guianese
Ethnic groups: Black or mixed-race 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese,
Indigenous 12%, other 10%
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: French
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 83% male: 84% female: 82% (1982 est.)
@French Guiana:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Guiana conventional short form: French Guiana local long form: none local short form: Guyane
Data code: FG
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: National Day, Storming of the Bastille, July 14 (1789)
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since May 17, 1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since January 1997) head of government: President of the General Council Andre LECANTE (since March 1998); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since March 22, 1992) cabinet: N/A elections: The French president is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the prefect is appointed by the French president based on recommendations from the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils.
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 March 20-27, 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Council - last held March 15, 1998 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSG 8, FDG 4, RPR 1, other left 2, other right 2, 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 September 27, 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 May 25 - June 1, 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, PSG 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (the highest local court located in Martinique that has authority over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Political parties and leaders: Action Démocrate Guyane or ADG [André
LECANTE]; Democratic and European Rally of the Senate or RDSE [leader
NA]; Guyane Socialist Party or PSG; Guyana
Democratic Forces or FDG; Nationalist Popular Party
of Guyana (Parti Nationaliste Populaire Guyane) or PNPG;
Rally for the Republic or RPR; Socialist Party or
PS (could be a subset of PSG); Union for French
Democracy or UDF; Union of Social Democrats (Union des
Socialistes Démocrates) or USD (umbrella group of
RPR and UDF); Walwari Committee
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
@French Guiana:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is closely linked to France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the main economic activities. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, which are not fully utilized, support a growing sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Crop cultivation is mostly limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the primary crops. French Guiana relies heavily on imports for food and energy. Unemployment is a significant issue, especially among younger workers.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1998 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (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): 2.5% (1992)
Labor force: 58,800 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
Unemployment rate: 21.4% (1998 est.)
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: 430 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 400 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry
Exports: $155 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood oil, clothing
Exports - partners: France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (1997)
Imports: $625 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels, and chemicals
Imports - partners: France 52%, US 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $1.2 billion (1988)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@French Guiana:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 47,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: decent 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@French Guiana:Transportation
Railways: 0 km (1995)
Highways: total: 1,817 km paved: 727 km unpaved: 1,090 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 460 km, accessible to small ocean-going vessels and river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by local boats
Ports and harbors: Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 11 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
@French Guiana:Military
Military branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 48,445 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 31,367 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percentage of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@French Guiana:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Suriname claims the area between the Litani River and the Marouini River (both headwaters of the Lawa)
Illicit drugs: a small amount of marijuana grown for local use; minor transshipment point to Europe
______________________________________________________________________
FRENCH POLYNESIA
@French Polynesia:Introduction
Background: In the 19th century, the French took control of several Polynesian island groups. In September 1995, France sparked massive protests by restarting nuclear testing at the Mururoa atoll after a three-year pause. The tests were halted in January 1996.
@French Polynesia:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between South America and Australia.
Geographic coordinates: 15°00'S, 140°00'W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) land: 3,660 sq km water: 507 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical, but moderate
Terrain: a mix 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: wood, fish, cobalt, water power
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 31% other: 57% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: includes five archipelagos; Makatea in French
Polynesia is one of the three major phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the other two are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
Nauru
@French Polynesia:People
Population: 249,110 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 38,736; female 37,197) 15-64 years: 65% (male 83,986; female 76,973) 65 years and over: 5% (male 6,127; female 6,091) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.78% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 19.01 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.41 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.09 males/females 65 years and over: 1.01 males/females total population: 1.07 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.79 years male: 72.47 years female: 77.22 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 16%
Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official)
Literacy: definition: age 14 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1977 est.)
@French Polynesia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia conventional short form: French Polynesia local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise local short form: Polynesie Francaise
Data code: FP
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: National Day, Storming of the Bastille, July 14 (1789)
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: based on the French system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since May 17, 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul RONCIERE (since NA 1994) head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since April 4, 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since May 13, 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers; the president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for their approval to serve as ministers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the assembly members
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblée Territoriale (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on May 12, 1996 (next to be held in 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4 note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on September 24, 1989 (next to be held in September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly from May 25 to June 1, 1997 (next to be held in 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; Court of First Instance; Court of Administrative Law
Political parties and leaders: Centrist Union or UC ;
Polynesian Entente ; Haere i Mua ;
Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira)
; Independent Party (Ia Mana Te Nunaa) [Jacques
DROLLET]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) ; People's
Rally for the Republic (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) ;
Polynesian Union Party (includes Te Tiarama and Pupu Here Ai'a Party)
; Pupu Taina ; Te Aratia Ote Nunaa
(Tinomana Ebb); Te e'a No Maohi Nui
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 surround a wide white band; in the center of the white band is a disk featuring a blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship sits on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
@French Polynesia:Economy
Economy - overview: Since 1962, when France deployed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has transitioned from a subsistence economy to one where a significant portion of the workforce is either employed by the military or supports the tourism industry. Tourism makes up about a quarter of GDP and is a key source of foreign currency earnings. The small manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. The territory benefited from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France focused mainly on creating new jobs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.6 billion (1997 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,800 (1997 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 18% services: 78% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994)
Labor force: 118,744 (of which 70,044 are employed) (1988)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1 billion expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996)
Industries: tourism, pearls, food processing, crafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 360 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.72% hydro: 40.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity consumption: 335 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $212 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports - commodities: cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997)
Exports - partners: US 11%, France 6% (1997)
Imports: $860 million (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports - commodities: fuels, food, equipment
Imports - partners: France 44.7%, US 13.9% (1994)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $450.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Comptoirs Français du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 117.67 (January 2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 CFPFs to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
@French Polynesia:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 32,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: N/A 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@French Polynesia:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 792 km
paved: 792 km
unpaved: 0 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
Merchant marine: total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 5,240 GRT/7,765 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 45 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 30 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
@French Polynesia:Military
Military branches: French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@French Polynesia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
FRENCH SOUTHERN AND
______________________________________________________________________
GABON
@Gabon:Introduction
Background: Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Gabon has been governed by autocratic presidents, but in the early 1990s, it adopted a multiparty system and a new constitution that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and reforms of government institutions. With a small population, rich natural resources, and foreign private investment, Gabon has become one of the more prosperous black African countries.
@Gabon:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between the Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 1° 00' S, 11° 45' E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in the east and south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources: oil, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 77% other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation; illegal hunting
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
@Gabon:People
Population: 1,208,436 note: estimates for this country explicitly consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to a lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the age and sex distribution of the population than would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 201,737; female 200,764) 15-64 years: 61% (male 371,359; female 364,982) 65 years and over: 6% (male 34,478; female 35,116) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.08% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 27.6 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 16.83 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1 male/female 15-64 years: 1.02 males/females 65 years and over: 0.98 males/females total population: 1.01 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 96.3 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.08 years male: 48.94 years female: 51.26 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.73 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups: Bantu tribes including four main tribal groups (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans, and Europeans 154,000, including 6,000 French and 11,000 people with dual nationality
Religions: Christian 55%-75%, Muslim under 1%, animist
Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira,
Bandjabi
Literacy: definition: age 15 and up can read and write total population: 63.2% male: 73.7% female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
@Gabon:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Gabonese Republic conventional short form: Gabon local long form: Republique Gabonaise local short form: Gabon
Data code: GB
Government type: republic; multiparty presidential system (opposition parties legalized in 1990)
Capital: Libreville
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooué,
Moyen-Ogooué, Ngounié, Nyanga, Ogooué-Ivindo, Ogooué-Lolo,
Ogooué-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence: August 17, 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, August 17 (1960) (Gabon gained full independence from France)
Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system: based on the French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted.
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since December 2, 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE (since January 23, 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 on December 6, 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: the bicameral legislature includes the Senate (91 seats) and the National Assembly (120 seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms. elections: National Assembly - last held on December 15 and 29, 1996 (next to be held in December 2001); Senate - last held on January 26 and February 9, 1997 (next to be held in January 2002). election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 89, PGP 9, RNB 6, CLR 3, UPG 2, USG 2, independents 4, others 5; 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 made up of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Political parties and leaders: African Forum for Reconstruction (FAR)
; Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR) [General Jean Boniface
ASSELE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance (ADERE)
; Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), previously the
sole party; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP);
Gabonese People's Union (UPG); Gabonese Socialist
Union (USG); National Rally of Woodcutters (Bucherons) (RNB);
People's Unity Party (PUP) [Louis
Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP);
Social Democratic Party (PSD)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 797-1000 FAX: (202) 332-0668 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James V. LEDESMA embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville telephone: 76 20 03 to 76 20 04, 74 34 92 FAX: 74 55 07
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of green (top), yellow, and blue
@Gabon:Economy
Economy - overview: Gabon has a per capita income that's four times higher than most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This has led to a significant drop in extreme poverty; however, due to high income inequality, a large portion of the population still lives in poverty. Gabon relied on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now makes up 50% of the GDP. Gabon continues to experience fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite its wealth of natural resources, the economy suffers from poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit increased to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon was unable to pay off its bilateral debt, which caused the cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors. The devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on January 12, 1994, led to a one-time inflation spike of 35%; the rate fell to 6% in 1996. The IMF offered a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95 and a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates starting in late 1995. These agreements required progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon met the IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget expenses, overborrowing from the central bank, and lagging on its privatization and administrative reform timeline. The rebound of oil prices in 1999 helped promote growth, but declines in production prevented Gabon from fully capitalizing on potential gains. With the support of higher oil prices, growth is expected to increase in 2000-01.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.9 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.7% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 60% services: 30% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 600,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 60%, services and government 25%, industry and commerce 15%
Unemployment rate: 21% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $302 million (1996 est.)
Industries: food and beverage; textiles; lumber and plywood; cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 2.3% (1995)
Electricity - production: 1.025 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 27.8% hydro: 72.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 953 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish
Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil 75%, timber, manganese, uranium (1998)
Exports - partners: US 68%, China 9%, France 8%, Japan 3% (1998)
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, food items, chemicals, oil products, building materials
Imports - partners: France 39%, US 6%, Cameroon 5%, Netherlands 5%,
Côte d'Ivoire, Japan (1998)
Debt - external: $4.6 billion (1999 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $331 million (1995)
Currency: 1 West African CFA franc (XOF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Gabon:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 32,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: sufficient network of cables, microwave radio relays, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 ground stations international: satellite ground stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 7, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios: 208,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (plus five low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 63,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Gabon:Transportation
Railways: total: 649 km (Gabon State Railways or OCTRA) standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)
Highways: total: 7,670 km paved: 629 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,041 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Ports and harbors: Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba,
Owendo, Port-Gentil
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,419 GRT/3,205 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 61 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)
@Gabon:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard (responsible for protecting the president and other top officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 278,251 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 143,278 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 11,291 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $91 million (FY96)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1.6% (FY96)
@Gabon:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial
Guinea due to conflicting claims over islands in Corisco Bay
______________________________________________________________________
GAMBIA
______________________________________________________________________
GAZA STRIP
@Gaza Strip:Introduction
Background: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on September 13, 1993, outlines a transitional period lasting no more than five years for Palestinian self-governance in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. According to the DOP, Israel agreed to delegate specific powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council that was elected in January 1996 as part of the interim self-governing plans in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho occurred under the Israel-PLO Cairo Agreement on May 4, 1994, and in additional areas of the West Bank following the Israel-PLO Interim Agreement on September 28, 1995, the Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron on January 15, 1997, the Wye River Memorandum on October 23, 1998, and the Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement on September 4, 1999. The DOP states that Israel will maintain responsibility during the transitional period for external security, as well as for internal security and public order in the settlements and for Israeli citizens. The permanent status will be determined through direct negotiations, which resumed in September 1999 after a three-year break.
@Gaza Strip:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates: 31° 25' N, 34° 20' E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 360 sq km land: 360 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a little 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 the current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - the permanent status will be determined through further negotiation.
Climate: mild, with cool winters and dry, warm to hot summers
Terrain: flat to rolling, covered in sand and dunes along the coastline
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 39% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 11% other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 120 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: desertification; salt contamination of fresh water; wastewater treatment
Geography - note: there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1999 est.)
@Gaza Strip:People
Population: 1,132,063 note: additionally, there are about 6,500 Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 50% (male 289,954; female 275,628) 15-64 years: 47% (male 271,365; female 263,197) 65 years and over: 3% (male 13,792; female 18,127) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.97% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 43.14 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.31 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.97 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.82 years male: 69.58 years female: 72.11 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
Religions: Muslim (mostly 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%
@Gaza Strip:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Data code: GZ
@Gaza Strip:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic conditions in the Gaza Strip, which has been under the Palestinian Authority's control since the Cairo Agreement in May 1994, have worsened since the early 1990s. Real per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) fell by 36% between 1992 and 1996 due to a combination of declining overall incomes and rapid population growth. The decline in economic activity was mostly due to Israeli closure policies—widespread border closures in response to security incidents in Israel—that disrupted the established labor and commodity market connections between Israel and the WBGS. The most serious negative social impact of this downturn has been chronic unemployment; average unemployment rates in the WBGS during the 1980s were usually below 5%, but by the mid-1990s, this figure had risen to over 20%. Since 1997, Israel has reduced the use of comprehensive closures, and in 1998, Israel introduced new policies to lessen the effects of closures and other security measures on the movement of Palestinian goods and labor. In October 1999, Israel allowed a safe passage between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to open, in line with the 1995 Interim Agreement. These changes in economic activity have led to a moderate economic recovery in 1998-99.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.17 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.6% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,060 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 25% services: 42% (1995 est., includes West Bank)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (includes West Bank) (1999 estimate)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: services 66%, industry 21%, agriculture 13% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 14.5% (includes West Bank) (1998 estimate)
Budget: revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $1.73 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA note: includes West Bank (1999 est.)
Industries: typically small family-owned businesses that make textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have set up a few small-scale modern industries in an industrial center.
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: N/A kWh; note - electricity provided by Israel
Agriculture - products: olives, citrus fruits, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports: $682 million (includes West Bank) (f.o.b., 1998 estimate)
Exports - commodities: citrus, flowers
Exports - partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.) (includes West Bank)
Imports - commodities: food, consumer products, building materials
Imports - partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Debt - external: $108 million (includes West Bank) (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $800 million promised (includes West Bank) (1999)
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 4.2260 (November 1999), 3.8001 (1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Gaza Strip:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 95,729 (total for Gaza Strip and West
Bank) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: basic telephone services provided by an open wire system international: N/A
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA; note - most Palestinian households own radios (1999)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (run by the Palestinian
Broadcasting Corporation) (1997)
Televisions: NA; note - most Palestinian households own televisions (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@Gaza Strip:Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; note - one line, abandoned and in bad shape, not much track left
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small, poorly developed road network
Ports and harbors: Gaza
Airports: 2 (1999 est.) note: includes Gaza International Airport, which opened on November 24, 1998, as part of the agreements outlined in the September 1995 Oslo II Accord and the October 23, 1998 Wye River Memorandum.
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Gaza Strip:Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@Gaza Strip:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The West Bank and Gaza Strip are
under Israeli occupation, and their current status is subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - the permanent status is to be
determined through further negotiation.
______________________________________________________________________
GEORGIA
@Georgia:Introduction
Background: Georgia became part of the Russian Empire in the 19th century. It was independent for three years (1918-1921) after the Russian revolution before being forcefully incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991. Russian troops are still stationed at four military bases and act as peacekeepers in the separatist areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The country is actively working towards a market economy and greater integration with Western institutions.
@Georgia:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, next to the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 42.00° N, 43.30° E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 69,700 sq km land: 69,700 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,461 km
bordering countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,
Turkey 252 km
Coastline: 310 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: warm and nice; similar to the Mediterranean along the Black Sea coast
Terrain: mostly mountainous with the Great Caucasus Mountains to the north and the Lesser Caucasus Mountains to the south; the Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) extends to the Black Sea in the west; the Mtkvari River Basin is in the east; fertile soils are found in the river valley floodplains and foothills of the Kolkhida Lowland.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m
Natural resources: forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, small amounts of coal and oil; the coastal climate and soil support significant tea and citrus production.
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 34% other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,000 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: earthquakes
Environment - current issues: air pollution, especially in Rust'avi; severe pollution of the Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; insufficient access to clean drinking water; soil contamination 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
@Georgia:People
Population: 5,019,538 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 517,829; female 497,155) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,630,814; female 1,755,323) 65 years and over: 13% (male 238,090; female 380,327) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.62% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 10.87 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 14.52 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -2.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.94 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.48 years male: 60.9 years female: 68.23 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.41 children born per woman (2000 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 (official in Abkhazia)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 100% female: 98% (1989 est.)
@Georgia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: GG
Government type: republic
Capital: T'bilisi
Administrative divisions: 53 rayons (raionebi, singular - raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abashis, Abkhazia or Abkhazian Autonomous Republic** (Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria or Adjara Autonomous Republic** (Batumi), Akhalgoris, Akhalkalaki, Akhaltsikhe, Akhmeti, Ambrolauri, Aspindza, Baghdati, Bolnisi, Borjomi, Chiatura*, Chkhorotsku, Chokhatauri, Dedoplistskaro, Dmanisi, Dusheti, Gardabani, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaani, Javakheti, Kareli, Kasp, Kharagauli, Khashuri, Khobi, Khoni, Kutaisi*, Lagodekhi, Lanchkhuti, Lentekhi, Marneuli, Martvili, Mestia, Mtskheta, Ninotsminda, Oni, Ozurgeti, Poti*, Kazbegi, Kvariati, Rustavi*, Sachkhere, Sagarejo, Samtredia, Senaki, Signagi, Tbilisi*, Telavi, Terjola, Tetritskaro, Tianeti, Tqibuli*, Tskhori, Tsalenjikha, Tsalka, Tskaltubo*, Vani, Zestafoni, Zugdidi*, Zugdidi note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: April 9, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, May 26, 1991
Constitution: adopted 17 October 1995
Legal system: based on a civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council on March 10, 1992; Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament on October 11, 1992; president since November 26, 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council on March 10, 1992; Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament on October 11, 1992; president since November 26, 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on November 5, 1995 (next to be held on April 9, 2000) election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council (commonly known as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 31 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - CUG 41.85%, AGUR 25.65%, IWSG 7.8%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 59, IWSG 15, Abkhaz deputies 12, independents 14, other 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme Council based on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG
; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG
; Greens Party [Giorgi
GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG ;
Labor Party ; National Democratic Party or NDP
; National Independent Party or NIP
; People's Party ;
Socialist Party or SPG ; Union for "Revival"
Party or AGUR ; Union of Traditionalists or UGT
; United Republican Party or URP [Nodar NATADZE,
chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Georgian refugees from Abkhazia
(Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament); separatist groups in the
breakaway region of Abkhazia; supporters of the late ousted President
Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA continue to be a source of opposition
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CE (guest),
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 387-2390 FAX: (202) 393-4537
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (32) 989-967 FAX: (32) 933-759
Flag description: maroon background with a small rectangle in the upper left corner; the rectangle is divided horizontally with black on top and white below.
@Georgia:Economy
Economy - overview: Georgia's economy has historically centered on tourism along the Black Sea, the cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes, mining for manganese and copper, and a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country relies heavily on imports for its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only significant internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage caused by civil unrest, Georgia, with support from the IMF and World Bank, has made significant economic progress since 1995, seeing GDP growth and a decline in inflation. However, the Georgian economy continues to face large budget deficits due to issues with tax revenue collection. Additionally, energy shortages persist; the distribution network was privatized in 1998, and supply is gradually improving. Georgia is hopeful for long-term recovery through the development of an international transportation corridor connecting the crucial Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. Nonetheless, the growing trade deficit, ongoing issues with tax evasion and corruption, as well as political uncertainties, complicate the short-term economic outlook. However, renewed investment could lead to increased economic growth in 2000, potentially reaching up to 6%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 23% services: 45% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 60% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 3.08 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: industry and construction 20%, agriculture and forestry 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 14.5% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $364 million expenditures: $568 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)
Industries: steel, aircraft, machine tools, electric trains, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (1998 estimate)
Electricity - production: 6.96 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 14.66% hydro: 85.34% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 6.123 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 700 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 350 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: oranges, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes; livestock
Exports: $330 million (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products; various types of machinery and metals; chemicals; fuel reexports; textiles
Exports - partners: Russia 27%, Turkey 20%, Azerbaijan 10%, Armenia 8% (1997)
Imports: $840 million (1999 est.)
Imports - goods: fuel, grain and other food items, machinery and parts, transportation equipment
Imports - partners: EU 22%, Russia 15%, Turkey 12%, Azerbaijan 12%, US 7% (1997)
Debt - external: $1.8 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $212.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 lari (GEL) = 100 tetri
Exchange rates: lari per US$1 (end of period) - 1.9503 (December 1999), 2.0245 (1999), 1.3898 (1998), 1.2975 (1997), 1.2628 (1996), 1.24 (December 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Georgia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 554,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 150 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone networks with about 10,000 customers in total; urban areas have 20 telephones per 100 people; rural areas have 4 telephones per 100 people; intercity - a fiber-optic line connects T'bilisi to K'ut'aisi (Georgia's second largest city); nationwide pager service international: Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); current international service is available via 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Georgia:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,583 km in public transport service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993)
Highways: total: 20,700 km paved: 19,354 km unpaved: 1,346 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Batumi, Poti, Sokhumi
Merchant marine: total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 103,080 GRT/158,803 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 6 (1999 est.)
Airports: 28 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
Transportation - note: the transportation network is in terrible shape and affected by ethnic conflict, crime, and fuel shortages; the network needs maintenance and repairs.
@Georgia:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Naval Forces, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,291,190 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males age 15-49: 1,021,072 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 40,694 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $27 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1% (FY99)
Military - note: a CIS peacekeeping force made up of Russian troops is stationed in the Abkhazia region of Georgia alongside a UN military observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is positioned in South Ossetia.
@Georgia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for local use; serves as a transit point for opiates traveling through Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia.
______________________________________________________________________
GERMANY
@Germany:Introduction
Background: As Western Europe's richest and most populous country, Germany is a crucial member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles drew the nation into two devastating World Wars during the first half of the 20th century, which resulted in the country being occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the start of the Cold War, two German states were established in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG became integrated into key Western economic and security organizations, the EC and NATO, while the communist GDR was part of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the conclusion of the Cold War paved the way for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has invested significant funds to raise eastern productivity and wages to match western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries launched a common European currency, the euro.
@Germany:Geography
Location: Central Europe, next to the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Geographic coordinates: 51° N, 9° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 357,021 sq km land: 349,223 sq km water: 7,798 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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: 200m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild and coastal; cool, overcast, rainy winters and summers; occasional warm foehn wind
Terrain: lowlands in the north, uplands in the center, Bavarian Alps in the south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Freepsum Lake -2 m highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m
Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel, farmland
Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 31% other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,750 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: flooding
Environment - current issues: emissions from coal-burning power plants and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, caused by sulfur dioxide emissions, is harming forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from untreated sewage and industrial waste from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; the government is currently trying to establish a plan to phase out nuclear power; the government is working to meet EU commitments 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 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: key position on the North European Plain and at the entrance to the Baltic Sea
@Germany:People
Population: 82,797,408 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 6,679,930; female 6,333,110) 15-64 years: 68% (male 28,638,814; female 27,693,630) 65 years and over: 16% (male 5,133,121; female 8,318,803) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.29% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 9.35 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 10.49 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 4.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 males/females under 15 years: 1.05 males/females 15-64 years: 1.03 males/females 65 years and over: 0.62 males/females total population: 0.96 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.77 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.44 years male: 74.3 years female: 80.75 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.38 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: German(s) adjective: German
Ethnic groups: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (primarily consisting of Serbo-Croatian, Italian, Russian, Greek, Polish, Spanish)
Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 1.7%, unaffiliated or other 26.3%
Languages: German
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 99% (1977 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Germany:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form: Germany local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland local short form: Deutschland
Data code: GM
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Berlin
Administrative divisions: 16 states (Laender, singular - Land);
Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg,
Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia,
Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt,
Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia
Independence: January 18, 1871 (unification of the German Empire); divided into four occupation zones (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 after World War II; the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) was established on May 23, 1949, incorporating the former UK, US, and French zones; the German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) was established on October 7, 1949, covering the former USSR zone; the unification of West Germany and East Germany occurred on October 3, 1990; all four powers formally gave up their rights on March 15, 1991.
National holiday: German Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Constitution: May 23, 1949, known as the Basic Law; became the constitution of the united German people on October 3, 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 old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Johannes RAU (since July 1, 1999) head of government: Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since October 27, 1998) cabinet: Cabinet or Bundeskanzler appointed by the president based on the chancellor’s recommendation elections: president elected for a five-year term by a Federal Convention composed of all members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates chosen by the Land Parliaments; last election held on May 23, 1999 (next to be held on May 23, 2004); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; last election held on September 27, 1998 (next to be held in fall 2002) election results: Johannes RAU elected president; percentage of Federal Convention vote - 57.6%; Gerhard SCHROEDER elected chancellor; percentage of Federal Assembly - 52.7%
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament consists of the Federal Assembly (Bundestag) with 656 seats typically, but 669 for the 1998 term; elected by popular vote through a system that combines direct and proportional representation. A party must secure 5% of the national vote or win three direct mandates to gain representation; members serve four-year terms. The Federal Council (Bundesrat) has 69 votes; state governments are represented by these votes, with each state having 3 to 6 votes based on population and required to vote as a block. Elections: The last Federal Assembly election was held on September 27, 1998, with the next scheduled for fall 2002; note - no elections are held for the Bundesrat; its composition depends on the state-level governments, and it can change whenever one of the 16 states holds an election. Election results: Federal Assembly - percentage of votes by party: SPD 40.9%, Alliance '90/Greens 6.7%, CDU/CSU 35.1%, FDP 6.2%, PDS 5.1%; seats by party: SPD 298, Alliance '90/Greens 47, CDU/CSU 245, FDP 43, PDS 36; Federal Council - current composition - votes by party: SPD-led states 26, CDU-led states 28, grand coalitions 15.
Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht, half of the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat.
Political parties and leaders: Alliance '90/Greens [Gunda ROESTEL and
Antje RADCKE]; Christian Democratic Union (CDU);
Christian Social Union (CSU); Free
Democratic Party (FDP); Party of
Democratic Socialism (PDS); Social
Democratic Party (SPD)
Political pressure groups and leaders: employers' organizations; expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WADB (nonregional),
WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juergen CHROBOG chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 298-8141 FAX: (202) 298-4249 consulates general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco consulate: Wellington (American Samoa)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John C. KORNBLUM embassy: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5, 10117 Berlin mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265 telephone: (30) 238-5174 FAX: (30) 238-6290 consulate(s) general: Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold
@Germany:Economy
Economy - overview: Germany has the third most technologically advanced economy in the world, following the US and Japan. However, its fundamentally capitalist system is starting to struggle under the weight of generous social benefits. Structural issues, such as high social contributions on wages, have turned unemployment into a long-term problem rather than just a cyclical one. Additionally, Germany's aging population has caused social security payouts to exceed what workers contribute. The process of integrating and upgrading the eastern German economy continues to be an expensive long-term challenge, with annual transfers from the west reaching about $100 billion. Growth slowed to 1.5% in 1999, primarily because of decreased export demand and low business confidence. An increase in Asian demand, efforts for fiscal consolidation, and newly proposed cuts in business and income taxes—if approved—are expected to help growth return to its trend of around 2.5% in 2000 and beyond. The introduction of a common European currency and the overall political and economic integration of Europe will lead to significant changes in the German economy in the early 21st century.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.864 trillion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (estimated for 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,700 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.2% industry: 30.4% services: 68.4% (1999)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.8% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 40.5 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 33.7%, agriculture 2.7%, services 63.6% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $996 billion expenditures: $1.036 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 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: 0.9% (1999)
Electricity - production: 525.356 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 65.77% hydro: 3.2% nuclear: 29.06% other: 1.97% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 488.041 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 39.1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 38.56 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruits, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry
Exports: $610 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactured goods, food products, textiles (1999)
Exports - partners: EU 56.4% (France 11.1%, UK 8.6%, Italy 7.4%,
Netherlands 6.8%, Benelux 5.7%), US 9.4%, Japan 1.9% (1998)
Imports: $587 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - goods: machinery, vehicles, chemicals, food, textiles, metals (1999)
Imports - partners: EU 53.7% (France 11.1%, Netherlands 7.7%, Italy 7.8%, UK 6.8%, Benelux 5.6%), US 8.3%, Japan 5.0% (1998)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $5.6 billion (1998)
Currency: 1 Deutsche Mark (DM) = 100 Pfennig
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.69 (January 1999), 1.7597 (1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995) note: on January 1, 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 1.95583 deutsche marks per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in participating countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Germany:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: NA; 46.5 million main lines are installed (July 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 15.318 million (April 1999)
Telephone system: Germany has one of the world's most advanced telecommunications systems. Thanks to significant investments since reunification, the previously outdated system in the eastern part of the country has been modernized and integrated with the western part. Domestic: Germany has an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by high-tech networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system. Cellular phone service is widely available and includes roaming options in many foreign countries. International: Satellite earth stations - 14 Intelsat (12 in the Atlantic Ocean and 2 in the Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (in the Atlantic Ocean region), 2 Intersputnik (1 in the Atlantic Ocean region and 1 in the Indian Ocean region); 7 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone communication centers; tropospheric scatter links.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 51, FM 767, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 77.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 9,513 (including repeaters) (1998)
Televisions: 51.4 million (1998)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 625 (1999)
@Germany:Transportation
Railways: total: 40,826 km including at least 14,253 km electrified and 14,768 km double- or multiple-tracked (1998) note: since privatization in 1994, Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG) no longer publishes details of the tracks it owns; in addition to the DBAG system, there are 102 privately owned railway companies that own around 3,000 km to 4,000 km of the total tracks
Highways: total: 656,140 km paved: 650,891 km (including 11,400 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,249 km (all-weather) (1998 est.)
Waterways: 7,500 km (1999); major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe;
The Kiel Canal is a crucial link between the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea
Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne,
Dresden, Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Lubeck, Magdeburg,
Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart
Merchant marine: total: 475 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 6,395,990 GRT/8,014,132 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 181, chemical tanker 12, container 239, liquefied gas 2, multi-functional large load carrier 5, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 8, rail car carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off 13, short-sea passenger 7 (1999 est.)
Airports: 615 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 320 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 67 914 to 1,523 m: 56 under 914 m: 122 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 295 over 10,000 ft: 2 8,000 to 10,000 ft: 6 5,000 to 8,000 ft: 6 3,000 to 5,000 ft: 55 under 3,000 ft: 226 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 59 (1999 est.)
@Germany:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Force), Air Force,
Medical Corps, Border Police, Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 20,863,020 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 17,800,862 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 485,422 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $32.8 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY98)
@Germany:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: ongoing legal issues (restitution) stemming from World War II and its aftermath
Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine producers; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-manufactured synthetic drugs.
______________________________________________________________________
GHANA
@Ghana:Introduction
Background: Created from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana became the first country in colonial Africa to gain independence in 1957. A series of coups led to the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of political parties. A new constitution, which restored multiparty politics, was approved in 1992.
@Ghana:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to the Gulf of Guinea, between Côte d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 8° 00' N, 2° 00' W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 238,540 sq km land: 230,020 sq km water: 8,520 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 2,093 km border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Côte d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline: 539 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; warm and fairly dry along the southeast coast; hot and humid in the southwest; hot and dry in the north
Terrain: mostly flat plains with a broken plateau in the south-central area
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources: gold, wood, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 35% other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: dry, dusty harmattan winds happen from January to
March; droughts
Environment - current issues: the recent drought in the north is severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction are threatening wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of drinking 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 largest man-made lake in the world; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
@Ghana:People
Population: 19,533,560 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex compared to what would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 4,120,240; female 4,063,960) 15-64 years: 55% (male 5,290,675; female 5,391,175) 65 years and over: 3% (male 318,890; female 348,620) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.87% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 29.81 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 10.22 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1.01 males/females 15-64 years: 0.98 males/females 65 years and over: 0.91 males/females total population: 0.99 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 57.43 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.42 years male: 56.07 years female: 58.82 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.95 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups: Black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%,
Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 64.5% male: 75.9% female: 53.5% (1995 est.)
@Ghana:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast
Data code: GH
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: March 6, 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, March 6 (1957)
Constitution: new constitution approved April 28, 1992
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since January 7, 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since January 7, 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since January 7, 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since January 7, 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers; the president nominates members, which must be approved by Parliament elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; the last election was held on December 7, 1996 (next to be held in December 2000) election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS reelected president; percent of vote - RAWLINGS 57.2%, John KUFUOR 39.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or
EGLE; National Convention Party or NCP
; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu
YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter Ala
ADJETY]; 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
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT,
UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 686-4520 FAX: (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Dee ROBINSON embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: (21) 775348 FAX: (21) 776008
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star in the center of the yellow stripe; features the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; resembles the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms in the middle of the yellow stripe.
@Ghana:Economy
Economy - overview: Rich in natural resources, Ghana has double the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. However, Ghana still relies heavily on international financial support and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are significant sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy mainly centers around subsistence agriculture, which makes up 40% of GDP and employs 60% of the workforce, primarily consisting of small landholders. From 1995 to 1997, Ghana experienced mixed results under a three-year structural adjustment program in partnership with the IMF. On the downside, increases in public sector wages and regional peacekeeping commitments have resulted in ongoing inflationary deficit spending, depreciation of the cedi, and growing public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures. A rise in gold prices is expected to push growth above 5% in 2000-01.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $35.5 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.3% (estimated for 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,900 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 30% services: 30% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 31.4% (1992 est.)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 27.3% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12.8% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 4 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.39 billion expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370 million (1996 est.)
Industries: mining, logging, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1996 estimate)
Electricity - production: 6.206 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 5.437 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 400 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 65 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds
Exports - partners: Togo, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, US, France (1998)
Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - products: machinery, oil, groceries
Imports - partners: UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Italy, Spain (1998)
Debt - external: $6 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $477.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1 - 3,466.60 (December 1999), 2,647.32 (1999), 2,314.15 (1998), 2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Ghana:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 200,000 (estimated in 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 30,000 (end of 1998)
Telephone system: poor to fair system; Internet accessible; many rural communities still not connected; expansion of services is in progress. Domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been set up. International: four Intelsat satellite earth stations (Atlantic Ocean); a microwave radio relay link to the Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 18, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios: 4.4 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (1999)
Televisions: 1.73 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Ghana:Transportation
Railways: total: 953 km (currently being upgraded) narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.)
Highways: total: 39,409 km paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,756 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: The Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers offer 168 km of year-round navigation for boats; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of main and secondary waterways
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 13,484 GRT/18,583 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 4 (1999 est.)
Airports: 12 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Ghana:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,
Palace Guard, Civil Defense
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,739,526 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,629,954 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 196,549 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $53 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.7% (FY99)
@Ghana:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: illegal producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine headed for Europe and the US.
______________________________________________________________________
GIBRALTAR
@Gibraltar:Introduction
Background: Strategically important Gibraltar was handed over to Great
Britain by Spain in 1713. In a 1967 referendum, the people of Gibraltar ignored
Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to stay a British
dependency.
@Gibraltar:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, next to the Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain.
Geographic coordinates: 36° 11' N, 5° 22' W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland runs along 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 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.
Geography - note: important position on the Strait of Gibraltar that connects the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
@Gibraltar:People
Population: 29,481 (July 2000 est.)
Age distribution: 0-14 years: 21% (male 3,167; female 3,013) 15-64 years: 65% (male 10,141; female 8,925) 65 years and older: 14% (male 1,769; female 2,466) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.91% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 14.14 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.45 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.05 males/females 15-64 years: 1.14 males/females 65 years and over: 0.72 males/females total population: 1.05 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.95 years male: 76.09 years female: 81.96 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.15 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
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, Russian
Literacy: definition: NA total population: over 80% male: NA% female: NA%
@Gibraltar:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar
Data code: GI
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: Commonwealth Day (second Monday in March)
Constitution: 30 May 1969
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal, plus other UK citizens who have lived here for six months or longer.
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief, the Right Honorable Sir Richard LUCE (since February 24, 1997); note - a new governor has been appointed and will arrive in March 2000 head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since May 17, 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 note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected by popular vote, one appointed as Speaker, and two ex officio members; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on February 10, 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - SD 54%, GSLA 40%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR; Gibraltar Liberal Party or GLP (which has become the Gibraltar National Party or NP); Gibraltar Social Democrats or SD; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or SL; Gibraltar Socialist Liberal Alliance or GSLA (which includes SL and GLP).
Political pressure groups and leaders: Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar
Representatives Organization; Housewives 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 red castle featuring three towers in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
@Gibraltar:Economy
Economy - overview: Gibraltar benefits from a robust shipping trade, offshore banking, and its role as an international conference center. The British military presence has been significantly reduced and now makes up about 11% of the local economy. The financial sector represents 20% of GDP; tourism (nearly 6 million visitors in 1998), shipping service fees, and taxes on consumer goods also bring in revenue. In recent years, Gibraltar has undergone a significant shift from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still heavily influence employment levels.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $500 million (estimated in 1997)
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 spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1998)
Labor force: 14,800 (including workers from outside Gibraltar)
Labor force - by occupation: services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture
NEGL%
Unemployment rate: 13.5% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $119.3 million expenditures: $122.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, shipbuilding and repair; support for large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral water, beer, canned fish
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 90 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 84 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: none
Exports: $81.1 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: (mainly reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Exports - partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US,
Germany
Imports: $492 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - products: fuels, manufactured goods, and food items
Imports - partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995); note - the Gibraltar pound is equal to the British pound
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Gibraltar:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 17,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,161 (1999)
Telephone system: sufficient, 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Gibraltar:Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; 1,000 mm gauge system only in the dockyard area
Highways: total: 49.9 km paved: 49.9 km unpaved: 0 km
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Gibraltar
Merchant marine: total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 477,183 GRT/752,644 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 4, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 13, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Gibraltar:Military
Military branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Military - note: defense is the UK’s responsibility
@Gibraltar:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: source of tension between Spain and the UK
______________________________________________________________________
GLORIOSO ISLANDS
@Glorioso Islands:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, a 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 land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues: NA
@Glorioso Islands:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)
@Glorioso Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses
Data code: GO
Dependency status: possession of France; managed by a high commissioner of the Republic, living in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (controlled by France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (under French control)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Glorioso Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Glorioso Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available.
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Glorioso Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the duty of France
@Glorioso Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
______________________________________________________________________
GREECE
@Greece:Introduction
Background: Greece gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the latter half of the 19th century and the early half of the 20th century, it gradually incorporated neighboring islands and regions with Greek-speaking populations. After the defeat of communist rebels in 1949, Greece became a NATO member in 1952. A military dictatorship that suspended many political freedoms and forced the king into exile in 1967 was overthrown seven years later. Democratic elections in 1974 ended the monarchy and established a parliamentary republic; Greece became a part of the EU in 1981.
@Greece:Geography
Location: Southern Europe, next to the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 39° N, 22° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 131,940 sq km land: 130,800 sq km water: 1,140 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
total: 1,210 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km
Coastline: 13,676 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 meters deep or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 6 nautical miles
Climate: moderate; cool, rainy 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, oil, marble, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 20% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,140 sq km (1993 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
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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto
Geography - note: strategically located, controlling the Aegean Sea and the southern route to the Turkish Straits; a peninsular country with an archipelago of around 2,000 islands.
@Greece:People
Population: 10,601,527 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 828,585; female 779,902) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,580,079; female 3,574,788) 65 years and over: 18% (male 815,247; female 1,022,926) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.21% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 9.82 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.64 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.51 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.44 years male: 75.89 years female: 81.16 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.33 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 95% male: 98% female: 93% (1991 est.)
@Greece:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Kingdom of Greece
Data code: GR
Government type: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum on December 8, 1974
Capital: Athens
Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and
1 autonomous region*; Mount Athos* (Ayion Oros), Aetolia and Acarnania,
Achaea, Argolis, Arcadia, Arta, Attica, Dodecanese, Drama,
Evritania, Evros, Euboea, Florina, Phocis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia,
Imathia, Ioannina, Heraklion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Cephalonia,
Corfu, Chalkidiki, Chania, Chios, Cyclades, Kilkis, Corinth,
Kozani, Laconia, Larissa, Lasithi, Lesbos, Lefkada, Magnesia, Messinia,
Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethymno, Rodopi, Samos, Serres, Thesprotia,
Thessaloniki, Trikala, Boeotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos
Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, March 25 (1821) (declaration of the war of independence)
Constitution: June 11, 1975; amended March 1986
Legal system: based on written Roman law; the judiciary is divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president based on the prime minister's recommendation elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; last election held on 8 February 2000 (next one scheduled for March 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected as president; percentage 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 on April 9, 2000 (next to be held by around April 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consulting with a judicial council; Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consulting with a judicial council.
Political parties and leaders: Coalition of the Left and Progress
(Synaspismos); Communist Party of Greece or
KKE; Democratic Social Movement or DIKKI [Dhimitrios
TSOVOLAS]; Liberal Party; New Democracy or ND
(conservative); Panhellenic Socialist
Movement or PASOK; Political Spring [Andonis
SAMARAS]; Rainbow Coalition
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC,
CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G-6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM
(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros PHILON chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-5800 FAX: (202) 939-5824 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: (1) 721-2951 FAX: (1) 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 left corner featuring a white cross; the cross represents Greek Orthodoxy, the official religion of the country.
@Greece:Economy
Economy - overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy where the public sector makes up about half of GDP. The government plans to privatize some major state-owned enterprises. Tourism is a vital industry, contributing significantly to GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Greece is a major recipient of EU aid, which amounts to about 4% of GDP. The economy has steadily improved over the past few years, as the government has implemented stricter policies aimed at qualifying Greece to join the EU's single currency (the euro) in 2001. Specifically, Greece has reduced its budget deficit to below 2% of GDP and tightened monetary policy, resulting in inflation dropping to below 4% by the end of 1998 - the lowest rate in 26 years - and averaging just 2.6% in 1999. Further restructuring of the economy and reducing unemployment continue to be significant challenges.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $149.2 billion (estimated 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $13,900 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.3% industry: 27.3% services: 64.4% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 4.32 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 59.2%, agriculture 19.8%, industry 21% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 9.9% (1999 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, oil
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 43.677 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.26% hydro: 91.24% nuclear: 0% other: 0.5% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 42.18 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 900 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 2.46 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
Exports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - products: manufactured goods, food and drinks, fuels (1998)
Exports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 25%, Italy 11%, UK 8%, France 6%),
US 16% (1997)
Imports: $27.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals (1998)
Imports - partners: EU 61% (Italy 16%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK 7%,
Netherlands 5%) US 11% (1997)
Debt - external: $41.9 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $5.4 billion from the EU (1997 est.)
Currency: 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1 - 326.59 (January 2000), 305.65 (1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Greece:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 5.431 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 328,500 (1997)
Telephone system: sufficient modern networks cover all areas; microwave radio relay handles most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to offshore islands domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable 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: 64 (plus about 1,000 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Network (1999)
Televisions: 2.54 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 23 (1999)
@Greece:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,548 km standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km double track) narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type railway for steep grades)
Highways: total: 117,000 km paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,594 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 80 km; the system includes three coastal canals, including the Corinth Canal (6 km) that cuts across the Isthmus of Corinth, linking the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and reducing the sea journey from the Adriatic to Piraeus by 325 km; and three separate rivers.
Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports and harbors: Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete),
Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patras, Piraeus
(Port of Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant Marine: Total: 779 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 24,744,872 GRT / 43,734,138 DWT Ships by type: bulk 273, cargo 60, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 8, container 43, liquefied gas 5, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 245, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off 19, short-sea passenger 75, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 80 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 64 over 10,000 ft: 6 8,000 to 10,000 ft: 15 5,000 to 8,000 ft: 18 3,000 to 5,000 ft: 17 under 3,000 ft: 8 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 12 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Greece:Military
Military branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force,
National Guard, Police
Military manpower - military age: 21 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,674,571 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,043,414 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 78,448 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $4.04 billion (FY98 est.)
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Greece:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: complicated maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in the Aegean Sea; issues regarding Cyprus with Turkey; disagreement with North 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.
______________________________________________________________________
GREENLAND
@Greenland:Introduction
Background: The world's largest island, about 84% covered in ice, Greenland was given self-government in 1978 by the Danish parliament. The law took effect the next year.
@Greenland:Geography
Location: Northern North America, an island situated between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada.
Geographic coordinates: 72° N, 40° W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 2,175,600 sq km land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,700 sq km ice-free, 1,833,900 sq km ice-covered) (est.)
Area - comparative: a bit more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 44,087 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: from arctic to subarctic; cool summers and cold winters.
Terrain: a flat to gently sloping icecap covers everything except for a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coastline.
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
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 99% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: permanent permafrost covering the northern two-thirds of the island
Environment - current issues: protecting the Arctic environment; preserving the traditional Inuit way of life, including whaling; note - Greenland actively participates in the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)
Geography - note: dominates the North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population limited to small communities along the coast; the world's second-largest ice cap.
@Greenland:People
Population: 56,309 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27% (male 7,718; female 7,483) 15-64 years: 68% (male 20,860; female 17,272) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,332; female 1,644) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.09% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 16.85 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.55 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male/female under 15 years: 1.03 male/female 15-64 years: 1.21 male/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male/female total population: 1.13 male/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.26 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.07 years male: 64.52 years female: 71.69 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups: Greenlander 87% (Inuit and white individuals born in Greenland),
Danish and others 13%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to mainland Denmark
@Greenland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Data code: GL
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979.
Government type: parliamentary democracy in a constitutional monarchy
Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa
(North Greenland), Tunu (East Greenland), Kitaa (West Greenland)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
National holiday: Queen's Birthday, April 16 (1940)
Constitution: June 5, 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since January 14, 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997) cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament based on the strength of the parties elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); last election held on March 11, 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister, receiving 23 out of 31 votes note: government coalition - Siumut and Atassut
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote based on proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on February 17, 1999 (next to be held in 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidate's League 12.3%; seats by party - Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidate's League 4, independent 1 note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing in March 1998 (next to be held in 2002); percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party - Siumut 1, Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
Judicial branch: High Court or Land Court
Political parties and leaders: Akulliit Party; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party that supports maintaining strong ties with Denmark); Candidate's League; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that pushes for full independence from Denmark instead of home rule); Issituup (Polar Party); Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that champions a more distinct Greenlandic identity and increased autonomy from Denmark).
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 toward the left of center - the top half of the disk is red, and the bottom half is white
@Greenland:Economy
Economy - overview: Greenland experienced negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993, the economy has improved. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has followed a strict fiscal policy since the late 1980s, which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and keep inflation low. Since 1990, Greenland has recorded a foreign trade deficit due to the closure of the last lead and zinc mine in that year. Today, Greenland is heavily dependent on fishing and fish exports, with the shrimp fishery being the largest source of income. Although there are signs of renewed interest in hydrocarbon and mineral exploration, it will take several years before production begins. Tourism is the only sector with potential for immediate growth, but its prospects are limited by a short season and high costs. The public sector, including state-owned enterprises and municipalities, plays a major role in Greenland's economy. About half of the government's revenue comes from grants from the Danish Government, which is an important boost to GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $945 million (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.6% (1997 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $16,100 (1997 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.2% (estimated for 1998)
Labor force: 24,500 (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $706 million expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), crafts, fur trading, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 245 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 228 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: forage crops, garden vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish
Exports: $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products 95%
Exports - partners: Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%
Imports: $421 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals, petroleum products
Imports - partners: Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%
Debt - external: $243 million (1995)
Economic aid - recipient: $427 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1995)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKK) = 100 øre
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Greenland:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 20,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,308 (1995)
Telephone system: sufficient domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay; fully digitalized in 1995. Domestic: microwave radio relay International: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 27,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 public station, a few local low-power stations, and three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)
Televisions: 22,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Greenland:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 150 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 90 km
Ports and harbors: Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik,
Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut
Airports: 14 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 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: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Greenland:Military
Military - note: defense is Denmark's responsibility
@Greenland:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GRENADA
@Grenada:Introduction
Background: The smallest independent country in the western hemisphere, Grenada was taken over by a Marxist military council on October 19, 1983. Six days later, US forces, along with troops from six other Caribbean nations, invaded the island and quickly captured the leaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were restored the following year.
@Grenada:Geography
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: 340 sq km land: 340 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: formed by volcanic activity with central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources: wood, tropical fruit, deep-water ports
Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 18% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 9% other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: located on the edge of the 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 management of the Grenadines group of islands is split between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
@Grenada:People
Population: 89,018 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38% (male 17,106; female 16,634) 15-64 years: 58% (male 27,267; female 24,356) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,653; female 2,002) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.36% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 20.96 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.02 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -16.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 males/females under 15 years: 1.03 males/females 15-64 years: 1.12 males/females 65 years and over: 0.83 males/females total population: 1.07 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.63 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.52 years male: 62.74 years female: 66.31 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.42 children per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups: 82% Black, some South Asians (East Indians), and
Europeans, with Arawak/Carib Amerindian ancestry.
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)
@Grenada:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada
Data code: GJ
Government type: constitutional monarchy with a 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: February 7, 1974 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, February 7 (1974)
Constitution: 19 December 1973
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since August 9, 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since June 22, 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general based on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor general from among the members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: The bicameral Parliament includes the Senate (a 13-member body, with 10 members 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 for five-year terms). Elections: The last elections were on January 18, 1999 (the next ones are scheduled for October 2004). Election results: House of Representatives - percentage of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NNP 15.
Judicial branch: West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an associate judge is based in Grenada)
Political parties and leaders: Grenada United Labor Party or GULP
; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement or MBPM
; National Democratic Congress or NDC [George
BRIZAN]; New National Party or NNP ; The Democratic
Labor Party or DLP ; The National Party or TNP [Ben
JONES]
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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 265-2561 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is assigned to Grenada; Charge d'Affairs Lloyd MOSS embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies telephone: (473) 444-1173 through 1176 FAX: (473) 444-4820
Flag description: a rectangle split 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 placed 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.
@Grenada:Economy
Economy - overview: In this island economy, improvements in fiscal reforms and careful macroeconomic management have increased annual growth to 5%-6% in 1998-99. The growth in economic activity has primarily come from construction and trade. Tourist facilities are being expanded, making tourism the top foreign exchange earner. Major short-term issues include the rising fiscal deficit and the decline in the external account balance. Grenada shares a central bank and a common currency with seven other members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
GDP: purchasing power parity - $360 million (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,700 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.7% industry: 15% services: 75.3% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1998)
Labor force: 42,300 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: services 62%, agriculture 24%, industry 14% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $85.8 million expenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28 million (1997)
Industries: food and drinks, textiles, light manufacturing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1997 estimate)
Electricity - production: 105 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 98 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus fruits, avocados, root vegetables, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Exports: $26.8 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruits and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports - partners: Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8% (1991)
Imports: $200 million (1998)
Imports - commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel (1989)
Imports - partners: US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1% (1991)
Debt - external: $89.2 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $8.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Grenada:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 23,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 400 (1995)
Telephone system: automated, islandwide telephone system domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone connections international: new SHF radiotelephone connections to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 33,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Grenada:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,040 km paved: 638 km unpaved: 402 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Grenville, Saint George's
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Grenada:Military
Military branches: Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percentage of GDP: NA%
@Grenada:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: small-scale cannabis growing; minor transfer point for marijuana and cocaine to the US.
______________________________________________________________________
GUADELOUPE
@Guadeloupe:Introduction
Background: Guadeloupe has been a French territory since 1635. The island of Saint-Martin is shared with the Netherlands (the southern part is called Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles).
@Guadeloupe:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, 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 land: 1,706 sq km water: 74 sq km note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, Îles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthélemy, Îles de la Petite Terre, and Saint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin).
Area - comparative: 10 times the size of Washington, D.C.
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 with a breeze from the trade winds; fairly high humidity
Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic and features interior mountains; Grande-Terre consists of low limestone formations; most of the seven other islands are also volcanic in origin.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m
Natural resources: arable land, beaches, and weather that promote tourism
Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 39% other: 29% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere is an active volcano.
Environment - current issues: NA
@Guadeloupe:People
Population: 426,493 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25% (male 54,603; female 52,339) 15-64 years: 66% (male 139,640; female 142,706) 65 years and over: 9% (male 15,647; female 21,558) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.11% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 17.25 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.01 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.77 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.99 years male: 73.82 years female: 80.3 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Guadeloupian(s) adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic groups: Black or mixed-race 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese,
Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and African pagan 4%, Protestant 1%
Languages: French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 90% male: 90% female: 90% (1982 est.)
@Guadeloupe:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe conventional short form: Guadeloupe local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe local short form: Guadeloupe
Data code: GP
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (part of France's overseas departments)
National holiday: National Day, Storming of the Bastille, July 14, 1789
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since May 17, 1995), represented by Prefect Jean FEDINI (since NA 1996) head of government: President of the General Council Marcellin LUBETH (since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since March 22, 1992) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-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 election results: 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 on March 22, 1998 (next to be held in 2004); Regional Council - last held on March 15, 1998 (next to be held in 2004) election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - diverse left parties 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, diverse right parties 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 note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate; elections last held in September 1995 (next to be held in 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 from May 25 to June 1, 1997 (next to be held in 2002); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FGPS 2, RPR 1, PPDG 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with authority over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique.
Political parties and leaders: Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG; Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Christian CELESTE]; various left parties; various right parties; FGPS Dissidents or FRUI.G; Movement for an Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI; Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or UPLG; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG; Rally for the Republic or RPR; Socialist Party or PS; Union for French Democracy or UDF.
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: three horizontal stripes, a narrow green stripe (top), a wide red stripe, and a narrow green stripe; the green stripes are separated from the red stripe by two narrow white lines; a gold five-pointed star is centered in the red stripe towards the side of the flagpole; the flag of France is used for official events.
@Guadeloupe:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy relies on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It also depends on France for significant subsidies and imports. Tourism is a major sector, with most visitors coming from the US; an increasing number of cruise ships are visiting the islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is gradually being replaced by other crops, like bananas (which now account for about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are grown for local use, although Guadeloupe still relies on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry includes sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is particularly high among young people. Hurricanes periodically wreak havoc on the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (estimated in 1996)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 9% services: 85% (1993 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: agriculture 15%, industry 17%, services 68% (1997)
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: 1.22 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.135 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
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% (1997)
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: food, fuel, vehicles, clothing, and other consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners: France 63%, Germany 4%, US 3%, Japan 2%,
Netherlands Antilles 2% (1997)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - significant yearly French subsidies
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155(1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guadeloupe:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 159,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 814 (1990)
Telephone system: 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 a few low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 118,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Guadeloupe:Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways: total: 2,082 km paved: 1,742 km unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.) note: in 1996 there were a total of 3,200 km of roads
Ports and harbors: Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthélemy),
Marigot, Pointe-à-Pitre
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,240 GRT/109 DWT ships by type: passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 9 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Guadeloupe:Military
Military branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Guadeloupe:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GUAM
@Guam:Introduction
Background: Guam was handed over to the US by Spain in 1898. It was taken over by the Japanese in 1941 but was recaptured by the US three years later. The military base on the island is one of the most strategically important US installations in the Pacific.
@Guam:Geography
Location: Oceania, an 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: 541.3 sq km land: 541.3 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical marine; usually warm and humid, balanced by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; minimal seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most freshwater), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains to the north, low-rising hills in the center, and mountains to the south.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: fishing (mostly undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 11% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 18% other: 45% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent storms during the rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Environment - current issues: the extermination of native bird populations due to the rapid spread of the brown tree snake, an invasive species.
Geography - note: it's the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana
Islands archipelago; it has a strategic location in the western North Pacific Ocean
@Guam:People
Population: 154,623 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34.9% (male 28,233; female 25,727) 15-64 years: 59.09% (male 48,126; female 43,238) 65 years and over: 6.01% (male 4,680; female 4,619) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.67% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 26.19 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.16 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -5.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.14 males/females under 15 years: 1.1 males/females 15-64 years: 1.11 males/females 65 years and over: 1.01 males/females total population: 1.1 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.83 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.78 years male: 75.51 years female: 80.37 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.96 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guamanian(s) adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, and others 18%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy: definition: people age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)
@Guam:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam
Data code: GQ
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 (part of the US)
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521);
Liberation Day, July 21 (1944)
Constitution: Organic Act of August 1, 1950
Legal system: based on the US; US federal laws apply
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in
US presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994) cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the approval of the Guam legislature 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 terms; last election held on 3 November 1998 (next to be held on NA November 2002) election results: Carl GUTIERREZ reelected governor; percent of vote - Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) 53.2%, Joseph ADA (Republican) 46.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held on November 3, 1998 (next to be held in November 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican 12, Democratic 3 note: Guam elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held on November 3, 1998 (next to be held in November 2000); results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic 1
Judicial branch: Federal District Court (the judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges are appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (party of the
Governor); Republican Party (controls the legislature)
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Interpol
(subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (part of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (part of the US)
Flag description: The territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border all around; at the center is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse featuring a beach scene, an outrigger canoe with a sail, and a palm tree, with the word GUAM in bold red letters on top; the US flag is the national flag.
@Guam:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy relies heavily on US military spending and tourist revenue. Over the past 20 years, the tourism industry has expanded quickly, leading to a construction boom for new hotels and upgrades to existing ones. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry took a hit in 1998 due to the ongoing Japanese recession, as Japanese tourists typically account for almost 90% of visitors. Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam is grappling with the challenge of developing the civilian economic sector to counter the effects of military downsizing.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $19,000 (1996 estimate)
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% (estimated for 1992)
Labor force: 65,660 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: federal and territorial government 31%, private 69% (trade 21%, services 33%, construction 12%, other 3%) (1995)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $524.3 million expenditures: $361.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industries: US military, tourism, construction, shipping services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 800 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 744 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, coconut, vegetables; eggs, pork, chicken, beef
Exports: $86.1 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Exports - commodities: mainly transshipments of refined oil products, construction materials, fish, food, and beverage items.
Exports - partners: US 25%
Imports: $202.4 million (c.i.f., 1992)
Imports - commodities: oil and oil products, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - even though Guam doesn't receive any foreign aid, it does get significant transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury, to which Guamanians don’t contribute income or excise taxes; according to a special law passed by Congress, the Guam Treasury, instead of the US Treasury, collects federal income taxes paid by military and civilian federal employees stationed in Guam.
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: The US dollar is used
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@Guam:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 82,669 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 55,000 (1998)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to the US and Japan
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 221,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 106,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Guam:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 885 km paved: 675 km unpaved: 210 km note: there is another 685 km of roads classified as non-public, including roads on federal government properties
Ports and harbors: Apra Harbor
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Guam:Military
Military - note: defending the country is the responsibility of the US
@Guam:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GUATEMALA
@Guatemala:Introduction
Background: Guatemala gained independence from Spanish colonial rule in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it went through various military and civilian governments and endured a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement that officially ended the conflict, which resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people and created approximately 1 million refugees.
@Guatemala:Geography
Location: Middle America, next to the Caribbean Sea, between
Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El
Salvador and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 15° 30' N, 90° 15' W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 108,890 sq km land: 108,430 sq km water: 460 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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-meter depth or to the depth of resource extraction exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; hot and humid in the lowlands; cooler in the highlands
Terrain: mainly 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: oil, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 54% other: 5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: several volcanoes in the mountains, with occasional severe earthquakes; the Caribbean coast is prone to hurricanes and other tropical storms.
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; damage from Hurricane Mitch
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: there are no natural harbors on the west coast.
@Guatemala:People
Population: 12,639,939 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 2,735,107; female 2,622,412) 15-64 years: 54% (male 3,411,575; female 3,413,932) 65 years and over: 4% (male 213,791; female 243,122) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.63% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 35.05 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.92 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 47.03 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.18 years male: 63.53 years female: 68.96 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.66 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated
Amerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino), about 56%,
Amerindian or mostly Amerindian, about 44%
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages: Spanish 60%, Indigenous languages 40% (more than 20
Indigenous languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam,
Garifuna, and Xinca)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 55.6% male: 62.5% female: 48.6% (1995 est.)
@Guatemala:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: República de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala
Data code: GT
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: September 15, 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 15 (1821)
Constitution: May 31, 1985, effective January 14, 1986 Note: suspended May 25, 1993, by former President SERRANO; reinstated June 5, 1993, after the president was ousted; amended November 1993
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal (active duty members of the military may not vote)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras (since January 14, 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since January 14, 2000); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras (since January 14, 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since January 14, 2000); note - the president serves as 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; last election held on November 7, 1999; runoff held on December 26, 1999 (next to be held in November 2003) election results: Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras elected president; percent of vote - Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras (FRG) 68%, Oscar BERGER Perdomo (PAN) 32%
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (113 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on November 7, 1999 (next to be held in November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - FRG 63, PAN 37, ANN 9, DCG 2, UD/LOV 1, PLP 1 note: for the November 7, 1999 election, the number of congressional seats was increased from 80 to 113
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia; also, the Court of Constitutionality is led by the president of the Supreme Court, and judges are chosen for a five-year term by Congress.
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (DCG)
; Democratic Union (UD);
Green Party (LOV); Guatemalan National Revolutionary
Union (URNG); Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) [Efrain
RIOS Montt]; National Advancement Party (PAN); New
Guatemalan Democratic Front (FDNG); New
Nation Alliance (ANN); Progressive Liberator Party (PLP)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO); Alliance Against Impunity (AAI); Committee for Campesino
Unity (CUC); Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial,
Industrial, and Financial Associations (CACIF); Mutual Support Group
(MAF).
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 745-4952 FAX: (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence BUSHNELL embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: (2) 31-15-41 FAX: (2) 33-48-77
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (on the side of the flagpole), white, and light blue with the coat of arms in the center of the white band; the coat of arms features a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll that says LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the date of independence from Spain) all placed over a pair of crossed rifles and crossed swords, and surrounded by a wreath.
@Guatemala:Economy
Economy - overview: The agricultural sector makes up a quarter of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and employs half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the key products. Manufacturing and construction represent a fifth of GDP. Since taking office in January 1996, former President ARZU has worked on a program of economic liberalization and political modernization. The signing of the peace accords in December 1996, which ended 36 years of civil war, eliminated a significant barrier to foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively minor damage to Guatemala compared to neighboring countries. Ongoing challenges include increasing government revenue, securing additional support from international donors, and improving the efficiency and transparency of government and private financial operations. Growth is expected to remain steady in 2000, assuming world agricultural prices do not fall sharply.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $47.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,900 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 20% services: 57% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 75%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 46.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 3.32 million (estimated in 1997)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, oil, metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 3.085 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 26.42% hydro: 66.61% nuclear: 0% other: 6.97% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.914 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 6 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 51 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens
Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, meat, clothing, oil, electricity
Exports - partners: US 48%, El Salvador 10%, Honduras 6%, Germany 5%,
Costa Rica 4% (1997)
Imports: $4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: fuels, machinery, transportation equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity
Imports - partners: US 46%, Mexico 13%, El Salvador 5%, Venezuela 5%,
Japan 4% (1997)
Debt - external: $4.4 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $212 million (1995)
Currency: 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 7.8829 (January 2000), 7.3856 (1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guatemala:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 342,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 29,999 (1995)
Telephone system: fairly modern network centered in the city of domestic: NA international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 101, FM 32, shortwave 15 (1998)
Radios: 835,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 640,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (1999)
@Guatemala:Transportation
Railways: total: 884 km (102 km privately owned) narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)
Highways: total: 13,100 km paved: 3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,484 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 260 km navigable all year long; an extra 730 km navigable during the high-water season
Pipelines: crude oil 275 km
Ports and harbors: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San
Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 477 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 466 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 124 under 914 m: 332 (1999 est.)
@Guatemala:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,000,599 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,959,050 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 137,607 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $124 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.7% (FY98)
@Guatemala:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Guatemala claims territory in Belize; the exact boundary line is disputed.
Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; minor producer of illegal opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; an active eradication program in 1996 effectively eliminated the cannabis crop; its proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine shipments)
______________________________________________________________________
GUERNSEY
@Guernsey:Introduction
Background: The island of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands are the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy, which had influence in both France and England. The islands were the only British territory occupied by German troops during World War II.
@Guernsey:Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 49° 28' N, 2° 35' W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 194 sq km land: 194 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 50 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: mild with cool summers and mild winters; around 50% of days are cloudy.
Terrain: mostly flat with some low hills in the 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% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: large, deep-water harbor at Saint Peter Port
@Guernsey:People
Population: 64,080 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 5,302; female 5,167) 15-64 years: 67% (male 21,171; female 21,523) 65 years and over: 17% (male 4,480; female 6,437) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.42% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 10.17 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.85 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 males/females under 15 years: 1.03 males/females 15-64 years: 0.98 males/females 65 years and over: 0.7 males/females total population: 0.93 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.07 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.65 years male: 76.65 years female: 82.75 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.35 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: British and Norman-French descent
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist
Languages: English, French, and the Norman-French dialect spoken in rural areas
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
@Guernsey:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey
Data code: GK
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint Peter Port
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, May 9, 1945
Constitution: unwritten; made up of both statutes and common law, along with practices.
Legal system: English law and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994) and Bailiff De Vic G. CAREY (since NA) cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (59 voting members - 12 councilors serving six-year terms, with half elected every three years; 33 deputies elected from multi- or single-member districts every four years; 10 representatives from parish authorities; 2 representatives from Aldenay; the bailiff and deputy bailiff; and 2 non-voting members - the Attorney General and the Solicitor General, both appointed by the monarch elections: last held on April 20, 1994 (next to be held in 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch: Royal Court
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
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 (the patron saint of England) stretching to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror layered on top of the Saint George cross.
@Guernsey:Economy
Economy - overview: Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance, etc. - make up about 55% of the total income in this small Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, especially tomatoes and cut flowers, have been on the decline. Low taxes and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The changing economic integration of EU countries is altering the rules that Guernsey operates under.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.15 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.3% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,100 (1997 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 10% services: 86% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1997 estimate)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 0.5% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $300.8 million expenditures: $298.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Exports: $NA
Exports - commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, and other vegetables
Exports - partners: UK (considered internal trade)
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: coal, gas, oil, machinery, and equipment
Imports - partners: UK (considered domestic trade)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Guernsey pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995); note - the Guernsey pound is equal in value to the British pound.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guernsey:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 41,850 (1983)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: N/A international: 1 submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Guernsey:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: St. Peter Port, St. Sampson
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Guernsey:Military
Military - note: the UK is responsible for defense
@Guernsey:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GUINEA
@Guinea:Introduction
Background: Guinea has been independent from France since 1958 but didn't have democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE, head of the military government, was elected president in a controversial vote. While security crackdowns persist, they aren't as harsh as in previous decades. Reelected in 1998, the president faced increasing criticism in 1999 for imprisoning a prominent opposition leader and the widespread economic struggles. Ongoing unrest in Sierra Leone also posed a threat to Guinea's stability.
@Guinea:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 11° N, 10° W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,857 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 3,399 km border countries: Côte 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: typically hot and humid; a monsoon-like rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; a dry season (December to May) with northeastern harmattan winds.
Terrain: mostly flat coastal plain, with hills to mountainous areas inland
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: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 59% other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 930 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze can reduce visibility during the dry season.
Environment - current issues: deforestation; lack of clean drinking water; desertification; soil pollution and erosion; overfishing; overpopulation in forested areas.
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: none of the selected agreements
@Guinea:People
Population: 7,466,200 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43.38% (male 1,614,789; female 1,623,691) 15-64 years: 53.95% (male 1,966,929; female 2,060,877) 65 years and over: 2.68% (male 82,376; female 117,538) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.95% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 40.08 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 17.86 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: over the years, Guinea has taken in several hundred thousand refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone; by the end of 1999, it was assumed that all Liberian refugees had returned; refugees from Sierra Leone are assumed to be returning.
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 130.98 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.56 years male: 43.16 years female: 48.02 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.46 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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.)
@Guinea:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea
Data code: GV
Government type: republic
Capital: Conakry
Administrative divisions: 4 administrative regions (administrative regions, singular - administrative region) and 1 special zone (special zone)*; Conakry*, Guinea, Guinea-Forestière, Haute-Guinée, Moyen-Guinée.
Independence: October 2, 1958 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, April 3 (1984)
Constitution: December 23, 1990 (Fundamental Law)
Legal system: based on the French civil law system, customary law, and decrees; legal codes are currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since April 5, 1984, elected president December 19, 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since March 8, 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 December 14, 1998 (next to be held in 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 (UNR-PRP) 24.6%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 16.6%,
Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 71, RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG 1, UNPG 1, PDG-RDA 1, other 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Guinea or PDG-AST
; Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or
PDG-RDA ; Party for Unity and
Progress or PUP - the governing party; Party for
Renewal and Progress or PRP ; Rally for the Guinean
People or RPG ; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG
; Union for the New Republic or
UNR
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Aly THIAM chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-9420 FAX: (202) 483-8688
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joyce E. LEADER embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry telephone: 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23 FAX: 41 15 22
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; features the well-known pan-African colors of Ethiopia; resembles the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band.
@Guinea:Economy
Economy - overview: Guinea has significant mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet it remains a poor, underdeveloped nation. The agricultural sector employs 80% of the workforce. Guinea holds over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector made up about 75% of exports in 1998. Long-term improvements in government fiscal policies, literacy rates, and the legal system are essential for the country to escape poverty. The government saw promising progress in budget management from 1997 to 1999. Even with a rise in prices for some of Guinea's key commodity exports, annual GDP is not expected to grow by more than 5% in 2000-2001.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 31% services: 45% (1996 estimate)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 31.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 2.4 million (1983)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 11%, services 5.4%, civil service 3.6%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $553 million expenditures: $652 million, including capital expenditures of $317 million (1995 est.)
Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and food processing industries
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (1994)
Electricity - production: 535 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 63.55% hydro: 36.45% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 498 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Exports: $695 million (f.o.b., 1998 estimate)
Exports - commodities: bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
Exports - partners: Russia, US, Benelux, Ukraine, Ireland, Spain (1997)
Imports: $560 million (f.o.b., 1998 estimate)
Imports - commodities: oil products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain, and other food items (1997)
Imports - partners: France, Ivory Coast, US, Benelux, Hong Kong (1997)
Debt - external: $3.15 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $433.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 1,292.5 (January 1999), 1,236.8 (1998), 1,095.3 (1997), 1,004.0 (1996), 991.4 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guinea:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 11,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 950 (1995)
Telephone system: a mediocre to fair setup with open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and a 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, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 357,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1997)
Televisions: 85,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Guinea:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,086 km standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common carrier service from Kankan to Conakry)
Highways: total: 30,500 km paved: 5,033 km unpaved: 25,467 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft local boats
Ports and harbors: Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 15 (1999 est.)
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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Guinea:Military
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: 1,721,941 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males ages 15-49: 869,442 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $56 million (FY96)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY96)
@Guinea:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GUINEA
______________________________________________________________________
GUYANA
@Guyana:Introduction
Background: Guyana gained independence from the UK in 1966 and became a republic in 1970. In 1989, Guyana started an Economic Recovery Program, marking a significant shift from a state-controlled, socialist economy to a more open, free-market system. The results from the first decade have been promising.
@Guyana:Geography
Location: Northern South America, next to 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 land: 196,850 sq km water: 18,120 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 fishing 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 hills; low coastal plain; savanna in the 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% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 84% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flash floods are a regular risk 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, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Guyana:People
Population: 697,286 note: estimates for this country clearly consider the effects of excess mortality from AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and shifts in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 102,463; female 98,492) 15-64 years: 66% (male 232,857; female 229,598) 65 years and over: 5% (male 15,170; female 18,706) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.1% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 17.94 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.42 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -10.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.01 males/females 65 years and over: 0.81 males/females total population: 1.01 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 39.07 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.04 years male: 61.08 years female: 67.15 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.11 children per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese
Ethnic groups: East Indian 51%, Black 30%, Mixed 14%, Amerindian 4%, White and Chinese 1%
Religions: Christian 50%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 8%
Languages: English, Native American languages, Creole, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older has ever attended school total population: 98.1% male: 98.6% female: 97.5% (1995 est.)
@Guyana:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana
Data code: GY
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: May 26, 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Republic Day, February 23 (1970)
Constitution: 6 October 1980
Legal system: based on English common law with some elements of
Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since NA August 1999); note - took over the presidency after President JAGAN resigned 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 after legislative elections, which must be held at least every five years; elections last held on December 15, 1997 (next to be held by January 2001); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (65 seats, 53 elected by the public; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on December 15, 1997 (next will be held by January 2001; this date was part of a negotiated agreement between the two main political parties following a disagreement over the December elections) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP 54%, PNC 41%, AFG 1%, TUF 1%; seats by party - PPP 29, PNC 22, AFG 1, TUF 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature; Judicial Court of
Appeal; High Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Guyana (AFG) [Rupert
ROOPNARINE]; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM); For a
Good and Green Guyana (GGG); Guyana Democratic Party
(GDP); Guyana Labor Party (GLP); Guyanese
Organization for Liberty and Democracy Party (GOLD) [Anthony
MEKDECI]; National Democratic Front (NDF); National
Republican Party (NRP); People's Democratic
Movement (PDM); People's National Congress (PNC)
; People's Progressive Party (PPP);
The United Force (TUF); Working People's Alliance (WPA)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Trades Union Congress (TUC) note: the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not well organized.
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, 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 telephone: (202) 265-6900 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MACK embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown telephone: (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969 FAX: (2) 59497
Flag description: green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) overlaid on a long, yellow arrowhead; there’s a narrow black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and the green.
@Guyana:Economy
Economy - overview: Severe drought and political turmoil led to Guyana's negative growth of -1.8% in 1998, following six consecutive years of growth of 5% or more. Growth rebounded to a positive 1.8% in 1999. Key factors driving this growth included expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a better environment for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, moderate inflation, and ongoing support from international organizations. President JAGDEO, the former finance minister, is taking steps to reform the economy, such as drafting an investment code and restructuring the ineffective and unresponsive public sector. Challenges include a shortage of skilled labor and an inadequate, poorly maintained transportation system. Additionally, there has been a shortage of electricity; the privatization of the sector in August 1999 is expected to improve the situation. The government needs to continue managing its significant external debt and expand its privatization efforts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.86 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.8% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34.7% industry: 32.5% services: 32.8% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 245,492 (1992)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 12% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $220.1 million expenditures: $286.4 million, including capital expenditures of $86.6 million (1998)
Industries: bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 7.1% (1997 estimate)
Electricity - production: 325 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.46% hydro: 1.54% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 302 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest and fishery resources not fully utilized
Exports: $574 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber
Exports - partners: US 25%, Canada 24%, UK 19%, Netherlands Antilles 11%, Jamaica 5% (1998)
Imports: $620 million (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - goods: manufactured products, machinery, oil, food
Imports - partners: US 28%, Trinidad and Tobago 21%, Netherlands
Antilles 14%, UK 7%, Japan 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $1.4 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor
Country Initiative (HIPC) $253 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 180.4 (December 1999), 178.0 (1999), 150.5 (1998), 142.4 (1997), 140.4 (1996), 142.0 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guyana:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 45,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,243 (1995)
Telephone system: equitable 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 that relay US satellite services) (1997)
Televisions: 46,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Guyana:Transportation
Railways: total: 187 km (all for ore transport) standard gauge: 139 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways: total: 7,970 km paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 5,900 km of navigable waterways in total; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers can be navigated by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively.
Ports and harbors: Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,023 GRT/1,972 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 51 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 46 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 37 (1999 est.)
@Guyana:Military
Military branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces,
Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana
National Service (GNS), Guyana Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 203,742 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 153,530 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $7 million (FY94)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.7% (FY94)
@Guyana:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: all of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims the area between the New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne).
Illicit drugs: a key stop for narcotics coming from South America - mainly Venezuela - to Europe and the US; a producer of cannabis
______________________________________________________________________
HAITI
@Haiti:Introduction
Background: One of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has faced political violence for most of its history. Over thirty years of dictatorship followed by military rule ended in 1990 when Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was elected president. Most of his term was interrupted by a military takeover, but he was able to return to office in 1994 and oversee the appointment of a close associate as president in 1996.
@Haiti:Geography
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: a bit smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 275 km border countries: Dominican Republic 275 km
Coastline: 1,771 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in the east block 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% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 5% other: 44% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: located in the middle of the hurricane belt and exposed to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts.
Environment - current issues: extensive deforestation (a lot of the remaining forested land is being cleared for farming and used for fuel); soil erosion; insufficient supplies of drinking water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic (the western one-third is Haiti, and the eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
@Haiti:People
Population: 6,867,995 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to a lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and alterations in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 1,430,018; female 1,393,665) 15-64 years: 55% (male 1,814,964; female 1,945,165) 65 years and over: 4% (male 138,533; female 145,650) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.39% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 31.97 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 15.13 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -2.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 97.1 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.21 years male: 47.46 years female: 51.06 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.5 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian
Ethnic groups: Black 95%, mixed race and white 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982) note: about half of the population also practices Voodoo
Languages: French (official), Creole (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 45% male: 48% female: 42.2% (1995 est.)
@Haiti:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Haiti conventional short form: Haiti local long form: Republique d'Haiti local short form: Haiti
Data code: HA
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: January 1, 1804 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, January 1 (1804)
Constitution: approved March 1987; suspended June 1988, with most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, the government stated it was following the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October 1994
Legal system: based on the Roman civil law system; accepts mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Rene Garcia PREVAL (since February 7, 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard ALEXIS (since March 1999); ALEXIS was appointed by President PREVAL, taking over the position that had been vacant since the resignation of Rosny SMARTH in June 1997 cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on December 17, 1995 (next one to be held by December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Congress election results: Rene Garcia PREVAL elected president; percent of vote - Rene Garcia PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members 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 on June 25, 1995, with reruns on August 13 and runoffs on September 17, and an election for nine seats on April 6, 1997, but the results were disputed; the next election for two-thirds of the Senate was postponed until May 2000; Chamber of Deputies - last held on June 25, 1995, with reruns on August 13 and runoffs on September 17 (next Senate and Chamber of Deputies elections postponed until May 2000). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - OPL 7, FL-leaning 7, independents 3, vacant 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - OPL 32, antineoliberal bloc 24, minor parties and independents 22, vacant 5.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or ALAH; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP; Confederation for Democratic Unity or KID; Democratic Consultation Group coalition or ESPACE composed of the following parties: Confederation for Democratic Unity KONAKOM, PANPRA, Generation 2004, and Haiti Can or Ayiti Kapab; Generation 2004 [Claude ROUMAIN]; Haiti Can or Ayiti Kapab; Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH; Haitian Democratic Party or PADEMH; Lavalas Family or FL; Mobilization for National Development or MDN; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH; Movement for the Organization of the Country or MOP [Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE]; National Alliance for Democracy and Progress [leader NA]; National Congress of Democratic Movements or KONAKOM [Victor BENOIT]; National Front for Change and Democracy or FNCD [Evans PAUL and Turneb DELPE]; National Progressive Revolutionary Party or PANPRA; Open the Gate Party or PLB; Struggling People's Organization or OPL; Union of Patriotic Democrats or UPD.
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
(observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
LAES, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Louis Harold JOSEPH Chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Telephone: (202) 332-4090 FAX: (202) 745-7215 Consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Les ALEXANDER will be the temporary chief of mission until a new ambassador is confirmed. Embassy: 5 Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince Mailing Address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince Telephone: 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, 22-0612 FAX: 23-1641
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle that has the coat of arms, which features a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll with the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
@Haiti:Economy
Economy - overview: About 80% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians rely on the agriculture sector, which mainly includes small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of the working population. The country has seen minimal job creation since President PREVAL took office in February 1996, although the informal economy is expanding. Failure to reach agreements with international donors has prevented Haiti from receiving crucial budget and development assistance. Meeting aid conditions in 2000 will be especially difficult amid growing public criticism of reforms.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (estimated for 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,340 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 20% services: 48% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 80% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 3.6 million (1995) note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%
Unemployment rate: 70%; widespread underemployment; more than two-thirds of the workforce lack formal jobs (1999)
Budget: revenues: $323 million expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, tourism, light assembly industries using imported parts
Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 728 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 55.63% hydro: 41.62% nuclear: 0% other: 2.75% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 677 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood
Exports: $322 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods, coffee, oils, mangoes
Exports - partners: US 86%, EU 11% (1998)
Imports: $762 million (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - goods: food, machinery and transportation equipment, fuels
Imports - partners: US 60%, EU 12% (1998)
Debt - external: $1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $730.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 gourde (G) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1 - 18.262 (January 2000), 17.965 (1999), 16.505 (1998), 17.311 (1997), 15.093 (1996), 16.160 (1995)
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@Haiti:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 60,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic facilities are barely adequate; international facilities are 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999)
@Haiti:Transportation
Railways: total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line) - closed in the early 1990s narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge
Highways: total: 4,160 km paved: 1,011 km unpaved: 3,149 km (1996 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 (1999 est.)
Airports: 13 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
@Haiti:Military
Military branches: Haitian National Police (HNP) note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been demobilized but still exist on paper until constitutionally abolished
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,579,897 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 857,666 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 83,863 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $NA ; note - primarily for police and security operations
Military spending - percentage of GDP: NA%
Military - note: the Haitian Armed Forces have been disbanded and replaced by the Haitian National Police.
@Haiti:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the U.S. claims Navassa Island, which is administered by them.
Illicit drugs: a major Caribbean hub for cocaine being shipped to the US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDS
______________________________________________________________________
HOLY SEE
______________________________________________________________________
HONDURAS
@Honduras:Introduction
Background: As part of Spain's large empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mainly military rule, a freely elected civilian government took charge in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras became a refuge for anti-Sandinista contras battling the Marxist Nicaraguan government and a supporter of Salvadoran government forces fighting against leftist guerrillas.
@Honduras:Geography
Location: Middle America, next to the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Nicaragua and next to the 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: a bit 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 nautical miles continental shelf: natural extension of territory or up to 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: subtropical in the lowlands, temperate in the mountains
Terrain: primarily mountains in the interior, with narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources: wood, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 54% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 740 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: common, but usually mild, earthquakes; destructive hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
Environment - current issues: the urban population is growing; deforestation is happening due to logging and clearing land for agriculture; more land degradation and soil erosion are being accelerated by uncontrolled development and poor land use practices like farming on marginal lands; mining activities are polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water) and several rivers and streams with heavy metals; severe damage from Hurricane Mitch.
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: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
@Honduras:People
Population: 6,249,598 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the impacts of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to a lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and shifts in the distribution of the population by age and sex than what would typically be anticipated (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 1,361,259; female 1,303,041) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,665,406; female 1,699,680) 65 years and over: 3% (male 104,469; female 115,743) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.52% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 32.65 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.31 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.29 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.93 years male: 67.91 years female: 72.06 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.26 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions: 97% Roman Catholic, minority Protestant
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 72.7% male: 72.6% female: 72.7% (1995 est.)
@Honduras:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Honduras local long form: Republica de Honduras local short form: Honduras
Data code: HO
Government type: democratic constitutional republic
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento); Atlántida, Choluteca, Colón, Comayagua, Copán, Cortés,
El Paraíso, Francisco Morazán, Gracias a Dios, Intibucá, Islas de la
Bahía, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Bárbara, Valle,
Yoro
Independence: September 15, 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 15 (1821)
Constitution: January 11, 1982, effective January 20, 1982; amended 1995
Legal system: based on Roman and Spanish civil law, with growing impact from English common law; recent judicial reforms involve replacing Napoleonic legal codes with an oral adversarial system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since January 27, 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since January 27, 1998); 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 on November 30, 1997 (next to be held on November 30, 2001) election results: Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse elected president; percent of vote - Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (PL) 50%, Nora de MELGAR (PNH) 40%, other 10%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on November 30, 1997 (next to be held on November 30, 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - PL 46%, PN 38%, PINU-SD 4%, PDC 2%, PUD 2%; seats by party - PL 67, PN 55, PINU-SD 3, PDC 2, PUD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de
Justicia, judges are elected for four-year terms by the National
Congress
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (PDC)
; Democratic Unification Party (PUD)
; Honduran National Party (PNH)
; Liberal Party (PL)
; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social Democratic Party (PINU-SD) [Olban
VALLADARES, president]; National Party of Honduras (PN) [Porfirio
LOBO Sega, president]
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; United Federation of
Honduran Workers or FUTH
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo NOE PINO chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 966-7702 FAX: (202) 966-9751 consulates general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa consulates: Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Frank ALMAGUER embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: 238-5114, 326-9320 FAX: 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 countries of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; it’s similar to the flag of El Salvador, which has a round emblem surrounded by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; it's also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle surrounded by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
@Honduras:Economy
Economy - overview: In 1999, Honduras focused mainly on recovering from Hurricane Mitch, which claimed over 5,000 lives and caused around $3 billion in damage. Although it's expected to receive about $2.76 billion in international aid, the economy contracted by 3%, with increasing current account and fiscal deficits in 1999. Despite this, it achieved most of its macroeconomic goals, and 2000 should see an economic recovery as reconstruction projects progress and the agricultural sector bounces back. Honduras might also get relief from its $4.4 billion external debt through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.1 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: -3% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,050 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 25% services: 55% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1992 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 42.1% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 2.3 million (1997 estimate)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 29%, industry 21%, services 60% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1999); underemployment 30% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $980 million expenditures: $1.15 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: 9% (1992 est.)
Electricity - production: 2.904 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 34.44% hydro: 65.56% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.742 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 16 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 57 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coffee, citrus fruits; beef; timber; shrimp
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: coffee, bananas, shrimp, lobster, meat; zinc, lumber
Exports - partners: US 73%, Japan 4%, Germany 4%, Belgium, Spain (1998)
Imports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, food items
Imports - partners: US 60%, Guatemala 5%, Netherlands Antilles, Japan,
Germany, Mexico, El Salvador (1998)
Debt - external: $4.4 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $557.8 million (1999)
Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 - 14.5744 (January 2000), 14.5039 (1999), 13.8076 (1998), 13.0942 (1997), 12.8694 (1996), 10.3432 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Honduras:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 190,200 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: insufficient 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 14 (1999)
@Honduras:Transportation
Railways: total: 595 km narrow gauge: 349 km 1.067-m gauge; 246 km 0.914-m gauge (1999)
Highways: total: 15,400 km paved: 3,126 km unpaved: 12,274 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 465 km that small boats can navigate
Ports and harbors: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San
Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira
Merchant marine: total: 306 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a total of 848,150 GRT/980,995 DWT. Ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 187, chemical tanker 5, container 7, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 43, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off 9, short-sea passenger 5, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.) Note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 6 ships, Vietnam 1, Singapore 3, North Korea 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 119 (1999 est.)
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: 4 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 107 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 84 (1999 est.)
@Honduras:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (which includes the Marines), Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,467,615 (2000 est.)
Military personnel - eligible for service: males aged 15-49: 874,053 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 70,636 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $33 million (FY98)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 0.6% (FY98)
@Honduras:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The Honduras-El Salvador Border Protocol ratified by Honduras in May 1999 set up a plan for a long-awaited border marking, which is currently in progress; regarding the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJ referenced the line established by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and suggested that some tripartite agreement among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua would probably be needed; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua in the Caribbean Sea.
Illicit drugs: a key point for trafficking drugs and narcotics; illegal grower of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and mainly used for local consumption; corruption is a significant issue.
______________________________________________________________________
HONG KONG
@Hong Kong:Introduction
Background: The UK occupied Hong Kong in 1841, and it was officially handed over by China the next year; additional neighboring territories were included later in the 19th century. According to an agreement signed by China and the UK on December 19, 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on July 1, 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" framework, the socialist economic system would not be enforced in Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would maintain a high degree of autonomy in all areas except foreign and defense matters for the next 50 years.
@Hong Kong:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, next to the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22.25° N, 114.1667° E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 1,092 sq km land: 1,042 sq km water: 50 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 nautical miles
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 the north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: excellent deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 20% other: 72% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1997 estimate)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urban growth
Geography - note: over 200 islands
@Hong Kong:People
Population: 7,116,302 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 676,756; female 602,434) 15-64 years: 71% (male 2,520,473; female 2,563,355) 65 years and over: 11% (male 342,942; female 410,342) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.35% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 11.29 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.93 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 8.12 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.93 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.54 years male: 76.85 years female: 82.41 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: 95% Chinese, 5% other
Religions: an eclectic mix of local religions 90%, Christianity 10%
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older have attended school at some point total population: 92.2% male: 96% female: 88.2% (1996 est.)
@Hong Kong:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Hong Kong local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu local short form: Xianggang abbreviation: HK
Data code: HK
Dependency status: special administrative region of China
Government type: NA
Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region of
China)
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day, October 1-2; note - July 1, 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 at 18 years old; universal for permanent residents who have lived in Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to around 100,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee made up of diverse regional groups, municipal organizations, and central government bodies.
Executive branch: chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since March 27, 1993) head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since July 1, 1997) cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and 10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary Anson CHAN (since November 29, 1993), Financial Secretary Donald TSANG (since March 7, 1995), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since July 1, 1997) elections: N/A
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; 30 are indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 20 are elected by popular vote, and 10 are elected by an 800-member election committee; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on May 25, 1998 (early elections are scheduled for September 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 13, Liberal Party 9, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong 9, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance 5, Frontier Party 3, Citizens Party 1, independents 20
Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders: Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood; Citizens Party; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong; Democratic Party; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Hong Kong Progressive Alliance [Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen]; Liberal Party. 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.
Political pressure groups and leaders: Chinese General Chamber of
Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong;
Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy) [LEE Cheuk-yan,
chairman]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade
Unions (pro-China); 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; Liberal Democratic
Federation
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, ESCAP (associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Richard A. BOUCHER consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002 telephone: 2523-9011 FAX: 2845-1598
Flag description: red with a stylized white five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
@Hong Kong:Economy
Economy - overview: Hong Kong has a vibrant free market economy that heavily relies on international trade. Natural resources are limited, so food and raw materials need to be imported. In fact, both imports and exports, including re-exports, each surpass GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong returned to Chinese control on July 1, 1997, it had strong trade and investment links with China. Per capita GDP is on par with that of the four major countries in Western Europe. From 1989 to 1997, GDP growth averaged an impressive 5%. The widespread economic challenges in Asia in 1998 significantly impacted this trade-reliant economy, with GDP declining by 5%. The economy is bouncing back, showing growth of 1.8% in 1999, followed by an anticipated growth of 3.7% in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $158.2 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.8% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,100 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 14.7% services: 85.2% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -4% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 3.36 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 31.9%, social services 9.9%, manufacturing 9.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 13.1%, transportation and communications 5.7%, construction 2.6%, other 27.6% (October 1998)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $23.1 billion expenditures: $25.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99)
Industries: textiles, apparel, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate: -8.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production: 29.529 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 34.612 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 610 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 7.76 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fresh vegetables; poultry
Exports: $169.98 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: clothing, textiles, shoes, electronic appliances, watches, toys
Exports - partners: China 34%, US 23%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%, UK 4%,
Singapore 2% (1998)
Imports: $174.4 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: food, transportation equipment, raw materials, semifinished goods, oil; a significant portion is reexported.
Imports - partners: China 41%, Japan 13%, US 8%, Taiwan 7%, South
Korea 5%, Singapore 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $48.1 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: none
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.7780 (January 2000), 7.7575 (1999), 7.7453 (1998), 7.7427 (1997), 7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995); note - Hong Kong became a special administrative region of China on July 1, 1997; before that, it was linked to the US dollar at a rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$.
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Hong Kong:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.708 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.4 million (July 1998)
Telephone system: modern facilities offer outstanding domestic and international services domestic: microwave radio relay links and a wide fiber-optic network international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 in the Pacific Ocean and 2 in the Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cables connecting to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 49 (1999)
@Hong Kong:Transportation
Railways: total: 34 km standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)
Highways: total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1997)
Ports and harbors: Hong Kong
Merchant marine: total: 271 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,942,646 GRT/13,101,275 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 157, cargo 28, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 2, container 53, liquefied gas 5, multi-functional large load carrier 2, petroleum tanker 14, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 13 countries, among which are UK 16, South Africa 3, China 9, Japan 6, Bermuda 2, Germany 3, Canada 2, Cyprus 1, Belgium 1, and Norway 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Hong Kong:Military
Military branches: Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation
Army (PLA) including parts of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and
PLA Air Force; these forces are directly led by the
Central Military Commission in Beijing and are under the administrative
control of the nearby Guangzhou Military Region
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males aged 15-49: 2,012,203 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 1,516,533 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 46,485 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA; note - separate budget for
Hong Kong not established by China
Military spending - percentage of GDP: NA%
Military - note: the responsibility for defense lies with China.
@Hong Kong:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a center for the Southeast Asian heroin trade; a hub for transshipment and money laundering; rising domestic amphetamine abuse
______________________________________________________________________
HOWLAND ISLAND
@Howland Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, an island in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia.
Geographic coordinates: 0° 48' N, 176° 38' W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 1.6 sq km land: 1.6 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; minimal rainfall, steady winds, intense sun
Terrain: a low, nearly flat, 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 were exploited until the late 1800s)
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 5% other: 95%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: the thin fringing reef around the island can be a maritime danger.
Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water sources
Geography - note: nearly entirely covered with grasses, low-lying vines, and small shrubs; a small section of trees in the middle; mainly a habitat for nesting, roosting, and foraging for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife.
@Howland Island:People
Population: uninhabited note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by the US military during World War II but abandoned after the war; public entry is only allowed with a special-use permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and is generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2000 est.)
@Howland Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland Island
Data code: HQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; managed from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system.
Flag description: the flag of the U.S. is used
@Howland Island:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Howland Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast.
Airports: airstrip built in 1937 for a scheduled refueling stop on Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan's around-the-world flight - they departed from Lae, New Guinea, heading to Howland Island but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer in use.
Transportation - note: Earhart Light is a daytime beacon located near the center of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in honor of the famous aviator Amelia EARHART.
@Howland Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited every year by the US Coast Guard
@Howland Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
HUNGARY
@Hungary:Introduction
Background: Hungary was part of the diverse Austro-Hungarian Empire, which fell apart after World War I. It came under communist rule after World War II. A revolt in 1956 and a move to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact were met with significant military intervention from Moscow. During the more progressive Gorbachev years, Hungary took the lead in the effort to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and gradually moved towards multiparty democracy and a market-oriented economy. After the USSR collapsed in 1991, Hungary established close political and economic connections with Western Europe. It joined NATO in 1999 and is a leader in the upcoming expansion of the EU.
@Hungary:Geography
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47° N, 20° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 93,030 sq km land: 92,340 sq km water: 690 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,009 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,
Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: moderate; chilly, overcast, damp winters; hot 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 soil, arable land
Land use: arable land: 51% permanent crops: 3.6% permanent pastures: 12.4% forests and woodland: 19% other: 14% (1999)
Irrigated land: 2,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment - current issues: bringing Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and pollution of air, soil, and water up to the environmental requirements for EU accession will need significant 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 along the main land routes between Western Europe and the Balkan Peninsula, as well as between Ukraine and the Mediterranean region.
@Hungary:People
Population: 10,138,844 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 878,661; female 834,607) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,407,368; female 3,535,818) 65 years and over: 15% (male 548,672; female 933,718) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.33% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 9.26 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 13.34 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.15 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.37 years male: 67 years female: 76.05 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1980 est.)
@Hungary:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Hungary conventional short form: Hungary local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag local short form: Magyarorszag
Data code: HU
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, August 20 (celebrates the coronation of King Stephen I in 1000 AD)
Constitution: August 18, 1949, effective August 20, 1949, revised April 19, 1972; the October 18, 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and added constitutional checks on the prime minister's authority, as well as established the principle of parliamentary oversight; the 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system
Legal system: rule of law based on Western model
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since August 3, 1990; previously interim president since May 2, 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since July 6, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on the president's recommendation elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; last election held on June 19, 1995 (next one to be held before August 2000); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the president's recommendation election results: Arpad GONCZ reelected president; a total of 335 votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259; Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote through a system of proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on May 10 and 24, 1998 (next to be held May/June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote required for parliamentary representation in the first round) - MSZP 32.0%, FIDESZ 28.2%, FKGP 13.8%, SZDSZ 7.9%, MIEP 5.5%, MMP 4.1%, MDF 2.8%, KDNP 2.3%, MDNP 1.5%; seats by party - MSZP 134, FIDESZ 148, FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 14, independent 1; note - the MDF won 17 single-member district seats; seating as of 1999 by party - MSZP 135, FIDESZ 146, FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 12, independents 3, and 1 empty seat to be filled in a byelection
Judicial branch: The Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly for nine-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ)
; Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP)
; Hungarian Civic Party (FIDESZ) [László KÖVER, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) [Ibolya DAVID,
chairman]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party (MDNP) [Erzsébet PUSZTAI, chairman]; Hungarian Justice and Life Party (MIEP) [István CSURKA, chairman]; Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) [László KOVÁCS,
chairman]; Hungarian Workers' Party (MMP);
Independent Smallholders (FKGP)
International organization participation: ABEDA, Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-9, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNU,
UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Geza JESZENSZKY chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 362-6730 FAX: (202) 966-8135 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. TUFO embassy: V. 1054 Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 telephone: (1) 475-4400, 475-4703 (after hours) FAX: (1) 475-4764
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), white, and green.
@Hungary:Economy
Economy - overview: Hungary is showing strong economic growth and is working toward joining the European Union. Over 85% of the economy has been privatized. There is significant foreign ownership in and investment into Hungarian companies, with total foreign direct investment reaching $21 billion by 1999. Hungary's sovereign debt is now rated as investment grade. GDP growth of 4% in 1999 is expected to be matched or even exceeded in 2000. Inflation has decreased but is still high at 10%. Economic reforms include regional development, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and housing assistance.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $79.4 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,800 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 30% services: 65% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 25.3% (1993 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 24% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 4.2 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: services 65%, industry 27%, agriculture 8% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $13.5 billion expenditures: $15.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, building materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 35.104 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61% hydro: 1% nuclear: 38% other: 0% (1999 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 33.317 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 3.3 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 3.97 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, sunflower seeds, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products
Exports: $22.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment 51.9%, other manufactured goods 32.7%, agricultural and food products 10.5%, raw materials 2.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (1998)
Exports - partners: Germany 37%, Austria 11%, Italy 6%, Netherlands 5% (1998)
Imports: $25.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 46.5%, other manufactured goods 40.2%, fuels and electricity 6.6%, agricultural and food products 3.7%, raw materials 3.0% (1998)
Imports - partners: Germany 28%, Austria 10%, Italy 8%, Russia 7% (1998)
Debt - external: $27 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $122.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates: forints per US$1 - 251.150 (January 2000), 237.146 (1999), 214.402 (1998), 186.789 (1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Hungary:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.893 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.269 million (1995)
Telephone system: the telephone system has been upgraded and can meet all telecommunication service requests. domestic: the system is digital and highly automated; trunk services are provided through fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay; a program for connecting fiber-optic subscribers started in 1996; mobile cellular phones are widely used. international: Hungary has fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch is located in Budapest; satellite earth stations include 2 Intelsat (serving the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, and 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: 39 (plus a few low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 4.42 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (1999)
@Hungary:Transportation
Railways: total: 7,606 km broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 7,394 km 1.435-m gauge (2,270 km electrified; 1,236 km double track) narrow gauge: 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1998) note: Hungary and Austria jointly manage the cross-border standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurt (Gysev railroad) a distance of about 101 km in Hungary and 65 km in Austria
Highways: total: 188,203 km paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways) unpaved: 106,523 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 1,373 km permanently navigable (1997)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Budapest, Dunaujvaros
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,949 GRT/14,550 DWT ships by type: cargo 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 43 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 5 (1999 est.)
@Hungary:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Border Patrol
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,588,365 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,062,565 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 67,160 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $732.2 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY99)
@Hungary:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia
Illicit drugs: a major hub for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis, and a transit point for South American cocaine headed for Western Europe; a limited producer of precursor chemicals, especially for amphetamines and methamphetamines.
______________________________________________________________________
ICELAND
@Iceland:Introduction
Background: Settled by Norwegians and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries, Iceland has the world’s oldest parliament, the Althing, which was established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was later ruled by Norway and Denmark. Limited home rule was granted in 1874, and complete independence was achieved in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are top-notch by global standards.
@Iceland:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, an island situated between the Greenland Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates: 65° N, 18° 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 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: temperate; influenced by the North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; cool, damp summers
Terrain: mostly a plateau with mountain peaks and icefields; coast is deeply indented with bays and fjords.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m
Natural resources: fish, hydroelectric power, geothermal energy, diatomite
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 23% forests and woodland: 1% other: 76% (1993 est.)
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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: it's strategically located between Greenland and Europe; it's the westernmost European country; it has more land covered by glaciers than all of continental Europe.
@Iceland:People
Population: 276,365 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 33,119; female 31,222) 15-64 years: 65% (male 90,599; female 88,982) 65 years and over: 12% (male 14,555; female 17,888) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 14.86 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.87 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.58 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.39 years male: 77.19 years female: 81.77 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Icelander(s) adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups: a uniform blend of descendants from Norwegians and
Celts
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic, none (1997)
Languages: Icelandic
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.9% (1997 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Iceland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Iceland conventional short form: Iceland local long form: Lýðveldið Ísland local short form: Ísland
Data code: IC
Government type: constitutional republic
Capital: Reykjavik
Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, 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-Mulasysla,
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
Independence: June 17, 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, June 17 (1944)
Constitution: June 16, 1944, effective June 17, 1944
Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since August 1, 1996) head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since April 30, 1991) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held June 29, 1996 (next to be held in June 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; percent of vote - 41.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on May 8, 1999 (next to be held by April 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Haestirettur, justices are appointed for life by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Independence Party (conservative) or IP
; National Awakening (People's Revival Party) or PR
; People's Alliance (left socialist) or PA
; People's Movement (centrist);
Progressive Party (liberal) or PP; Social
Democratic Party or SDP; Women's Party or WL
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CBSS,
CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WEU
(associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 265-6653 FAX: (202) 265-6656 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara GRIFFITHS embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340 telephone: 5629100 FAX: 5629118
Flag description: blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side like the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
@Iceland:Economy
Economy - overview: Iceland has a Scandinavian-style economy that is basically capitalistic but features a comprehensive welfare system, low unemployment, and a notably equal distribution of income. The economy relies significantly on the fishing industry, which accounts for 70% of export earnings and employs 12% of the workforce. With limited other natural resources (aside from abundant hydrothermal and geothermal energy), Iceland's economy is sensitive to fluctuations in global fish prices. It is also affected by declining fish stocks and decreases in international prices for its primary exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. The center-right government intends to maintain its strategies of reducing budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, controlling inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned enterprises. The government is against EU membership, mainly due to Icelanders' worries about losing control over their fishing resources. In the past decade, Iceland's economy has diversified into manufacturing and service sectors, with emerging developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services. The tourism industry is also growing, particularly in ecotourism and whale-watching. Growth is expected to slow in 2000 to a still impressive 3.5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.42 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.5% (estimated in 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,500 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% (includes fishing 13%) industry: 21% services: 64% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 131,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 12.9%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5%, agriculture 5.1% (1999)
Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $146 million (1999 est.)
Industries: fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 6.187 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.06% hydro: 89.88% nuclear: 0% other: 10.06% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 5.754 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products 70%, animal products, aluminum, diatomite, and ferrosilicon
Exports - partners: EU 65% (UK 19%, Germany 15%, France 7%, Denmark 6%), US 13%, Japan 5% (1998)
Imports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, oil products; food items, clothing
Imports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 12%, UK 10%, Norway 9%, Denmark 8%, Sweden 6%), US 11% (1998)
Debt - external: $2.6 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Icelandic króna (ISK) = 100 aurar
Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 72.334 (January 2000), 72.352 (1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996), 64.692 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Iceland:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 162,310 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 65,746 (1997)
Telephone system: adequate 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 14 (1999)
@Iceland:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 12,689 km paved: 3,439 km unpaved: 9,250 km (1998 est.)
Ports and harbors: Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik,
Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 13,085 GRT/16,938 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 86 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 74 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 52 (1999 est.)
@Iceland:Military
Military branches: no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note
- Iceland's defense is provided by the US-staffed Icelandic Defense
Force (IDF) based at Keflavik
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 71,486 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 62,990 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $0
Military - note: Iceland's defense is handled by the US-manned
Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) based at Keflavik
@Iceland:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
______________________________________________________________________
INDIA
@India:Introduction
Background: Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU resulted in independence in 1947. The subcontinent was split into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 led to East Pakistan becoming the independent nation of Bangladesh. Key issues in India include the ongoing conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, widespread poverty, and ethnic tensions, all of which persist despite significant advancements in economic investment and production.
@India:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, next to the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Myanmar and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 20° N, 77° E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 3,287,590 sq km land: 2,973,190 sq km water: 314,400 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 14,103 km
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Myanmar 1,463 km,
China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline: 7,000 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: ranges from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate in the north.
Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in the south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in the west, Himalayas in the 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, oil, limestone, farmland
Land use: arable land: 56% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 23% other: 16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 480,000 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms are common; earthquakes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial waste and vehicle emissions; water pollution from untreated sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water isn’t safe to drink in many areas of the country; the large and increasing population is putting a strain on natural resources.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: dominates the South Asian subcontinent; close to important
Indian Ocean trade routes
@India:People
Population: 1,014,003,817 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 175,228,164; female 165,190,951) 15-64 years: 62% (male 324,699,562; female 301,821,383) 65 years and over: 4% (male 23,925,371; female 23,138,386) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.58% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 24.79 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 8.88 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 64.9 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.5 years male: 61.89 years female: 63.13 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Indian(s) adjective: Indian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and others 3%
Religions: Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%
Languages: English holds an associate status but is the most significant language for national, political, and commercial communication. Hindi is the national language and the primary language for 30% of the population. Other official languages include Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit. Hindustani is a widely spoken variant of Hindi/Urdu throughout northern India. Note: There are 24 languages each spoken by a million or more people, along with many other languages and dialects, most of which are mutually unintelligible.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 52% male: 65.5% female: 37.7% (1995 est.)
@India:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of India conventional short form: India
Data code: IN
Government type: federal republic
Capital: New Delhi
Administrative divisions: 25 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman
and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka,
Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim,
Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Independence: August 15, 1947 (from the UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, January 26, 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 old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since July 25, 1997); Vice President Krishnan KANT (since August 21, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Atal Behari VAJPAYEE (since March 19, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by an electoral college made up of elected members from both houses of Parliament and the state legislatures for a five-year term; the last election was on July 14, 1997 (next to be held in July 2002); vice president elected by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term; the last election was on August 16, 1997 (next to be held in August 2002); prime minister elected by parliamentary members of the majority party following legislative elections; the last election was in October 1999 (next to be held in October 2004) election results: Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA; Krishnan KANT elected vice president; percent of Parliament vote - NA; Atal Behari VAJPAYEE elected prime minister; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body with no more than 250 members, with up to 12 appointed by the president, and the rest chosen by 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 from September 5 to October 3, 1999 (next to be held in 2004). Election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - BJP alliance 40.8%, Congress alliance 33.8%, other 25.4%; seats by party - BJP alliance 304, Congress alliance 134, other 105.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president and serve until they turn 65.
Political parties and leaders: Akali Dal (representing the Sikh community in Punjab); All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK; All India Forward Bloc or AIFB [Prem Dutta PALIWAL (chairman), Chitta BASU (general secretary)]; Asom Gana Parishad; Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP; Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP; Bihar Peoples Party; Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Navin PATNAIK]; Communist Party of India or CPI; Communist Party of India/Marxist or CPI/M; Communist Party of India/Marxist-Leninist or CPI/ML; Congress (I) Party; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham or DMK (a regional party in Tamil Nadu); Indian National League; Janata Dal (Ajit); Janata Dal United Party or JDU; Kerala Congress (Mani faction); Muslim League; National Conference or NC (a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir) [Farooq ABDULLAH]; Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD; Revolutionary Socialist Party or RSP; Samajwadi Party or SP; Samata Party or SAP (formerly Janata Dal members); Shiv Sena or SHS; Tamil Maanila Congress; Telugu Desam (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh); Trinamool Congress.
Political pressure groups and leaders: many religious or militant/ chauvinistic organizations, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh; various separatist groups wanting more communal and/or regional autonomy.
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, BIS, C, CCC, 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, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN,
UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Naresh CHANDRA chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Embassy located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-7000 FAX: (202) 483-3972 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard F. CELESTE embassy: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (11) 688-9033, 611-3033 FAX: (11) 419-0017 consulate(s) general: Calcutta, Chennai (Madras), Mumbai (Bombay)
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of 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.
@India:Economy
Economy - overview: India's economy includes traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide variety of modern industries, and many support services. Over a third of the population is too poor to afford a decent diet, and market surveys show that less than 5% of all households had an annual income of $2,300 or more in 1995-96. India's international payments situation was strong in 1999, with sufficient foreign exchange reserves, relatively stable exchange rates, and booming exports of software services. A decline in the production of some non-food grain crops balanced out the recovery in industrial production. Strong demand for India's high-tech exports is expected to boost growth in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.805 trillion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,800 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 30% services: 45% (1997)
Population below the poverty line: 35% (1994 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 25% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.7% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: NA
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 67%, services 18%, industry 15% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $35.8 billion expenditures: $66.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $15.9 billion (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 448.6 billion kWh (FY98/99 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 80.34% hydro: 17.08% nuclear: 2.38% other: 0.2% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 416.346 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 130 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 1.575 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, wheat, oilseeds, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish
Exports: $36.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - goods: textiles, gems and jewelry, engineering products, chemicals, leather goods
Exports - partners: US 21%, UK 6%, Germany 6%, Hong Kong 5%, Japan 5%,
UAE 4% (1998)
Imports: $50.2 billion (f.o.b., estimated 1999)
Imports - commodities: crude oil and oil products, machinery, gemstones, fertilizer, chemicals
Imports - partners: US 10%, Belgium 7%, UK 6%, Germany 6%, Saudi
Arabia 6%, Japan 6% (1998)
Debt - external: $98 billion (March 1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $2.9 billion (FY98/99)
Currency: 1 Indian rupee (₹) = 100 paise
Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 43.552 (January 2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@India:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 18.95 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.9 million (April 1998)
Telephone system: average service; local and long-distance service provided throughout all regions of the country, mainly focused in urban areas; the main goal is to keep expanding and modernizing the long-distance network to keep up with the rapidly increasing number of local subscriber lines; there is steady improvement with the recent entrance of private and public-private investors, but demand for communication services is also growing quickly. domestic: local service is provided by microwave radio relay and coaxial cable, with open wire and outdated electromechanical and manual switchboard systems still in use in rural areas; starting in the 1980s, a significant amount of digital switching equipment has been introduced for local and long-distance service; long-distance traffic is mainly carried 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 available in four major cities. international: satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); nine gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, 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 a landing site at Mumbai (Bombay).
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 Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@India:Transportation
Railways: total: 62,915 km (12,307 km electrified; 12,617 km double track) broad gauge: 40,620 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 18,501 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,794 km 0.762-m and 0.610-m gauge (1998 est.)
Highways: total: 3,319,644 km paved: 1,517,077 km unpaved: 1,802,567 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km accessible for large ships
Pipelines: crude oil 1,864 miles; petroleum products 1,670 miles; natural gas 1,056 miles (1995)
Ports and harbors: Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Jawaharlal
Nehru, Kandla, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam
Merchant marine: total: 321 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 6,647,268 GRT/11,074,025 DWT ships by type: bulk 124, cargo 69, chemical tanker 14, combination bulk 1, combination ore/oil 4, container 15, liquefied gas 10, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 75, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 346 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 238 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 84 914 to 1,523 m: 74 under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 108 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 47 under 914 m: 55 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 16 (1999 est.)
@India:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (including naval air division), Air Force, various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Rashtriya Rifles)
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 274,679,455 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 161,223,332 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 10,759,607 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $10.055 billion (FY00)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY00)
@India:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: boundary with China is disputed; status of
Kashmir with Pakistan; water-sharing issues with Pakistan over the
Indus River (Wular Barrage); part of the boundary with Bangladesh
is unclear; dispute with Bangladesh over New Moore/South Talpatty
Island
Illicit drugs: the world's largest producer of legal opium for the pharmaceutical industry, but an unknown amount of opium is diverted to illegal international drug markets; a significant transit country for illegal narcotics produced in neighboring countries; an illegal producer of hashish and methaqualone.
______________________________________________________________________
INDIAN OCEAN
@Indian Ocean:Introduction
Background: In spring 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization decided to define a fifth world ocean, which includes the southern parts of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. This new ocean stretches from the coast of Antarctica up to 60 degrees south latitude, aligning with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Indian Ocean is still the third-largest of the world's five oceans, following the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, but is larger than the Southern Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.
@Indian Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 20° 00' S, 80° 00' E
Map references: World
Area: total: 68.556 million sq km note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Malacca, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative: approximately 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 happen in May/June and
October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in
the southern Indian Ocean
Terrain: the surface is mainly shaped by a counterclockwise gyre (a broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; there's a unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia caused by hot, rising summer air leads to the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, descending winter air causes the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; the ocean floor is primarily characterized by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and is divided 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
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: main chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of
Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the
Lombok Strait
@Indian Ocean:Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes appendix
@Indian Ocean:Economy
Economy - overview: The Indian Ocean serves as a major sea route linking the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It has a significant flow of oil and oil products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. The fish caught in these waters are becoming increasingly important for both local use and export by the surrounding countries. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also utilize the Indian Ocean, primarily targeting shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being developed in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western Australia. About 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 mined by neighboring countries, especially India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
@Indian Ocean:Transportation
Ports and harbors: Kolkata (India), Chennai (India), Colombo
(Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Melbourne
(Australia), Mumbai (India), Richards Bay (South Africa)
@Indian Ocean:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see coastal states)
______________________________________________________________________
INDONESIA
@Indonesia:Introduction
Background: Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, gained independence from the Netherlands in 1949. Current issues include: implementing IMF-mandated reforms in the banking sector, transitioning to a popularly elected government after years of dictatorship, addressing accusations of cronyism and corruption among the Chinese-dominated business community, dealing with alleged human rights violations by the military, and responding to increasing demands for some form of autonomy or independence in specific regions like Aceh and Irian Jaya. On August 30, 1999, a provincial referendum for independence was overwhelmingly approved by the people of Timor Timur. This was followed by approval from Indonesia's national legislature, and the name East Timor was provisionally adopted. The independent status of East Timor has yet to be formally established.
@Indonesia:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, an archipelago situated 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 land: 1,826,440 sq km water: 93,000 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 2,602 km border countries: Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Coastline: 54,716 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; milder in the highlands.
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have mountains in the interior.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Natural resources: oil, tin, natural gas, nickel, wood, bauxite, copper, rich soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 62% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 45,970 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; water pollution from industrial waste and sewage; air pollution in cities; 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: a group of 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles the Equator; strategically located along major sea routes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
@Indonesia:People
Population: 224,784,210 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.57% (male 34,932,102; female 33,783,603) 15-64 years: 64.96% (male 72,889,994; female 73,124,821) 65 years and over: 4.47% (male 4,413,268; female 5,640,422) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.63% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 22.6 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.31 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 42.21 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.96 years male: 65.61 years female: 70.42 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.61 children born per woman (2000 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, and local dialects, with Javanese being the most widely spoken.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 83.8% male: 89.6% female: 78% (1995 est.)
@Indonesia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia conventional short form: Indonesia local long form: Republik Indonesia local short form: Indonesia former: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
Data code: ID
Government type: republic
Capital: Jakarta
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces, 2 special regions, and 1 special capital city district; Aceh, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya, Jambi, West Java, Central Java, East Java, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Lampung, Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, Riau, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, North Sumatra, Yogyakarta; note - there may be a new province called North Maluku. Note: following the August 30, 1999 provincial referendum for independence, which received overwhelming support from the people of East Timor, and the October 1999 approval by Indonesia's national legislature, the name East Timor was adopted as a provisional name for the political entity previously known as East Timor Province until its independent status is officially established.
Independence: August 17, 1945 (independence proclaimed; on December 27, 1949, Indonesia was officially recognized as independent from the Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, August 17 (1945)
Constitution: August 1945, replaced by the Federal Constitution of 1949 and the Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored on July 5, 1959
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, significantly changed by indigenous concepts and the new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 17 years old; universal for all individuals, including married people, regardless of age.
Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdurrahman WAHID (since October 20, 1999); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Abdurrahman WAHID (since October 20, 1999); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected by vote of the People's Consultative Assembly for five-year terms; the last selection took place on October 20, 1999 (next one scheduled for NA 2004) election results: Abdurrahman WAHID elected president by vote of the People's Consultative Assembly, receiving 373 votes against 313 votes for MEGAWATI; MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri elected vice president by vote of the People's Consultative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (500 seats; 462 elected by popular vote, 38 appointed military representatives; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on June 7, 1999 (next to be held in June 2004, date not available) 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, others 30 note: the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 200 indirectly selected members; it meets every five years to elect the president and vice president and to approve the main outlines of national policy
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung), the judges are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Crescent Moon and Star Party (PBB); Development Unity Party (PPP) (a coalition of former Islamic parties); Golkar; Indonesian Democracy Party (PDI) (a coalition of former Nationalist and Christian parties) [Budi HARDJONO, chairman]; Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDI-P); National Awakening Party (PKB); National Mandate Party (PAN) [Amien RAIS, chairman]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Maleeha LODHI chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 775-5200 FAX: (202) 775-5365 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert GELBARD embassy: Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakarta mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, APO AP 96520 telephone: (21) 344-2211 FAX: (21) 386-2259 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
@Indonesia:Economy
Economy - overview: The Indonesian economy stabilized in 1999, after experiencing a sharp downturn and high inflation in 1998. By implementing a strict monetary policy, the government cut inflation from over 70% in 1998 to 2% in 1999. Although interest rates soared as high as 70% due to the monetary tightening, they quickly fell to the 10% to 15% range. The economy stopped its decline as GDP showed some growth in the second half of 1999, though the total GDP for the year did not increase. The government successfully recapitalized a few private banks and started recapitalizing the state-owned banking sector. However, new lending is still almost nonexistent as banks remain cautious about issuing new debt in an environment where little progress has been made in restructuring the massive amount of outstanding debts. IMF payments were suspended late in 1999 after it was found that a private bank had illegally redirected payments it received from the government to one of the political parties. The government has projected growth of 3.8% for FY00/01. The rise of sectarian violence and ongoing dissatisfaction with the slow pace of banking and debt restructuring will make it hard for Indonesia to attract the private investment needed to reach this goal.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $610 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 35% services: 44% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 30.3% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 88 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 45%, trade, restaurant, and hotel 19%, manufacturing 11%, transport and communications 5%, construction 4% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 15%-20% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $25.4 billion (of which $6 billion comes from international financial institutions) expenditures: $25.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)
Industries: oil and gas; textiles, clothing, and footwear; mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood; rubber; food; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 73.13 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 88.19% hydro: 8.39% nuclear: 0% other: 3.42% (1998)
Electricity consumption: 68.011 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Exports: $48 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil and gas, plywood, textiles, rubber
Exports - partners: Japan 18%, EU 15%, US 14%, Singapore 13%, South
Korea 5%, Hong Kong 4%, China 4%, Taiwan 3% (1999 est.)
Imports: $24 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment; chemicals, fuels, food items
Imports - partners: Japan 17%, US 13%, Singapore 10%, Germany 9%,
Australia 6%, South Korea 5%, Taiwan 3%, China 3% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $140 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $43 billion from the IMF program and other official external funding (1997-2000)
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen
Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 7,278.8 (January 2000), 7,855.2 (1999), 10,013.6 (1998), 2,909.4 (1997), 2,342.3 (1996), 2,248.6 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Indonesia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.291 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.2 million (1998)
Telephone system: domestic service is fair, international service is good. Domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police network; domestic satellite communications system. International: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Indian Ocean and 1 in the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 24 (1999)
@Indonesia:Transportation
Railways: total: 6,458 km narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (101 km electrified; 101 km double track); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 342,700 km paved: 158,670 km unpaved: 184,030 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km,
Kalimantan 10,460 km, Sulawesi (Celebes) 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km
Pipelines: crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural gas 1,703 km (1989)
Ports and harbors: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang,
Semarang, Surabaya, Ujungpandang
Merchant marine: total: 586 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 2,676,875 GRT/3,700,864 DWT ships by type: bulk 38, cargo 346, chemical tanker 9, container 19, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 1, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 114, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 11, short-sea passenger 8, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 5 (1999 est.)
Airports: 446 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 127 over 10,000 ft: 4 8,000 to 10,000 ft: 12 5,000 to 8,000 ft: 39 3,000 to 5,000 ft: 41 under 3,000 ft: 31 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 319 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 281 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1999 est.)
@Indonesia:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 62,948,286 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 36,826,282 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,273,324 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $1 billion (FY98/99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.3% (FY98/99)
@Indonesia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Sipadan and Ligitan Islands are disputed with
Malaysia
Illicit drugs: illegal production of cannabis mainly for local use; potential increasing role as a transit point for Golden Triangle heroin.
______________________________________________________________________
IRAN
@Iran:Introduction
Background: Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces then suppressed westernizing liberal elements. Militant Iranian students took over the US Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, and held it until January 20, 1981. From 1980 to 1988, Iran engaged in a brutal, inconclusive war with Iraq over disputed territory. The main current issue is how quickly the country should embrace the modernizing influences from the outside world.
@Iran:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, situated 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: a bit larger than Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 5,440 km border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline: 2,440 km note: Iran also has a coastline along the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: natural extension exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly dry or semi-dry, subtropical along the Caspian coast
Terrain: rough, mountainous edges; elevated, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, scattered plains along both coasts
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 27% forests and woodland: 7% other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 94,000 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: occasional droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along the western border and in the northeast
Environment - current issues: air pollution, especially in cities, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial waste; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil spills in the Persian Gulf; insufficient supplies of drinking water.
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
@Iran:People
Population: 65,619,636 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 11,542,446; female 11,035,705) 15-64 years: 61% (male 20,151,083; female 19,879,432) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,592,753; female 1,418,217) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.83% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 18.29 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.45 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.02 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.66 years male: 68.34 years female: 71.05 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 72.1% male: 78.4% female: 65.8% (1994 est.)
@Iran:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran conventional short form: Iran local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran local short form: Iran
Data code: IR
Government type: theocratic republic
Capital: Tehran
Administrative divisions: 28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
Ardabil, West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Bushehr, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Isfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan,
Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh
and Buyer Ahmad, Kurdistan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qom,
Qazvin, Semnan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence: April 1, 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran declared)
National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, April 1 (1979)
Constitution: December 2-3, 1979; revised in 1989 to increase the powers of the presidency and remove the position of prime minister.
Legal system: the Constitution establishes Islamic principles of governance.
Suffrage: 15 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since June 4, 1989) head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since August 3, 1997); First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA August 1989) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president with legislative approval elections: the leader of the Islamic Revolution is appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts; the president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term; the last election was held on May 23, 1997 (next one to be held NA May 2001) election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani elected president; percent of vote - (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 69%
Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats, note - changed from 270 seats with the February 18, 2000 election; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held February 18-NA April 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA; note - reformers received 70% of the vote (170 seats), the conservatives received 30% (45 seats), and independents (10 seats); 65 seats were up for runoff election in April 2000
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: since President KHATAMI's election in May 1997, several political parties have been approved; Executives of Construction; Followers of the Imam's Line and the Leader (conservative); Islamic Coalition Association [Habibollah ASQAR-OLADI]; Islamic Iran Solidarity Party; Islamic Partnership Front; Militant Clerics Association; Second Khordad Front (pro-reform); Tehran Militant Clergy Association. Political pressure groups and leaders: active student groups include the pro-reform "Organization for Strengthening Unity" and "the Union of Islamic Student Societies"; groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, and the Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups include the Liberation Movement of Iran and the Nation of Iran party; 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; the Society for the Defense of Freedom.
International organization participation: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO,
G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, led by Faramarz FATH-NEJAD; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: (202) 965-4990
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note - Switzerland is the protecting power in Iran.
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) 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.
@Iran:Economy
Economy - overview: Iran's economy is a blend of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service businesses. President KHATAMI has continued to follow the market reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI and has expressed his commitment to diversifying Iran's oil-dependent economy, although he has made little headway toward that goal. The strong oil market in 1996 helped relieve financial pressures on Iran and enabled Tehran to make timely debt payments. Iran's financial situation tightened in 1997 and worsened further in 1998 due to falling oil prices. The subsequent rise in oil prices in 1999 provided Iran with some fiscal breathing room, but it doesn't address Iran's underlying economic issues.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $347.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 1% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,300 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 34% services: 45% (1997 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 53% (1996 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 15.4 million note: shortage of skilled workers
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 33%, industry 25%, services 42% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $34.6 billion expenditures: $34.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.8 billion (FY96/97)
Industries: oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (especially sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabrication, weapons
Industrial production growth rate: 5.7% (FY95/96 est.)
Electricity - production: 95.31 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 92.33% hydro: 7.67% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 88.638 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar
Exports: $12.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil 80%, rugs, fruits, nuts, hides, iron, steel
Exports - partners: Japan, Italy, Greece, France, Spain, South Korea
Imports: $13.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 estimate)
Imports - commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal products, food items, pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products
Imports - partners: Germany, Italy, Japan, UAE, UK, Belgium
Debt - external: $21.9 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $116.5 million (1995)
Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note - domestic amounts are usually expressed in tomans.
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 1,754.90 (January 2000), 1,725.93 (1999), 1,751.86 (1998), 1,752.92 (1997), 1,750.76 (1996), 1,747.93 (1995); black market rate: 7,000 rials per US$1 (December 1998); note - as of May 1995, the "official rate" of 1,750 rials per US$1 is used for imports of essential goods and services and for oil exports, while the "official export rate" of 3,000 rials per US$1 is used for non-oil exports and imports not covered by the official rate.
Fiscal year: March 21 - March 20
@Iran:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 7 million (estimated in 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 265,000 (August 1998)
Telephone system: it's not great, but it's currently being upgraded and expanded. The goal is to improve efficiency and increase the urban service capacity, while also providing telephone service to several thousand villages that aren't connected yet. Since 1994, heavy investments in the telephone system have significantly increased the number of long-distance channels in the microwave radio relay trunk; many villages have been added to the network; the number of main lines in urban areas has roughly doubled; and thousands of mobile cellular subscribers are being served. Additionally, the technical capabilities of the system have been enhanced with the installation of thousands of digital switches. On an international level, there are HF radio and microwave radio relay connections to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; a submarine fiber-optic cable to the UAE provides access to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); and the Trans Asia Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through northern Iran to Turkmenistan, with plans to expand to Georgia and Azerbaijan. There are also satellite earth stations - 9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat. Internet service is available, but it's mostly limited to email to promote Iranian culture.
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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Iran:Transportation
Railways: 5,600 km broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge standard gauge: 5,506 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1998)
Highways: total: 140,200 km paved: 49,440 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 90,760 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is typically navigable by shipping traffic for about 130 km; the channel has been dredged to a depth of 3 m and is currently in use.
Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km; natural gas 4,550 km
Ports and harbors: Abadan (mostly destroyed in the fighting during the 1980-88 war), Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr, Bandar-e Imam Khomeini, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-e Torkaman, Chabahar (Bandar Beheshti), Khark Island, Lavan Island, Sirri Island, Khorramshahr (limited operations since November 1992), Now Shahr.
Merchant marine: total: 138 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,517,751 GRT/6,208,230 DWT ships by type: bulk 45, cargo 36, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 1, container 7, liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large load carrier 6, petroleum tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off 9, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 288 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 112 over 3,047 m: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 176 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 123 under 914 m: 32 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 11 (1999 est.)
@Iran:Military
Military branches: Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces), Revolutionary Guards
(includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and Basij mobilization forces), Law
Enforcement Forces
Military manpower - military age: 21 years old
Military manpower - availability: males aged 15-49: 17,762,030 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 10,545,869 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 801,260 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $5.787 billion (FY98/99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.9% (FY98/99)
@Iran:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Iran and Iraq reestablished diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still working on written agreements to resolve ongoing disputes from their eight-year war regarding border demarcation, prisoners of war, and issues related to navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway. Iran occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf that the UAE claims: Lesser Tunb (known as Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by the UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (identified as Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by the UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran). Iran also jointly administers an island in the Persian Gulf with the UAE, which the UAE claims (called Abu Musa in Arabic by the UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran) - over which Iran has taken measures to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island. The UAE has gained significant diplomatic support in the region in opposing these Iranian actions. The boundaries of the Caspian Sea are still not determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.
Illicit drugs: despite significant efforts to stop them, Iran continues to be a major transit hub for Southwest Asian heroin heading to Europe; the domestic use of narcotics is still a major issue, and reports from the Iranian press estimate that there are at least 1.2 million drug users in the country.
______________________________________________________________________
IRAQ
@Iraq:Introduction
Background: Once part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was declared in 1958, but since then, a series of military leaders have controlled the country, the most recent being SADDAM Husayn. Territorial conflicts with Iran resulted in a long and costly war that lasted eight years (1980-1988) without a clear winner. In August 1990, Iraq took over Kuwait, but was pushed out by US-led coalition forces during January-February 1991. However, the victors did not take control of Iraq, which allowed the regime to remain in power. After Kuwait was liberated, the UN Security Council (UNSC) mandated that Iraq eliminate all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and permit UN verification inspections. UN trade sanctions are still in place because Iraq has not fully complied with the relevant UNSC resolutions.
@Iraq:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to the Persian Gulf, between Iran and
Kuwait
Geographic coordinates: 33° N, 44° E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 437,072 sq km land: 432,162 sq km water: 4,910 sq km
Area - comparative: just over twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
total: 3,631 km
bordering countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi
Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline: 58 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, clear summers; northern mountainous areas near the Iranian and Turkish borders have cold winters with occasional heavy snowfall that melts in early spring, sometimes leading to significant flooding in central and southern Iraq.
Terrain: primarily wide plains; grassy marshes along the border with Iran in the south featuring extensive flooded regions; mountains along the borders with Iran and Turkey.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Haji Ibrahim 3,600 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 0% other: 79% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 25,500 sq km (1993 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 Shi'a Muslims, who have lived in these areas for thousands of years, has been forced to leave; additionally, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife; there are insufficient supplies of clean drinking water; development of the Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system is dependent on agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; there is air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; and desertification.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
@Iraq:People
Population: 22,675,617 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 4,860,795; female 4,708,453) 15-64 years: 55% (male 6,272,842; female 6,123,188) 65 years and over: 3% (male 331,840; female 378,499) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.86% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 35.04 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.49 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.53 years male: 65.54 years female: 67.56 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.87 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 58% male: 70.7% female: 45% (1995 est.)
@Iraq:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah local short form: Al Iraq
Data code: IZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Baghdad
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (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: October 3, 1932 (from the League of Nations mandate under
British administration)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, July 17 (1968)
Constitution: September 22, 1968, effective July 16, 1970 (provisional constitution); a new constitution was drafted in 1990 but never adopted.
Legal system: based on Islamic law in specific religious courts, civil law system in other areas; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since July 16, 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since April 21, 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since March 23, 1991) head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since May 29, 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979); Deputy Prime Minister Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since NA May 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since NA May 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Revolutionary Command Council or RCC (Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri) which controls the ruling Ba'th Party and is the most powerful political entity in the country elections: president and vice presidents elected by a two-thirds majority of the Revolutionary Command Council; election last held October 17, 1995 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: SADDAM Husayn reelected president; percent of vote - 99%; Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF and Taha Yasin RAMADAN elected vice presidents; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (250 seats; 30 appointed by the president to represent the three northern provinces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah; 220 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 24 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party [SADDAM Hussein, central party leader]
Political pressure groups and leaders: any formal political activity must be approved by the government; dissent against the regime from Kurdish groups and southern Shi'a activists.
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Iraq has an Interest
Section in the Algerian Embassy headed by Mr. Akram AL DOURI; address:
Iraqi Interests Section, Algerian Embassy, 2118 Kalorama Road NW,
Washington, DC 20008; phone: (202) 265-2800; FAX: (202)
667-2174
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Polish Embassy in Baghdad; address: P. O. Box 2051 Hay Babel, Baghdad; telephone: (1) 718-9267; FAX: (1) 718-9297
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with three green five-pointed stars aligned horizontally in the center of the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu is positioned to the right of the middle star and Akbar is to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; it resembles the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, and the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; it is also similar to the flag of Egypt, which features a symbolic eagle centered in the white band.
@Iraq:Economy
Economy - overview: Iraq's economy is mainly driven by the oil sector, which has historically provided around 95% of foreign exchange income. In the 1980s, financial issues due to huge spending in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities caused by Iran forced the government to implement austerity measures, take on heavy borrowing, and later restructure foreign debt payments; Iraq faced economic losses of at least $100 billion from the war. After the conflict ended in 1988, oil exports slowly increased with the building of new pipelines and the repair of damaged facilities. Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, along with the international economic sanctions and destruction from military action by an international coalition starting in January 1991, severely impacted economic activity. The government’s policies of financing large military and internal security forces and providing resources to key supporters of the regime have worsened shortages. The introduction of the UN's oil-for-food program in December 1996 helped improve economic conditions. During the first six six-month phases of the program, Iraq was allowed to export limited quantities of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods. In December 1999, the UN Security Council permitted Iraq to export as much oil as necessary under the oil-for-food program to meet humanitarian needs. Oil exports are now about three-quarters of their prewar level. Per capita food imports have risen significantly, while medical supplies and healthcare services are steadily improving. Per capita output and living standards remain well below prewar levels, but any estimates have a broad margin of error.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $59.9 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 13% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,700 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 13% services: 81% (1993 estimate)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 135% (est. 1999)
Labor force: 4.4 million (1989)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: oil, chemicals, textiles, building materials, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 28.4 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 97.89% hydro: 2.11% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 26.412 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep
Exports: $12.7 billion (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil
Exports - partners: Russia, France, China (1999)
Imports: $8.9 billion (1999 est.)
Imports - goods: food, medicine, manufactured items
Imports - partners: Russia, France, Egypt, Vietnam (1999)
Debt - external: $130 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $327.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 0.3109 (fixed official rate since 1982); black market rate - Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 1,900 (December 1999), 1,815 (December 1998), 1,530 (December 1997), 3,000 (December 1995); subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Iraq:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 675,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: the repair of damaged telecommunications facilities started after the Gulf War; most of the damaged facilities have been rebuilt. Domestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links. International: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Atlantic Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Arabsat (not working); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; the line to Kuwait is likely not operational.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 19 (5 are inactive), FM 51, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 4.85 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (1997)
Televisions: 1.75 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Iraq:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,032 km standard gauge: 2,032 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 45,550 km paved: 38,400 km unpaved: 7,150 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is generally navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; the channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use; the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have sections that are navigable for shallow-draft boats; the Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft vessels before it closed in 1991 due to the Gulf War.
Pipelines: crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas 1,360 km
Ports and harbors: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limited capabilities.
Merchant marine: total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 606,227 GRT/1,067,770 DWT ships by type: cargo 14, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 113 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 80 over 3,047 m: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 12 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 5 (1999 est.)
@Iraq:Military
Military branches: Army, Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air
Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Fedayeen Saddam
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 5,674,990 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - ready for military service: males age 15-49: 3,176,826 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 266,736 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: NA%
@Iraq:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still working on written agreements to settle outstanding disputes from their eight-year war regarding border demarcation, prisoners of war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway. In November 1994, Iraq officially accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait, which was outlined in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993). This formally ends previous claims to Kuwait and the islands of Bubiyan and Warbah, although the government still periodically challenges this rhetoric. There is also a dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
______________________________________________________________________
IRELAND
@Ireland:Introduction
Background: A failed Easter Monday Rebellion in 1916 sparked several years of guerrilla warfare that led to independence from the UK for the 26 southern counties in 1921; the six northern counties (Ulster) stayed part of Great Britain. In 1948, Ireland left the British Commonwealth; it became a member of the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have aimed for the peaceful unification of Ireland and have worked with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, approved in 1998, has not yet been put into action.
@Ireland:Geography
Location: Western Europe, covering 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 land: 68,890 sq km water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate maritime; influenced by the North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast roughly half the time
Terrain: primarily flat to gently rolling interior plain surrounded by steep hills and low mountains; sea cliffs along the 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: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 68% forests and woodland: 5% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: water pollution, especially in lakes, from agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
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-Persistent Organic Pollutants,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Marine Life
Conservation, Tropical Timber 94
Geography - note: strategic location on key air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population lives within 60 miles of Dublin.
@Ireland:People
Population: 3,797,257 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.85% (male 425,795; female 403,777) 15-64 years: 66.83% (male 1,271,367; female 1,266,150) 65 years and over: 11.33% (male 185,913; female 244,255) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.16% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 14.51 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.14 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 5.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 males/females under 15 years: 1.06 males/females 15-64 years: 1 male/female 65 years and over: 0.76 males/females total population: 0.98 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.62 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.81 years male: 74.06 years female: 79.74 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.91 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 main language used, while Irish (Gaelic) is primarily spoken in regions along the western coastline.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 98% (1981 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Ireland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland
Data code: EI
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
Independence: December 6, 1921 (from the UK by treaty)
National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, March 17
Constitution: December 29, 1937; adopted July 1, 1937, through a public vote
Legal system: based on English common law, significantly changed by indigenous concepts; the Supreme Court reviews legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since November 11, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since June 26, 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president after being nominated by the prime minister and approved by the House of Representatives elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; last election was on October 31, 1997 (next scheduled for November 2004); prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president 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
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, or Oireachtas, consists of the Senate, or Seanad Eireann (60 seats - 49 are elected by universities and candidates from five vocational panels, and 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 based on proportional representation to serve five-year terms). elections: Senate - last held in August 1997 (next to be held in 2002); House of Representatives - last held on June 6, 1997 (next to be held in 2002) election results: Senate - percent of the vote by party - Fianna Fail 29, Fine Gael 16, Labor Party 4, Progressive Democrats 4, others 7; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of the vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fianna Fail 76, Fine Gael 53, Labor Party 19, Progressive Democrats 4, Democratic Left 4, Green Alliance 2, Sinn Fein 1, independents 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president based on recommendations from the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Ireland [Michael O'RIORDAN]; Democratic Left; Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael; Green Alliance; Labor Party; Progressive Democrats; Sinn Fein; The Workers' Party
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CCC,
CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sean O'HUIGINN chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-3939 FAX: (202) 232-5993 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael SULLIVAN embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (1) 668-7122 FAX: (1) 668-9946
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (on the left), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Côte d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (on the left), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has the colors of green (on the left), white, and red.
@Ireland:Economy
Economy - overview: Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy that experienced average growth of around 9% from 1995 to 1999. Agriculture, once the most significant sector, is now overshadowed by industry, which makes up 39% of GDP, contributes to about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the workforce. While exports are still the main driver of Ireland's strong growth, the economy is also benefiting from increased consumer spending and a rebound in both construction and business investment. Over the last decade, the Irish government has rolled out a series of national economic programs aimed at controlling inflation, cutting government spending, and attracting foreign investment. The unemployment rate has been cut in half; creating jobs continues to be a primary focus of government policy. Recent initiatives have been focused on enhancing workers' skills and improving the education system. Ireland joined 10 other EU countries in launching the euro currency system in January 1999. The construction and other sectors are starting to reach their limits, and growth is expected to decline in 2000, possibly by 1 percentage point.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $73.7 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 8.4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $20,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 39% services: 56% (1998)
Population below the poverty line: 10% (1997 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1999)
Labor force: 1.77 million (estimated in 1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 63%, industry 28%, agriculture 9% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $25.3 billion expenditures: $20.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $2 billion (1999)
Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass, and crystal; software
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (estimated for 1999)
Electricity - production: 19.715 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.12% hydro: 4.63% nuclear: 0% other: 1.25% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 18.415 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 100 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 180 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products
Exports: $66 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products
Exports - partners: EU 68% (UK 22%, Germany 15%, France 8%), US 15% (1998)
Imports: $44 billion (cost, insurance, and freight, 1999 estimate)
Imports - commodities: data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals; petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
Imports - partners: EU 54% (UK 31%, Germany 6%, France 5%), US 16%,
Japan 7%, Singapore 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $11 billion (1998)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $240 million (1999)
Currency: 1 Irish pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Irish pounds per US$1 - 0.9865 (January 2000), 0.9374 (1999), 0.7014 (1998), 0.6588 (1997), 0.6248 (1996), 0.6235 (1995). Note: On January 1, 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency, the euro, which is now used at a fixed rate of 0.787564 Irish pounds per euro. The euro has replaced the pound in many financial and business transactions and will replace the local currency in participating countries for all transactions in 2002.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Ireland:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1,642,541 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 941,775 (1999)
Telephone system: 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: 10 (plus 36 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.47 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 14 (1999)
@Ireland:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,947 km broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (38 km electrified; 485 km double track) (1998)
Highways: total: 92,500 km paved: 87,043 km (including 115 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,457 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 700 km (restricted for commercial traffic) (1998)
Pipelines: natural gas 225 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway,
Limerick, New Ross, Waterford
Merchant marine: total: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 100,639 GRT/115,793 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 27, container 2, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 44 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)
@Ireland:Military
Military branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps),
National Police (Garda Siochana)
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males aged 15-49: 994,040 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - qualified for military service: males age 15-49: 801,975 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 33,303 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $732 million (FY98)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 0.9% (FY98)
@Ireland:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Northern Ireland issue with the UK (historic peace agreement signed April 10, 1998); Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Illicit drugs: a hub for and user of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands, as well as European-made synthetic drugs; a lesser hub for heroin and cocaine headed to Western Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
ISRAEL
@Israel:Introduction
Background: After World War II, the British left their mandate in Palestine, and the UN divided the region into Arab and Jewish states, a plan the Arabs rejected. Following that, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars, but the deep tensions between the two sides remained. The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless stated otherwise. Following the framework set at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are taking place between Israel and Palestinian representatives (from the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip) and between Israel and Syria, aiming for a permanent settlement. On April 25, 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai as part of the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Remaining territorial and other disputes with Jordan were settled in the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace on October 26, 1994.
@Israel:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to 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 land: 20,330 sq km water: 440 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,006 km
border countries: Egypt 255 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 the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert regions
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: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, and small amounts of natural gas and crude oil.
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 6% other: 66% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,800 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: sandstorms can happen in spring and summer.
Environment - current issues: limited farmland and natural freshwater resources present significant challenges; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater contamination from industrial and household 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 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 1999 est.)
@Israel:People
Population: 5,842,454 note: includes around 171,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, about 6,500 in the Gaza Strip, and about 172,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 825,443; female 787,159) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,831,142; female 1,820,424) 65 years and over: 9% (male 248,695; female 329,591) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.67% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 19.32 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.22 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 3.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.9 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.57 years male: 76.57 years female: 80.67 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Israeli(s) adjective: Israeli
Ethnic groups: Jewish 80.1% (32.1% born in Europe/America, 20.8% born in Israel, 14.6% born in Africa, 12.6% born in Asia), 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 officially recognized for the Arab minority, English is the most commonly spoken foreign language.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 95% male: 97% female: 93% (1992 est.)
@Israel:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Israel conventional short form: Israel local long form: Medinat Yisra'el local short form: Yisra'el
Data code: IS
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Jerusalem note: Israel declared Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like almost all other countries, keeps its Embassy in Tel Aviv
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz);
Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence: May 14, 1948 (from the League of Nations mandate under
British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, May 14, 1948; note - Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar, so the holiday may fall in April or May.
Constitution: no formal constitution; some functions of a constitution are addressed by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law.
Legal system: a combination 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 old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ezer WEIZMAN (since May 13, 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Ehud BARAK (since July 6, 1999) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister and approved by the Knesset elections: president elected by the Knesset for a five-year term; last election held on March 4, 1998 (next to be held in March 2003); prime minister elected by popular vote for a four-year term; last election held on May 17, 1999 (next to be held in May 2003); note - in March 1992, the Knesset approved legislation, effective in 1996, which enabled the direct election of the prime minister; under the new law, each voter casts two ballots - one for the direct election of the prime minister and one for a party in the Knesset; the candidate receiving the largest percentage of the popular vote then forms a coalition with other parties to achieve a parliamentary majority of 61 seats; finally, the candidate must submit their cabinet to the Knesset for approval, which must be done within 45 days of the election; unlike the old system, under the new law, the prime minister's party does not have to be the largest party in the Knesset election results: Ezer WEIZMAN reelected president by the 120-member Knesset with a total of 63 votes, other candidate, Shaul AMOR, received 49 votes (there were seven abstentions and one absence); Ehud BARAK elected prime minister; percent of vote - Ehud BARAK 56.08%, Binyamin NETANYAHU 43.92% note: government coalition - One Israel, Shas, MERETZ, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya, Center Party, National Religious Party
Legislative branch: unicameral Knesset or parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - One Israel 20.2%, Likud Party 14.1%, Shas 13%, MERETZ 7.6%, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya 5.1%, Shinui 5%, Center Party 5%, National Religious Party 4.2%, United Torah Judaism 3.7%, United Arab List 3.4%, National Union 3%, Hadash 2.6%, Yisra'el Beiteinu 2.6%, Balad 1.9%, One Nation 1.9%, Democratic Movement NA (party formed after the election, members elected under Yisra'el Ba'Aliya list); seats by party - One Israel 26, Likud Party 19, Shas 17, MERETZ 10, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya 4, Shinui 6, Center Party 6, National Religious Party 5, United Torah Judaism 5, United Arab List 5, National Union 4, Hadash 3, Yisra'el Beiteinu 4, Democratic Movement 2 (party formed after the election, members elected under Yisra'el Ba'Aliya list), Balad 2, One Nation 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, appointed for life by the president
Political parties and leaders: Balad; Center Party
; Democratic Movement; Gesher
; Hadash; Labor Party;
Likud Party; MERETZ; Moledet [Rehavam
ZEEVI]; National Democratic Alliance (Balad); National
Religious Party; National Union
(includes Herut, Tekuma, Yisre'el Beiteinu, and Moledet); One Israel
(includes Labor, Gesher, and Meimad); One Nation [Amir
PERETZ]; Shas; Shinui; Third Way
; Tzomet; United Arab List [Abd
al-Malik DAHAMSHAH]; United Torah Judaism; Yisra'el
Ba'Aliya; Yisra'el Beiteinu
Political pressure groups and leaders: Gush Emunim, Israeli nationalists pushing for Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now endorses territorial concessions in the West Bank and criticizes the government's Lebanon policy.
International organization participation: BSEC (observer), CCC, CE
(observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner),
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David IVRY chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 364-5500 FAX: (202) 364-5610 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Martin S. INDYK embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv mailing address: PSC 98, Unit 7228, APO AE 09830 telephone: (3) 519-7575 FAX: (3) 517-3227 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 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.
@Israel:Economy
Economy - overview: Israel has a high-tech market economy with significant government involvement. It relies on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite having limited natural resources, Israel has developed its agricultural and industrial sectors extensively over the last 20 years. Israel is mostly self-sufficient in food production, except for grains. Diamonds, high-tech equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are its main exports. Israel often runs large current account deficits, which are covered by substantial transfer payments from abroad and foreign loans. About half of the government's external debt is owed to the U.S., its primary source of economic and military aid. The arrival of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR exceeded 750,000 between 1989 and 1999, raising the population of Israeli citizens from the former Soviet Union to 1 million, which is one-sixth of the total population, and bringing valuable scientific and professional expertise for the economy's future. This influx, along with the opening of new markets after the Cold War, boosted Israel's economy, which grew rapidly in the early 1990s. However, growth started to slow in 1996 when the government implemented stricter fiscal and monetary policies and the immigration boost faded. These policies reduced inflation to record lows in 1999 and, along with improved prospects for the Middle East peace process, are creating an environment for stronger GDP growth in the year 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $105.4 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 17% services: 81% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.9% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 2.3 million (1997)
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: 9.1% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $40 billion expenditures: $42.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles and apparel, chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transportation equipment, electrical equipment, potash mining, high-tech electronics, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (1996)
Electricity - production: 35.338 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 31.805 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 1.061 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 2 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: citrus fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, chicken, dairy products
Exports: $23.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, chemicals, textiles and clothing, agricultural products
Exports - partners: US 32%, UK, Hong Kong, Benelux, Japan, Netherlands (1997)
Imports: $30.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: raw materials, military equipment, capital goods, rough diamonds, fuels, consumer products
Imports - partners: US 19%, Benelux 12%, Germany 9%, UK 8%, Italy 7%,
Switzerland 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $18.7 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.1 billion from the US (1999)
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 4.2260 (November 1999), 3.8001 (1999), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Israel:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 2.8 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.5 million (1999)
Telephone system: the most advanced system in the Middle East, although not the largest. Domestic: a solid system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital. International: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 in the Atlantic Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 3.07 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 24 (along with 31 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.69 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 23 (1999)
@Israel:Transportation
Railways: total: 610 km standard gauge: 610 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)
Highways: total: 15,965 km paved: 15,965 km (including 56 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89 km
Ports and harbors: Ashdod, Ashqelon, Eilat, Hadera, Haifa, Tel
Aviv-Yafo
Merchant marine: total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 711,831 GRT/823,929 DWT ships by type: container 19, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 58 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 33 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Israel:Military
Military branches: Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen (women); note - historically, there have been no separate Israeli military services.
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,499,186 females age 15-49: 1,462,063 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males age 15-49: 1,226,903 females age 15-49: 1,192,319 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 50,348 females: 47,996 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $8.7 billion (FY99)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 9.4% (FY99)
@Israel:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The West Bank and Gaza Strip are
occupied by Israel, and their current status is subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - the permanent status will be
determined through further negotiation; the Golan Heights is
occupied by Israel; Israeli troops have been in southern Lebanon since June 1982
Illicit drugs: growing worry about cocaine and heroin use; drugs are coming into the country from Lebanon and more frequently from Jordan.
______________________________________________________________________
ITALY
@Italy:Introduction
Background: Italy became a nation-state late – in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula and Sicily were united under King Victor Emmanuel. The Fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini that took over after World War I resulted in a terrible alliance with Nazi Germany and Italy's defeat in World War II. Recovery followed. Italy was a founding member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC) and joined the ongoing political and economic unification of Western Europe, including the introduction of the euro in 1999. Ongoing issues include illegal immigration, the impacts of organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, and the lower incomes and technical standards in southern Italy compared to the more prosperous north.
@Italy:Geography
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 land: 294,020 sq km water: 7,210 sq km note: includes Sardinia and Sicily
Area - comparative: a bit 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-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mainly Mediterranean; Alpine in the far north; hot and dry in the south
Terrain: mainly rough and hilly; some flat areas, coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) 4,807 m
Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, decreasing natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal, farmland
Land use: arable land: 31% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 23% other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 27,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land sinking in Venice
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions like sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers contaminated by industrial and agricultural runoff; acid rain harming lakes; insufficient 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 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 the central Mediterranean as well as the southern sea and air routes to Western Europe
@Italy:People
Population: 57,634,327 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 14% (male 4,220,973; female 3,977,962) 15-64 years: 68% (male 19,413,219; female 19,596,668) 65 years and over: 18% (male 4,297,962; female 6,127,543) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.09% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 9.13 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.99 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 1.74 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.92 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.03 years male: 75.85 years female: 82.41 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.18 kids born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Italian(s) adjective: Italian
Ethnic groups: Italian (includes small groups of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)
Religions: primarily Roman Catholic with established Protestant and
Jewish communities and an increasing Muslim immigrant community
Languages: Italian (official), German (some areas of Trentino-Alto Adige region are mainly German-speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in the 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% (1998) male: NA% female: NA%
@Italy:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Italian Republic conventional short form: Italy local long form: Repubblica Italiana local short form: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy
Data code: IT
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: March 17, 1861 (Kingdom of Italy declared; Italy wasn't fully unified until 1870)
National holiday: Republic Day, June 2 (1946)
Constitution: 1 January 1948
Legal system: based on a civil law system; appeals are treated like new trials; judicial review is allowed under certain conditions in the Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal (except in senatorial elections, where the minimum age is 25)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI (since May 13, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister (known in Italy as the president of the Council of Ministers) Massimo D'ALEMA (since October 21, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the president elections: president elected by an electoral college made up of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term; last election held on May 13, 1999 (next election scheduled for May 2006); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by parliament election results: Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 70%
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, or Parlamento, consists of the Senate (Senato della Repubblica), which has 315 seats elected by popular vote—232 are directly elected and 83 are elected through regional proportional representation. Additionally, there are a few senators-for-life, including former presidents of the republic. Members serve five-year terms. The Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati) has 630 seats; 475 are directly elected and 155 are elected by regional proportional representation. Members also serve five-year terms. Elections: Senate - last held April 21, 1996 (next scheduled for April 2001); Chamber of Deputies - last held April 21, 1996 (next scheduled for April 2001). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - Olive Tree 157, Freedom Alliance 116, Northern League-Padania 27, Communist Renewal 10, regional lists 3, Social Movement-Tricolored Flames 1, Panella Reformers 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - Olive Tree 284, Freedom Alliance 246, Northern League 59, Communist Renewal 35, Southern Tyrol People's Party 3, Autonomous List 2, other 1.
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: Bonino List or LB (previously the Autonomous List, a coalition of minor parties); Center-Left Coalition (formerly the Olive Tree) - Democrats, DS, FdV, PdCI, PPI, RI, UDEUR; Christian Democratic Center or CCD; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Rocco BUTTIGLIONE]; Communist Renewal or RC; Democratic Party; Democratic Party of the Left or DS [Walter VELTRONI]; Forza Italia or FI; Freedom Alliance (a center-right coalition) - FI, AN, CCD; Green Federation or FdV; Italian Communist Party or PdCI; Italian Democratic Socialists or SDI; Italian Popular Party or PPI [Pierluigi CASTAGNETTI]; Italian Renewal or RI; Italian Social Movement-Tricolored Flame or MSI-FT; National Alliance or AN; Northern League-Padania or NL-Padania [Umberto BOSSI]; Radical Party (formerly Panella Reformers); Republican Party or PR; Southern Tyrols People's Party or SVP (German speakers); Union of Democrats for Europe or UDEUR; Union for the Republic or UPR. 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, which is left-wing, Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Sergio D'ANTONI], which is Catholic centrist, and Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL, which is secular centrist).
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, 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, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinando SALLEO chancery: 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 and 2700 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 328-5500 FAX: (202) 483-2187 consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco consulate: Detroit
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas M. FOGLIETTA embassy: Via Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624 telephone: (06) 46741 FAX: (06) 488-2672 consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has green (left side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Côte d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (left side), white, and green. note: inspired by the French flag that Napoleon brought to Italy in 1797.
@Italy:Economy
Economy - overview: Italy has a diverse industrial economy with roughly the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This capitalist economy is split between a developed industrial north, mainly run by private companies, and a less developed agricultural south, where over 20% of people are unemployed. Most of the raw materials needed for industry and more than 75% of energy needs are imported. For several years, Italy has followed budgets that meet the European Monetary Union (EMU) requirements; government, labor, and employer representatives have also agreed to update the 1993 "social pact," which is widely regarded as having helped align Italy's inflation with EMU standards. Italy needs to focus on boosting employment, encouraging wage flexibility, controlling pension growth, and addressing the informal economy. Growth was 1.3% in 1999 and is expected to rise to 2.6% in 2000, driven by investment and exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.212 trillion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $21,400 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.6% industry: 31.6% services: 65.8% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 23.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 23.193 million
Labor force - by occupation: services 61%, industry 32%, agriculture 7% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $530 billion expenditures: $522 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, cars, clothing, shoes, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production: 243.027 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 80.22% hydro: 17.3% nuclear: 0% other: 2.48% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 266.705 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 900 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 41.59 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grains, olives; beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $242.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, drinks, and tobacco; minerals and nonferrous metals
Exports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 16.5%, France 12.7%, UK 7.2%,
Spain 5.8%, Netherlands 2.9%), US 8.5% (1998)
Imports: $206.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: engineering products, chemicals, transportation equipment, energy products, minerals and non-ferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, and tobacco
Imports - partners: EU 61% (Germany 18.8%, France 13.12%, UK 6.47%,
Netherlands 6.2%, Belgium-Luxembourg 4.7%), US 5.1% (1998)
Debt - external: $45 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.3 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,688.7 (January 1999), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995) note: on January 1, 1999, the EU launched a common currency that is currently being used for non-cash transactions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 1,936.27 lire per euro; the euro will replace local currency in participating countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Italy:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 25 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 17.7 million (1998)
Telephone system: 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 the Atlantic Ocean and 2 for the 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: 6,317 (only 117 of which have a transmitter power of 2 kW or higher) (1997)
Televisions: 30.3 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 219 (1999)
@Italy:Transportation
Railways: total: 19,394 km standard gauge: 18,071 km at a 1.435-m gauge; Italian Railways (FS) operates 16,014 km of the total standard gauge routes (11,322 km electrified) narrow gauge: 112 km at a 1.000-m gauge (112 km electrified); 1,211 km at a 0.950-m gauge (153 km electrified) (1998)
Highways: total: 654,676 km paved: 654,676 km (including 6,957 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 2,400 km for different kinds of commercial traffic, though they have limited overall value
Pipelines: crude oil 1,703 km; petroleum products 2,148 km; natural gas 19,400 km
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
Merchant marine: total: 427 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 6,971,578 GRT/9,635,770 DWT ships by type: bulk 41, cargo 45, chemical tanker 73, combination ore/oil 2, container 20, liquefied gas 38, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 87, roll-on/roll-off 58, short-sea passenger 26, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 16 (1999 est.)
Airports: 136 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 97 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 12 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 18 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
@Italy:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 14,315,634 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 12,331,306 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 311,160 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $23.294 billion (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.7% (FY99)
@Italy:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Italy and Slovenia advanced in resolving their bilateral issues; Croatia and Italy made progress in addressing a bilateral issue stemming from World War II concerning property and the rights of ethnic minorities.
Illicit drugs: a key entry point for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market
______________________________________________________________________
JAMAICA
@Jamaica:Introduction
Background: Jamaica gained complete independence from the British Commonwealth in 1962. Worsening economic conditions in the 1970s caused ongoing violence and a decline in tourism. The elections in 1980 resulted in the democratic socialists being voted out of office, and a more conservative government took over. Political violence overshadowed elections throughout the 1990s.
@Jamaica:Geography
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: 10,990 sq km land: 10,830 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,022 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; mild interior
Terrain: mostly mountains, with a narrow, broken 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: 14% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 17% other: 39% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 350 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: hurricanes (especially from July to November)
Environment - current issues: high rates of deforestation; coastal waters contaminated by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; harm to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston caused by 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: key location between the Cayman Trench and Jamaica
Channel, the main shipping routes for the Panama Canal
@Jamaica:People
Population: 2,652,689 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 411,448; female 392,559) 15-64 years: 63% (male 832,314; female 837,133) 65 years and over: 7% (male 80,059; female 99,176) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.46% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 18.51 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.51 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -8.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.61 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.21 years male: 73.26 years female: 77.26 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.11 children per woman (2000 estimate)
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%, and other, including some spiritual cults 34.7%
Languages: English, Creole
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older has ever attended school total population: 85% male: 80.8% female: 89.1% (1995 est.)
@Jamaica:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica
Data code: JM
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: August 6, 1962 (from the 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 old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since August 1, 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since March 30, 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA 1993) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general based on the prime minister's advice elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the prime minister's recommendation; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: the Parliament is made up of two chambers. The Senate has 21 members who are appointed by the governor general based on recommendations from the prime minister and the opposition leader; the ruling party gets 13 seats, while the opposition gets eight seats. The House of Representatives has 60 seats, and members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. Elections were last held on December 18, 1997, and the next ones are expected by March 2002. Election results: percentage of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - PNP 50, JLP 10.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the governor-general based on the prime minister's advice; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Jamaica Labour Party or JLP [Edward
SEAGA]; National Democratic Movement or NDM; People's
National Party or PNP
Political pressure groups and leaders: New Beginnings Movement or NBM;
Rastafarians (Black religious/racial group, pan-Africanists)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 452-0660 FAX: (202) 452-0081 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley Louis MCLELLAND embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (809) 929-4850 through 4859 FAX: (809) 926-6743
Flag description: a diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)
@Jamaica:Economy
Economy - overview: The main sectors in this island economy are bauxite (with alumina and bauxite making up more than half of exports) and tourism. Since taking office in 1992, Prime Minister PATTERSON has removed most price controls, simplified tax schedules, and privatized government businesses. Ongoing strict monetary and fiscal policies have helped reduce inflation—though inflationary pressures are increasing—and stabilize the exchange rate, but this has led to slower economic growth (dropping from 1.5% in 1992 to 0.5% in 1995). In 1996, GDP experienced negative growth (-1.4%) and continued to be negative through 1999. Major issues include high interest rates, growing foreign competition, the poor financial state of businesses leading to insolvencies or closures and layoffs, a shift in investment toward non-productive, short-term high-yield assets, a pressured and sometimes declining exchange rate, an increasing merchandise trade deficit, and rising internal debt due to government bailouts for struggling sectors of the economy, especially the financial sector. The tough economic conditions in 1999 resulted in more civil unrest, including a rising crime rate. Jamaica's medium-term outlook will rely on promoting investment in productive sectors, maintaining a competitive exchange rate, stabilizing the labor market, selling off reacquired businesses, and implementing sound fiscal and monetary policies.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.8 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,350 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.4% industry: 42.1% services: 50.5% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 34.2% (1992 estimate)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 31.9% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.4% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 1.13 million (1998)
Labor force by occupation: services 60%, agriculture 21%, industry 19% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 15.5% (1998)
Budget: revenues: $2.27 billion expenditures: $3.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.265 billion (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: tourism, bauxite, textiles, food processing, light manufacturing, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 6.386 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 92.7% hydro: 2.21% nuclear: 0% other: 5.09% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 5.939 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus fruits, potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk
Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., estimated 1999)
Exports - commodities: alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum
Exports - partners: US 39.5%, EU (excluding UK) 15.6%, UK 12.1%,
Canada 11.5% (1998)
Imports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, building materials, fuel, food, chemicals, fertilizers
Imports - partners: US 50.9%, EU (excluding UK) 9.5%, Caricom countries 10.4%, Latin America 6% (1998)
Debt - external: $3.8 billion (estimated in 1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $102.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 - 41.139 (December 1999), 9.044 (1999), 36.550 (1998), 35.404 (1997), 37.120 (1996), 35.142 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Jamaica:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 292,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 45,178 (1995)
Telephone system: fully automated home telephone network domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); 3 coaxial underwater 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999)
@Jamaica:Transportation
Railways: total: 370 km standard gauge: 370 km 1.435-m gauge; note - 207 km are owned by the Jamaica Railway Corporation for common carrier service, but are no longer in operation; the rest of the track is privately owned and used to transport bauxite
Highways: total: 18,700 km paved: 13,100 km unpaved: 5,600 km (1997 est.)
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: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,930 GRT/3,065 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 36 (1999 est.)
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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 23 (1999 est.)
@Jamaica:Military
Military branches: Jamaica Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males ages 15-49: 725,975 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 510,419 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 27,202 (2000 estimate)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $30 million (FY95/96 est.)
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Jamaica:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a key transit hub for cocaine moving from Central and South America to North America and Europe; illegal cannabis cultivation; the government has a hands-on cannabis eradication program.
______________________________________________________________________
JAN MAYEN
@Jan Mayen:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, an island situated between the Greenland Sea and the
Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates: 71° N, 8° W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 373 sq km land: 373 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: just over twice the size of Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 124.1 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 10 nautical miles continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 4 nautical miles
Climate: Arctic maritime with frequent storms and ongoing fog
Terrain: volcanic island, partially 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: dominated by the volcano Haakon VII
Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity started up again in 1970
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: empty volcanic island with some moss and grass
@Jan Mayen:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are personnel who operate the Long Range Navigation
(Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station
(July 2000 est.)
@Jan Mayen:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Data code: JN
Dependency status: territory of Norway; managed from Oslo by a governor (sysselmann) living in Longyearbyen (Svalbard); however, authority has been given to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service.
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
@Jan Mayen:Economy
Economy - overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no usable natural resources. Economic activity is restricted to offering services for the employees of Norway's radio and weather stations located on the island.
@Jan Mayen:Communications
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there is one radio and weather station (1998)
@Jan Mayen:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; just offshore anchorage
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Jan Mayen:Military
Military - note: defending the country is Norway's responsibility
@Jan Mayen:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
JAPAN
@Japan:Introduction
Background: While keeping its traditional culture, Japan quickly adopted Western technology during the late 1800s and early 1900s. After suffering a significant defeat in World War II, Japan bounced back to become the second-largest economy in the world and a strong ally of the US. Although the emperor remains a symbol of national unity, real power lies with influential politicians, bureaucrats, and business leaders. The economy saw a major slowdown in the 1990s after three decades of extraordinary growth.
@Japan:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, an 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 land: 374,744 sq km water: 3,091 sq km note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than California
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 29,751 km
Maritime claims: 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: ranges from tropical in the south to cool temperate in the north
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m
Natural resources: minimal mineral resources, fish
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 67% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 27,820 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: many inactive and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic events (mostly tremors) each year; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; the acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrades water quality and threatens aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and beyond.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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: important location in northeast Asia
@Japan:People
Population: 126,549,976 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 9,575,637; female 9,105,713) 15-64 years: 68% (male 43,363,054; female 42,980,253) 65 years and over: 17% (male 9,024,015; female 12,501,304) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.18% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 9.96 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 8.15 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.91 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.7 years male: 77.51 years female: 84.05 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.41 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Japanese (singular and plural) adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups: Japanese 99.4%, other 0.6% (mainly Korean)
Religions: 84% practice either Shinto or Buddhism, while the other 16% includes
Christianity at 0.7%.
Languages: Japanese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 99% (1970 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Japan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan
Data code: JA
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Tokyo
Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba,
Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, 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: Emperor's Birthday, December 23 (1933)
Constitution: 3 May 1947
Legal system: modeled after the 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 old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since January 7, 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Yoshiro MORI (since April 5, 2000) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the Diet chooses the prime minister; the constitution requires that the prime minister must have a parliamentary majority; therefore, after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister note: on April 3, 2000, Prime Minister Keizo OBUCHI suffered a stroke and was relieved of his duties; Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio AOKI became acting prime minister; on April 5, 2000, Yoshiro MORI was elected prime minister by a vote in both houses of the Diet, receiving 137 out of 244 votes cast in the House of Councillors and 335 out of 488 votes cast in the House of Representatives
Legislative branch: the bicameral Diet, or Kokkai, consists of the House of Councillors, or Sangi-in (252 seats; half of the members are elected every three years - 76 seats are elected from 47 multi-seat prefectural districts and 50 are elected from a single nationwide list, with voters casting ballots by party; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives, or Shugi-in (500 seats - 200 are elected from 11 regional blocks based on proportional representation and 300 are elected from 300 single-seat districts; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Councillors - last held 12 July 1998 (next to be held in July 2001); House of Representatives - last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held by October 2000) election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 102, DPJ 47, JCP 23, Komeito 22, SDP 13, Liberal Party 12, independents 26, others 7; note - the distribution of seats as of December 1999 is as follows - LDP 105, DPJ 57, Komeito 24, JCP 23, SDP 13, Liberal Party 12, independents 6, others 12; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 240, NFP 142, DPJ 52, JCP 26, SDP 15, Sun Party 10, others 15; note - the distribution of seats as of December 1999 is as follows - LDP 267, DPJ 93, Komeito/Reform Club 48, Liberal Party 39, JCP 26, SDP 14, independents 9, others 4
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, with the chief justice appointed by the monarch after being designated by the cabinet, while all other justices are appointed by the cabinet.
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) [Yukio HATOYAMA, leader; Tsutomu HATA, secretary general]; Japan Communist Party (JCP); Komeito [Takenori KANZAKI, president; Tetsuzo FUYUSHIBA, secretary general]; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) [Yoshiro MORI, president; Hiromu NONAKA, secretary general]; Liberal Party [Ichiro OZAWA, president; Hirohisa FUJII, secretary general]; Reform Club [Tatsuo OZAWA, leader; Katsuyuki ISHIDA, secretary general]; Social Democratic Party (SDP) [Takako DOI, chairperson; Sadao FUCHIGAMI, secretary general]. Note: Following the last legislative elections, the New Frontier Party (NFP) and the Sun Party disbanded; in late 1997, the LP was formed by former NFP members; the DPJ was established by former members of the SDP and Sakigake and, in April 1998, was joined by three other parties that emerged after the NFP disbanded; New Peace Party and Komei merged to create Komeito in November 1998.
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO,
G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR,
UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Shunji YANAI chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 238-6700 FAX: (202) 328-2187 consulates general: Hagatna (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, and Seattle consulate: Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas S. FOLEY embassy: 10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 205, APO AP 96337-5004 telephone: (3) 3224-5000 FAX: (3) 3224-5856 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description: white with a big red circle (representing the sun without rays) in the center.
@Japan:Economy
Economy - overview: Government and industry working together, a strong work ethic, expertise in advanced technology, and a relatively low defense budget (1% of GDP) have allowed Japan to quickly rise to the position of the second most technologically advanced economy in the world, after the US, and the third largest economy overall, following the US and China. One notable feature of the economy is the collaboration among manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors within tightly connected groups known as keiretsu. Another fundamental aspect has been the job security provided by lifetime employment for a significant portion of the urban workforce. However, both of these features are now diminishing. The industrial sector, which is the most vital part of the economy, heavily relies on imported raw materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields being among the highest globally. While Japan is usually self-sufficient in rice, it must import about 50% of its needs for other grains and fodder crops. Japan has one of the largest fishing fleets in the world, contributing nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades, Japan experienced remarkable real economic growth: an average of 10% in the 1960s, 5% in the 1970s, and 4% in the 1980s. Growth significantly slowed from 1992 to 1995 mainly due to the aftereffects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and restrictive domestic policies aimed at reducing speculative excesses in the stock and real estate markets. In 1996, growth rose to 3.9%, driven by stimulative fiscal and monetary policies, along with low inflation rates. However, from 1997 to 1998, Japan faced a severe recession linked to banking system and real estate market issues, worsened by inflexible corporate structures and labor markets. In 1999, production began to stabilize as emergency government spending took effect and business confidence slowly improved. The limited living space and an aging population are two significant long-term challenges. Robotics stands out as a key long-term economic strength, with Japan owning 410,000 of the world's 720,000 "working robots."
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.95 trillion (estimated 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,400 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 35% services: 63% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.8% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 67.76 million (November 1999)
Labor force - by occupation: trade and services 65%, industry 30%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5%
Unemployment rate: 4.7% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $463 billion expenditures: $809 billion, including capital expenditures (public works only) of about $94 billion (FY00/01 est.)
Industries: among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of cars, electronics, machinery, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals; textiles, and processed foods.
Industrial production growth rate: -0.1% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 995.982 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 56.68% hydro: 8.99% nuclear: 31.93% other: 2.4% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 926.263 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish
Exports: $413 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: cars, semiconductors, office equipment, chemicals
Exports - partners: US 31%, Taiwan 7%, China 5.5%, South Korea 5.4%,
Hong Kong 5.2% (1999)
Imports: $306 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: fuel, food products, chemicals, textiles, office equipment
Imports - partners: US 22%, China 14%, South Korea 5.1%, Australia 4.2%, Taiwan 4.1% (1999)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $9.1 billion (1999)
Currency: yen
Exchange rates: yen per US$1 - 105.16 (January 2000), 113.91 (1999), 130.91 (1998), 120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Japan:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 60.3 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 36.5 million (1998)
Telephone system: great domestic and international service domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 in the Pacific Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); submarine cables to China, the Philippines, Russia, and the US (via Guam)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 190, FM 88, shortwave 24 (1999)
Radios: 120.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 7,108 (plus 441 repeaters; note - additionally, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 cable TV providers) (1999)
Televisions: 86.5 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 357 (1999)
@Japan:Transportation
Railways: total: 23,670.7 km standard gauge: 2,893.1 km 1.435-m gauge (fully electrified) narrow gauge: 89.8 km 1.372-m gauge (89.8 km electrified); 20,656.8 km 1.067-m gauge (10,383.6 km electrified); 31 km 0.762-m gauge (3.6 km electrified) (1994)
Highways: total: 1,152,207 km paved: 863,003 km (including 6,114 km of expressways) unpaved: 289,204 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: about 1,770 km; ships navigate all coastal inland seas
Pipelines: crude oil 84 km; petroleum products 322 km; natural gas 1,800 km
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: 662 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 13,039,488 GRT / 18,024,969 DWT ships by type: bulk 146, cargo 49, chemical tanker 13, combination bulk 16, combination ore/oil 4, container 25, liquefied gas 45, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 214, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off 48, short-sea passenger 9, vehicle carrier 60 (1999 est.)
Airports: 171 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 140 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 41 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 31 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 28 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 14 (1999 est.)
@Japan:Military
Military branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan
Maritime Self-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air
Force)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 30,259,247 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 26,139,516 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 771,452 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $42.9 billion (FY98/99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY98/99)
@Japan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group, which were occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945 and are now administered by Russia, are claimed by Japan; Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima/Tokdo) are disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands) are claimed by China and Taiwan.
______________________________________________________________________
JARVIS ISLAND
@Jarvis Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, an island in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands
Geographic coordinates: 0.22° S, 160.03° W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 4.5 sq km land: 4.5 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; little rainfall, steady wind, intense 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 extracted until the late 1800s)
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef that surrounds the island can be a maritime danger.
Environment - current issues: no natural freshwater resources
Geography - note: sparse bunch grass, low-lying vines, and small shrubs; mainly a nesting, roosting, and foraging area for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife.
@Jarvis Island:People
Population: uninhabited note: The Millersville settlement on the western side of the island was occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; it was reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is allowed only with a special-use permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and is generally restricted to scientists and educators; it is visited annually by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2000 est.)
@Jarvis Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jarvis Island
Data code: DQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; managed from Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Flag description: the flag of the U.S. is used
@Jarvis Island:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Jarvis Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available; note - there is one boat landing area in the center of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island.
Transportation - note: there is a day marker near the middle of the west coast.
@Jarvis Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
@Jarvis Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
JERSEY
@Jersey:Introduction
Background: The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands are the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy that ruled over both France and England. These islands were the only British territory occupied by German troops during World War II.
@Jersey:Geography
Location: Western Europe, an island in the English Channel, northwest of
France
Geographic coordinates: 49° 15' N, 2° 10' W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain: a gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along the northern coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: arable land: 66% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: it's the largest and southernmost of the Channel Islands; around 30% of the population is concentrated in Saint Helier.
@Jersey:People
Population: 88,915 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 8,140; female 7,563) 15-64 years: 68% (male 30,036; female 30,329) 65 years and over: 14% (male 5,454; female 7,393) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.52% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 11.65 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.26 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.11 males/females under 15 years: 1.08 males/females 15-64 years: 0.99 males/females 65 years and over: 0.74 males/females total population: 0.96 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.71 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.48 years male: 76.07 years female: 81.07 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.56 children born per woman (estimated in 2000)
Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: UK and Norman-French heritage
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New
Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in rural areas
Literacy: definition: NA total: NA male: NA female: NA
@Jersey:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey
Data code: JE
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, May 9 (1945)
Constitution: not written down; made up of some laws, some common law, and practices.
Legal system: English law and local statutes
Suffrage: NA years old; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA 1995) cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators, 12 constables or heads of parishes, 29 deputies; all elected for six-year terms, with half elected every third year; 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 chosen by an electoral college and the bailiff
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
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 stretching to the corners of the flag and in the upper section, topped by a yellow crown, a red shield featuring the three lions of England in yellow
@Jersey:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy mainly relies on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Key export crops include potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers, primarily sent to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is renowned globally and generates significant export income. Milk products are exported to the UK and other EU countries. In 1996, the finance sector represented about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another key component of the economy, makes up 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has promoted light industry to set up in Jersey, leading to the growth of an electronics sector alongside traditional knitwear manufacturing. All raw materials and energy needs are imported, along with a large portion of Jersey's food supplies. Low taxes and death duties make the island a favored 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 spending 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: $666.9 million expenditures: $618.5 million, including capital expenditures of $128.4 million (1996 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 266 million kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 467 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 201 million kWh (from France) (1995)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Exports: $NA
Exports - products: light industrial and electrical items, food products, textiles
Exports - partners: UK
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food products, mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners: UK
Debt - external: none
Economic aid - recipient: none
Currency: 1 Jersey pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Jersey pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995); the Jersey pound is equal to the British pound.
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Jersey:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: N/A international: 3 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Jersey:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 577 km (1995) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Gorey, St. Aubin, St. Helier
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Jersey:Military
Military - note: defense is the UK's responsibility
@Jersey:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
JOHNSTON ATOLL
@Johnston Atoll:Geography
Location: Oceania, an atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands.
Geographic coordinates: 16° 45' N, 169° 30' W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 2.8 sq km land: 2.8 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 10 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical, but mostly dry; steady northeast trade winds with minimal seasonal temperature changes.
Terrain: mostly flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Natural resources: None; guano deposits were mined until they were exhausted around 1890.
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: no natural freshwater resources
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands that have been expanded through coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are artificial islands created from coral dredging; closed to the public; former US nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation.
@Johnston Atoll:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is an average of 1,100 US military and civilian contractor personnel present (January 2000 est.)
@Johnston Atoll:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Johnston Atoll
Data code: JQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; managed from Washington, DC, by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and overseen in partnership by DTRA and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system.
Flag description: the flag of the USA is used
@Johnston Atoll:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic activity is restricted to offering services to US military personnel and contractors on the island. All food and manufactured goods have to be imported.
Electricity - production: NA kWh note: there are six 25,000 kWh generators provided by the base operating support contractor
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
@Johnston Atoll:Communications
Telephone system: 13 outgoing and 10 incoming commercial lines; adequate telecommunications domestic: 60-channel submarine cable, 22 DSN circuits by satellite, Autodin with standard remote terminal, digital telephone switch, Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), UHF/VHF air-ground radio, a link to the Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network (PCTN) satellite international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM N/A, FM N/A, shortwave N/A
Television broadcast stations: commercial satellite TV system, with 16 channels (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Johnston Atoll:Transportation
Ports and harbors: Johnston Island
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Johnston Atoll:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Johnston Atoll:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
JORDAN
@Jordan:Introduction
Background: For most of its history since gaining independence from British rule in 1946, Jordan was led by King HUSSEIN (1953-1999). As a practical leader, he effectively managed the competing demands from major powers (US, USSR, and UK), different Arab countries, Israel, and a significant internal Palestinian population, during several wars and coup attempts. In 1989, he restarted parliamentary elections and gradually allowed for political liberalization; in 1994, a formal peace treaty was signed with Israel.
@Jordan:Geography
Location: Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 31° N, 36° E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 89,213 sq km land: 88,884 sq km water: 329 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,619 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km,
Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline: 26 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: primarily dry desert; rainy season in the west (November to April)
Terrain: primarily a desert plateau in the east, highland region in the west; the Great
Rift Valley divides the 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: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 1% other: 85% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 630 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
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, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Jordan:People
Population: 4,998,564 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38% (male 968,579; female 925,987) 15-64 years: 59% (male 1,568,615; female 1,374,303) 65 years and over: 3% (male 79,748; female 81,332) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.1% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 26.24 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 2.63 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 7.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 males/females under 15 years: 1.05 males/females 15-64 years: 1.14 males/females 65 years and over: 0.98 males/females total population: 1.1 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.11 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.36 years male: 74.94 years female: 79.93 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.44 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups: 98% Arab, 1% Circassian, 1% Armenian
Religions: Sunni Muslim 96%, Christian 4% (estimated in 1997)
Languages: Arabic (official), English is widely understood among the upper and middle classes.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 86.6% male: 93.4% female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
@Jordan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conventional short form: Jordan local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah local short form: Al Urdun former: Transjordan
Data code: JO
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: May 25, 1946 (from the League of Nations mandate under
British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, May 25 (1946)
Constitution: 8 January 1952
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a designated High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 20 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King ABDALLAH bin al Hussein (since February 7, 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH bin al Hussein (younger brother of the King, born March 29, 1980) head of government: Prime Minister Abdur-Rauf RAWABDEH (since March 4, 1999) 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 (a 40-member body appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members elected by popular vote based on proportional representation for four-year terms). elections: House of Representatives - last held on November 4, 1997 (next to be held in November 2001). election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land Party 1, independents 75, other 2. 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.
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (final appeal court)
Political parties and leaders: Al-Ahrar (Freedom) Party [Dr. Ahmad
ZO'BI, secretary general]; Arab Ba'th Progressive Party [Mahmoud
al-MA'AYTAH, secretary general]; Arab Islamic Democratic Party (Doa'a)
; Arab Jordanian Ansar Party
; Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad
al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Democratic Party of the Left [Musa
MA'AITAH, secretary general]; Islamic Action Front [Abd-al-Latif
ARABIYAT, secretary general]; Jordanian Arab Constitutional Front
Party; Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party
; Jordanian Ba'th Arab Socialist Party [Tayseer al-HOMSI,
secretary general]; Jordanian Communist Party [Ya'acoub ZAYADIN,
secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'eed
MUSTAPHA, secretary general]; Jordanian Labor Party [Muhammad
KHATAYIBAH, secretary general]; Jordanian Peace Party [Dr. Shaher
KHREIS, secretary general]; Jordanian People's Democratic Party or
HASHD; Al-Mustaqbal (Future) Party
; National Action Party or Haqq
; National Constitutional Party
; National Democratic Public
Movement Party; Progressive
Party; Al-Umma (Nation) Party
; The Generations [Hamad al-KHALAYLA,
chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Council of Professional
Association Presidents; Jordanian Press
Association; Muslim Brotherhood
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marwan Jamil MUASHER chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 966-2664 FAX: (202) 966-3110
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William BURNS embassy: Abdoum, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: (6) 5920101 FAX: (6) 5927712
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side featuring a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran.
@Jordan:Economy
Economy - overview: Jordan is a small Arab country with limited water supply and other natural resources like oil. The Persian Gulf crisis, which started in August 1990, worsened Jordan's already serious economic issues, leading the government to delay the IMF program, halt most debt payments, and pause rescheduling talks. Aid from Gulf Arab nations decreased, worker remittances dropped, and trade shrank; along with an influx of refugees, this created significant balance-of-payments challenges, hindered GDP growth, and strained government resources. The economy began to recover in 1992, mainly due to capital returned by workers coming back from the Gulf. After averaging 9% growth from 1992 to 1995, GDP growth fell to an average of only 2% from 1996 to 1999. In an effort to boost growth, King ABDALLAH has implemented limited economic reforms, including partial privatization of some state-owned companies and Jordan's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in January 2000. Debt, poverty, and unemployment remain serious ongoing economic issues.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $16 billion (estimated 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,500 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 25% services: 72% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 30% (1998 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 34.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 1.15 million note: additionally, at least 300,000 workers are employed abroad (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 15% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.8 billion expenditures: $3.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: phosphate mining, oil refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: -3.4% (1996)
Electricity - production: 6.08 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.51% hydro: 0.49% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 6.102 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 2 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 450 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, citrus fruits, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry
Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: phosphates, fertilizers, potash, farm products, manufactured goods
Exports - partners: Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE,
Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Ethiopia
Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: crude oil, machinery, transportation equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods
Imports - partners: Germany, Iraq, US, Japan, UK, Italy, Turkey,
Malaysia, Syria, China
Debt - external: $8.4 billion (estimated 1998)
Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $850 million (1996 estimate)
Currency: 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090 (January 2000-1996), 0.7005 (1995) note: since May 1989, the dinar has been linked to a basket of currencies
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Jordan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 402,600 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 75,000 (1999)
Telephone system: service has improved recently with the increased use of digital switching equipment, but we need better access to the telephone system in rural areas and easier access to pay phones for the urban population. Domestic: microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are used on trunk lines; extensive use is made 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 the 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: 8 (plus about 42 repeaters and 1 TV receive-only satellite link) (1999)
Televisions: 500,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 8 (1999)
@Jordan:Transportation
Railways: total: 677 km narrow gauge: 677 km 1.050-m gauge (2000)
Highways: total: 8,000 km paved: 8,000 km unpaved: 0 km (2000 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 209 km; note - might not be in use
Ports and harbors: Al 'Aqabah
Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 42,746 GRT/59,100 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 2, container 1, livestock carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 20 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Jordan:Military
Military branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal
Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air
Force); Badiya (irregular) Border Guards; Ministry of the Interior's
Public Security Force (comes under JAF only in wartime or crisis
situations)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,399,138 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 993,730 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 55,742 (2000 est.)
Military spending - total amount: $608.9 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 7.8% (FY98)
@Jordan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
JUAN DE NOVA ISLAND
@Juan de Nova Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an island in the Mozambique Channel, approximately 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 land: 4.4 sq km water: 0 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: contiguous zone: 12 nm 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 90% other: 10%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: wildlife sanctuary
@Juan de Nova Island:People
Population: no indigenous population note: there is a small military garrison (July 2000 est.)
@Juan de Nova Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
Data code: JU
Dependency status: territory of France; managed by a high commissioner of the Republic, living in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (owned by France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (under French control)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Juan de Nova Island:Economy
Economy - overview: 12,000 tons of guano are extracted each year.
@Juan de Nova Island:Communications
Communications - note: 1 weather station
@Juan de Nova Island:Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; a short line leading to a jetty.
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available.
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Juan de Nova Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Juan de Nova Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
______________________________________________________________________
KAZAKHSTAN
@Kazakhstan:Introduction
Background: During the 1950s and 1960s, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help settle the "New Lands" of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. The influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some deported minority groups) changed the ethnic makeup and allowed non-Kazakhs to outnumber the locals. Since independence, many of these newcomers have left the country. Current issues include: addressing ethnic differences; accelerating market reforms; building stable relationships with Russia, China, and other foreign countries; and developing and expanding the country's rich energy resources.
@Kazakhstan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, northwest of China
Geographic coordinates: 48° N, 68° E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 2,717,300 sq km land: 2,669,800 sq km water: 47,500 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, which is now divided 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, dry and semidry
Terrain: stretches from the Volga River to the Altai Mountains and from the plains of western Siberia to the oases and deserts of Central Asia
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Natural resources: large deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromium ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 11% permanent pastures: 57% forests and woodland: 4% other: 16% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 22,000 sq km (1996 estimate)
Natural hazards: earthquakes in the south, landslides around Almaty
Environment - current issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites linked to former defense industries and test ranges are spread throughout the country and pose health risks to both humans and animals; industrial pollution is serious in some cities; the two main rivers that used to flow into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, causing it to dry up and leave behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are carried by the wind, resulting in toxic dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from excessive use of agricultural chemicals and salinization due to inadequate infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: landlocked
@Kazakhstan:People
Population: 16,733,227 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27% (male 2,332,284; female 2,260,730) 15-64 years: 65% (male 5,320,938; female 5,638,710) 65 years and over: 8% (male 398,225; female 782,340) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.05% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 16.78 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 10.56 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.39 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.19 years male: 57.73 years female: 68.93 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups: Kazakh (Qazaq) 46%, Russian 34.7%, Ukrainian 4.9%,
German 3.1%, Uzbek 2.3%, Tatar 1.9%, other 7.1% (1996)
Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages: Kazakh (Qazaq, the official state language) 40%, Russian (official language, used in daily business) 66%
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.)
@Kazakhstan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: KZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Astana note: the government relocated from Almaty to Astana in December 1998
Administrative divisions: 14 oblystar (singular - oblysy) and 3 cities (qala, singular - qalasy)*; Almaty, Almaty*, Aqmola (Astana), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau; formerly Shevchenko), Ongtustik Qazaqstan (Shymkent), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan (Petropavl), Zhambyl (Taraz; formerly Dzhambul) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (the exceptions have the administrative center name in parentheses); in 1995, the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement where Russia would lease an area of 6,000 sq km for 20 years that includes the Bayqongyr (Baykonur) space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (formerly Leninsk).
Independence: December 16, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Republic Day, October 25 (1990) (the date when Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty)
Constitution: approved by national referendum on August 30, 1995; the first post-independence constitution was adopted on January 28, 1993.
Legal system: based on a civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; everyone can vote
Executive branch: chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet since February 22, 1990, elected president on December 1, 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Kazymzhomart TOKAYEV (since October 2, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; most recent election held on January 10, 1999, a year earlier than originally scheduled (next election not applicable in 2006); note - President NAZARBAYEV's prior term was extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum on April 30, 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV elected president; percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 79.8%, Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN 11.7%, Gani KASYMOV 4.6% note: President NAZARBAYEV increased 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
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; the rest are elected by the public, with two from each region and Almaty, serving six-year terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; including 10 "Party List" seats, bringing the total to 77; members are elected by the public to serve five-year terms); note - with the number of regions reduced to 14, the Senate will eventually be cut down to 37; a portion of Senate seats is up for reelection every two years. elections: Senate - (indirect) last held on September 17, 1999 (next to be held in 2001); Majilis - last held on October 10, 1999 (next to be held in 2004) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 16 seats were up for election in 1999, with candidates nominated by local councils; Majilis - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Otan 25, Civic Party 10, Communist Party 3, Agrarian Party 3, People's Cooperative Party 1, independents 32, 3 seats unaccounted for. note - most independent candidates are linked to state-owned enterprises and other pro-government entities.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)
Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party; Alash; AZAMAT Movement [Petr SVOIK, Murat AUEZOV, and Galym ABILSIITOV, co-chairmen]; Civic Party [Azat PERUASHEV, first secretary]; Communist Party (KPK) [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN, first secretary]; Forum of Democratic Forces; Labor and Workers Movement; Orleu Movement [Seidakhmet KUTTYKADAM]; Otan; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye; People's Congress of Kazakhstan or NKK; People's Cooperative Party; Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan. Political pressure groups and leaders: Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights.
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM
(observer), OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bolat K. NURGALIYEV chancery: 1401 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 232-5488 FAX: (202) 232-5845 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES embassy: 99/97A Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan 480091 mailing address: American Embassy Almaty, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7030 telephone: (3272) 63-39-21, 63-13-75, 50-76-23 FAX: (3272) 63-38-83
Flag description: sky blue background symbolizing the infinite sky and a gold sun with 32 rays above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a gold "national ornamentation."
@Kazakhstan:Economy
Economy - overview: Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet republics by land area, has huge untapped fossil fuel reserves along with plenty of other minerals and metals. It also boasts significant agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands suitable for both livestock and grain production. The country’s industrial sector is based on the extraction and processing of these natural resources, as well as a relatively large machine building sector that focuses on construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR and the decline in demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products led to a significant contraction of the economy since 1991, with the most noticeable annual decline occurring in 1994. From 1995 to 1997, the government accelerated its program of economic reform and privatization, resulting in a major transfer of assets to the private sector. The signing of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium agreement in December 1996 to construct a new pipeline from the Tengiz oil field in western Kazakhstan to the Black Sea raised hopes for significantly larger oil exports in the coming years. Kazakhstan's economy took a downturn in 1998, marked by a 2.5% decline in GDP growth, due to falling oil prices and the financial crisis in Russia in August. A positive development in 1999 was the recovery of international oil prices, which, along with a strategically timed devaluation of the tenge and a bumper grain harvest, helped lift the economy out of recession.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.5 billion (est. 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,200 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 30% services: 60% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 35% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 24.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.3% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 8.8 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 27%, agriculture and forestry 23%, other 50% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 13.7% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $3.1 billion expenditures: $3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production: 49.299 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 87.73% hydro: 12.07% nuclear: 0.2% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 48.822 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 400 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 3.374 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grain (mainly spring wheat), cotton; wool, livestock
Exports: $5.2 billion (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil 40%, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery, chemicals, grain, wool, meat, coal
Exports - partners: EU 32%, China 29%, Russia 29% (1998)
Imports: $4.8 billion (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials, oil and gas, vehicles
Imports - partners: Russia 39%, Ukraine, US, Uzbekistan, Turkey, UK,
Germany, South Korea (1998)
Debt - external: $7.9 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $409.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kazakhstani tenge = 100 tiyn
Exchange rates: tenges per US$1 - 139.02 (January 2000), 119.52 (1999), 78.30 (1998), 75.44 (1997), 67.30 (1996), 60.95 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Kazakhstan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.963 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,600 (1995)
Telephone system: service is subpar; equipment is outdated. Domestic: intercity calls via landline and microwave radio relay; mobile cellular systems are available in most of Kazakhstan. International: international traffic to other former Soviet republics and China is handled by landline and microwave radio relay; with other countries via satellite and 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 83 (Kazakhstan and Russia) (1999)
@Kazakhstan:Transportation
Railways: total: 14,400 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 14,400 km 1.520-m gauge (3,299 km electrified) (1997)
Highways: total: 119,390 km paved: 103,272 km unpaved: 16,118 km (estimated 1998)
Waterways: 3,900 km on the Syrdariya (Syr Darya) and Ertis (Irtysh)
Pipelines: crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural gas 3,480 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen
(Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Airports: 10 (1997 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Kazakhstan:Military
Military branches: General Purpose Forces (Army), Air Force, Border
Guards, Navy, Republican Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,477,455 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males ages 15-49: 3,572,688 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 158,838 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $322 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY99)
@Kazakhstan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The boundaries of the Caspian Sea are still not resolved among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan; Russia leases about 6,000 sq km of territory surrounding the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Illicit drugs: substantial illegal cultivation of cannabis and some cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrone); limited government eradication efforts; cannabis mostly consumed in the CIS; used as a transshipment point for illegal drugs to Russia, North America, and Western Europe from Southwest Asia.
______________________________________________________________________
KENYA
@Kenya:Introduction
Background: Ethnic divisions are a major source of Kenya's issues. In the early 1990s, tribal conflicts resulted in thousands of deaths and left many more homeless. The fragmented opposition groups allowed Daniel Toroitich arap MOI, who had been in power since 1978, to be reelected for a fourth term in 1997 during elections that were tainted by violence and fraud.
@Kenya:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, along the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 1° 00' N, 38° 00' E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 582,650 sq km land: 569,250 sq km water: 13,400 sq km
Area - comparative: just a bit over twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries:
total: 3,446 km
border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,
Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline: 536 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: ranges from tropical along the coast to dry in the interior
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands split by the Great Rift
Valley; fertile plateau in the west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, barites, rubies, fluorite, garnets, wildlife, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 37% forests and woodland: 30% other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: ongoing drought in northern and eastern areas; flooding during the rainy seasons
Environment - current issues: water pollution from urban and industrial waste; decline in water quality due to increased pesticide and fertilizer use; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, 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 are one of the most successful agricultural production areas in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; the unique landscape supports a wide range of wildlife that has both scientific and economic importance.
@Kenya:People
Population: 30,339,770 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the age and sex distribution of the population than would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 6,566,424; female 6,419,034) 15-64 years: 54% (male 8,284,719; female 8,238,121) 65 years and over: 3% (male 366,200; female 465,272) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.53% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 29.35 births for every 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 14.08 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 68.74 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.98 years male: 46.95 years female: 49.04 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.66 children born per woman (2000 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 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%,
Muslim 7%, other 1%
Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), and many indigenous languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.1% male: 86.3% female: 70% (1995 est.)
@Kenya:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya former: British East Africa
Data code: KE
Government type: republic
Capital: Nairobi
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast,
Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
Independence: December 12, 1963 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, December 12, 1963
Constitution: December 12, 1963, amended to a republic in 1964; reissued with amendments in 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1997
Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in the High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; the constitutional amendment of 1982 that made Kenya a legally recognized one-party state was repealed in 1991.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since October 14, 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since October 14, 1978); 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 from among the members of the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held December 29, 1997 (next to be held by early 2003); vice president appointed by the president election results: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI reelected; percent of vote - Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU) 40.6%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.5%, Raila ODINGA (NDP) 11.1%, Michael WAMALWA (FORD-K) 8.4%, Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (222 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 210 members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held on December 29, 1997 (next to be held between December 1, 2002, and April 30, 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KANU 107, FORD-A 1, FORD-K 17, FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15, SAFINA 5, smaller parties 2; seats appointed by the president - KANU 6, FORD-K 1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, the chief justice is appointed by the president; High Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Kenya or DP [Mwai
KIBAKI]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Asili or FORD-A
; Forum for the Restoration of
Democracy-Kenya or FORD-K; Forum for the
Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People; Kenya
African National Union or KANU -
the ruling party; National Development Party or NDP [Raila ODINGA,
president, Dr. Charles MARANGA, secretary general]; SAFINA [Farah
MAALIM, chairman, Mghanga MWANDAWIRO, secretary general]; Social
Democratic Party or SDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations; National Convention Executive Council (NCEC), a pro-reform coalition of political parties and non-governmental organizations; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK); Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM). International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO.
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel K. CHEMAI (recalled in November 1999) chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-6101 FAX: (202) 462-3829 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnnie CARSON embassy: US Embassy, Mombasa Road, Nairobi mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831 telephone: (2) 537-800 FAX: (2) 537-810
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of black (top), red, and green; the red stripe is bordered in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is placed in the center.
@Kenya:Economy
Economy - overview: Kenya is well-positioned to be a growth driver in East Africa, but its economy is stagnating due to poor management and inconsistent commitment to reform. In 1993, the Kenyan government launched a program of economic liberalization and reform that removed import licensing, price controls, and foreign exchange controls. With backing from the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms resulted in a brief improvement in economic performance after a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew by 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation was kept under control. However, growth slowed down from 1997 to 1999. Political violence harmed the tourism industry, and Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program fell through due to the government's failure to uphold reforms or tackle public sector corruption. A new economic team was established in 1999 to reinvigorate the reform agenda, improve the civil service, and reduce corruption, but cautious donors remain skeptical about the government's commitment to sound economic policy. Long-term obstacles to development include electricity shortages, the government's ongoing inefficient control of key sectors, widespread corruption, and the country’s high population growth rate.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $45.1 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,600 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 18% services: 56% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 42% (1992 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 47.7% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 9.2 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 75%-80%
Unemployment rate: 50% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.91 billion expenditures: $2.97 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastics, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), processing of agricultural products; oil refining, cement; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 4.23 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.27% hydro: 82.74% nuclear: 0% other: 8.99% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 4.078 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 144 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products (1995)
Exports - partners: Uganda 16%, UK 13%, Tanzania 13%, Egypt 5%,
Germany 5% (1998)
Imports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, iron and steel
Imports - partners: UK 12%, UAE 9%, US 8%, Japan 8%, Germany 6%, India 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $6.5 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $457 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1 - 73.943 (December 1999), 70.326 (1999), 60.367 (1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Kenya:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 290,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cell phones: 6,000 (1999)
Telephone system: unreliable; minimal efforts to modernize domestic: trunks mostly use microwave radio relay; data is often transferred by very small aperture terminal (VSAT) international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 24, FM 8, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios: 3.07 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 8 (1997)
Televisions: 730,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (1999)
@Kenya:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,778 km narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge note: the line linking Nairobi to the port of Mombasa is the most crucial in the country
Highways: total: 63,800 km paved: 8,868 km unpaved: 54,932 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: part of the Lake Victoria system is located within the borders of Kenya
Pipelines: petroleum products 483 km
Ports and harbors: Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,893 GRT/6,255 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 230 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 209 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 110 under 914 m: 84 (1999 est.)
@Kenya:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service
Police Unit
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 7,482,095 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males ages 15-49: 4,631,987 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $197 million (FY98/99)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 1.9% (FY98/99)
@Kenya:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the administrative boundary with Sudan does not match the international boundary.
Illicit drugs: extensive cultivation of small, wild marijuana and qat (chat) patches; a transit point for South Asian heroin meant for Europe and occasionally North America; Indian methaqualone also passes through on its way to South Africa.
______________________________________________________________________
KINGMAN REEF
@Kingman Reef:Geography
Location: Oceania, a reef in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa.
Geographic coordinates: 6° 24' N, 162° 24' W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 1 sq km land: 1 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical, but tempered by prevailing winds
Terrain: low and nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1996)
Natural hazards: often wet or submerged, with a maximum elevation of about 1 meter, Kingman Reef poses a maritime hazard.
Environment - current issues: none
Geography - note: uninhabited coral atoll with a deep lagoon in the center; off-limits to the public
@Kingman Reef:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)
@Kingman Reef:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Data code: KQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; managed from Washington, DC by the US Navy; however, it is underwater most of the time, making it unusable and uninhabited.
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Kingman Reef:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Kingman Reef:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available.
Airports: The lagoon served as a stopover point between Hawaii and American Samoa for Pan American Airways' flying boats in 1937 and 1938.
@Kingman Reef:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the U.S.
@Kingman Reef:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
KIRIBATI
@Kiribati:Introduction
Background: The Gilbert Islands were given self-rule by the UK in
1971 and full independence in 1979, when they were renamed Kiribati.
The US gave up all claims to the sparsely populated Phoenix and
Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.
@Kiribati:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, crossing the equator, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; note - on January 1, 1995, Kiribati unilaterally shifted the International Date Line from the middle of the country to include its easternmost islands, standardizing the date across the entire nation.
Geographic coordinates: 1.25° N, 173.00° E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 717 sq km land: 717 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,143 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, alleviated by trade winds
Terrain: mainly flat coral atolls encircled by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production stopped in 1979)
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 51% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 3% other: 46% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons can happen anytime, but usually from November to March; there are occasional tornadoes; the low elevation of some of the islands makes them very vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Environment - current issues: severe pollution in the lagoon of South Tarawa Atoll due to significant migration combined with traditional practices like lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; groundwater is at risk.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean
Island) in Kiribati is one of the three major phosphate rock islands
in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and
Nauru
@Kiribati:People
Population: 91,985 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40.85% (male 19,027; female 18,551) 15-64 years: 56% (male 25,411; female 26,097) 65 years and over: 3.15% (male 1,239; female 1,660) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.34% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 32.43 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.01 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 55.36 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.78 years male: 56.89 years female: 62.82 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.4 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Protestant (Congregational) 41%,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985 est.)
Languages: English (official), Gilbertese
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
@Kiribati:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati note: pronounced kir-ih-bahss former: Gilbert Islands
Data code: KR
Government type: republic
Capital: Tarawa
Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands
note: additionally, 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: July 12, 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 12, 1979
Constitution: 12 July 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Teburoro TITO (since October 1, 1994); Vice President Tewareka TENTOA (since October 12, 1994); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Teburoro TITO (since October 1, 1994); Vice President Tewareka TENTOA (since October 12, 1994); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: The cabinet is appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Assembly and includes the president, vice president, attorney general, and up to eight other ministers elections: The president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term; note - the House of Assembly selects presidential candidates from among its members, and those candidates then compete in a general election; the last election was held on November 27, 1998 (next to be held by November 2002); the vice president is appointed by the president election results: Teburoro TITO reelected as president; percent of vote - Teburoro TITO 52.3%, Dr. Harry TONG 45.8%, Amberoti NIKORA 1.9%, Taberannang TIMEON 0%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on September 23, 1998 (next to be held by NA in September 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14, National Progressive Party 11, independents 14
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; High Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; 26 Magistrates' courts, judges at all levels are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party; Maneaban Te Mauri Party; National Progressive Party; New Movement Party. Note: There is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they are more like factions or interest groups because they lack party headquarters, formal platforms, or structured organizations.
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Kiribati doesn't 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 assigned to
Flag description: the top half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying above a yellow rising sun, and the bottom half is blue with three wavy white stripes to represent the ocean.
@Kiribati:Economy
Economy - overview: Kiribati is a remote country made up of 33 scattered coral atolls, with very few national resources. The commercially viable phosphate deposits were depleted by the time it gained independence from the UK in 1979. Now, copra and fish make up the majority of its production and exports. The economy has experienced significant fluctuations in recent years. Economic growth is hindered by a lack of skilled workers, poor infrastructure, and its distance from international markets. Tourism contributes over one-fifth of GDP. The financial sector is still in the early stages of development, as is the growth of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid, mainly from the UK and Japan, plays a vital role in GDP, making up 25%-50% in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad exceed $5 million annually.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $74 million (1999 est.), supplemented by nearly the same amount from external sources
GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $860 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 7% services: 79% (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% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 7,870 people actively working, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 estimate)
Budget: revenues: $33.3 million expenditures: $47.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1992 est.)
Electricity - production: 7 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 7 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coconut flesh, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Exports: $6 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: copra 62%, seaweed, fish
Exports - partners: US, Australia, NZ (1996)
Imports: $37 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: food, machinery and equipment, various manufactured goods, fuel
Imports - partners: Australia 46%, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, US (1996)
Debt - external: $7.2 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $15.5 million (1995), primarily from the UK and
Japan
Currency: 1 Australian dollar (AUD) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.5207 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)
Fiscal year: NA
@Kiribati:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 2,600 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) note: Kiribati is getting connected to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should enhance telephone service.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 17,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Kiribati:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 670 km (1996 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: a small network of canals, covering 5 km, in the Line Islands
Ports and harbors: Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT ships by type: passenger/cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 21 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
@Kiribati:Military
Military branches: no standing military forces; Police Force (handles law enforcement and paramilitary duties; small police stations are on all islands)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percentage of GDP: NA%
Military - note: Kiribati doesn't have military forces; defense support comes from Australia and New Zealand.
@Kiribati:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
KOREA
Geographic coordinates: 40°N, 127°E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 120,540 sq km land: 120,410 sq km water: 130 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 are prohibited without permission
Climate: mild with most rainfall occurring in the summer.
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains divided by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in the west, scattered in the 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% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 61% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: late spring droughts are often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons in early fall.
Environment - current issues: local air pollution caused by poor industrial regulations; water pollution; insufficient access to clean drinking water
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 next to China, South Korea, and
Russia; the mountainous interior is isolated and has a low population density.
@Korea:People
Population: 21,687,550 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 2,843,250; female 2,705,206) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,223,364; female 7,502,094) 65 years and over: 6% (male 448,242; female 965,394) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.35% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 20.43 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.46 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.29 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.74 years male: 67.76 years female: 73.86 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: racially uniform; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese.
Religions: traditionally Buddhist and Confucian, with some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: independent religious activities are now almost non-existent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to create the illusion of religious freedom
Languages: Korean
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write Korean total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)
@Korea:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: none note: North Koreans usually refer to their country as "Choson" abbreviation: DPRK
Data code: KN
Government type: authoritarian socialist; single-person dictatorship
Capital: P'yongyang
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3
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), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),
P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South
P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do
(Yanggang Province)
Independence: September 9, 1948, Foundation Day of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) note: August 15, 1945, date of independence from Japan, celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
National holiday: Foundation Day, September 9, 1948
Constitution: adopted in 1948, fully revised on December 27, 1972, revised again in April 1992 and September 1998
Legal system: based on the 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 old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: KIM Chong-il (since July 1994); note - in September 1998, KIM Chong-il was reelected Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a role given the nation's "highest administrative authority"; KIM Young-nam was appointed President of the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium and tasked with representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials head of government: Premier HONG Song-nam (since September 5, 1998) cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election last held in 1998 (next to be held NA) election results: HONG Song-nam elected premier; percent of Supreme People's Assembly vote - NA
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 on July 26, 1998 (next to be held in 2003, date not available) election results: percent of vote by party - not available; seats by party - the KWP recommends a single list of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats
Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme
People's Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Chondoist Chongu Party [YU Mi-yong, chairwoman]; Korean Social Democratic Party; major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Chong-il, General Secretary]
International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICRM,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), 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, led by YI Hyong-chol
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (Swedish Embassy in
P'yongyang represents the US as a consular protecting power)
Flag description: three horizontal stripes of blue (top), red (three times the width), and blue; the red stripe has white borders; on the side of the red stripe that's closest to the flagpole is a white circle with a red five-pointed star.
@Korea:Economy
Economy - overview: North Korea is one of the most centrally planned and isolated economies in the world. This has led to economic distortions, and the government's unwillingness to share economic data limits the reliable information available. State-owned industries produce nearly all manufactured goods, and the regime continues to prioritize heavy and military industries over light and consumer industries. Economic conditions are stagnant at best, and the country's worsening economic situation has been driven by severe energy shortages, poorly maintained and aging industrial facilities, and a lack of new investment. Although the agricultural outlook has slightly improved compared to previous years, it remains weak. The combined effects of significant fertilizer shortages, multiple natural disasters, and structural issues—like limited arable land and a short growing season—have reduced staple grain output to more than 1 million tons less than what the country needs to meet even basic international standards. The ongoing flow of international food aid has been crucial in addressing the population's essential food needs. The impact of other types of humanitarian aid, such as medical supplies and agricultural support, has mostly been limited to local areas. Even with assistance, malnutrition rates are among the highest in the world, and estimates of deaths due to starvation or famine-related diseases range in the hundreds of thousands.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $22.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 42% services: 28% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 9.6 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 36%, non-agriculture 64%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: military products; machinery manufacturing, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food production; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 31.975 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 34.4% hydro: 65.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity consumption: 29.737 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, beans; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Exports: $680 million (free on board, estimated 1998)
Exports - goods: minerals, metal products, manufactured items (including weapons); agricultural and fishery products
Exports - partners: Japan 28%, South Korea 21%, China 5%, Germany 4%,
Russia 1% (1995)
Imports: $954 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: oil, coking coal, machinery and equipment; consumer products, grain
Imports - partners: China 33%, Japan 17%, Russia 5%, South Korea 4%,
Germany 3% (1995)
Debt - external: $12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - an estimated $200 million to $300 million in humanitarian aid from the US, South Korea, Japan, and the EU in 1997, plus much more support from the UN and non-governmental organizations.
Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
Exchange rates: official: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989); market: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 200
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Korea:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 1.1 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1999)
Telephone system: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Korea:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,000 km standard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified; 159 km double track) narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge dual gauge: 240 km 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges (four rails interlaced) (1996 est.)
Highways: total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,253 km; mainly navigable only by small boats.
Pipelines: crude oil 23 miles; petroleum product 112 miles
Ports and harbors: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek,
Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi),
Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine: total: 107 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 675,609 GRT/937,477 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 91, combination bulk 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, short-sea passenger 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 49 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
@Korea:Military
Military branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 5,853,635 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males ages 15-49: 3,527,760 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 178,931 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $3.7 billion to $4.9 billion
(FY98 est.)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 25% to 33% (FY98 est.)
@Korea:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: 33-km section of boundary with China in the
Paektu-san (mountain) area is unclear; Demarcation Line with South
______________________________________________________________________
KOREA
______________________________________________________________________
KUWAIT
@Kuwait:Introduction
Background: Kuwait was attacked and taken over by Iraq on August 2, 1990. After several weeks of airstrikes, a US-led UN coalition launched a ground attack on February 23, 1991, which completely freed Kuwait in just four days. Since then, Kuwait has spent over $5 billion to repair the oil infrastructure that was damaged during 1990-91.
@Kuwait:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to 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 land: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 464 km bordering countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline: 499 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: dry desert; very hot summers; brief, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly rolling desert plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: oil, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: sudden heavy rainstorms are common from October to April; they bring excessive amounts of rain that can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms happen all year round, but are most frequent between March and August.
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; some of the world's largest and most advanced desalination plants supply a significant portion of the water; air and water pollution; desertification.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
Geography - note: key position at the top of the Persian Gulf
@Kuwait:People
Population: 1,973,572 note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29.36% (male 295,102; female 284,327) 15-64 years: 68.32% (male 860,318; female 488,004) 65 years and over: 2.32% (male 29,544; female 16,277) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.44% (2000 est.) note: this rate indicates a return to the immigration levels of expatriates seen before the Gulf crisis
Birth rate: 22.04 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 2.45 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 14.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.76 males/females 65 years and over: 1.82 males/females total population: 1.5 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.55 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.08 years male: 75.27 years female: 76.92 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.26 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly spoken
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 78.6% male: 82.2% female: 74.9% (1995 est.)
@Kuwait:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt
Data code: KU
Government type: nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kuwait
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Independence: June 19, 1961 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, February 25 (1950)
Constitution: approved and enacted on November 11, 1962
Legal system: a civil law system where Islamic law plays an important role in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: adult men who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have lived in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants when they turn 21. Note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who don’t meet the pre-1920 requirement but have been naturalized for 30 years were allowed to vote for the first time.
Executive branch: chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since December 31, 1977) head of government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah (since February 8, 1978); First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since October 17, 1992); Second Deputy Prime Minister SALIM al-Sabah al-Salim Al Sabah (since October 7, 1996) 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 are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on July 3, 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 50; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: several political groups function as actual parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,
BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim Al SABAH chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 966-0702 FAX: (202) 966-0517
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James A. LAROCCO embassy: Bayan, near the Bayan palace, Kuwait City mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait; Unit 69000, APO AE 09880-9000 telephone: 539-5307 or 539-5308 FAX: 538-0282
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid on the hoist side.
@Kuwait:Economy
Economy - overview: Kuwait is a small, relatively open economy with proven crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels, which is 10% of the world's reserves. Petroleum makes up nearly half of the GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 75% of government income. Kuwait has no water resources and virtually no arable land, limiting agricultural development. Other than fish, it relies almost entirely on food imports. About 75% of drinkable water needs to be distilled or imported. Rising oil prices decreased the budget deficit from $5.5 billion to $3 billion in 1999, and prices are expected to stay relatively strong throughout 2000. The government is moving slowly with reforms. It launched Kuwait's first free-trade zone in 1999 and will keep discussing with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $44.8 billion (estimated 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0% industry: 55% services: 45% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1998 est.) note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: government and social services 50%, services 40%, industry and agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.8% (official estimate for 1996)
Budget: revenues: $10 billion expenditures: $13 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: oil, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, building materials, salt, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 26.995 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 25.105 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: almost no crops; fish
Exports: $13.5 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners: Japan 24%, India 16%, US 13%, South Korea 11%,
Singapore 8% (1997)
Imports: $8.1 billion (free on board, 1999 estimate)
Imports - commodities: food, building materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners: US 22%, Japan 15%, UK 13%, Germany 8%, Italy 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $9.27 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $27.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.3042 (January 2000), 0.3044 (1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (1996), 0.2984 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Kuwait:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 411,600 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 150,000 (1996)
Telephone system: the civil network experienced some damage due to the Gulf War, but most of the telephone exchanges remained intact. By the end of 1994, domestic and international telecommunications were functioning normally again, and the quality of service is excellent. domestic: new telephone exchanges offer a high capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is handled via microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, open wire, and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates across Kuwait, and the country is well-equipped with payphones; there were about 15,000 Internet subscribers in 1996. international: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay connect to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE through the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations include 3 Intelsat (1 in the Atlantic Ocean, 2 in the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Kuwait:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 4,450 km paved: 3,590 km unpaved: 860 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km
Ports and harbors: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd
Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Merchant marine: total: 48 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 2,506,448 GRT/4,040,921 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, container 6, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 4, petroleum tanker 21 (1999 est.)
Airports: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Kuwait:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,
National Guard, Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 749,252 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 446,518 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 17,919 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.518 billion (FY99/00)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 8% (FY99/00)
@Kuwait:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: in November 1994, Iraq officially accepted the UN-defined border with Kuwait outlined in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends previous claims to Kuwait as well as Bubiyan and Warbah islands; the ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia.
______________________________________________________________________
KYRGYZSTAN
@Kyrgyzstan:Introduction
Background: A Central Asian country with stunning natural beauty and rich nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864 and became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Current issues include: privatization of state-owned companies, expanding democracy and political freedoms, inter-ethnic relations, and terrorism.
@Kyrgyzstan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates: 41° 00' N, 75° 00' E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 198,500 sq km land: 191,300 sq km water: 7,200 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 the high Tien Shan; subtropical in the southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in the northern foothill zone.
Terrain: the peaks of the Tien Shan mountains and the surrounding valleys and basins cover the entire country.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Kara-Darya 132 m highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources: plentiful hydropower; considerable amounts of gold and rare earth metals; locally available coal, oil, and natural gas; additional deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 44% forests and woodland: 4% other: 45% (1993 est.) note: Kyrgyzstan has the largest natural growth walnut forest in the world
Irrigated land: 9,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, waterborne diseases are widespread; rising soil salinity from poor irrigation practices.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked
@Kyrgyzstan:People
Population: 4,685,230 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 843,038; female 825,519) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,337,268; female 1,393,397) 65 years and over: 6% (male 107,405; female 178,603) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.43% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 26.29 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.15 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -2.81 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
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: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.08 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.37 years male: 59.06 years female: 67.9 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.22 children per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kyrgyzstani(s) adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups: Kirghiz 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 March 1996, the Kyrgyzstani legislature updated the constitution to make Russian an official language alongside Kyrgyz in areas and workplaces where Russian-speaking citizens are the majority.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.)
@Kyrgyzstan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: KG
Government type: republic
Capital: Bishkek
Administrative divisions: 6 regions (singular - region) and 1 city* (singular - city); Bishkek City*, Chuy Region (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Region, Naryn Region, Osh Region, Talas Region, Ysyk-Kol Region (Karakol) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: August 31, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: National Day, December 2; Independence Day, August 31 (1991)
Constitution: adopted May 5, 1993 note: an amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and approved in a national referendum on February 10, 1996, significantly increases the president's powers at the expense of the legislature
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since October 28, 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Jumabek IBRAIMOV (since NA December 1998) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; elections last held December 24, 1995 (next to be held November or December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Askar AKAYEV 75%; note - elections were held early which gave the two opposition candidates little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of whom was a major rival
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). elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held February 5, 1995 (next to be held February 20, 2000); Legislative Assembly - last held February 5, 1995 (next to be held February 20, 2000). election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - not all of the 70 seats were filled in the February 5, 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice a year; Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - not all of the 35 seats were filled in the February 5, 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates. note: the legislature became bicameral for the February 5, 1995 elections.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court judges are appointed for 10-year terms by the Supreme Council based on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party; Agrarian
Party of Kyrgyzstan; Banner National Revival Party or
ASABA; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan or PKK
; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or
DDK; Dignity Party;
Fatherland or Alta Mekel Party; Justice Party
; Kyrgyzstan Erkin Party (Democratic Movement of
Free Kyrgyzstan) or ErK; Movement for the
People's Salvation; Mutual Help Movement or
Ashar; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE
; Peasant Party; Republican Popular
Party of Kyrgyzstan; Social Democratic Party or
PSD
Political pressure groups and leaders: Council of Free Trade Unions;
Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights; National Unity
Democratic Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs
International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent),
ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 338-5141 FAX: (202) 338-5139
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne M. SIGMUND embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (3312) 22-29-20, 22-27-77 FAX: (3312) 22-35-51
Flag description: red background with a yellow sun in the middle featuring 40 rays that symbolize the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the front side, the rays move counterclockwise, while on the back, they move clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red circle crossed by two sets of three lines, representing the roof of a traditional Kirghiz yurt in a stylized way.
@Kyrgyzstan:Economy
Economy - overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with a mainly agricultural economy. Its primary agricultural products and exports are cotton, wool, and meat. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, and electricity. Kyrgyzstan has been one of the most progressive countries from the former Soviet Union in implementing market reforms. After a successful stabilization program that reduced inflation from 88% in 1994 to 15% in 1997, the focus is now on boosting growth. Much of the government's stake in enterprises has been sold off. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, production had dropped sharply, but by mid-1995, production started to recover and exports began to rise. Pensioners, unemployed workers, and government employees with unpaid salaries still face hardships. Foreign aid played a significant role in the country's economic recovery in 1996-97. The government has put in place a series of measures to tackle serious issues like excessive external debt, inflation, poor revenue collection, and the effects of Russia's economic troubles. Kyrgyzstan experienced moderate growth of 3.4% in 1999, with a similar rate anticipated for 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.3 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.4% (estimated for 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 20% services: 35% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 40% (1993 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.2% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 37% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 1.7 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $225 million expenditures: $308 million, including capital expenditures of $11 million (1996 est.)
Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate: -3.4% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 12.206 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 10.78% hydro: 89.22% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 11.102 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 1.1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 850 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits, and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, and wool.
Exports: $515 million (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners: Germany 37%, Kazakhstan 17%, Russia 16%,
Uzbekistan 8%, China 3% (1998)
Imports: $590 million (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: oil and gas, machinery and equipment, food.
Imports - partners: Russia 24%, Uzbekistan 14%, Kazakhstan 9%, Germany 6%, China 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $1.1 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $329.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) = 100 tyiyn
Exchange rates: soms (KGS) per US$1 - 46.235 (January 2000), 39.008 (1999), 20.838 (1998), 17.362 (1997), 12.810 (1996), 10.822 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Kyrgyzstan:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 357,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: underdeveloped; around 100,000 unfulfilled requests for home telephones. Domestic: mainly microwave radio relay; one cellular provider, likely restricted to the Bishkek area. International: links with other CIS countries via landline or microwave radio relay, and with other countries through leased connections with the Moscow international gateway switch and 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 (with 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 520,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: NA (repeater stations across the country transmit programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: 210,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Kyrgyzstan:Transportation
Railways: total: 370 km in public transportation service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways: total: 18,500 km paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,646 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 600 km (1990)
Pipelines: natural gas 200 km
Ports and harbors: Balykchy (Issyk-Kul or Rybach'ye)
Airports: 54 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 32 (1994 est.)
@Kyrgyzstan:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense, and Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,172,899 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 951,395 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 48,551 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $12 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1% (FY99)
@Kyrgyzstan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial disagreement with Tajikistan over the southwestern border in the Isfara Valley region; occasional target of Islamic terrorists from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Illicit drugs: small-scale illegal cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mainly for consumption in the CIS; limited government eradication efforts; increasingly being used as a transit point for illegal drugs to Russia and Western Europe from Southwest Asia.
______________________________________________________________________
LAOS
@Laos:Introduction
Background: In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao seized control of the government, bringing an end to a six-century-old monarchy. The earlier close relationships with Vietnam and socialist policies gradually shifted towards a focus on private enterprise, relaxed foreign investment laws, and Laos' admission into ASEAN in 1997.
@Laos:Geography
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 land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Myanmar 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: mainly rough mountains; with some plains and plateaus.
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources: wood, water power, gypsum, tin, gold, precious stones
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other: 40% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.) note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: floods, droughts, and disease
Environment - current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population lacks access to clean drinking 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
@Laos:People
Population: 5,497,459 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 1,191,608; female 1,173,144) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,447,788; female 1,500,016) 65 years and over: 3% (male 85,028; female 99,875) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.5% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 38.29 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 13.35 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 94.8 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.09 years male: 51.22 years female: 55.02 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.21 children born per woman (2000 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% (in October 1999, the government suggested a constitutional amendment to make Buddhism the state religion; the National Assembly is expected to vote on the amendment sometime in 2000), animist and other 40%
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and several ethnic languages
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 57% male: 70% female: 44% (1999 est.)
@Laos:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none
Data code: LA
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, Vientiane*, Vientiane, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence: July 19, 1949 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, December 2 (1975) (proclamation of the
Lao People's Democratic Republic)
Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal standards and procedures, and socialist practices
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President KHAMTAI Siphandon (since February 26, 1998); note - the vice president position is currently vacant; Vice President OUDOM Khattiya passed away on December 9, 1999, and a replacement has not yet been appointed. head of government: Prime Minister SISAVAT Keobounphan (since February 26, 1998); Senior Deputy Prime Minister BOUN-NHANG Vorachith (since April 20, 1996); Deputy Prime Ministers CHOUMMALI Saygnasone (since February 26, 1998), SOMSAVAT Lengsavad (since February 26, 1998). cabinet: Council of Ministers, appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly. elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; the last election was held on December 21, 1997 (next to be held in 2002). prime minister appointed by the president with the National Assembly's approval for a five-year term. election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA.
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - by presidential decree on October 27, 1997, the number of seats increased from 85 to 99) elections: last held on December 21, 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99
Judicial branch: The People's Supreme Court; its president is elected by the National Assembly based on a recommendation from the National Assembly Standing Committee. The vice president and the judges of the People's Supreme Court are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee.
Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party or
LPRP; other parties banned
Political pressure groups and leaders: noncommunist political groups banned; most opposition leaders left the country in 1975.
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat (non-signatory user), 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 VANG Rattanavong chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-6416 FAX: (202) 332-4923
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: (21) 212581, 212582, 212585 FAX: (21) 212584
Flag description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white circle centered in the blue stripe
@Laos:Economy
Economy - overview: The government of Laos, one of the few remaining official communist states, started decentralizing control and promoting private businesses in 1986. The outcomes, starting from a very low starting point, were impressive—growth averaged 7% from 1988 to 1996. However, since mid-1996, reform efforts have slowed down, and the economy has suffered as a result. Because Laos relies heavily on trade with Thailand, it was further affected by the regional financial crisis that began in 1997. From June 1997 to June 1999, the Lao kip lost 87% of its value, hitting a crisis moment in September 1999 when it fluctuated dramatically, dropping from 3,500 kip to the dollar to 9,000 kip to the dollar in just a few weeks. Now that the currency has stabilized, the government seems willing to let the current situation continue, despite 140% inflation in 1999 and limited foreign exchange reserves. A landlocked country with basic infrastructure, Laos has no railroads, a minimal road system, and limited telecommunications both externally and internally. Electricity is only available in a few urban areas. Subsistence farming makes up half of GDP and provides 80% of total jobs. For the foreseeable future, the economy will continue to rely on aid from the IMF and other international sources; Japan is currently the largest donor of bilateral aid, while aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has significantly decreased. Like many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hinder efforts to achieve a high rate of GDP growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 51% industry: 22% services: 27% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 46.1% (1993 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 26.4% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 140% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1 million - 1.5 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $202.7 million expenditures: $385.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, lumber, electric power, food processing, construction, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 1.34 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.99% hydro: 97.01% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 514 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 782 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 50 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Exports: $271 million (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: wood products, clothing, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium
Imports: $497 million (f.o.b., estimated 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports - partners: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong
Kong
Debt - external: $2.32 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $345 million (1999 est.)
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 7,674.00 (January 2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997), 921.02 (1996), 804.69 (1995) note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was adopted
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@Laos:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 20,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,600 (1997)
Telephone system: service to the general public is lacking but getting better, with over 20,000 phones currently in use and an additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government depends on a radiotelephone network to connect 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Laos:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 21,716 km paved: 9,673.5 km unpaved: 12,042.5 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: about 4,587 km, mostly the Mekong and its tributaries; an additional 2,897 km can be navigated by boats with a draft of less than 0.5 m.
Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km
Ports and harbors: none
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 52 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)
@Laos:Military
Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia element),
Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air Force,
National Police Department
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old.
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,275,184 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 686,803 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 62,243 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $77 million (FY96/97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 4.2% (FY96/97)
@Laos:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: some sections of the border with Thailand are unclear.
Illicit drugs: the world's third-largest illegal opium producer (estimated cultivation in 1999 - 21,800 hectares, a 16% decrease from 1998; estimated potential production in 1999 - 140 metric tons, roughly the same as in 1998); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamines made in Burma; illegal producer of cannabis.
______________________________________________________________________
LATVIA
@Latvia:Introduction
Background: After a short period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was taken over by the USSR in 1940. It regained its independence in 1991 after the Soviet Union broke apart. Even though the last Russian troops left in 1994, the situation of the Russian minority (approximately 30% of the population) is still a concern for Moscow. Latvia is continuing to modernize its economy for future integration into various Western European political and economic institutions.
@Latvia:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, next to the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: 57° 00' N, 25° 00' E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 64,589 sq km land: 64,589 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly bigger 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 meters depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: limited; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite, hydropower, farmland
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 46% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution due to insufficient waste conversion equipment; the Gulf of Riga and Daugava River are heavily polluted; soil and groundwater contamination with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases.
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
@Latvia:People
Population: 2,404,926 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 212,483; female 203,417) 15-64 years: 68% (male 777,289; female 849,967) 65 years and over: 15% (male 116,575; female 245,195) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.84% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 7.8 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 14.88 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.32 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.71 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.41 years male: 62.48 years female: 74.62 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Belarusian 4.3%,
Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, others
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 99% (1989 est.)
@Latvia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LG
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: September 6, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 18, 1918
Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law that adds to the 1922 constitution, outlines basic rights and freedoms
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch: chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since July 8, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Andris BERZINS (since May 5, 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (changed from a three-year term on December 4, 1997); last election held on June 17, 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise candidate in the second phase of voting, second round (after five rounds in the first phase failed); percentage of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms - changed from three-year terms on December 4, 1997) elections: last held October 3, 1998 (next to be held in October 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%; seats by party - People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TB/LNNK 17, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court's judges are appointed with confirmation by
Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Anticommunist Union or PA [P.
MUCENIEKS]; Association of Latvian Social Democrats [Juris BOJARS,
Janis ADAMSONS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS;
Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front of Latvia or
LTF); Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis
CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TB,
merged with LNNK; Green Party or LZP; Latvian
Liberal Party or LLP; Latvian National Conservative Party
or LNNK; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP
; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social
Democrats) or LSDSP; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP
; Latvian Unity Party or LVP;
Latvia's Way or LC; National Harmony Party or TSP
; New Party; "Our Land" or MZ [M.
DAMBEKALNE]; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People
; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V.
IVANOV]; Political Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B.
PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA
; People's Party
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate
partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: (202) 726-8213, 8214 FAX: (202) 726-6785
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723 telephone: 721-0005 FAX: 782-0047
Flag description: three horizontal bands of dark red (top), white (half-width), and dark red
@Latvia:Economy
Economy - overview: In 1999, Latvia, a transitioning economy, experienced zero GDP growth as it continued to feel the effects of the August 1998 Russian financial crisis. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in February 1999—making it the first Baltic state to join—and was invited to the Helsinki EU Summit in December 1999 to start accession talks in early 2000. Unemployment reached 9.6% in 1999, up from 9.2% in 1998 and 6.7% in 1997. The privatization of large state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, faced further delays in 1999 but is expected to pick up pace in the next two years. Latvia forecasts 3.5% GDP growth, 3% inflation, and a 2% fiscal deficit in 2000. Preparing for EU membership by 2003 remains a top foreign policy priority.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.8 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,200 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 29% services: 63% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 1.4 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 16%, industry 41%, services 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.33 billion expenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: buses, vans, streetcars and trains, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; reliant on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products.
Industrial production growth rate: -5% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 4.766 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.58% hydro: 70.42% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 4.882 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 400 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 850 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - goods: wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, food items
Exports - partners: Germany 16%, UK 14%, Russia 12%, Sweden 10% (1998)
Imports: $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - goods: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners: Germany 17%, Russia 12%, Finland 10%, Sweden 7% (1998)
Debt - external: $212 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $96.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims
Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1 - 0.583 (January 2000), 0.585 (1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Latvia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 748,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 175,348 (1999)
Telephone system: not great, but it's getting updated to offer international service that's independent of the Moscow international switch; more features are being added for personal use. Domestic: an expansion is in progress for intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many pending subscriber requests. International: international connections are now possible through cable and a satellite earth station in Riga, allowing direct connections for most calls (1998).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 1.76 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 74 (1998)
Televisions: 1.22 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (1999)
@Latvia:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,412 km broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992) narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 59,178 km paved: 22,843 km unpaved: 36,335 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine: total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 58,699 GRT/64,043 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 6 (1999 est.)
Airports: 50 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
@Latvia:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 590,236 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 463,254 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 18,239 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $60 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY99)
@Latvia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the draft treaty to define the boundary with Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks about the maritime boundary dispute with Lithuania (main concern is oil exploration rights)
Illicit drugs: a transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and for Latin American cocaine and some synthetic drugs from Western Europe to the CIS; limited production of illegal amphetamines, ephedrine, and ecstasy for export.
______________________________________________________________________
LEBANON
@Lebanon:Introduction
Background: Since 1991, Lebanon has made strides in rebuilding its political institutions and reclaiming its national sovereignty following the end of the 16-year civil war. Through the Ta'if Accord, which serves as the framework for national reconciliation, the Lebanese have created a more balanced political system, particularly by giving Muslims a larger role in the political process while also formalizing sectarian divisions within the government. Since the war concluded, Lebanon has held several successful elections, most militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have increased the central government's authority over about two-thirds of the country. However, Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, still holds onto its weapons. Foreign forces continue to occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel keeps troops in southern Lebanon and supports a proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of land next to its border. Syria has around 25,000 troops in Lebanon, mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop presence was sanctioned by the Arab League during the civil war and is included in the Ta'if Accord. Damascus defends its ongoing military presence in Lebanon by pointing to the persistent weakness of the LAF, requests from Beirut, and the Lebanese government's failure to carry out all the constitutional reforms outlined in the Ta'if Accord.
@Lebanon:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to 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 land: 10,230 sq km water: 170 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 nautical miles
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; the Lebanon mountains get heavy snowfall in winter.
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (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, abundant water in a water-scarce area, arable land
Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 8% other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicle traffic and the burning of industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters from untreated sewage and oil spills.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: Nahr al Litani is the only major river in the Near East that doesn’t cross an international boundary; the rugged terrain has historically helped isolate, protect, and develop various factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity.
@Lebanon:People
Population: 3,578,036 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 508,936; female 489,122) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,115,457; female 1,226,448) 65 years and over: 7% (male 108,706; female 129,367) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.38% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 20.26 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.42 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.3 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.25 years male: 68.87 years female: 73.74 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.08 kids born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Muslim 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Shi'a,
Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 30% (11
legally recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6
Catholic, 1 Protestant), Jewish NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, and widely understood Armenian
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.4% male: 90.8% female: 82.2% (1997 est.)
@Lebanon:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Lebanese Republic conventional short form: Lebanon local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah local short form: Lubnan
Data code: LE
Government type: republic
Capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beirut, North, South, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon
Independence: November 22, 1943 (from the League of Nations mandate under
French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 22 (1943)
Constitution: May 23, 1926, revised several times
Legal system: a blend of Ottoman law, canon law, the Napoleonic Code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 21 years old; mandatory for all men; allowed for women at age 21 with a basic education.
Executive branch: chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since November 24, 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Salim al-HUSS (since December 4, 1998) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly; the current Cabinet was formed in 1998 elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term; last election held on October 15, 1998 (next to be held in 2004); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; traditionally, 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 are elected by popular vote based on sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held August 18 - September 15, 1996 (next to be held in 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (half Christian and half Muslim)
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three for civil and commercial cases and one for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (established by the Ta'if Accord) decides on the constitutionality of laws; Supreme Council (reviews charges against the president and prime minister as necessary)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized mostly along sectarian lines; many political groups exist, made up of individual political figures and supporters driven by religious, clan, and economic factors.
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Farid ABBOUD chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-6300 FAX: (202) 939-6324 consulates general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David SATTERFIELD embassy: Antelias, Beirut mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002 telephone: (4) 543600, 542600, 544133, 544130, 544131 FAX: (4) 544136
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
@Lebanon:Economy
Economy - overview: The civil war from 1975 to 1991 severely damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, halved national output, and nearly eliminated Lebanon's role as a Middle Eastern trade and banking center. Peace has allowed the central government to regain control in Beirut, start collecting taxes, and access key port and government facilities again. Economic recovery has been supported by a stable banking system and resilient small- to medium-sized manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured goods and farm exports, and international aid serving as the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon's economy has seen significant improvements since the launch of "Horizon 2000," the government's $20 billion reconstruction program in 1993. Real GDP grew 8% in 1994 and 7% in 1995 until Israel's Operation Grapes of Wrath in April 1996 disrupted economic activity. From 1997 to 1998, real GDP grew at an average annual rate of less than 3%, and it only grew by 1% in 1999. Between 1992 and 1998, annual inflation dropped from over 100% to 5%, and foreign exchange reserves increased from $1.4 billion to over $6 billion. Increased capital inflows have created foreign payment surpluses, and the Lebanese pound has remained fairly stable. There has also been progress in rebuilding Lebanon's damaged physical and financial infrastructure. Solidere, a $2 billion company, is overseeing the reconstruction of Beirut's central business district; the stock market reopened in January 1996; and international banks and insurance companies are returning. However, the government still faces serious economic challenges. It has had to fund reconstruction by drawing on foreign exchange reserves and increasing borrowing. Reducing the government budget deficit is a key goal of the LAHUD government. The stalled peace process and ongoing violence in southern Lebanon could lead to broader conflicts that would disrupt essential capital inflows. Additionally, the gap between rich and poor has widened in the 1990s, causing grassroots dissatisfaction over the uneven distribution of reconstruction benefits and prompting the government to shift its focus from rebuilding infrastructure to improving living conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.2 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 1% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 27% services: 61% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 28% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1999 est.) note: additionally, there are around 1 million foreign workers (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 62%, industry 31%, agriculture 7% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 18% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $4.9 billion expenditures: $8.36 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal fabrication
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 9.7 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.72% hydro: 9.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 9.629 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 608 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: citrus fruits, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats
Exports: $866 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: food items and tobacco, clothing, chemicals, metals and metal products, electrical equipment and products, jewelry, paper and paper products
Exports - partners: Saudi Arabia 12%, UAE 10%, France 9%, Syria 7%, US 7%, Kuwait 4%, Jordan, Turkey (1998)
Imports: $5.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Imports - commodities: food, machinery and transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, textiles, metals, fuels, agricultural products
Imports - partners: Italy 12%, France 10%, US 9%, Germany 9%,
Switzerland 6%, Japan, UK, Syria (1998)
Debt - external: $8.8 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $3.5 billion (commitments 1997-2001)
Currency: 1 Lebanese pound = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds per US$1 - 1,507.5 (January 2000), 1,507.8 (1999), 1,516.1 (1998), 1,539.5 (1997), 1,571.4 (1996), 1,621.4 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Lebanon:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 330,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 120,000 (1995)
Telephone system: telecommunications system heavily damaged by civil war; rebuilding is in progress domestic: mainly microwave radio relay and cable international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Indian Ocean and 1 in the Atlantic Ocean) (operations are unstable); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but not working 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: 28 (1997)
Televisions: 1.18 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 19 (1999)
@Lebanon:Transportation
Railways: total: 399 km (mostly unusable due to damage from the civil war) standard gauge: 317 km 1.435-m narrow gauge: 82 km (1999)
Highways: total: 7,300 km paved: 6,200 km unpaved: 1,100 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none currently in use)
Ports and harbors: Antilyas, Batroun, Beirut, Chekka, El Mina, Ez
Zahrani, Jbail, Jounie, Naqoura, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine: total: 68 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 346,029 GRT/536,861 DWT ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 44, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 4, livestock carrier 4, roll-on/roll-off 2, vehicle carrier 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 9 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Lebanon:Military
Military branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; consists of Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 957,729 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 592,264 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $500 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 4% (FY98)
@Lebanon:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Israeli soldiers have been in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian soldiers have been in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976.
Illicit drugs: minor producer of hashish; some heroin processing mainly in the Bekaa Valley; a Lebanese/Syrian eradication campaign that began in the early 1990s has nearly wiped out opium and cannabis crops.
______________________________________________________________________
LESOTHO
@Lesotho:Introduction
Background: Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho when it gained independence from the UK in 1966. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule.
@Lesotho:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, a part of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29°30′S, 28°30′E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 30,355 sq km land: 30,355 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 909 km border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: mild; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly elevated land 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, farmland and pasture, some diamonds and other minerals
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 66% forests and woodland: 0% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: population pressure is pushing people to settle in marginal areas, leading to overgrazing, serious soil erosion, and soil depletion; desertification; the Highlands Water Project manages, stores, and redirects water to South Africa.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
@Lesotho:People
Population: 2,143,141 note: estimates for this country explicitly consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the age and sex distribution of the population than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 426,556; female 421,563) 15-64 years: 56% (male 575,580; female 619,280) 65 years and over: 4% (male 42,274; female 57,888) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.65% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 31.74 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 14.59 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 82.97 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.79 years male: 49.78 years female: 51.84 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.15 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and others 0.3%,
Religions: Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Languages: Sesotho (Southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 71.3% male: 81.1% female: 62.3% (1995 est.)
@Lesotho:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland
Data code: LT
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: October 4, 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, October 4, 1966
Constitution: 2 April 1993
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of laws in the High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King LETSIE III (since February 7, 1996); note - King LETSIE III previously held the throne from November 1990 to February 1995, while his father was in exile head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since May 23, 1998) cabinet: Cabinet elections: none; according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarchy is hereditary, but under the constitution that took effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch serves as a "living symbol of national unity" without any executive or legislative powers; according to traditional law, the college of chiefs has the authority to decide who is next in line for succession, who will act as regent if the successor is not of legal age, and may even remove the monarch
Legislative branch: The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote for five-year terms); note - the number of seats in the Assembly increased from 65 to 80 in the May 1998 election. elections: last held on May 23, 1998 (next to be held in 2000; date to be determined by the Interim Political Authority) election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 61%; seats by party - LCD 79, BNP 1 note: results were contested; opposition parties alleged that the election was fraudulent and staged a coup; Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces intervened in September 1998 to restore order; the Interim Political Authority (IPA) was established in December 1998 to create a new electoral system and conduct new elections within 18 months.
Judicial branch: High Court, chief justice appointed by the king;
Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders: Basotho National Party (BNP) [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Basotholand Congress Party (BCP) [Molapo QHOBELA, leader (currently suspended), Ntsukunyane MPHANYA, secretary general]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) [Dr. Pakalitha MOSISILI, leader; Shakhane MOKHEHLE, secretary general] - the governing party; United Democratic Party (UDP); Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP) and Setlamo Alliance; National Progressive Party (NPP); Sefate Democratic Party (SDP).
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lebohang Kenneth MOLEKO chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 797-5533 through 5536 FAX: (202) 234-6815
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. PETERSON embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: 312666 FAX: 310116
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the top half is white, featuring the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the bottom half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
@Lesotho:Economy
Economy - overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's only significant natural resource is water. Its economy relies on subsistence farming, livestock, and money sent home by miners working in South Africa. The number of these mine workers has been steadily decreasing over the past several years. In 1996, their remittances contributed about 33% to GDP compared to roughly 67% in 1990. A small manufacturing sector largely depends on agricultural products, supporting industries such as milling, canning, leather, and jute. Agricultural goods are mainly exported to South Africa. Revenue from being part of a customs union with South Africa makes up most of the government's income. Although drought has reduced agricultural activity in recent years, the completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 allows for the sale of water to South Africa, generating royalties that will be a vital income source for Lesotho. The pace of privatizing state-owned enterprises has picked up in recent years. Civil unrest in September 1998 destroyed 80% of the commercial infrastructure in Maseru and two other major towns. Most businesses didn’t have insurance, making it a significant challenge to rebuild small and medium-sized enterprises in terms of economic growth and job levels. Output fell by 10% in 1998 and slowly recovered in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -10% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,240 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 42% services: 44% (1997 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 49.2% (1993 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 43.4% (1986-87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (estimated for 1998)
Labor force: 689,000 economically active
Labor force - by occupation: 86% of the local population is involved in subsistence farming; about 35% of the working male population is employed in South Africa.
Unemployment rate: significant unemployment and underemployment impacting over half of the workforce (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $507 million expenditures: $487 million, including capital expenditures of $170 million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: food, drinks, textiles, crafts; construction; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 19.7% (1995)
Electricity - production: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 209 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 209 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, wheat, legumes, sorghum, barley; livestock
Exports: $235 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods 75% (clothing, shoes, cars), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998)
Exports - partners: South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998)
Imports: $700 million (f.o.b., 1998 estimate)
Imports - commodities: food; construction materials, vehicles, machinery, medications, oil products (1995)
Imports - partners: South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1997)
Debt - external: $675 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $123.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente; note - maloti (M) is the plural form of loti
Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1 - 6.12439 (January 2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995); note - the Basotho loti is equal to the South African rand.
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Lesotho:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 18,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: basic system domestic: includes a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 104,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (2000)
Televisions: 54,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Lesotho:Transportation
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: 4,955 km paved: 887 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 29 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 21 (1999 est.)
@Lesotho:Military
Military branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air
Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 503,751 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 271,098 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: The Lesotho Government in 1999 started a public discussion on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially taking into account the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of getting involved in political matters.
@Lesotho:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
LIBERIA
@Liberia:Introduction
Background: Seven years of civil conflict ended in 1996 when free and open presidential and legislative elections took place. President TAYLOR now has significant executive power with no real political opposition. The years of fighting, along with the departure of most businesses, have disrupted formal economic activity. A still unstable domestic security situation has hindered the rebuilding of the social and economic structure of this war-torn country.
@Liberia:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 6.30° N, 9.30° W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 111,370 sq km land: 96,320 sq km water: 15,050 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,585 km border countries: Guinea 563 km, Côte d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Coastline: 579 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy downpours.
Terrain: mainly flat to gently rolling coastal plains that rise to rolling plateaus and low mountains in the northeast.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources: iron ore, wood, diamonds, gold, hydroelectric power
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 59% forests and woodland: 18% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: dust-filled harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to March)
Environment - current issues: tropical rainforests facing deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil spills and untreated sewage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Liberia:People
Population: 3,164,156 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 681,136; female 680,501) 15-64 years: 54% (male 826,751; female 867,402) 65 years and over: 3% (male 54,334; female 54,032) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.94% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 47.22 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 16.58 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -11.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: by the end of 1999, all Liberian refugees, who had fled the domestic strife, were assumed to have returned
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1 male/female 15-64 years: 0.95 males/females 65 years and over: 1.01 males/females total population: 0.98 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 134.63 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.02 years male: 49.6 years female: 52.49 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.43 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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, and Bella), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who were formerly enslaved), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who were formerly enslaved)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages: English 20% (official), around 20 ethnic group languages, some of which are written and used in correspondence.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.3% male: 53.9% female: 22.4% (1995 est.) note: these numbers are rising due to the better school system
@Liberia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Liberia conventional short form: Liberia
Data code: LI
Government type: republic
Capital: Monrovia
Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand
Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
Independence: 26 July 1847
National holiday: Independence Day, July 26 (1847)
Constitution: 6 January 1986
Legal system: a dual system of statutory law rooted in Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for the indigenous sector.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since August 2, 1997); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since August 2, 1997); note - the president serves as 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); last election held on July 19, 1997 (next scheduled for July 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%
Legislative branch: the 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). Elections: Senate - last held on July 19, 1997 (next to be held in NA 2006); House of Representatives - last held on July 19, 1997 (next to be held in NA 2003). 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; note - the Alliance of Political Parties was a coalition of the LAP and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP).
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP)
Liberian Action Party (LAP);
Liberian National Union (LINU); Liberian
People's Party (LPP); National
Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL); National
Patriotic Party (NPP) - governing party;
People's Progressive Party (PPP);
Reformation Alliance Party (RAP);
True Whig Party (TWP); United People's
Party (UPP); Unity Party (UP)
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate William BULL chancery: 5303 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: (202) 723-0437 FAX: (202) 723-0436 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 226-370 through 226-382 FAX: 226-148, 226-147
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 left corner; the design was inspired by the US flag.
@Liberia:Economy
Economy - overview: A civil war from 1989 to 1996 devastated much of Liberia's economy, particularly the infrastructure around Monrovia. Many business owners left the country, taking their capital and skills with them. Some came back in 1997, but many will not return. Liberia is rich in water, minerals, forests, and has a climate that supports agriculture. It used to produce and export basic goods, while local manufacturing, primarily foreign-owned, was limited. The democratically elected government that took office in August 1997 inherited a mountain of international debt and now depends on revenue from its maritime registry for most of its foreign exchange earnings. Restoring infrastructure and increasing incomes in this damaged economy depends on the new government's ability to implement solid macro and microeconomic policies, including attracting foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.85 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 50% industry: 15% services: 35% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 80%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (estimated for 1998)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 70%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate: 0%
Electricity - production: 490 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.24% hydro: 37.76% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 456 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Exports: $39 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - products: diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners: Benelux 36%, Norway 18%, Ukraine 15%, Singapore 9% (1997)
Imports: $142 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: fuels, chemicals, machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foods
Imports - partners: South Korea 38%, Japan 14%, Italy 11%, Singapore 9% (1997)
Debt - external: $3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $200 million pledged (1998)
Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (officially fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 40 (December 1998), 50 (October 1995); market rate floats against the US dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Liberia:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 5,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service through a microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 6, shortwave 4 (1999)
Radios: 790,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2000)
Televisions: 70,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Liberia:Transportation
Railways: total: 490 km (328 km single track); note - three rail systems owned and run by foreign steel and financial interests in partnership with the Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, shut down in 1989 after iron ore production ended; the other two were closed due to the civil war; large sections of the rail lines have been taken apart; about 60 km of railroad track was exported for scrap. standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 10,600 km (all highways are in bad condition due to heavy rains and lack of maintenance) paved: 657 km unpaved: 9,943 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia
Merchant marine: total: 1,593 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 54,513,479 GRT/85,495,576 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 360, cargo 109, chemical tanker 185, combination bulk 22, combination ore/oil 50, container 225, liquefied gas 91, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 40, petroleum tanker 351, refrigerated cargo 76, roll-on/roll-off 16, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 15, vehicle carrier 46 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 54 countries among which are Germany 186, US 161, Norway 142, Greece 144, Japan 124, Hong Kong 100, China 53, UK 32, Singapore 39, and Monaco 38 (1998 est.)
Airports: 45 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (1999 est.)
@Liberia:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Navy
Military personnel availability: males aged 15-49: 703,107 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 378,426 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $1 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY98)
@Liberia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: increasingly a hub for Southeast and
Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for the European and
US markets
______________________________________________________________________
LIBYA
@Libya:Introduction
Background: Since he took control in a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI has promoted his own political system - a mix of socialism and Islam - which he refers to as the Third International Theory. Seeing himself as a revolutionary leader, he used oil profits during the 1970s and 1980s to spread his ideology beyond Libya, even backing subversives and terrorists in other countries to accelerate the fall of Marxism and capitalism. Libyan military efforts didn't go well; for example, the extended campaign of Libyan troops in the Aozou Strip in northern Chad was eventually pushed back in 1987. Libyan support for terrorism went down after the UN imposed sanctions in 1992. Those sanctions were lifted in April 1999.
@Libya:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, by the Mediterranean Sea, situated between
Egypt and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 25° 00' N, 17° 00' E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 4,383 km border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline: 1,770 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees 30 minutes north
Climate: Mediterranean along the coast; dry, extremely hot desert interior
Terrain: primarily dry, flat to rolling plains, plateaus, and low areas.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 91% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,700 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: the hot, dry, dust-filled ghibli is a southern wind that lasts one to four days in the spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms.
Environment - current issues: desertification; extremely limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the biggest water development initiative in the world, is being constructed to transport water from vast aquifers beneath the Sahara to coastal cities.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
@Libya:People
Population: 5,115,450 note: includes 162,669 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 938,476; female 899,139) 15-64 years: 60% (male 1,595,306; female 1,485,069) 65 years and over: 4% (male 97,770; female 99,690) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.42% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 27.68 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 3.51 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.08 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.45 years male: 73.34 years female: 77.66 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.71 children per woman (2000 est.)
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 spoken in the major cities.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.2% male: 87.9% female: 63% (1995 est.)
@Libya:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya conventional short form: Libya local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah local short form: none
Data code: LY
Government type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the people through local councils; in reality, 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: December 24, 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday: Revolution Day, September 1 (1969)
Constitution: December 11, 1969, amended March 2, 1977
Legal system: based on the 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 old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since September 1, 1969); note - holds no official title, but is the de facto chief of state head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Premier) Mubarak al-SHAMEKH (since March 2, 2000) cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government is elected by the General People's Congress; last election held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Mubarak al-SHAMEKH elected head of government; percent of General People's Congress vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a system of people's committees)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: various Arab nationalist movements with very small memberships might be operating secretly, along with some Islamic groups.
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,
AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Libya doesn't have an embassy in the US.
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US stopped all embassy activities in Tripoli on May 2, 1980.
Flag description: solid green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
@Libya:Economy
Economy - overview: The socialist-oriented economy relies mainly on revenue from the oil sector, which provides nearly all export earnings and about a quarter of GDP. These oil revenues, combined with a small population, give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but very little of this income reaches the lower levels of society. In this state-controlled environment, import restrictions and inefficient resource distribution have caused periodic shortages of essential goods and food. The non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, making up about 20% of GDP, have expanded from primarily processing agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Adverse climatic conditions and poor soil severely limit agricultural output, leading Libya to import around 75% of its food needs. Rising oil prices in 1999 resulted in increased export revenues and helped breathe life into the economy. After the lifting of UN sanctions in 1999, Libya has been working to become more attractive to foreign investors, and several international companies have visited to pursue contracts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $39.3 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,900 (est. 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 47% services: 46% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 1.2 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services and government 54%, industry 29%, agriculture 17% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $3.6 billion expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: oil, food production, textiles, crafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 16.92 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 15.736 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts; beef, eggs
Exports: $6.6 billion (f.o.b., estimated in 1998)
Exports - commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas
Exports - partners: Italy 40%, Germany 17%, Spain 12%, France 4%,
Sudan 4%, UK 3% (1997)
Imports: $7 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners: Italy 23%, Germany 12%, UK 9%, France 7%, Tunisia 5%, Belgium 4% (1997)
Debt - external: $4 billion (1998 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $8.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.4687 (January 2000), 0.4616 (1999), 0.3785 (1998), 0.3891 (1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995); official rate: 0.45 (December 1998)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Libya:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 318,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: the telecommunications system is being updated; the mobile cellular telephone system started 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 17, FM 4, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 1.35 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1997)
Televisions: 730,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Libya:Transportation
Railways: note: Libya hasn't had any operational railroads since 1965, as all previous systems have been dismantled; current plans aim to build a 1.435-meter standard gauge line from the Tunisian border to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, which is located in a mineral-rich area, but progress has been slow; there are also plans made in collaboration with Egypt to create a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk, with the initial completion date set for mid-1994; Libya signed contracts with Bahne of Egypt and Jez Sistemas Ferroviarios in 1998 for the supply of crossings and pointwork.
Highways: total: 83,200 km paved: 47,590 km unpaved: 35,610 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: none
Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km
Ports and harbors: Al Khums, Benghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah,
Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Merchant marine: total: 27 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 401,303 GRT/656,632 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 6, roll-on/roll-off 4, short-sea passenger 4 (1999 est.)
Airports: 142 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 59 over 3,047 m: 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 83 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.)
@Libya:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Command
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,415,305 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 841,039 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 62,200 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percentage of GDP: NA%
@Libya:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria.
______________________________________________________________________
LIECHTENSTEIN
@Liechtenstein:Introduction
Background: The Principality of Liechtenstein was founded within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719 and became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it had strong ties to Austria, but the economic destruction from that war led Liechtenstein to create a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II, during which Liechtenstein stayed neutral, the country's low taxes have driven impressive economic growth.
@Liechtenstein:Geography
Location: Central Europe, situated between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47.10 N, 9.32 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, overcast winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, overcast, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with the Rhine Valley in the western third
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric power potential, farmland
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 35% other: 25% (1993 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, 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, it's one of just two doubly landlocked countries in the world; it has a range of microclimatic variations depending on elevation.
@Liechtenstein:People
Population: 32,207 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 2,970; female 2,988) 15-64 years: 71% (male 11,379; female 11,370) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,393; female 2,107) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 11.83 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.64 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 males/females under 15 years: 0.99 males/females 15-64 years: 1 male/female 65 years and over: 0.66 males/females total population: 0.96 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.07 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.81 years male: 75.16 years female: 82.47 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and others 12.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%, other 4.9% (1996)
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1981 est.)
@Liechtenstein:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein
Data code: LS
Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Vaduz
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular -
Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan,
Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: January 23, 1719 - The Principality of Liechtenstein was established; July 12, 1806 - Achieved independence from the Holy Roman Empire.
National holiday: Assumption Day, August 15
Constitution: 5 October 1921
Legal system: local civil and criminal laws; accepts mandatory ICJ jurisdiction, with exceptions.
Suffrage: 20 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since November 13, 1989, took on executive powers August 26, 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein, son of the monarch (born June 11, 1968) head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since December 15, 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since February 2, 1997) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is typically appointed head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed deputy head of government by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote using proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on February 2, 1997 (next to be held in 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Superior Court
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald
KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBPL; The Free
List or FL [Christel HILTI, Hansjorg HILTI, Helen MARXER, Hugo RISCH,
Margrit WILLE]
International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA,
ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Liechtenstein doesn't have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy for regular diplomatic matters.
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also appointed to represent Liechtenstein.
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red, with a gold crown on the left side of the blue band.
@Liechtenstein:Economy
Economy - overview: Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has become a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-market economy with a strong financial services sector and living standards comparable to the urban areas of its larger European neighbors. Low business taxes—the maximum tax rate is 18%—and straightforward incorporation rules have attracted around 73,700 holding or "letter box" companies to set up nominal offices in Liechtenstein, contributing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its currency. It imports over 90% of its energy needs. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization that connects the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to align its economic policies with those of a more integrated Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $730 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,000 (estimated in 1998)
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): 0.5% (estimated for 1997)
Labor force: 22,891, with 13,847 being foreigners; 8,231 commute from
Austria and Switzerland to work each day
Labor force - by occupation: industry, trade, and construction 45%, services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and gardening 2% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.8% (February 1999)
Budget: revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 150 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Exports: $2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities: small specialized machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
Exports - partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)
Imports: $917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities: machines, metal products, textiles, food, motor vehicles
Imports - partners: EU countries, Switzerland (1996)
Debt - external: $0 (1996)
Economic aid - recipient: none
Currency: 1 Swiss franc (SFR) = 100 centimes.
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SFR) per US$1 - 1.5878 (January 2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Liechtenstein:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 19,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: connected 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 115 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (1999)
@Liechtenstein:Transportation
Railways: total: 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Highways: total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
@Liechtenstein:Military
Military - note: defense is Switzerland's responsibility
@Liechtenstein:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic that was taken from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic argues that restitution doesn't apply to anything before February 1948, when the communists took control.
______________________________________________________________________
LITHUANIA
@Lithuania:Introduction
Background: Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was taken over by the USSR in 1940. In March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but this declaration wasn’t widely recognized until September 1991 (after the failed coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops pulled out in 1993. Since then, Lithuania has restructured its economy for eventual integration into Western European institutions.
@Lithuania:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, next to the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and
Russia
Geographic coordinates: 56°00'N, 24°00'E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 65,200 sq km land: 65,200 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, mild winters and summers
Terrain: flat land, several scattered small lakes, rich soil
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land
Land use: arable land: 35% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 31% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with oil products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
@Lithuania:People
Population: 3,620,756 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 357,712; female 342,796) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,177,732; female 1,259,682) 65 years and over: 14% (male 163,470; female 319,364) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.29% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 9.77 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 12.87 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.67 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.09 years male: 63.07 years female: 75.41 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 (mainly), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox,
Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)
@Lithuania:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LH
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and
11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*,
Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos
Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas,
Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes
Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio
Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu
Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*,
Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas,
Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio
Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu
Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo
Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku
Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas,
Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence: September 6, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Statehood Day, February 16 (1918)
Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system: based on a civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since February 26, 1998) head of government: Premier Andrius KUBILIUS (since November 12, 1999) 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 December 21, 1997, and January 5, 1998 (next to be held in 2003); premier appointed by the president with the approval of Parliament election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote - Valdas ADAMKUS 50.4%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.6%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by public vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on October 20 and November 10, 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TS 69, LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by Parliament;
Court of Appeal, judges appointed by Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP
; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania or
LDDP ; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie
WURTH-POLFER, president]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS
; Lithuanian Center Union or LCS
; Lithuanian Farmer's Party or LUP
(previously Farmers' Union) ; Lithuanian
Nationalist Union or LTS ; Lithuanian
Polish Union or LLS ; Lithuanian
Social Democratic Party or LSDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 234-5860 FAX: (202) 328-0466 consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723 telephone: (2) 223-031 FAX: (6) 706-084
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top), green, and red
@Lithuania:Economy
Economy - overview: Lithuania, the Baltic state that has done the most trade with Russia, faced its own economic and financial crisis in 1999 due to the government's mismanaged economic policies and its inadequate response to the August 1998 Russian financial crisis. Preliminary figures show a 3% decline in GDP, 10% unemployment - the highest since independence in 1991 - and a budget deficit estimated between 8 and 9% of GDP. The policies that Prime Minister KUBILIUS implemented when he took charge in November 1999 reflect a commitment to fiscal discipline, economic stabilization, and quicker reforms. The strict 2000 budget is based on a 2% GDP growth forecast, 3% inflation, and a 2.8% budget deficit. At the Helsinki EU summit in December 1999, Lithuania was invited to begin EU accession talks in early 2000. Privatizing large state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, and reducing the high current account deficit are challenges for the upcoming year.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $17.3 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -3% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,800 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 32% services: 58% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 1.8 million
Labor force - by occupation: industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services 50% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, TV sets, refrigerators and freezers, oil refining, small shipbuilding, furniture manufacturing, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate: -14% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 15.58 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 13.09% hydro: 4.3% nuclear: 82.61% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 7.829 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 7 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 340 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, mineral products 19%, textiles and clothing 19%, chemicals 10%, food products (1998)
Exports - partners: Russia 17.4%, Germany 15.8%, Latvia 12.7%, Denmark 5.9%, Belarus 5.2% (1999)
Imports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 30%, mineral products 16%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, food items (1998)
Imports - partners: Russia 20.4%, Germany 16.5%, Denmark 3.8%, Belarus 2.2%, Latvia 2% (1999)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $228.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 cents
Exchange rates: litai per US$1 - 4.000 (fixed rate since May 1, 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Lithuania:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.048 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 297,500 (1998)
Telephone system: it's not great but is being updated to offer better international capabilities and improved access for homes. Domestically, a national fiber-optic trunk system for long-distance communication is almost finished; rural exchanges are being upgraded and expanded; mobile cellular systems are being set up; Internet access is available; however, there are still many pending applications for telephone subscriptions. Internationally, there are landline connections to Latvia and Poland; key international connections are made to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway through submarine cables for further satellite transmission.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 112, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 82 (mostly repeater stations) (1998)
Televisions: 1.7 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 10 (1999)
@Lithuania:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,002 km broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
Highways: total: 71,375 km paved: 64,951 km (including 417 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,424 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine: total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 316,319 GRT/351,700 DWT ships by type: cargo 23, combination bulk 11, petroleum tanker 2, rail car carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 96 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 71 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)
@Lithuania:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Force,
Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 925,551 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 727,609 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 27,259 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $181 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY99)
@Lithuania:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: ongoing discussions about the maritime boundary dispute with Latvia (main issue is oil exploration rights); 1997 border agreement with Russia still not ratified.
Illicit drugs: a transit hub for opiates and other illegal drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe and Scandinavia
______________________________________________________________________
LUXEMBOURG
@Luxembourg:Introduction
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 more autonomy. Full independence was achieved in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it joined the Benelux Customs Union and 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.
@Luxembourg:Geography
Location: Western Europe, situated between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49.75 N, 6.17 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 2,586 sq km land: 2,586 sq km water: 0 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: altered continental with mild winters and cool summers
Terrain: mostly gently rolling hills with wide, shallow valleys; hills becoming slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to the Moselle floodplain in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Burgplatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (not being mined anymore), farmland
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 21% other: 34%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (including Belgium) (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution in cities
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, 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,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea
Geography - note: landlocked
@Luxembourg:People
Population: 437,389 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 42,375; female 40,109) 15-64 years: 67% (male 148,205; female 145,325) 65 years and over: 14% (male 24,446; female 36,929) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.27% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.45 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.91 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 9.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males per female under 15 years: 1.06 males per female 15-64 years: 1.02 males per female 65 years and over: 0.66 males per female total population: 0.97 males per female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.83 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.13 years male: 73.84 years female: 80.63 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups: Celtic roots (with a mix of French and German), Portuguese,
Italian, and European (temporary and employed residents)
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Languages: Luxembourgian, German, French, English
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1980 est.)
@Luxembourg:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg
Data code: LU
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Luxembourg
Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher,
Independence: 1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: National Day, June 23 (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday)
Constitution: October 17, 1868, with occasional updates
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts mandatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since November 12, 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of the monarch, born April 16, 1955); note - Grand Duke JEAN plans to abdicate in September 2000 in favor of his oldest son, Prince HENRI head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since January 1, 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER (since August 7, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and vice prime minister are appointed by the monarch, following a popular election to the Chamber of Deputies; they are accountable 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 on June 13, 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2004) 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 note: the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat, which has 21 members who are appointed for life, is an advisory body whose opinions are considered by the Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice or Cour Supérieure de
Justice, judges are appointed for life by the monarch; Administrative
Court or Tribunal Administratif, judges are appointed for life by the
monarch
Political parties and leaders: Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights or ADR; Christian Social People's Party or CSV; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie POLFER]; Green Party; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP; Marxist and Reformed Communist Party DEI LENK (the Left); 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 for civil servants); 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, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: (202) 265-4171 FAX: (202) 328-8270 consulates general: New York and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James C. HORMEL 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: 46 01 23 FAX: 46 14 01
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), white, and light blue; resembles the flag of the Netherlands, which has a darker blue and is shorter; the design was inspired by the flag of France.
@Luxembourg:Economy
Economy - overview: The stable, high-income economy exhibits moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, which was previously dominated by steel, has increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. In recent decades, growth in the financial sector has more than offset the decline in steel. Services, particularly banking, now make up a larger share of the economy. Agriculture consists mainly of small family-owned farms. Luxembourg has especially strong trade and financial connections with Belgium and the Netherlands, and as a member of the EU, it benefits from the open European market. It joined with 10 other EU members to launch the euro on January 1, 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $34,200 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 23% services: 76% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 236,400 (one-third of the labor force is made up of foreign workers, mainly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 83.2%, industry 14.3%, agriculture 2.5% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.7% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $4.73 billion expenditures: $4.71 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: banking, steel production, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate: 1.6% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 382 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60.73% hydro: 24.86% nuclear: 0% other: 14.41% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 5.856 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 900 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 6.4 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine, grapes; livestock products
Exports: $7.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, and other industrial products
Exports - partners: Germany 33%, France 20%, Belgium 12%, UK 6%, US 5%, Netherlands 4% (1998)
Imports: $9.6 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: minerals, metals, food products, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners: Belgium 36%, Germany 27%, France 12%, Netherlands 5%, US 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $160 million (1999)
Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 cents; note - cents are no longer in use
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995); note - the Luxembourg franc is equal to the Belgian franc, which is freely used in Luxembourg. note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 40.3399 francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in participating countries for all transactions in 2002.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Luxembourg:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 314,700 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 95,400 (1999)
Telephone system: highly advanced, fully automated, and efficient system, primarily using 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: 8 (1999)
Televisions: 285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (1999)
@Luxembourg:Transportation
Railways: total: 274 km standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified; 178 km double track) (1998)
Highways: total: 5,166 km paved: 5,166 km (including 118 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 37 km; Moselle
Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km
Ports and harbors: Mertert
Merchant marine: total: 48 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,283,738 GRT/1,872,071 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, chemical tanker 10, container 1, liquefied gas 18, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 6, roll-on/roll-off 7 (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Luxembourg:Military
Military branches: Army; note - the new government got rid of the
Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 111,882 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 92,238 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,563 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $131 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1% (FY98)
@Luxembourg:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MACAU
@Macau:Introduction
Background: Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Following an agreement signed by China and Portugal on April 13, 1987, Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on December 20, 1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" policy, its socialist economic system will not be applied in Macau and that Macau will have a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
@Macau:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, next to the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22.10° N, 113.33° E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 21 sq km land: 21 sq km water: 0 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: 40 km
Maritime claims: not specified
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters and warm summers.
Terrain: generally flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: mainly urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the islands of Coloane and Taipa to the mainland peninsula.
@Macau:People
Population: 445,594 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 53,986; female 50,379) 15-64 years: 69% (male 146,474; female 162,672) 65 years and over: 8% (male 12,932; female 19,151) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.83% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.54 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 3.64 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 9.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s) per female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s) per female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s) per female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s) per female total population: 0.92 male(s) per female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.49 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.6 years male: 78.8 years female: 84.55 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry), Portuguese, other
Religions: 50% Buddhist, 15% Roman Catholic, 35% identifying as none or other (1997 est.)
Languages: Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 90% male: 93% female: 86% (1981 est.)
@Macau:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Macau local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese) local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
Data code: MC
Dependency status: special administrative region of China
Government type: NA
Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region of
China)
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day, October 1-2; note - December 20, 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 the Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage: direct election at 18 years old, universal for permanent residents who have lived in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (there are currently 257 registered) and a 300-member Election Committee selected from various regional groups, municipal organizations, and central government bodies.
Executive branch: chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since March 27, 1993) head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since December 20, 1999) cabinet: Executive Council includes all five government secretaries, three legislators, and two businesspeople elections: N/A
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on September 22, 1996 (next to be held by October 15, 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APPEM 2, UNIPRO 2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UPD 1, ANMD 1
Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau Special
Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders: here’s a list of the groups that took part in the last legislative elections: Association of New Democratic Macau or ANMD; Promoting Association for the Economy of Macau or APPEM; Convergence for Development or CODEM; General Union for the Development of Macau or UDM; Union for Development or UPD; Promoting Union for Progress or UNIPRO. Note: there are no official political parties, but civic associations serve this role instead.
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: CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), 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, and US interests are overseen 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 the center of the arc and four smaller ones.
@Macau:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy relies heavily on tourism (including gambling) as well as textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have led to the development of other small industries, such as toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourism sector has contributed about 25% of GDP, while the clothing industry has generated approximately three-quarters of export earnings; the gambling industry likely makes up over 40% of GDP. Macau relies on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the primary suppliers of raw materials and capital goods. Output fell by 4% in 1998, and the economy stayed weak in 1999. Macau returned to Chinese administration on December 20, 1999. Gang violence, a negative aspect of the economy, is expected to decrease in 2000, benefiting the tourism sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.65 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -4% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,500 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 40% services: 59% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -3% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 281,117 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 31%, restaurants and hotels 28%, other services 41%
Unemployment rate: 6.9% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $1.34 billion expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $260 million (1998 est.)
Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, electronics, footwear, tourism, gambling
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.34 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.42 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 1 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 175 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, vegetables
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - goods: textiles, clothing, toys, electronics, cement, footwear, machinery
Exports - partners: US 48%, EU 31%, Hong Kong 8%, China 7% (1998)
Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: raw materials, food items, machinery, fuels, consumer products
Imports - partners: China 33%, Hong Kong 24%, EU 11%, Taiwan 10%,
Japan 8% (1998)
Debt - external: $1.7 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.01 (January 2000), 7.99 (1999), 7.98 (1998), 7.99 (1997), 7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Macau:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 222,500 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 55,000 (1998)
Telephone system: 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: 0 (receives broadcasts from Hong Kong) (1997)
Televisions: 49,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Macau:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Macau
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Macau:Military
Military branches: The Macau garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) consists of around 500 soldiers.
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 123,581 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 67,974 (2000 est.)
Military - note: responsibility for defense returned to China on December 20, 1999.
@Macau:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MACEDONIA
______________________________________________________________________
MADAGASCAR
@Madagascar:Introduction
Background: Once an independent kingdom, Madagascar turned into a French colony in 1886, but gained its independence again in 1960. Between 1992 and 1993, free presidential and National Assembly elections took place, marking the end of 17 years of single-party rule.
@Madagascar:Geography
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 land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,500 sq km
Area - comparative: just under twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or 100 nautical miles from the 2,500-meter deep isobath exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical by the coast, mild inland, dry in the south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau, and mountains in the 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, semi-precious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 40% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (estimated 1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues: soil erosion is caused by deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water is contaminated with raw sewage and other organic waste; several species of plants and animals unique to the island are endangered.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: the world's fourth-largest island; strategically located along the Mozambique Channel
@Madagascar:People
Population: 15,506,472 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 3,504,562; female 3,481,056) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,964,564; female 4,052,056) 65 years and over: 3% (male 237,691; female 266,543) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.02% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 42.92 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 12.69 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 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: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 85.26 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.95 years male: 52.71 years female: 57.26 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.84 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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: 80% male: 88% female: 73% (1990 est.)
@Madagascar:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar local short form: Madagascar former: Malagasy Republic
Data code: MA
Government type: republic
Capital: Antananarivo
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo,
Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence: June 26, 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, June 26, 1960
Constitution: August 19, 1992, through a national referendum
Legal system: based on the French civil law system and traditional
Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since February 10, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on December 29, 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the legislature is set to become a bicameral Parliament with the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of the Senate seats 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 17 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AREMA 63, LEADER/Fanilo 16, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 32
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supreme Court; High Constitutional
Court or High Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Action, Truth, Development, and Harmony
or AFFA; Association for the Rebirth of
Madagascar or AREMA; Congress Party for
Malagasy Independence or AKFM/Fanavaozana [Pastor Richard
ANDRIAMANJATO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National
Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo; Fihaonana Rally or
Fihaonana; Group of Reflection and Action for the
Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo;
Judged by Your Work or AVI; Movement for the
Progress of Madagascar or MFM; National Union
for Development and Democracy or UNDD; Renewal of the Social
Democratic Party or RPSD
Political pressure groups and leaders: Federalist Movement; National
Council of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-5525, 5526 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Shirley E. BARNES embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18 FAX: (2) 345-39
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on the hoist side
@Madagascar:Economy
Economy - overview: Madagascar is dealing with ongoing issues of chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education services, a population growth rate of about 3% per year, and significant loss of forest cover, along with erosion. Agriculture, which includes fishing and forestry, is the backbone of the economy, making up 34% of GDP and contributing over 70% to export earnings. The industrial sector mainly involves textile manufacturing and processing agricultural products. From 1992 to 1997, average output growth was less than the population growth rate. Economic growth has been stunted by antigovernment strikes and protests, a drop in global coffee demand, and inconsistent government commitment to economic reform. Major challenges hinder Madagascar's ability to tap into its considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms, external financial support, and foreign investment will be crucial factors. Growth is expected to be around 5% in 2000-01.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.5% (estimated for 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $780 (estimated in 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 12% services: 54% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 7 million (1995)
Unemployment rate: NA%
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: 5% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 750 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 33.33% hydro: 66.67% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 698 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports: $600 million (f.o.b., estimated 1998)
Exports - commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)
Exports - partners: France 40%, USA 9%, Germany 8%, Japan 6%, UK 6% (1997)
Imports: $881 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)
Imports - partners: France 39%, Hong Kong 5%, Japan 5%, China,
Singapore (1997)
Debt - external: $4.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $838 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 6,302.9 (October 1999), 5,877.81 (1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Madagascar:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 33,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: the system is better than average for the region domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2 (plus 8 repeater stations), FM 7, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: 3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 36 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 325,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@Madagascar:Transportation
Railways: total: 883 km narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-meter gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: only locally important; isolated streams and small sections of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga,
Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine: total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 24,819 GRT/34,173 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 133 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 10,000 ft: 1 8,000 to 10,000 ft: 2 5,000 to 8,000 ft: 4 3,000 to 5,000 ft: 20 under 3,000 ft: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 42 (1999 est.)
@Madagascar:Military
Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces,
Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force),
Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,525,754 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males ages 15-49: 2,092,308 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 149,157 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $29 million (FY94)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1% (FY94)
@Madagascar:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims on Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs: illegal producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) mainly used for local consumption; a transit hub for heroin.
______________________________________________________________________
MALAWI
@Malawi:Introduction
Background: Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After thirty years of one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution, which took full effect the following year.
@Malawi:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates: 13°30′S, 34°00′E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 118,480 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,400 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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: subtropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain: a long, narrow plateau featuring rolling plains, rounded hills, and some mountains.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Sapitwa 3,002 m
Natural resources: limestone, farmland, hydropower, untapped deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: arable land: 34% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 39% other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, and industrial waste; siltation of spawning grounds threatens fish populations.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked
@Malawi:People
Population: 10,385,849 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 2,335,440; female 2,324,012) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,671,580; female 2,766,560) 65 years and over: 3% (male 117,932; female 170,325) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.61% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 38.49 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 22.44 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 122.28 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 37.58 years male: 37.2 years female: 37.98 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.33 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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
Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), and other regionally significant languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 72.8% female: 43.4% (1999 est.)
@Malawi:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi former: Nyasaland
Data code: MI
Government type: multiparty democracy
Capital: Lilongwe
Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,
Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe, Machinga
(Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata
Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
note: there may be three new districts named Balaka, Likoma, and
Phalombe
Independence: July 6, 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day July 6 (1964); Republic Day July 6 (1966)
Constitution: 18 May 1995
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 old; for everyone
Executive branch: chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since May 21, 1994); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since May 21, 1994); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: 28-member cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on June 15, 1999 (next vote scheduled for 2004) election results: Bakili MULUZI reelected as president; percent of vote - Bakili MULUZI (UDF) 51.4%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MCP-AFORD) 44.3%
Legislative branch: National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on June 15, 1999 (next to be held in 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - UDF 48%, MCP 34%, AFORD 15%, others 3%; seats by party - UDF 93, MCP 66, AFORD 29, others 4, vacancy 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court, chief justice appointed by the president, additional judges appointed based on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy (AFORD)
; Malawi Congress Party (MCP) [Gwanda
CHAKUAMBA, president, John TEMBO, vice president]; Malawi Democratic
Party (MDP); Social Democratic Party (SDP); United Democratic Front (UDF) [Bakili
MULUZI] - governing party
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 797-1007
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Ellen SHIPPY embassy: address NA, in new development area in Lilongwe mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: 783 166 FAX: 780 471
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of black (top), red, and green with a bright, rising red sun centered in the black stripe.
Government - note: the executive has a significant impact on the legislature
@Malawi:Economy
Economy - overview: Landlocked Malawi is considered one of the world's least developed countries. The economy is mainly agricultural, with around 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture makes up 37% of GDP and 85% of export revenues. The economy relies heavily on significant financial support from the IMF, the World Bank, and various donor countries. The government is grappling with major challenges, such as boosting exports, enhancing education and healthcare facilities, addressing environmental issues like deforestation and erosion, and tackling the rapidly escalating HIV/AIDS crisis.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.2% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $940 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 37% industry: 29% services: 34% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 54% (1990-91 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 45% (1999)
Labor force: 3.5 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 86%, wage earners 14% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $490 million expenditures: $523 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)
Industries: tobacco, tea, sugar, lumber products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 922 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.39% hydro: 97.61% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 857 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, legumes; cattle, goats
Exports: $510 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products
Exports - partners: South Africa 15%, US 9%, Germany 9%, Netherlands 7%, Japan (1998)
Imports: $512 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: food, oil products, semi-manufactured goods, consumer items, transport equipment
Imports - partners: South Africa 38%, Zimbabwe 18%, Zambia 8%, Japan 4%, US, UK, Germany (1998)
Debt - external: $2.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $416.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala
Exchange rates: Malawian kwachas (MK) per US$1 - 46.3494 (December 1999), 44.0881 (1999), 31.0727 (1998), 16.4442 (1997), 15.3085 (1996), 15.2837 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Malawi:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 34,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 382 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: reliable system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Indian Ocean and 1 in the Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1999)
Televisions: 0 (1999)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Malawi:Transportation
Railways: total: 789 km narrow gauge: 789 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km
Ports and harbors: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota,
Chilumba
Airports: 44 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 23 (1999 est.)
@Malawi:Military
Military branches: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),
Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,397,385 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,229,676 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $17 million (FY96/97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.8% (FY96/97)
@Malawi:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: disagreement with Tanzania over the border in
Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
______________________________________________________________________
MALAYSIA
@Malaysia:Introduction
Background: Malaysia was formed in 1963 when Malaya (which gained independence in 1957) joined with the former British Singapore, creating West Malaysia, along with Sabah and Sarawak in north Borneo, making up East Malaysia. The initial three years of independence were troubled by conflicts with Indonesia. Singapore left the union in 1965.
@Malaysia:Geography
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: 2.5° N, 112.5° E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 329,750 sq km land: 328,550 sq km water: 1,200 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast
(October to February) monsoons
Terrain: coastal plains that rise into hills and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources: tin, oil, wood, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 68% other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,941 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding, landslides
Environment - current issues: air pollution from factories and car exhaust; water pollution from untreated sewage; deforestation; smoke and 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: important location along the Strait of Malacca and the southern South China Sea
@Malaysia:People
Population: 21,793,293 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 3,914,112; female 3,697,731) 15-64 years: 61% (male 6,655,506; female 6,642,073) 65 years and over: 4% (male 386,387; female 497,484) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.01% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 25.3 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.25 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.96 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.83 years male: 68.22 years female: 73.63 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.29 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups: Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 26%, Indian 7%, others 9%
Religions: Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism; note - in addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects
(Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu,
Malayalam, Punjabi, Thai; note - additionally, in East Malaysia several
indigenous languages are spoken, the largest of which are Iban and
Kadazan
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.5% male: 89.1% female: 78.1% (1995 est.)
@Malaysia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Malayan Union
Data code: MY
Government type: constitutional monarchy note: Malaya (now Peninsular Malaysia) became independent on 31 August 1957; the Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore) was established on 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965); it is nominally led by the paramount ruler and has a bicameral Parliament with a non-elected upper house and an elected lower house; in the Peninsular Malaysian states, there are hereditary rulers except for Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are appointed by the Malaysian Government; the powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under the federation's terms, Sabah and Sarawak maintain certain constitutional privileges (e.g., the right to manage their own immigration controls); Sabah has 20 seats in the House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers assigned to the federal government; Sarawak has 28 seats in the House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers also assigned to the federal government.
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan* note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is located within the federal territory of Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not interchangeable
Independence: August 31, 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, August 31 (1957)
Constitution: August 31, 1957, amended September 16, 1963
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court upon request of the supreme leader of the federation; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Paramount Ruler Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since April 26, 1999); Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin ibni A-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since July 16, 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since January 8, 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with the consent of the paramount ruler elections: paramount ruler and deputy paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; last election held on February 27, 1999 (next to be held in 2004); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; after legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister election results: Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah elected paramount ruler; Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin ibni A-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah elected deputy paramount ruler
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament, or Parlimen, consists of the non-elected 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 are elected by popular vote, with an emphasis on the rural Malay population, serving five-year terms). Elections: House of Representatives - last held on November 29, 1999 (next to be held on November 3, 2004). Election results: House of Representatives - percentage of votes by party - NF 56%, other 44%; seats by party - NF 148, PAS 27, DAP 10, NJP 5, PBS 3.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the top leader based on the prime minister's recommendations.
Political parties and leaders: State Reform Party or STAR [PATAV
Rubis]; Democratic Action Party or DAP; Gerakan Rakyat
Malaysia; Liberal Democratic Party;
Malaysian Chinese Association or MCA; Malaysian
Indian Congress or MIC; National Front or NF [MAHATHIR
bin Mohamad] (a coalition of 14 political parties, dominated by the
UMNO, and including UPKO, SAPP, and the Liberal Democratic Party);
National Justice Party or NJP; Parti Akar
; Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak or PBDS [Datuk
Leo MOGGIE]; Parti Bersekutu; Parti Islam SeMalaysia
or PAS; Party Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu or
PBB; Sabah People's
Progressive Party or SAPP; Sabah People's United Party
(Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) or PBRS; Sarawak
National Party or SNAP; Sarawak United
People's Party or SUPP; United
Kadazan People's Organization or UPKO (formerly Parti Demokratik
Sabah); United Malays National Organization or UMNO
; United Sabah Party (main opposition party) (Parti Bersatu
Sabah) or PBS
note: after the election, the following parties were dissolved
- Spirit of '46 or Semangat '46
and Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS [Datuk Seri Joseph
PAIRIN Kitingan]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC,
CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTAET,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dato' GHAZZALI Sheikh Abdul Khalid chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-2700 FAX: (202) 483-7661 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: Chief of Mission: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE 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: (3) 2168-5000 Fax: (3) 242-2207
Flag description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner featuring a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was inspired by the flag of the US
@Malaysia:Economy
Economy - overview: Malaysia quickly recovered economically in 1999 from its worst recession since gaining independence in 1957. GDP grew by 5%, driven by a robust export sector, which expanded by over 10%, and fiscal stimulus from increased government spending. The large export surplus allowed the country to build up its already substantial financial reserves to $31 billion by the end of 1999. This stable macroeconomic environment, where both inflation and unemployment are at 3% or lower, has made it possible to relax most of the capital controls that the government imposed in 1998 to mitigate the effects of the Asian financial crisis. Government and private analysts expect Malaysia to maintain this trend in 2000, predicting GDP growth of another 5% to 6%. While Malaysia's short-term economic outlook appears positive, its long-term prospects are hindered by a lack of reforms in the corporate sector, especially regarding competitiveness and high corporate debt.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $229.1 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,700 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 46% services: 42% (1998)
Population below the poverty line: 6.8% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 20.4% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1999)
Labor force: 9.3 million (1999 estimate)
Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 16%, local trade and tourism 17%, services 15%, government 10%, construction 9% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $23.2 billion expenditures: $27.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Industries: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and palm oil processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and timber processing; Sabah - logging, oil production; Sarawak - agricultural processing, oil production and refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate: 8.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 57.435 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.78% hydro: 5.22% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 53.423 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 75 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 83 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, rice; Sabah - staple crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber, pepper; timber
Exports: $83.5 billion (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: electronic equipment, oil and liquefied natural gas, chemicals, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles
Exports - partners: US 23%, Singapore 16%, Japan 11%, Hong Kong 5%,
Netherlands 5%, Taiwan 5%, Thailand 3% (1999 est.)
Imports: $61.5 billion (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, food, fuel, and lubricants
Imports - partners: Japan 21%, US 18%, Singapore 14%, Taiwan 5%, South
Korea 5%, Thailand 4%, China 3% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $43.6 billion (1999 estimate)
Currency: 1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen
Exchange rates: ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 3.8000 (January 2000), 3.8000 (1999), 3.9244 (1998), 2.8133 (1997), 2.5159 (1996), 2.5044 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Malaysia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 4.4 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.17 million (1998)
Telephone system: international service is good domestic: good intercity service is provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; there is an 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 in the Indian Ocean and 1 in the Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 56, FM 31 (plus 13 repeaters), shortwave 5 (1999)
Radios: 9.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 27 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (1999)
Televisions: 3.6 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 8 (1999)
@Malaysia:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,801 km narrow gauge: 1,801 km 1.000-m gauge (148 km electrified) (2000)
Highways: total: 94,500 km paved: 70,970 km (including 580 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,530 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 7,296 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km,
Sarawak 2,518 km)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km
Ports and harbors: Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat,
Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson,
Port Klang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau
Merchant marine: total: 361 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 5,000,706 GRT/7,393,915 DWT ships by type: bulk 61, cargo 119, chemical tanker 34, container 55, liquefied gas 19, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 57, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 6, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5 (1999 est.)
Airports: 115 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 83 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 74 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Malaysia:Military
Military branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal
Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police,
Sarawak Border Scouts
Military manpower - military age: 21 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 5,662,933 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,431,602 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 183,139 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $1.211 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.6% (FY98)
@Malaysia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: involved in a complicated dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; the Philippines have not completely dropped their claim to Sabah State; two islands are disputed with Singapore; Sipadan and Ligitan Islands are contested with Indonesia.
Illicit drugs: a transit point for some illegal drugs heading to Western markets; drug trafficking is prosecuted seriously and comes with harsh penalties.
______________________________________________________________________
MALDIVES
@Maldives:Introduction
Background: The Maldives were for a long time a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three years after gaining independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
@Maldives:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Geographic coordinates: 3° 15' N, 73° 00' E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 300 sq km land: 300 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 644 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
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: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 3% other: 84% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: the low elevation of islands makes them extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Environment - current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and rising sea levels; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); an archipelago with a strategic location situated along major sea routes in the Indian Ocean.
@Maldives:People
Population: 301,475 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 71,273; female 67,323) 15-64 years: 51% (male 78,598; female 75,331) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,666; female 4,284) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.06% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 38.96 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.32 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 1.09 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 65.52 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.2 years male: 61.05 years female: 63.4 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.62 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups: South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Languages: Maldivian Dhivehi (a dialect of Sinhala, using a script from
Arabic), and English, which is spoken by most government officials
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.2% male: 93.3% female: 93% (1995 est.)
@Maldives:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Data code: MV
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, Malé*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani,
Thaa, Vaavu
Independence: July 26, 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 26 (1965)
Constitution: adopted January 1998
Legal system: based on Islamic law with elements of English common law, mainly concerning commercial issues; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since November 11, 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since November 11, 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: appointed by the president; note - does not need to be members of the Majlis elections: president is nominated by the Majlis and that nomination must be approved by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval margin is required); president serves a five-year term; the last election was held on October 16, 1998 (next to be held in October 2003) election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percentage of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.9%
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: even though political parties aren't banned, there are none.
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: The Maldives doesn't have an embassy in the US, but it does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in the Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is assigned to the Maldives and makes regular visits there.
Flag description: red with a big green rectangle in the center that has a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the left side of the flag.
@Maldives:Economy
Economy - overview: Tourism, the largest industry in the Maldives, makes up 20% of GDP and over 60% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. More than 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Nearly 400,000 tourists visited the islands in 1998. Fishing is the second leading sector. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989 by first lifting import quotas and allowing some exports to be managed by the private sector. Since then, it has relaxed regulations to attract more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing still play a minor role in the economy, limited by the small amount of arable land and the lack of domestic labor. Most staple foods need to be imported. Industry, which mainly includes garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities are concerned about the effects of erosion and potential global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the land is just one meter or less above sea level.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $540 million (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 18% services: 62% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 67,000 (1995)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate: NEGL%
Budget: revenues: $166 million (excluding foreign grants) expenditures: $192 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (1999 est.)
Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, clothing, woven mats, rope, crafts, and coral and sand mining
Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (estimated for 1996)
Electricity - production: 85 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 79 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Exports: $98 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: fish, clothing
Exports - partners: US, UK, Sri Lanka, Japan
Imports: $312 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, intermediate goods, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners: Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Canada
Debt - external: $188 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari
Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.770 (fixed rate since 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Maldives:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 21,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 300 (1999)
Telephone system: 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 stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 35,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 10,000 (1999)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Maldives:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.)
Ports and harbors: Gan, Male
Merchant marine: total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 69,599 GRT/105,599 DWT ships by type: cargo 17, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)
@Maldives:Military
Military branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police force)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 68,940 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - suitable for military service: males aged 15-49: 38,402 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Maldives:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MALI
@Mali:Introduction
Background: The Sudanese Republic and Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal pulled out after just a few months, the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Dictatorship ended in 1991 with the establishment of a transitional government, and Mali held its first democratic presidential election in 1992. Since being reelected in 1997, President KONARE has kept pushing for political and economic reforms and has been fighting against corruption. In 1999, he announced that he would not seek a third term.
@Mali:Geography
Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 17° N, 4° W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1.24 million sq km land: 1.22 million sq km water: 20,000 sq km
Area - comparative: just under 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, Côte 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 from February to June; rainy, humid, and mild from June to November; cool and dry from November to February
Terrain: generally flat to rolling northern plains covered in sand; savanna in the south, rugged hills in the 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 used
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 6% other: 67% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dusty harmattan haze typical during dry seasons; frequent droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; insufficient access to drinking water; illegal hunting
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked
@Mali:People
Population: 10,685,948 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 2,537,586; female 2,508,782) 15-64 years: 50% (male 2,524,969; female 2,781,762) 65 years and over: 3% (male 156,447; female 176,402) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.98% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 49.23 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 19.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 123.25 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.66 years male: 45.5 years female: 47.85 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.89 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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%, and many other African languages
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 31% male: 39.4% female: 23.1% (1995 est.)
@Mali:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
Data code: ML
Government type: republic
Capital: Bamako
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao,
Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence: September 22, 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, September 22 (1960)
Constitution: adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system: based on the French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Court (which was officially established on March 9, 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since June 8, 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (since March 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held May 11, 1997 (next to be held in May 2002); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of vote - Alpha Oumar KONARE 95.9%, Mamadou DIABY 4.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on July 20 and August 3, 1997 (next to be held in two rounds in 2002); note - much of the opposition boycotted the election election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADEMA 130, PARENA 8, CDS 4, UDD 3, PDP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy (ADEMA)
; Block of Alternative for the
Renewal of Africa (BARA); Democratic and Social
Convention (CDS); Movement for the
Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa (MIRIA) [Mohamed
Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO]; National Congress for Democratic
Initiative (CNID); Party for Democracy and
Progress (PDP); Party for National Renewal (PARENA);
Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT); Rally for
Democracy and Progress (RDP); Sudanese
Union/African Democratic Rally (US/RDA) [Mamadou Bamou TOURE,
secretary general]; Union of Democratic Forces for Progress (UFDP)
; Union for Democracy and
Development (UDD)
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, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH,
MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 FAX: (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RANNEBERGER embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: 22 54 70 FAX: 22 37 12
Flag description: three equal vertical stripes of green (on the hoist side), yellow, and red; features the well-known pan-African colors of Ethiopia.
@Mali:Economy
Economy - overview: Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land being desert or semi-desert. Economic activity is mainly limited to the river areas irrigated by the Niger River. About 10% of the population is nomadic, and around 80% of the workforce is involved in farming and fishing. Industrial activity focuses on processing agricultural products. Mali relies heavily on foreign aid and is vulnerable to changes in global cotton prices, which is its primary export. In 1997, the government continued to successfully implement a structural adjustment program recommended by the IMF, which is aiding economic growth, diversification, and foreign investment attraction. Mali's commitment to economic reform, along with the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994, has boosted economic growth. Several multinational companies expanded gold mining operations from 1996 to 1998, and the government expects Mali to become a significant gold exporter in Sub-Saharan Africa in the coming years. Annual growth is projected to stay in the 5-6% range for 2000-01, and inflation is expected to drop below 3%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.5 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $820 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 46% industry: 21% services: 33% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 80% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $730 million expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $320 million (1997 est.)
Industries: small-scale local consumer goods manufacturing and food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (1995 estimate)
Electricity - production: 310 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 38.71% hydro: 61.29% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 288 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $640 million (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: cotton 50%, gold, livestock (1998 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 20%, Italy 20%, China 9%, Brazil 5%,
Franc Zone (1997)
Imports: $650 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, building materials, oil, food, textiles
Imports - partners: Côte d'Ivoire 19%, France 17%, other Franc Zone and EU countries (1997)
Debt - external: $3.1 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $596.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 West African CFA franc (XOF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mali:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 17,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic system is weak but getting better; offers only basic service. Domestic: the network includes microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; expansion of the microwave radio relay is underway. International: there are 2 Intelsat satellite earth stations (1 in the Atlantic Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 7 (1998)
Radios: 570,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 45,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Mali:Transportation
Railways: total: 729 km (connected to Senegal's rail system via Kayes) narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 15,100 km paved: 1,827 km unpaved: 13,273 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,815 km navigable
Ports and harbors: Koulikoro
Airports: 28 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
@Mali:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard,
National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,202,950 (2000 est.)
Military personnel available for service: males aged 15-49: 1,262,242 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $49 million (FY96)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY96)
@Mali:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MALTA
@Malta:Introduction
Background: Great Britain officially took control of Malta in 1814. The island strongly supported the UK during both World Wars and stayed in the Commonwealth after gaining independence in 1964. A decade later, Malta became a republic. In the last 15 years, the island has evolved into a key freight transshipment hub, financial center, and tourist destination. It is a formal candidate for EU membership.
@Malta:Geography
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 land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: just under twice the size of Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of extraction exclusive fishing zone: 25 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to broken plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources: limestone, salt, farmland
Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 59% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; growing dependence on desalination
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: the country consists of an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; many bays offer good harbors.
@Malta:People
Population: 391,670 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 41,046; female 38,273) 15-64 years: 67% (male 132,692; female 131,532) 65 years and over: 13% (male 20,091; female 28,036) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.74% (estimated 2000)
Birth rate: 12.75 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.7 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimated)
Net migration rate: 2.39 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.94 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.94 years male: 75.49 years female: 80.62 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with significant influence from Italian and other Mediterranean backgrounds)
Religions: Roman Catholic 91%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88% (1985)
@Malta:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta
Data code: MT
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta)
Independence: September 21, 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 21 (1964)
Constitution: The 1964 constitution was significantly updated on December 13, 1974.
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction, with exceptions.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Guido DE MARCO (since April 4, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since September 6, 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZE (since May 4, 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president based on the prime minister's advice elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; last election held in April 1999 (next to be held by April 2004); after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or 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 prime minister's advice election results: Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (typically 65 seats; note - additional seats go to the party with the highest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total: 65 seats; members are elected by popular vote based on proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on September 5, 1998 (next to be held by September 2003) election results: percentage of vote by party - PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 30
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president based on the prime minister's advice; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president based on the prime minister's advice.
Political parties and leaders: Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for
Social Justice or AD; Malta Labour Party or MLP
; Nationalist Party or PN
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George SALIBA chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX: (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta telephone: 235960 FAX: 243229
Flag description: two equal vertical bands of white (on the left) and red; in the upper left corner is an image of the George Cross, outlined in red.
@Malta:Economy
Economy - overview: Key resources include limestone, a good geographic location, and a skilled workforce. Malta produces only around 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and no domestic energy sources. The economy relies heavily on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1999, over 1 million tourists visited the island. With a per capita GDP of $13,800, Malta ranks among the less affluent EU countries. The island is politically divided over the issue of joining the EU. The large budget deficit continues to be a major concern.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.3 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $13,800 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (1997 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% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 143,700 (October 1997)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (September 1999)
Budget: revenues: $1.32 billion expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: tourism; electronics, shipbuilding and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.62 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.507 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus fruits, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - products: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods
Exports - partners: France 20.7%, US 18.1%, Germany 12.6%, UK 7.7%,
Italy 4.8% (1998)
Imports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured products; food, beverages, and tobacco
Imports - partners: Italy 19.3%, France 17.8%, UK 12.4%, Germany 10.5%, US 8.9% (1998)
Debt - external: $130 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.4086 (January 2000), 0.3994 (1999), 0.3885 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Malta:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 171,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 15,650 (1999)
Telephone system: automatic system meets standard requirements domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay connecting islands international: 2 submarine cables; 1 satellite earth station - Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios: 255,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1999)
Televisions: 280,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Malta:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,742 km paved: 1,677 km unpaved: 65 km (1997 est.)
Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine: total: 1,484 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 28,083,952 GRT/46,772,146 DWT. Ships by type: bulk 431, cargo 424, chemical tanker 54, combination bulk 16, combination ore/oil 14, container 64, liquefied gas 2, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large load carrier 4, passenger 7, petroleum tanker 331, refrigerated cargo 44, roll-on/roll-off 48, short-sea passenger 21, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 16 (1999 est.) Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries, including Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland 45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia 23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Malta:Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (including ground forces, an air squadron, a naval squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 98,850 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 78,677 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $201 million (FY98/99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 5.5% (FY98/99)
@Malta:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Malta and Tunisia are talking about the commercial use of the continental shelf between their countries, especially for oil exploration.
Illicit drugs: minor shipping hub for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
MAN
______________________________________________________________________
MARSHALL ISLANDS
@Marshall Islands:Introduction
Background: After nearly forty years under US control as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands gained independence in 1986 through a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims are still ongoing due to US nuclear testing on some of the islands between 1947 and 1962.
@Marshall Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific
Ocean, roughly halfway between Hawaii and Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 9° N, 168° E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 181.3 sq km land: 181.3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
Area - comparative: about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: rainy season from May to November; hot and humid; islands are in the typhoon belt.
Terrain: low coral limestone and sandy islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources: phosphate deposits, seafood, deep-sea minerals
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 60% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues: not enough clean drinking water
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 groups of islands consisting of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak were former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, known for being a significant World War II battleground, is currently used as a US missile test range.
@Marshall Islands:People
Population: 68,126 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 50% (male 17,204; female 16,521) 15-64 years: 48% (male 16,826; female 16,111) 65 years and over: 2% (male 693; female 771) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.88% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 45.17 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.04 males/females 65 years and over: 0.9 males/females total population: 1.04 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.95 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.5 years male: 63.72 years female: 67.36 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.61 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)
Languages: English (widely spoken and is the official language), two main Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 93% male: 100% female: 88% (1980 est.)
@Marshall Islands:Government
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)
Data code: RM
Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association took effect on October 21, 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: October 21, 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, May 1 (1979)
Constitution: 1 May 1979
Legal system: based on modified Trust Territory laws, legislative acts, municipal laws, common law, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since January 3, 2000); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and the head of government head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since January 3, 2000); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and the head of government cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the president from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament from its own members for a four-year term; last election held on November 15, 1999 (next to be held in 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 NA November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders: traditionally, there haven’t been any formally organized political parties; what has existed is more like factions or interest groups because they lack party headquarters, formal platforms, or structured party organizations. The following two "groupings" have competed in legislative elections in recent years - Kabua Party and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMLING]
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, 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 telephone: (202) 234-5414 FAX: (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379 telephone: 247-4011 FAX: 247-4012
Flag description: blue with two stripes coming 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
@Marshall Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: US government support is the backbone of this small island economy. Agriculture is mainly carried out on small farms, with the key commercial crops being coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra production. The tourism sector, which currently provides a small amount of foreign exchange and employs less than 10% of the workforce, is seen as the best hope for future income growth. The islands have few natural resources, and imports significantly outstrip exports. According to the Compact of Free Association, the US provides about $65 million in annual aid. Negotiations for an extended agreement were taking place in 1999. Government cuts, drought, a decrease in construction, and a slump in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial crisis led to a decline in GDP between 1996 and 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $105 million (1998 estimate), supported by about $65 million in annual US aid
GDP - real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,670 (estimated in 1998)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 13% services: 72% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)
Budget: revenues: $80.1 million expenditures: $77.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5 million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: copra, fishing, tourism, craft items made from shells, wood, and pearls, offshore banking (in early stages)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 57 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: 57 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1994)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1994)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, cocoa, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Exports: $28 million (free on board, 1997 estimate)
Exports - commodities: fish, coconut oil, fish, trochus shells
Exports - partners: U.S., Japan, Australia
Imports: $58 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports - commodities: food, machinery and equipment, fuels, drinks and tobacco
Imports - partners: USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Singapore
Debt - external: $125 million (FY96/97 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: about $65 million each year from the
US
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: The US dollar is used
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@Marshall Islands:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 3,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 280 (1994)
Telephone system: telex services domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial phones; other islands are connected by shortwave radiotelephone (mostly used for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (including two US military stations) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Marshall Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein); otherwise, stone, coral, or laterite surfaced roads and tracks.
Ports and harbors: Majuro
Merchant marine: total: 143 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 6,801,336 GRT/11,785,065 DWT ships by type: bulk 48, cargo 8, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 1, container 19, liquefied gas 2, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 58, vehicle carrier 1 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes the ships of Canada 1, China 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, and US 7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 16 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
@Marshall Islands:Military
Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the U.S.
@Marshall Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island
______________________________________________________________________
MARTINIQUE
@Martinique:Introduction
Background: Colonized by France in 1635, the island has since stayed under French ownership, except for three short periods of foreign occupation.
@Martinique:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 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 land: 1,060 sq km water: 40 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; influenced by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); prone to destructive cyclones (hurricanes) approximately every eight years; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid.
Terrain: mountainous with a rugged coastline; dormant volcano
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources: coastal views and beaches, arable land
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 17% forests and woodland: 44% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (about one major natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues: NA
@Martinique:People
Population: 414,516 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 48,578; female 47,283) 15-64 years: 67% (male 137,724; female 139,241) 65 years and over: 10% (male 18,508; female 23,182) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.96% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 16.1 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.38 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.97 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.25 years male: 79.03 years female: 77.46 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Martiniquan (singular and plural) adjective: Martiniquan
Ethnic groups: 90% African and mixed African-white-Indian, 5% white,
less than 5% East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and African pagan 5%
Languages: French, Creole patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 93% male: 92% female: 93% (1982 est.)
@Martinique:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Martinique conventional short form: Martinique local long form: Département de la Martinique local short form: Martinique
Data code: MB
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: National Day, Storming of the Bastille, July 14 (1789)
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since May 17, 1995); Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since N/A) head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since March 22, 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred MARIE-JEANNE (since N/A March 1998) cabinet: N/A elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-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
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council - last held March 1994 (next to be held 2000); 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 - NA; 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 September 1998 (next to be held September 2001); 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 1 June 1997 (next to be held 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 2, PS 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Combat Worker ;
Martinique Communist Party or PCM ; Martinique Forces
; Martinique Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred
MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique Patriots or PM ; Martinique
Progressive Party or PPM ; Martinique Socialist
Party or PMS ; Movement for a Liberated Martinique
; National Council of Popular Committees ;
Rally for Democratic Martinique ; Rally for the
Republic or RPR ; Republican Party or PR [Jean
BAILLY]; Socialist Federation of Martinique or FSM ;
Union for French Democracy or UDF ; Union for the Renewal
of Ste. Marie
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association for the Protection of Martinique's Heritage (environmental group); Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP; Socialist Revolution Group or GRS.
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 split into four sections by a white cross; in the middle of each section is a white snake; the flag of France is used for official events.
@Martinique:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy relies on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture makes up about 6% of GDP, while the small industrial sector accounts for 11%. Sugar production has dropped, with most sugarcane now being used to produce rum. Banana exports are on the rise, primarily heading to France. The majority of meat, vegetables, and grains need to be imported, leading to a persistent trade deficit that necessitates large annual aid transfers from France. Tourism has become a more significant source of foreign exchange than agricultural exports. Most of the workforce is employed in the service sector and administration.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.24 billion (est. 1996)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,700 (1996 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: 170,000 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 24% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $900 million expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $140 million (1996)
Industries: construction, rum production, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.075 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture – products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane
Exports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: refined oil products, bananas, rum, pineapples
Exports - partners: France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (1997)
Imports: $2 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, food, construction materials, vehicles, clothing, and other consumer goods
Imports - partners: France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%, Italy 4%, USA 3% (1997)
Debt - external: $180 million (1994)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - significant annual support from
France
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Martinique:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 155,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Martinique:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,724 km (1994) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinité
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Martinique:Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is France's responsibility
@Martinique:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a transit hub for cocaine and marijuana heading to the US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
MAURITANIA
@Mauritania:Introduction
Background: Mauritania gained independence from France in 1960 and took control of the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but gave it up after three years of attacks by the Polisario guerrilla group that was pushing for independence for the area. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution was approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were largely viewed as flawed; in practice, Mauritania remains a one-party state. The country continues to face ethnic tensions between its black minority population and the dominant Maur (Arab-Berber) group.
@Mauritania:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, next to the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates: 20° N, 12° W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit more 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 continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; always hot, dry, and dusty
Terrain: mostly empty, 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, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 38% forests and woodland: 4% other: 58% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty sirocco winds mainly blow in March and April; occasional droughts.
Environment - current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion worsened by drought are leading to desertification; there are very limited natural freshwater resources outside of the Senegal, which is the only reliable 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 is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country.
@Mauritania:People
Population: 2,667,859 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 617,077; female 614,961) 15-64 years: 52% (male 677,238; female 697,524) 65 years and over: 2% (male 25,417; female 35,642) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.94% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 43.36 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 13.97 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 78.15 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.76 years male: 48.7 years female: 52.87 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.29 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official), French
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 37.7% male: 49.6% female: 26.3% (1995 est.)
@Mauritania:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah
Data code: MR
Government type: republic
Capital: Nouakchott
Administrative divisions: 12 regions (region, 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: November 28, 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 28, 1960
Constitution: 12 July 1991
Legal system: a mix of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since December 12, 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since November 16, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; last election held on December 12, 1997 (next scheduled for December 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected with 90.9% of the vote
Legislative branch: The bicameral legislature consists of the Senate, or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms), and the National Assembly, or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: Senate - last held on April 17, 1998 (next due in 2001); National Assembly - last held on October 11 and 18, 1996 (next due in 2001). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and others 7.
Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and Supreme Court
(Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Action for Change (AC) [Messoud Ould
BOULKHEIR]; Assembly for Democracy and Unity (RDU) [Ahmed Ould SIDI
BABA]; Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS, ruling party)
; National Avant-Garde
Party (PAN); Popular Social and Democratic
Union (UPSD); Union of Democratic
Forces-New Era (UFD/NE)
Note: parties were legalized by the constitution passed on July 12, 1991; however,
politics still tend to be based on tribal affiliations.
Political pressure groups and leaders: General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers (CGTM) [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM) [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]; Ba'athists; Arab nationalists; Islamists
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate),
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member),
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed Ben Khalifa BEN JIDDOU chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 232-5700 FAX: (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott telephone: (2) 526-60, 526-63 FAX: (2) 515-92
Flag description: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is at the bottom; the crescent, star, and the color green are traditional symbols of Islam.
@Mauritania:Economy
Economy - overview: The majority of the population still relies on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods, even though many nomads and subsistence farmers were pushed into cities due to recurring droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has large deposits of iron ore, which make up nearly 50% of total exports. However, the drop in global demand for this ore has led to cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overfishing by foreigners poses a threat to this crucial source of income. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years, drought and poor economic management have led to a buildup of foreign debt. In March 1999, the government signed an agreement with a joint World Bank-IMF mission for a $54 million enhanced structural adjustment facility (ESAF). Economic goals have been set for 1999-2002. Privatization remains a significant issue. Mauritania is unlikely to meet ESAF's annual GDP growth targets of 4%-5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.9 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,910 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 31% services: 44% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 57% (1990 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.8% (1998)
Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 39%, industry 14%
Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $329 million expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (1994)
Electricity - production: 152 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 80.26% hydro: 19.74% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 141 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: dates, millet, sorghum, root vegetables; cattle, sheep; fish products
Exports: $425 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: fish and seafood, iron ore, gold
Exports - partners: Japan 24%, Italy 17%, France 14%, Spain 8% (1997)
Imports: $444 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, oil products, capital goods, food items, consumer goods
Imports - partners: France 26%, Spain 8%, Germany 7%, Benelux 7% (1997)
Debt - external: $2.5 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $227.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 219.560 (December 1999), 209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mauritania:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 9,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: inadequate system of cables and open-wire lines, a few microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communication stations (improvements are underway) domestic: mainly cables and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite telecommunications system connects Nouakchott with regional capitals international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 360,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 62,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Mauritania:Transportation
Railways: total: 704 km (single track); note - owned and operated by the government mining company standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 7,660 km paved: 866 km unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: mainly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 26 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Mauritania:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 605,124 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males aged 15-49: 293,445 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $41 million (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY97)
@Mauritania:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MAURITIUS
@Mauritius:Introduction
Background: Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was later controlled by the Dutch, French, and British before gaining independence in 1968. It is a stable democracy with regular free elections and a good human rights record. The country has attracted significant foreign investment and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Africa. Recent protests regarding living standards in the Creole community have hindered economic growth.
@Mauritius:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20° 17' S, 57° 33' E
Map references: World
Area: total: 1,860 sq km land: 1,850 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative: nearly 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical, influenced by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain: a small coastal plain that rises to scattered mountains surrounding a 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% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 22% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 170 square kilometers (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); nearly entirely surrounded by reefs that could create maritime dangers.
Environment - current issues: water pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Mauritius:People
Population: 1,179,368 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 153,385; female 149,451) 15-64 years: 68% (male 401,032; female 403,295) 65 years and over: 6% (male 28,981; female 43,224) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.89% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 16.66 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.83 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male/female under 15 years: 1.03 male/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male/female total population: 0.98 male/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.73 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.98 years male: 66.98 years female: 75.04 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born per woman (2000 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, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
Bojpoori
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 82.9% male: 87.1% female: 78.8% (1995 est.)
@Mauritius:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius
Data code: MP
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: March 12, 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, March 12 (1968)
Constitution: March 12, 1968; amended March 12, 1992
Legal system: based on the French civil law system with elements of
English common law in some areas
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since July 1, 1992) and Vice President Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since June 28, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since December 27, 1995) 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; last election held on June 28, 1997 (next scheduled for 2002); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and responsible to the National Assembly election results: Cassam UTEEM reelected as president and Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR elected as vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats - 62 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from the losing political parties to ensure representation for various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms) Elections: last held on December 20, 1995 (next to be held by December 2000) Election results: percent of vote by party - MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 20%, other 15%; seats by party - MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1, Hizbullah 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Hizbullah ;
Mauritian Labor Party (MLP) - governing
party; Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM); Mauritian
Militant Renaissance (MMR); Mauritian
Social Democrat Party (PMSD); Militant Socialist
Movement (MSM); Organization of the People of
Rodrigues (OPR); Rodrigues Movement [Nicholas Von
MALLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: different labor unions
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,
ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM,
OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 244-1491, 1492 FAX: (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mark W. ERWIN 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: 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767 FAX: 208-9534
Flag description: four equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
@Mauritius:Economy
Economy - overview: Since gaining independence in 1968, Mauritius has transformed from a low-income, agriculture-based economy to a middle-income, diversified economy with expanding industrial, financial, and tourism sectors. During most of this period, annual growth has been around 5% to 6%. This impressive progress is evident in increased life expectancy, reduced infant mortality, and significantly improved infrastructure. Sugarcane covers about 90% of the cultivated land and makes up 25% of export earnings. However, a record drought severely impacted the sugar crop in 1999. The government's development strategy focuses on attracting foreign investment. Mauritius has drawn in over 9,000 offshore companies, many targeting commerce in India and South Africa, with investment in the banking sector alone exceeding $1 billion. Economic performance from 1991 to 1999 remained strong, featuring solid growth and low unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,400 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 29% services: 61% (1996)
Population below the poverty line: 10.6% (1992 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1999)
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: 2% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.1 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: food processing (mainly sugar milling), textiles, clothing; chemicals, metal products, transportation equipment, non-electrical machinery; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.225 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.84% hydro: 8.16% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.139 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, legumes; cattle, goats; fish
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses
Exports - partners: UK 32%, France 19%, US 14%, Germany 6%, Italy 4% (1997)
Imports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, capital equipment, food products, oil products, chemicals (1996)
Imports - partners: France 19%, South Africa 12%, India 9%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $1.9 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $42 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 25.485 (January 2000), 25.186 (1999), 22.993 (1998), 21.057 (1997), 17.948 (1996), 17.386 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Mauritius:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 148,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 11,735 (1995)
Telephone system: small system with good service domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 258,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Mauritius:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,910 km paved: 1,834 km (including 36 km of expressways) unpaved: 76 km (1998 est.)
Ports and harbors: Port Louis
Merchant marine: total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 126,358 GRT/173,079 DWT ships by type: cargo 3, combination bulk 2, container 4, liquefied gas 1, refrigerated cargo 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; India owns 1 ship (1998 est.)
Airports: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Mauritius:Military
Military branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary
Special Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and
National Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 338,856 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - available for military service: males age 15-49: 171,183 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $11 million (FY97/98)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 0.3% (FY97/98)
@Mauritius:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims the Chagos Archipelago in
UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims
French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs: a minor consumer and a transshipment point for heroin from
South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally
______________________________________________________________________
MAYOTTE
@Mayotte:Introduction
Background: Mayotte was given to France along with the other Comoros in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to keep its connection with France and skip independence.
@Mayotte:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an island in the Mozambique Channel, about halfway between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique.
Geographic coordinates: 12° 50' S, 45° 10' E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 374 sq km land: 374 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain: mostly rolling, with steep ravines and old volcanic mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Benara 660 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones in the rainy season
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: part of the Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands
@Mayotte:People
Population: 155,911 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 36,420; female 36,183) 15-64 years: 52% (male 44,058; female 36,613) 65 years and over: 1% (male 1,302; female 1,335) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.76% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 45.26 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.11 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 11.46 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
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: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.31 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.45 years male: 57.41 years female: 61.55 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.33 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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%
@Mayotte:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte conventional short form: Mayotte
Data code: MF
Dependency status: a territorial collectivity of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Mamoutzou
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence: none (a territorial collectivity of France)
National holiday: National Day, Storming of the Bastille, July 14 (1789)
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since May 17, 1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since N/A) head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since N/A 1977) cabinet: N/A elections: The French president is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the prefect is appointed by the French president with advice from the French Ministry of the Interior; the president of the General Council is elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term.
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on March 23, 1997 (next to be held in March 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; note - only nine of the 19 seats were up for election in March 1997; after the election, seats by party were as follows: MPM 8, RPR 5, PS 1, independents 5 note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last held on September 24, 1995 (next to be held on September 24, 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPM 1; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held on May 25 and June 1, 1997 (next to be held as a special election in May 2002); results - percent of vote by party - UDF/FD 51.7%, RPR 48.3%; seats by party - UDF/FD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Association for French Mayotte or
Association Pour Mayotte Francaise; Democratic Front
or FD; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Younoussa
BAMANA]; Mahoran Rally for the Republic or RPR [Soibahadine Ibrahim
RAMADAN]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti
Socialiste); Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri
JEAN-BAPTISTE]
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
@Mayotte:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic activity mainly relies on agriculture, including fishing and livestock farming. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and needs to import a significant amount of its food, primarily from France. The island's economy and future growth are greatly reliant on financial aid from France, which is a crucial addition to its GDP. Mayotte's isolated position is a barrier to the growth 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 spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 45% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
Industries: newly established lobster and shrimp industry, construction
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: vanilla, ylang-ylang (fragrance essence), coffee, copra
Exports: $3.44 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: ylang-ylang (fragrance essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon
Exports - partners: France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion
Imports: $141.3 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports - goods: food, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners: France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11% (1997)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $107.7 million (1995); note - extensive
French financial assistance
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mayotte:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 450 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1999)
Telephone system: small system managed by the French Department of Posts and Telecommunications domestic: NA international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros and other global connections
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 3,500 (1994)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Mayotte:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km
Ports and harbors: Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Mayotte:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France; a small group of French forces is stationed on the island.
@Mayotte:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Comoros
______________________________________________________________________
MEXICO
@Mexico:Introduction
Background: The site of advanced Indigenous civilizations, Mexico was under Spanish rule for three centuries before gaining independence in the early 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 plunged Mexico into economic chaos, sparking the worst recession in over fifty years. The country is still making a remarkable recovery. Ongoing economic and social issues include low real wages, underemployment for a significant portion of the population, unequal income distribution, and limited advancement opportunities for the mostly Indigenous population in the impoverished southern states.
@Mexico:Geography
Location: Central America, next to 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° N, 102° 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: just under three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 4,538 km border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km
Coastline: 9,330 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: ranges from tropical to desert
Terrain: tall, rough mountains; flat coastal plains; elevated plateaus; desert
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
Natural resources: oil, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, wood
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 39% forests and woodland: 26% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 61,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and damaging earthquakes in the central and southern regions, and hurricanes on the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts.
Environment - current issues: natural freshwater resources are scarce and polluted in the north, inaccessible and of poor quality in the center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial waste are polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation is ongoing; widespread erosion is occurring; desertification is a concern; and serious air pollution is present in the national capital and urban centers along the US-Mexico border.
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: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: important location on the southern border of the US
@Mexico:People
Population: 100,349,766 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 17,306,548; female 16,632,827) 15-64 years: 62% (male 30,223,317; female 31,868,213) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,927,850; female 2,391,011) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.53% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 23.15 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.05 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.19 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.49 years male: 68.47 years female: 74.66 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.67 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Mexican(s) adjective: Mexican
Ethnic groups: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or mostly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Religions: about 89% Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant, and 5% other
Languages: Spanish, various Mayan languages, Nahuatl, and other regional Indigenous languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 89.6% male: 91.8% female: 87.4% (1995 est.)
@Mexico:Government
Country name: conventional long form: United Mexican States conventional short form: Mexico local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos local short form: Mexico
Data code: MX
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Mexico
Administrative divisions: 31 states and 1
federal district; Aguascalientes, Baja California,
Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de
Zaragoza, Colima, Federal District, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero,
Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo
León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis
Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala,
Veracruz, Yucatán, Zacatecas.
Independence: September 16, 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 16 (1810)
Constitution: 5 February 1917
Legal system: a blend of US constitutional theory and civil law; judicial review of laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with some exceptions.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory (but not enforced)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since December 1, 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since December 1, 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the Senate's consent elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held August 21, 1994 (next to be held July 2, 2000) election results: Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon elected president; percent of vote - Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI) 50.18%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ DE CEVALLOS (PAN) 26.69%, other 6.05%
Legislative branch: The bicameral National Congress, or Congreso de la Unión, consists of the Senate, or Cámara de Senadores (128 seats; half are elected by popular vote for six-year terms, and half are allocated based on each party's popular vote) and the Federal Chamber of Deputies, or Cámara Federal de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are directly elected by popular vote for three-year terms; the remaining 200 members are allocated based on each party's popular vote, also for three-year terms). Elections: Senate - last held on July 6, 1997, for one-quarter of the seats; Chamber of Deputies - last held on July 6, 1997 (the next legislative elections will coincide with the presidential election on July 2, 2000). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRI 77, PAN 33, PRD 16, PVEM 1, PT 1; note - the distribution of seats as of October 1999 is as follows - PRI 75, PAN 31, PRD 16, PT 1, independents 5; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PRI 39%, PAN 27%, PRD 26%; seats by party - PRI 239, PRD 125, PAN 121, PVEM 8, PT 7; note - the distribution of seats as of October 1999 is as follows - PRI 237, PRD 125, PAN 120, PT 7, PVEM 6, independents 5.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de
Justicia, judges are appointed by the president with the Senate's consent.
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
GONZALEZ Torres]; National Action Party or PAN [Luis Felipe BRAVO
Mena]; Party of the Democratic Center or PCD ;
Party of the Democratic Revolution or PRD ;
Party of the Mexican Revolution or PARM ; Party of the
Nationalist Society or PSN ; Social Alliance
Party or PAS ; Social Democratic Party
or PDS ; 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; Revolutionary Workers Party or PRT; Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation: APEC, BCIE, BIS, Caricom
(observer), CCC, CDB, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-11, G-15, G-19,
G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer),
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM (observer), NEA, OAS, OECD,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesus REYES HEROLES Gonzalez Garza chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: (202) 728-1600 FAX: (202) 728-1698 consulates 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 Juan (Puerto Rico) consulates: Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffery DAVIDOW embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, Distrito Federal mailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087 telephone: (5) 209-9100 FAX: (5) 208-3373, 511-9980 consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales
Flag description: three equal vertical stripes of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle sitting on a cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white stripe.
@Mexico:Economy
Economy - overview: Mexico has a free market economy that combines modern and outdated industry and agriculture, with the private sector increasingly in charge. The number of state-owned enterprises in Mexico has decreased from over 1,000 in 1982 to under 200 by 1999. The ZEDILLO administration is working on privatizing and boosting competition in sea ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, and airports. A robust export sector helped stabilize the economy's downturn in 1995 and led to recovery in 1996-99. Private consumption emerged as the main driver of growth, along with increased employment and higher wages. Mexico still faces many structural challenges as it aims to modernize its economy and improve living standards. Income distribution is very uneven, with the top 20% of earners making up 55% of total income. Trade with the US and Canada has nearly doubled since NAFTA was put into action in 1994. Mexico is seeking more trade agreements with most Latin American countries and has signed a free trade agreement with the EU to reduce its reliance on the US. The government is adopting conservative economic policies in 2000 to prevent another end-of-term economic crisis, yet it still expects an economic growth rate of 4.5% due to the strong US economy and high oil prices.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $865.5 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (est. 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,500 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 29% services: 66% (1999)
Population below the poverty line: 27% (1998 est.)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 38.6 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 24%, industry 21%, services 55% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 2.5% in urban areas (1998); along with significant underemployment
Budget: revenues: $117 billion expenditures: $123 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: food and drinks, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, oil, mining, textiles, clothing, cars, consumer goods, travel
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 176.055 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.12% hydro: 13.82% nuclear: 5% other: 3.06% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 164.767 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 11 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 1.047 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; timber products
Exports: $136.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999), includes in-bond industries (assembly plant operations connected to US companies)
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners: US 89.3%, Canada 1.7%, Spain 0.6%, Japan 0.5%,
Venezuela 0.3%, Chile 0.3%, Brazil 0.3% (1999 est.)
Imports: $142.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999), includes in-bond industries (assembly plant operations connected to US companies)
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 74.8%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.5%, Canada 1.9%,
South Korea 2%, Italy 1.3%, France 1% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $155.8 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.166 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1 - 9.4793 (January 2000), 9.5604 (1999), 9.1360 (1998), 7.9185 (1997), 7.5994 (1996), 6.4194 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mexico:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 9.6 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.02 million (1998)
Telephone system: a highly developed system with extensive microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990; opened to competition in January 1997. domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government, but the general population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network; significant use of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, and mobile cellular service. international: satellite earth stations - 32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (providing Mexico with better access to South America, Central America, and much of the US, as well as improving domestic communications), numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations; connected to the 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 865, FM around 500, shortwave 13 (1999)
Radios: 31 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 236 (plus repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 25.6 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 167 (1999)
@Mexico:Transportation
Railways: total: 31,048 km standard gauge: 30,958 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified) narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1998 est.)
Highways: total: 323,977 km paved: 96,221 km (including 6,335 km of expressways) unpaved: 227,756 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 2,900 km of 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: 46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 633,219 GRT/970,947 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 29, roll-on/roll-off 3, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 1,806 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 233 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 87 914 to 1,523 m: 81 under 914 m: 27 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,573 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 473 under 914 m: 1,035 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Mexico:Military
Military branches: National Defense Secretariat (includes Army and Air
Force), Navy Secretariat (includes Naval Air and Marines)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old note: starting in 2000, women will be allowed to volunteer for military service
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 26,171,141 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 19,022,012 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 1,073,809 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $4 billion (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1% (FY99)
@Mexico:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: illegal cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 1998 - 5,500 hectares; potential production - 60 metric tons) and cannabis cultivation in 1998 - 4,600 hectares; government eradication efforts have been crucial in keeping illicit crop levels down; it is a major supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues to be the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America; involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamines; surge in drug-related violence and official corruption; major drug syndicates becoming more powerful.
______________________________________________________________________
MICRONESIA
______________________________________________________________________
MIDWAY ISLANDS
@Midway Islands:Geography
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 land: 6.2 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: subtropical, but tempered by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain: low, nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 13 m
Natural resources: animals, land, and water
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: a coral atoll run as a national wildlife refuge and accessible to the public for wildlife-related activities like wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
@Midway Islands:People
Population: no native residents (July 2000 est.)
@Midway Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands
Data code: MQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; previously managed from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been closed since September 10, 1993; on October 31, 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was handed over to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system.
Capital: none; managed from Washington, DC
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Midway Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy focuses on offering support services for the national wildlife refuge activities found on the islands. All food and manufactured products have to be imported.
@Midway Islands:Transportation
Highways: total: 32 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports and harbors: Sand Island
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Midway Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Midway Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MOLDOVA
@Moldova:Introduction
Background: Once under Romanian rule, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. Even though it has been independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have still been present in the territory of Moldova east of the Nistru (Dnister) River, backing the Slavic majority population (mainly Ukrainians and Russians) who declared a "Transnistria" republic.
@Moldova:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47° N, 29° E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 33,843 sq km land: 33,371 sq km water: 472 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 grassland, gently sloping south to the Black Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Nistru River 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, farmland
Land use: arable land: 53% permanent crops: 14% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 13% other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,110 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Environment - current issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides like DDT, has polluted soil and groundwater; significant soil erosion is occurring due to poor farming practices.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note: landlocked
@Moldova:People
Population: 4,430,654 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 523,373; female 505,064) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,422,470; female 1,544,169) 65 years and over: 10% (male 161,659; female 273,919) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 12.86 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 12.58 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.31 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.32 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.45 years male: 59.92 years female: 69.22 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 est.) note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only around 1,000 members) (1991)
Languages: Moldovan (official, basically the same as Romanian), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 96% male: 99% female: 94% (1989 est.)
@Moldova:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form: none former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
Data code: MD
Government type: republic
Capital: Chisinau
Administrative divisions: 10 juletule (singular - juletul) 1
municipality* 1 autonomous territorial unit**; Balti, Cahul, Chisinau,
Chisinau*, Dubasari, Edinet, Gagauzia**, Lapusna, Orhei, Soroca,
Tighina, Ungheni
Independence: August 27, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, August 27, 1991
Constitution: new constitution adopted on July 28, 1994; replaces the old
Soviet constitution from 1979
Legal system: based on a civil law system; the Constitutional Court reviews the legality of legislative acts and government decisions; it's unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but acknowledges many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Petru LUCINSCHI (since January 15, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Dumitru BRAGHIS (since December 21, 1999), along with one first deputy prime minister and two deputy prime ministers cabinet: chosen by the prime minister-designate, pending parliament approval elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; the last election was on November 17, 1996; runoff election on December 1, 1996 (next election scheduled for November-December 2000); according to the Moldovan constitution, the president will consult with the parliament to nominate a candidate for prime minister; within 15 days of being designated, the prime minister-designate must seek a vote of confidence from the parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet election results: Petru LUCINSCHI elected president; vote percentage - Petru LUCINSCHI 54%, Mircea SNEGUR 46%; Dumitru BRAGHIS was nominated by the president on December 16, 1999, and was elected prime minister by a parliamentary vote of 57-4 (with 40 abstentions) on December 21, 1999
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs, along with independent candidates, compete in popular elections for four-year terms) elections: last held on March 22, 1998 (next to be held in spring 2002) election results: percentage of vote by party - PCM 30%, CDM 19%, PMDP 18%, PFD 9%; seats by party - PCM 40, CDM 26, PMDP 24, PFD 11 note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; the Constitutional Court is the only authority for constitutional matters.
Political parties and leaders: Bloc for a Democratic and Prosperous
Moldova or PMDP; Christian Democratic Popular Front
or FPCD; Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir
VORONIN, first chairman]; Democratic Convention of Moldova or CDM
; Party of Democratic Forces or PFD [Valeriu
MATEI, chairman]
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE,
CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ceslav CIOBANU chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 667-1130 FAX: (202) 667-1204
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rudolf Villem PERINA embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevicie, #103, Chisinau 2009 mailing address: use embassy street address; pouch address - American Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7080 telephone: (2) 23-37-72 FAX: (2) 23-30-44
Flag description: same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the emblem in the center of the flag features a gold Roman eagle outlined in black, with a red beak and talons. The eagle carries a yellow cross in its beak, a green olive branch in its right talons, and a yellow scepter in its left talons. On its chest is a shield divided horizontally, red over blue, with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all outlined in black and yellow.
@Moldova:Economy
Economy - overview: Moldova has a favorable climate and good farmland but lacks significant mineral deposits. As a result, its economy relies heavily on agriculture, which includes fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova needs to import all its oil, coal, and natural gas, mostly from Russia. Energy shortages led to significant production declines after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. In an effort to reform, Moldova introduced a stable convertible currency, liberalized prices, stopped providing preferential loans to state enterprises, supported consistent land privatization, removed export controls, and deregulated interest rates. However, these measures couldn't counteract the effects of political and economic challenges, both domestically and regionally. In 1998, Russia's economic troubles, its main trading partner, were a major factor in the 8.6% drop in GDP; the currency's value against the dollar halved. In 1999, GDP fell again by 4.4%, marking the fifth decline in six years; exports decreased, and energy supply remained inconsistent. GDP is expected to stay about the same in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.7 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: -4.4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,200 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31% industry: 35% services: 34% (1998)
Population below the poverty line: 75% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 25.8% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 38% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 40.2%, industry 14.3%, other 45.5% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 2% (only includes those officially registered as unemployed; many underemployed workers are not counted) (September 1998)
Budget: revenues: $536 million expenditures: $594 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: food processing, farming equipment, metal casting tools, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, socks, sugar, vegetable oil, footwear, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 5.661 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 93% hydro: 7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 7.065 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 1.8 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: vegetables, fruits, wine, grains, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, tobacco; beef, milk
Exports: $470 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: food items, wine, and tobacco 66%; textiles and footwear, machinery (1998)
Exports - partners: Russia 53%, Romania 10%, Ukraine 8%, Germany 5%,
Belarus 4% (1998)
Imports: $560 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: mineral products and fuel 31%, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (1998)
Imports - partners: Russia 22%, Ukraine 16%, Romania 12%, Belarus 9%,
Germany 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $1.3 billion (December 1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $100.8 million (1995); note - $547 million from the IMF and World Bank (1992-99)
Currency: Moldovan leu (MDL) (plural lei)
Exchange rates: lei (MLD) per US$1 (end of year) - 12.1408 (January 2000), 10.5158 (1999), 5.3707 (1998), 4.6236 (1997), 4.6045 (1996), 4.4958 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Moldova:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 566,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 14 (1995)
Telephone system: outdated, not up to par, bad service outside Chisinau, some efforts to modernize are in progress. domestic: new subscribers have to wait a long time for service; mobile cellular phone service is being rolled out. international: service via Romania and Russia through landlines; 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: 40 (1998)
Televisions: 1.26 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Moldova:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,328 km broad gauge: 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
Highways: total: 12,300 km paved: 10,738 km unpaved: 1,562 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 424 km (1994)
Pipelines: natural gas 310 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 26 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)
@Moldova:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense, Republic
Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower - age of enlistment: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,156,705 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 913,896 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 40,239 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $6 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1% (FY99)
@Moldova:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the separatist Transnistria region, located between the Nistru (Dniester) River and Ukraine, has its own de facto government, which is mainly led by Moldovan Slavs.
Illicit drugs: restricted growth of opium poppy and cannabis, primarily for CIS use; a transit point for illegal drugs from Southwest Asia through Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US
______________________________________________________________________
MONACO
@Monaco:Introduction
Background: Economic development was boosted in the late 19th century with a railway connection to France and the launch of a casino. Since then, Monaco's mild climate, beautiful scenery, and gambling options have made it world-renowned as a tourist and recreation destination.
@Monaco:Geography
Location: Western Europe, along the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of France, close to the Italian border.
Geographic coordinates: 43.733 N, 7.400 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 1.95 sq km land: 1.95 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles
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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: 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
@Monaco:People
Population: 31,693 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 2,449; female 2,336) 15-64 years: 62% (male 9,723; female 10,074) 65 years and over: 23% (male 2,907; female 4,204) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.48% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 9.94 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 13.06 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 7.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.92 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.84 years male: 74.88 years female: 83 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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%
@Monaco:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco
Data code: MN
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 (start of the Grimaldi family's reign)
National holiday: National Day, November 19
Constitution: 17 December 1962
Legal system: based on French law; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since May 9, 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch (born March 14, 1958) head of government: Minister of State Michel LEVEQUE (since February 3, 1997) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch: unicameral National Council or Conseil National (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on February 1 and 8, 1998 (next scheduled for January 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UND 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed by the monarch based on nominations from the National Council.
Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union or UND
International organization participation: ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM,
IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Monaco doesn't have an embassy in the US consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is assigned 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 has white (top) and red.
@Monaco:Economy
Economy - overview: Monaco, located on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular vacation spot, drawing tourists to its casino and nice weather. The Principality has successfully worked to diversify into services and small, high-value, eco-friendly industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes, thriving as a tax haven for both residents and foreign companies that have set up shop. The state holds monopolies in several sectors, including tobacco, telecommunications, and postal services. Living standards are high, comparable to those in wealthy French urban areas. Monaco does not release national income data; the estimates below are very rough.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $870 million (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $27,000 (1999 estimate)
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 manufacturing, and consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: none
Exports: $NA; complete customs integration with France, which collects and refunds Monegasque trade duties; also takes part in the EU market system through a customs union with France
Imports: $NA; complete customs integration with France, which collects and refunds Monegasque trade duties; also takes part in the EU market system through the customs union with France.
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Monaco:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 31,027 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,560 (1994)
Telephone system: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable to the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)
Radios: 34,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 25,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Monaco:Transportation
Railways: total: 1.7 km standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Monaco
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: connected to the airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service
Heliports: 1 (shuttle service between the international airport at
Nice, France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille)
@Monaco:Military
Military - note: defense is on France.
@Monaco:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MONGOLIA
@Mongolia:Introduction
Background: Once a province of China, Mongolia gained its independence in 1921 with support from the Soviets. A communist government was set up in 1924. In the early 1990s, the former communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) gradually gave up its hold on power. In 1996, the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) won a national election against the MPRP and has tried to introduce various reforms to modernize the economy. However, many former communists still hold important positions, making implementation challenging.
@Mongolia:Geography
Location: Northern Asia, located between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 46° N, 105° E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 1.565 million sq km land: 1.565 million sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 8,114 km border countries: China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; continental (significant daily and seasonal temperature variations)
Terrain: large semi-desert and desert plains; mountains in the west and southwest; Gobi Desert in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Tavan Bogd Uul 4,374 m
Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, tungsten, fluorspar, gold
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 80% forests and woodland: 9% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms can happen in the spring; grassland fires
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; policies of the previous communist regime that promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws have severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and converting virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities have also had a harmful impact 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: surrounded by land; key position between China and
Russia
@Mongolia:People
Population: 2,650,952 (July 2000 est.)
Age distribution: 0-14 years: 34% (male 461,719; female 447,426) 15-64 years: 62% (male 816,851; female 816,651) 65 years and older: 4% (male 46,682; female 61,623) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.54% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 21.53 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.14 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 41.22 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.25 years male: 64.98 years female: 69.64 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups: Mongol 90%, Kazakh 4%, other 6%
Religions: mostly Tibetan Buddhist, with 4% Muslim note: religious activity was previously restricted due to the communist regime
Languages: Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.9% male: 88.6% female: 77.2% (1988 est.)
@Mongolia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Mongolia local long form: none local short form: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia
Data code: MG
Government type: republic
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and
3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor,
Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan,
Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay,
Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence: March 13, 1921 (from China)
National holiday: National Day, July 11 (1921)
Constitution: 12 February 1992
Legal system: a mix of Russian, Chinese, Turkish, and Western legal systems that integrates elements of both parliamentary and presidential systems; the constitution is unclear about judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since June 20, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Rinchinnyamin AMARJARGAL (since August 30, 1999) 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; last election held on May 18, 1997 (next to be held in summer 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural; last election held on August 30, 1999 (next to be held NA) election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI elected president; percent of vote - Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 60.8%, Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP and MSDP) 29.8%, Jambyn GOMBOJAV 6.6%; Rinchinnyamin AMARJARGAL elected prime minister by a vote in the State Great Hural of 50 to 2
Legislative branch: unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on June 30, 1996 (next to be held in June 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - DUC 66%, MPRP 33%, MCP 1%; seats by party - DUC 50 (MNDP 34, MSDP 13, independents 3), MPRP 25, MCP 1
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court acts as an appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but it rarely overturns verdicts from lower courts. Judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts and require approval from the State Great Hural.
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) (includes the MNDP and the MSDP); Independence Party; Mongolian Conservative Party (MCP); Mongolian Democratic New Socialist Party (MDNSP); Mongolian Democratic Renaissance Party (MDRP) [BYAMBASUREN, chairman]; Mongolian National Democratic Party (MNDP) [R. AMARJARGAL, chairman; B. DELGERMAA, general secretary]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) [N. ENKHBAYAR, chairman; L. ENEBISH, general secretary]; Mongolian Republican Party (MRP) [B. JARGALSAIHAN]; Mongolian Social Democratic Party (MSDP) [Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ, chairman; N. ALTANKHUYAG, general secretary]; Mongolian United Heritage Party (UHP) (includes the United Party of Herdsman and Farmers, Independence Party, Traditional United Conservative Party, and Mongolian United Private Property Owners Party); Mongolian United Private Property Owners Party; United Party of Herdsman and Farmers; Traditional United Conservative Party; Workers' Party
International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CCC,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 333-7117 FAX: (202) 298-9227 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse F. LA PORTA embassy: inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe Gol, Ulaanbaatar mailing address: c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C. P. O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: (1) 329095 FAX: (1) 320776
Flag description: three equal, vertical stripes of red (on the hoist side), blue, and red; in the middle of the red stripe on the hoist side, there is a yellow national emblem ("soyombo" - a column-like arrangement of abstract and geometric symbols representing fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol).
@Mongolia:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic activity has traditionally focused on agriculture and livestock farming. Mongolia also has rich mineral resources: copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold make up a significant portion of industrial output. Soviet support, which at its peak accounted for one-third of GDP, vanished almost overnight in 1990-91 with the collapse of the USSR. Mongolia entered a severe recession, which was made worse by the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party’s (MPRP) unwillingness to implement significant economic reforms. The Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) government has adopted free-market policies, lifting price controls, liberalizing domestic and international trade, and trying to reform the banking and energy sectors. Major domestic privatization initiatives have been launched, along with efforts to attract foreign investment through international tenders for the oil distribution company, a major cashmere producer, and banks. Reform efforts have been hindered by the ex-communist MPRP opposition and the political instability caused by four consecutive governments under the DUC. Economic growth resumed in 1997-99 after a stall in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and falling world prices for copper and cashmere. Public revenues and exports plummeted in 1998 and 1999 as a result of the Asian financial crisis. In August and September 1999, the economy was affected by a temporary Russian ban on oil and oil product exports. Mongolia became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1997. At the last Consultative Group Meeting in Ulaanbaatar in June 1999, the international donor community committed over $300 million per year.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.1 billion (estimated 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,320 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 24% services: 43% (1999 estimate)
Population living below the poverty line: 40% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.5% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (1998)
Labor force: 1.256 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: primarily herding/agriculture
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998)
Budget: revenues: $260 million expenditures: $366 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Industries: construction materials, mining (especially coal and copper); food and beverages, processing of animal products
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (1998)
Electricity - production: 2.66 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.816 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 342 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses
Exports: $316.8 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, and other non-ferrous metals.
Exports - partners: China 30.1%, Switzerland 21.5%, Russia 12.1%,
South Korea 9.7%, US 8.1% (1998)
Imports: $472.4 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Imports - partners: Russia 30.6%, China 13.3%, Japan 11.7%, South
Korea 7.5%, US 6.9% (1998)
Debt - external: $715 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $250 million (1998 est.)
Currency: 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos
Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 1,070.39 (December 1999), 1,072.37 (1999), 840.83 (1998), 789.99 (1997), 548.40 (1996), 448.61 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mongolia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 93,800 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 2, shortwave 13 (1998)
Radios: 360,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 18 provincial repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 118,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Mongolia:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,928 km broad gauge: 1,928 km 1.524-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 49,250 km paved: 1,674 km unpaved: 47,576 km (1998 est.) note: a large part of the unpaved rural road system consists of rough cross-country tracks
Waterways: 400 km of main routes (1999)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 34 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
@Mongolia:Military
Military branches: Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal Security Forces and Border Guards), Air Force, Civil Defense troops
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 727,844 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 473,326 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 29,364 (2000 estimate)
Military spending - dollar amount: $20 million (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY97)
@Mongolia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MONTSERRAT
@Montserrat:Introduction
Background: A large part of this island has been destroyed, and two-thirds of the population has escaped overseas because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano that started on July 18, 1995.
@Montserrat:Geography
Location: Caribbean, an 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: 100 sq km land: 100 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; minimal daily or seasonal temperature changes
Terrain: volcanic islands, mainly mountainous, with some small coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills) 914 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 40% other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: intense hurricanes (from June to November); volcanic eruptions (major eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano happened during 1996-97)
Environment - current issues: land erosion happens on slopes that have been cleared for farming
@Montserrat:People
Population: 6,409 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island after the volcanic activity resumed in July 1995; some have returned (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.23% (male 778; female 775) 15-64 years: 64.25% (male 1,969; female 2,149) 65 years and over: 11.52% (male 395; female 343) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 20.53% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 17.48 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.49 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 195.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 males/females under 15 years: 1 male/female 15-64 years: 0.92 males/females 65 years and over: 1.15 males/females total population: 0.96 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.1 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.96 years male: 75.78 years female: 80.23 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups: black, white
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Seventh-Day Adventist, and other Christian denominations
Languages: English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older has ever gone to school total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1970 est.)
@Montserrat:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat
Data code: MH
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; temporary government buildings have been constructed at Brades, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay area at the northwest end of Montserrat)
Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges,
Saint Peter's
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Queen's Birthday (second
Saturday of June)
Constitution: the current constitution went into effect on December 19, 1989
Legal system: English common law and statutory law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since September 1997) head of government: Chief Minister David BRANDT (since August 22, 1997) cabinet: The Executive Council includes the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary elections: The monarchy is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party typically becomes chief minister; note - following the last election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of the independent candidates.
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 elected by the public; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on November 11, 1996 (next to be held by NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia), one judge of the Supreme Court lives in the islands and leads the High Court.
Political parties and leaders: Movement for National Reconstruction or
MNR; National Development Party or NDP
; National Progressive Party or NPP;
People's Progressive Alliance or PPA
International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL
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 UK flag in the upper left corner and the Montserrat coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms shows a woman standing next to a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross.
@Montserrat:Economy
Economy - overview: Intense volcanic activity that started in July 1995 negatively impacted this small, open economy from 1996 to 1999. A disastrous eruption in June 1997 shut down the air and sea ports, leading to more economic and social disruption. Two-thirds of the 12,000 residents left the island. Some began returning in 1998, but a lack of housing limited their numbers. The agriculture sector continued to struggle due to insufficient land for farming and crop destruction. Construction became the main activity in 1997 and 1998. GDP fell again in 1998. The economy's future mainly relies on developments regarding the volcano and public sector construction activities. The UK pledged about $100 million from 1996 to 1998 to aid in reconstructing the economy and has planned additional support for 1999-2001.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $31 million (1998 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -16% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA
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): 5% (1998)
Labor force: 4,521 (1992); note - recently decreased due to people leaving because of volcanic activity.
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $31.4 million expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 10 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 9 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Exports: $1.5 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: electronic components, plastic bags, clothing, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
Exports - partners: US, Antigua and Barbuda (1993)
Imports: $26 million (1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food products, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Imports - partners: USA, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1993)
Debt - external: $8.9 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $9.8 million (1995); note - about $100
million (1996-98) in reconstruction aid from the UK; Country Policy
Plan (1999) is a three-year program to spend $122.8 million in
British budgetary assistance
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Montserrat:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 4,000 (1992)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 70 (1994)
Telephone system: domestic: N/A international: N/A
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 3,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Montserrat:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 269 km paved: 203 km unpaved: 66 km (1995)
Ports and harbors: Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Montserrat:Military
Military branches: Police Force
Military - note: defense is the UK's responsibility
@Montserrat:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MOROCCO
@Morocco:Introduction
Background: Morocco's long fight for independence from France ended in 1956. The international city of Tangier was handed over to the new country that same year. Morocco effectively annexed Western Sahara in the late 1970s, but the final status of the territory is still unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s led to the creation of a bicameral legislature in 1997.
@Morocco:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, along 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: a bit 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 continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more intense in the interior
Terrain: the northern coast and interior are hilly with extensive areas of surrounding plateaus, valleys between the mountains, and fertile coastal plains.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 47% forests and woodland: 20% other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,580 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: northern mountains are geologically unstable and prone to earthquakes; occasional droughts
Environment - current issues: land degradation/desertification (soil erosion from farming in marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by untreated sewage; silt buildup in reservoirs; oil contamination 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 signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: important location along the Strait of Gibraltar
@Morocco:People
Population: 30,122,350 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 5,372,393; female 5,175,114) 15-64 years: 60% (male 9,021,259; female 9,163,548) 65 years and over: 5% (male 632,698; female 757,338) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.74% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 24.6 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.02 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 49.72 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.13 years male: 66.92 years female: 71.44 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.13 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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, and French, which is commonly used for business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and older can read and write total population: 43.7% male: 56.6% female: 31% (1995 est.)
@Morocco:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib
Data code: MO
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 Srarhna, 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 note: three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune are included in the Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara; a decentralization/regionalization law was passed by the legislature in March 1997, creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization are not yet available.
Independence: March 2, 1956 (from France)
National holiday: Throne Day or Sete de Throne 30 July (1999) (anniversary of King MOHAMED VI's accession to the throne)
Constitution: March 10, 1972, revised September 4, 1992, amended (to create a bicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court.
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since July 23, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI (since March 14, 1998) 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: The bicameral Parliament includes an upper house called the Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members are elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor unions for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a lower house known as the Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; members are elected by popular vote for five-year terms). Elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held on December 5, 1997 (next to be held in December 2000); Chamber of Representatives - last held on November 14, 1997 (next to be held in November 2002). Election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, IP 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, UT 13, FFD 12, CDT 11, UTM 8, PPS 7, PSD 4, PDI 4, UGTM 3, UNMT 2, other 3; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - USFP 57, UC 50, RNI 46, MP 40, MDS 32, IP 32, MNP 19, PND 10, MPCD 9, PPS 9, FFD 9, PSD 5, OADP 4, PA 2, PDI 1. Note: CDT, UTM, UGTM, UNMT are all labor unions categorized under Political pressure groups and leaders; see the description of Parliament for further explanation.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed based on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, led by the monarch.
Political parties and leaders: Action Party or PA ;
Constitutional Union or UC ; Democratic Forces
Front or FFD ; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Issa
al-OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Party for Independence or PDI [Thami
el-OUAZZANI, Said BOUACHRINE]; Istiqlal Party or IP ;
Labor Party or UT ; National Democratic Party or PND
; National Popular Movement or MNP
; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed
OSMAN]; Organization of Democratic and Popular Action or OADP [Mohamed
BENSAID]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Moulay Ismail al
ALAOUI]; Popular Constitutional and Democratic Movement or MPCD [Dr.
Abdelkarim al-KHATIB]; Popular Movement or MP ;
Social Democratic Movement or MDS ; Socialist Union
of Popular Forces or USFP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association of Popular Trade Unions or ADP; Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT; Democratic National Trade Union or USND; Democratic Trade Union or SD; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM; Labor Union Commissions or CS; Moroccan National Workers Union or UNMT; Moroccan Union of Workers or UTM; Party of Shura and Istiqla;
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate),
AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending
member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM,
OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 462-7979 through 7982 FAX: (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward M. GABRIEL embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 3, APO AE 09718 telephone: (7) 76 22 65 FAX: (7) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam.
@Morocco:Economy
Economy - overview: Morocco is dealing with issues typical of developing countries, such as managing government spending, easing restrictions on private business and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable economic growth. Since the early 1980s, the government has worked towards these goals with support from the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The dirham is now fully convertible for current account transactions; financial sector reforms have been put in place; and state-owned enterprises are being privatized. Drought conditions harmed the vital agricultural sector and contributed to an economic slowdown in 1999. Favorable rainfall has led Morocco to forecast a growth of 6% for 2000. Significant long-term challenges include managing external debt, preparing the economy for increased trade with the EU, and improving education while attracting foreign investment to enhance living standards and job opportunities for Morocco's young population.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $108 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,600 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16% industry: 30% services: 54% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 13.1% (1990-91 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 30.5% (1990-91)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 11 million (1997 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 35%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 19% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $9.1 billion expenditures: $10 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather products, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1998 estimate)
Electricity - production: 13.16 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.59% hydro: 16.41% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 12.363 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 124 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Exports: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: phosphates and fertilizers, food and drinks, minerals (1998)
Exports - partners: France 27%, Spain 11%, India 7%, Japan 6%, Italy 5% (1998)
Imports: $9.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: semi-processed goods, machinery and equipment, food and beverages, consumer goods, fuel (1998)
Imports - partners: France 22%, Spain 10%, US 7%, Germany 6%, Italy 6% (1998)
Debt - external: $19.1 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $565.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 10.051 (January 2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Morocco:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.391 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 116,645 (1998)
Telephone system: domestic: a good system made up of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet is available but pricey; main switching centers are in Casablanca and Rabat; the national network is almost 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service uses 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
Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios: 6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 26 (plus 35 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 3.1 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 27 (1999)
@Morocco:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified; 540 km double track)
Highways: total: 57,847 km paved: 30,254 km (including 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,593 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km (abandoned); natural gas 241 km
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: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 218,987 GRT/263,191 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 9, roll-on/roll-off 8, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 70 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 44 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Morocco:Military
Military branches: Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 7,961,552 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 5,026,210 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 335,264 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $1.361 billion (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 3.8% (FY97/98)
@Morocco:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims and manages Western Sahara, but sovereignty is still unclear, and the UN is trying to organize a referendum on the matter; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in place since September 1991; Spain controls five areas of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco disputes, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas.
Illicit drugs: illegal production of hashish; trafficking is on the rise for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mainly headed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America heading to Western Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
MOZAMBIQUE
@Mozambique:Introduction
Background: Nearly five centuries as a Portuguese colony ended with independence in 1975. Mass emigration by white citizens, economic reliance on South Africa, a serious drought, and a long civil war impeded the country's growth. The ruling party officially gave up Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the next year allowed for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A peace agreement mediated by the UN with rebel forces concluded the fighting in 1992.
@Mozambique:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, next to 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 land: 784,090 sq km water: 17,500 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than double the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,571 km border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Eswatini 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline: 2,470 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical to subtropical
Terrain: mainly coastal lowlands, uplands in the center, high plateaus in the northwest, mountains in the west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 18% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: intense droughts and floods happen in central and southern regions; destructive cyclones
Environment - current issues: a prolonged civil war and ongoing drought in the countryside have led to more people moving to cities and coastal areas, causing negative environmental effects; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters.
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
@Mozambique:People
Population: 19,104,696 note: estimates for this country clearly factor in the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and shifts in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would normally be expected; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 4,079,240; female 4,122,578) 15-64 years: 54% (male 5,123,178; female 5,262,618) 65 years and over: 3% (male 215,412; female 301,670) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.47% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 37.99 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 23.29 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 0.99 males/females 15-64 years: 0.97 males/females 65 years and over: 0.71 males/females total population: 0.97 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 139.86 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 37.52 years male: 38.34 years female: 36.68 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.93 children born per woman (2000 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 up can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 57.7% female: 23.3% (1995 est.)
@Mozambique:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique
Data code: MZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Maputo
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence: June 25, 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, June 25 (1975)
Constitution: 30 November 1990
Legal system: based on the Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since November 6, 1986); note - before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected president by Frelimo's Central Committee on November 4, 1986 (reelected by the Committee on July 30, 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since NA December 1994) cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on December 3-4, 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 via a secret ballot to serve five-year terms) elections: last held December 3-5, 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% needed to secure parliamentary seats.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president and judges elected by the Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Front for the Liberation of Mozambique
(Frente de Libertação de Moçambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto
CHISSANO, chairman]; Mozambique National Resistance - Electoral Union
(Resistência Nacional Moçambicana - União Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 293-7146 FAX: (202) 835-0245
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bryan Dean CURRAN embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo telephone: (1) 492797 FAX: (1) 490114
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red triangle on the left side; the black band has a white border; in the center of the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star with a black crossed rifle and hoe over an open white book.
@Mozambique:Economy
Economy - overview: Before the peace agreement in October 1992, Mozambique's economy was severely impacted by a long civil war and poor management. In 1994, it was among the poorest countries globally. Since then, Mozambique has made several economic reforms. Almost all aspects of the economy have been liberalized to some degree. More than 900 state-owned enterprises have been privatized. Tax reforms and a much-needed update to the commercial code are still pending, along with more private sector involvement in transportation, telecommunications, and energy. Since 1996, inflation has been low and foreign exchange rates have been stable. While starting from a small base, Mozambique's economy grew at an annual rate of 10% from 1997 to 1999, one of the highest growth rates in the world. However, the country still relies on foreign assistance to balance its budget and to address a trade imbalance where imports outnumber exports by five to one or more. The medium-term outlook is positive, as trade and transport connections with South Africa and the wider region are expected to improve, leading to significant foreign investments. These investments include metal production (aluminum, steel), natural gas, power generation, agriculture (cotton, sugar), fishing, timber, and transportation services. Additional exports in these areas should generate the needed foreign exchange. Furthermore, Mozambique is set to receive a formal cancellation of a significant portion of its external debt through a World Bank initiative.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.7 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 10% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 18% services: 48% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: NA
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $402 million expenditures: $799 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: food, drinks, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paint), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 39% (1997)
Electricity - production: 1.2 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 25% hydro: 75% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.018 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 483 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 385 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, cashews, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits; beef, chicken
Exports: $300 million (f.o.b., estimated 1999)
Exports - commodities: shrimp 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra, citrus, coconuts, timber (1997)
Exports - partners: Spain 17%, South Africa 16%, Portugal 12%, US 10%,
Japan, Malawi, India, Zimbabwe (1996 est.)
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., estimated in 1999)
Imports - commodities: food, clothing, farming equipment, oil, transport equipment (1997)
Imports - partners: South Africa 55%, Zimbabwe 7%, Saudi Arabia 5%,
Portugal 4%, US, Japan, India (1996 est.)
Debt - external: $4.8 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.115 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 metical (Mt) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1 - 13,392.0 (January 2000), 12,775.1 (1999), 11,874.6 (1998), 11,543.6 (1997), 11,293.8 (1996), 9,024.3 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mozambique:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 60,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: fair system of tropospheric scatter, open-wire lines, and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 4, shortwave 17 (1998)
Radios: 730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 90,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Mozambique:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,131 km narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: about 3,750 kilometers of navigable routes
Pipelines: crude oil 306 km; petroleum products 289 km note: not operating
Ports and harbors: Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT ships by type: cargo 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 170 (1999 est.)
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: 4 under 914 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 148 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 92 (1999 est.)
@Mozambique:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Forces,
Militia
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,536,132 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,617,720 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $72 million (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 4.7% (FY97)
@Mozambique:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: Southern Africa serves as a transit hub for South American cocaine likely intended for the European and US markets; it's also a producer of hashish and methaqualone.
______________________________________________________________________
NAMIBIA
@Namibia:Introduction
Background: South Africa took control of the German colony of South West Africa during World War I and managed it as a mandate until after World War II when it made the territory its own. In 1966, the Marxist South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group began a war for independence for the area, which became known as Namibia. However, it wasn't until 1988 that South Africa agreed to stop its administration as part of a UN peace plan for the region. Independence was achieved in 1990.
@Namibia:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, next to 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 land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: just over half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 3,824 km border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline: 1,572 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: desert; hot and dry; rainfall is limited and unpredictable
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along the coast; Kalahari
Desert in the 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: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 22% other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: extended periods of drought
Environment - current issues: very limited natural freshwater resources; desertification
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: none of the selected agreements
@Namibia:People
Population: 1,771,327 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 384,900; female 375,282) 15-64 years: 53% (male 468,942; female 475,504) 65 years and over: 4% (male 28,905; female 37,794) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 35.23 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 19.49 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 70.88 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 42.46 years male: 44.33 years female: 40.53 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.89 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups: Black 87.5%, White 6%, Mixed 6.5%. Note: about 50% of the population belongs to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%.
Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans is the common language for most of the population, and about 60% of the white population speaks it, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and over can read and write total population: 38% male: 45% female: 31% (1960 est.)
@Namibia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia
Data code: WA
Government type: republic
Capital: Windhoek
Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas,
Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana,
Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence: March 21, 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday: Independence Day, March 21 (1990)
Constitution: ratified February 9, 1990; effective March 12, 1990
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and the 1990 constitution
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Samuel NUJOMA (since March 21, 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Samuel NUJOMA (since March 21, 1990); 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 November 30-December 1, 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Samuel NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote - Samuel NUJOMA 77%
Legislative branch: A 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, were held on 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly - last held on 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by December 2004). 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 77%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1. Note: The National Council is a purely advisory body.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president.
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 ;
South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO ; United
Democratic Front or UDF
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM,
OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, 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 telephone: (202) 986-0540 FAX: (202) 986-0443
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey A. BADER embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (61) 221601 FAX: (61) 229792
Flag description: a big blue triangle has a yellow sunburst in the upper left section, and there's a solid green triangle in the lower right section. The triangles are divided by a red stripe, which is accented by two thin white borders.
@Namibia:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy relies heavily on extracting and processing minerals for export. Mining makes up 20% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa and the fifth-largest producer of uranium in the world. The country has rich alluvial diamond deposits, making it a key source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces significant amounts of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. Half of the population depends on agriculture—mainly subsistence farming—for their livelihoods. Namibia has to import some of its food. While per capita GDP is four times that of Africa's poorer countries, most Namibians live in severe poverty due to high unemployment, extreme income inequality, and a substantial portion of wealth going to foreigners. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa. GDP growth is expected to improve in 2000-01, thanks to gains in the diamond and fish sectors. An agreement has been reached to privatize several more enterprises in the coming years, which should encourage long-term foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.1 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 30% services: 58% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.5% (1999)
Labor force: 500,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 47%, industry 25%, services 28% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $883 million expenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)
Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1994)
Electricity - production: 1.198 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2% hydro: 98% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 1.81 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 56 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 890 million kWh (1999) note: imports electricity from South Africa
Agriculture - products: millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Exports - partners: UK 43%, South Africa 26%, Spain 14%, France 8%,
Japan (1998 est.)
Imports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: food; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners: South Africa 84%, Germany, US, Japan (1995 est.)
Debt - external: $159 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $127 million (1998)
Currency: 1 Namibian dollar (N$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Namibian dollars (N$) per US$1 - 6.12439 (January 2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Namibia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 100,848 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 20,000 (1998)
Telephone system: 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
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 34, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: 232,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 8 (plus around 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 60,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Namibia:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track (1995)
Highways: total: 63,258 km paved: 5,250 km unpaved: 58,008 km (1997 est.)
Ports and harbors: Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 135 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 113 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 69 under 914 m: 21 (1999 est.)
@Namibia:Military
Military branches: National Defense Force (Army), Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 416,529 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 248,581 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $90 million (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY97/98)
@Namibia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: dispute with Botswana over uninhabited
Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River resolved by the ICJ
in favor of Botswana (13 December 1999); at least one other island in
Linyanti River is contested
______________________________________________________________________
NAURU
@Nauru:Introduction
Background: Nauru's phosphate deposits started being mined in the early 20th century by a German-British partnership; the island was taken over by Australian forces during World War I. After gaining independence in 1968, Nauru became the smallest independent republic in the world and joined the UN in 1999.
@Nauru:Geography
Location: Oceania, an 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 land: 21 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 30 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; monsoon; rainy season (November to February)
Terrain: a sandy beach leads to a fertile ring surrounding raised coral reefs, with a phosphate plateau in the center.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
Natural resources: phosphates
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but largely rely on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining over the past 90 years - primarily by a consortium from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand - has turned the central 90% of Nauru into a wasteland and jeopardizes the few remaining land resources.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: Nauru is one of the three major phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; just 53 km south of the Equator.
@Nauru:People
Population: 11,845 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40.99% (male 2,494; female 2,361) 15-64 years: 57.37% (male 3,383; female 3,413) 65 years and over: 1.64% (male 97; female 97) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.05% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 27.86 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.34 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.9 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.84 years male: 57.35 years female: 64.5 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.71 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 unique Pacific Island language), English is widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes.
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
@Nauru:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island
Data code: NR
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: January 31, 1968 (from the UN trusteeship administered by Australia, New Zealand, and the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, January 31 (1968)
Constitution: 29 January 1968
Legal system: laws passed by the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Suffrage: 20 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Rene HARRIS (since NA 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rene HARRIS (since NA 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 27 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: Rene HARRIS elected president; percent of Parliament vote - NA note: former President Bernard DOWIYOGO was removed from office in a no-confidence vote
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on February 8, 1997 (next to be held in February 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: flexible multiparty system; Democratic
Party; Nauru Party (unofficial)
International organization participation: AsDB, C, ESCAP, ICAO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC,
SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Nauru doesn't have an embassy in the US, but it will open a UN office in early 2000 at 800 2nd Avenue, New York, New York. consulate(s): Agana (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is assigned to Nauru.
Flag description: blue with a thin, horizontal yellow stripe running across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the left side; the star represents the country's position in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru.
@Nauru:Economy
Economy - overview: The income of this small island comes from phosphate exports, but these reserves are expected to run out by the year 2000. Phosphates have provided Nauruans with one of the highest per capita incomes in the developing world, although estimates of GDP vary greatly. There are few other resources available, so most essentials need to be imported, including fresh water from Australia. Restoring mined land and finding alternative sources of income after phosphates are gone are significant long-term issues. A large portion of phosphate revenue is set aside in trust funds to help ease this transition. The government has been borrowing heavily from these funds to cover budget deficits. To save money, the government has proposed freezing wages, cutting back on overstaffed public service departments, privatizing several government agencies, and closing some overseas consulates. In recent years, Nauru has promoted the registration of offshore banks and corporations, and tens of billions of dollars have flowed through their accounts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $100 million (1993 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1993 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -3.6% (1993)
Labor force - by occupation: employed in phosphate mining, public administration, education, and transportation
Unemployment rate: 0%
Budget: revenues: $23.4 million expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)
Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 30 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 28 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coconuts
Exports: $25.3 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Exports - commodities: phosphates
Exports - partners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $21.1 million (c.i.f., 1991)
Imports - commodities: food, fuel, manufactured goods, building materials, machinery
Imports - partners: Australia, UK, NZ, Japan
Debt - external: $33.3 million
Economic aid - recipient: $2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar (A$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.5207 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Nauru:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 2,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 450 (1994)
Telephone system: sufficient local and international radiotelephone communications provided through Australian facilities domestic: N/A 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Nauru:Transportation
Railways: total: 3.9 km; note - used to transport phosphates from the center of the island to processing facilities on the southwest coast
Highways: total: 30 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (1998 est.)
Ports and harbors: Nauru
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Nauru:Military
Military branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the Nauru
Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,945 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,620 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: Nauru has no military forces; under an informal agreement, Australia is in charge of the island's defense.
@Nauru:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
NAVASSA ISLAND
@Navassa Island:Geography
Location: Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, approximately a quarter 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 land: 5.2 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: marine, tropical
Terrain: elevated coral and limestone plateau, mostly flat with some gentle hills; surrounded by steep white cliffs (30 to 50 feet 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% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 0% other: 90%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
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 clusters of fig-like trees, scattered cactus.
@Navassa Island:People
Population: uninhabited note: temporary Haitian fishermen and others set up camp on the island (July 2000 est.)
@Navassa Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island
Data code: BQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; managed from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior; in September 1996, the Coast Guard stopped 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 made against the island.
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Navassa Island:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Navassa Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available
@Navassa Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the U.S.
@Navassa Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Haiti
______________________________________________________________________
NEPAL COUNTRY FLAG OF NEPAL
______________________________________________________________________
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
@Netherlands Antilles:Introduction
Background: Once the hub of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was severely affected by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (along with that of nearby Aruba) was revived in the early 20th century with the building of oil refineries to support the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Sint Maarten is divided with France (whose northern part is called Saint Martin and is part of Guadeloupe).
@Netherlands Antilles:Geography
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela and 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 land: 960 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area - comparative: over 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; improved 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 (only found in Curacao), salt (only found in Bonaire)
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 90% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are located south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely at risk; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius can experience hurricanes from July to October.
Environment - current issues: NA
@Netherlands Antilles:People
Population: 210,134 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25% (male 27,320; female 26,230) 15-64 years: 67% (male 66,653; female 73,813) 65 years and over: 8% (male 6,701; female 9,417) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.01% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 16.94 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.42 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.42 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 0.9 males/females 65 years and over: 0.71 males/females total population: 0.92 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.74 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.72 years male: 72.56 years female: 76.99 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Netherlands Antillean(s) adjective: Netherlands 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) is the most common, English is widely spoken, and Spanish.
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1981 est.)
@Netherlands Antilles:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles local long form: none local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
Data code: NT
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; complete autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954
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, April 30 (1938)
Constitution: December 29, 1954, Statute of the Realm of the
Netherlands, as amended
Legal system: based on the Dutch civil law system, with some influence from English common law.
Suffrage: Age 18; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since April 30, 1980), represented by Governor-General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since November 8, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten 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; last election held January 30, 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: Miguel POURIER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA note: government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP
Legislative branch: unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on January 30, 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St. M 2, FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice, judges appointed by the king.
Political parties and leaders: Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR
; C 93 ; Democratic Party of Bonaire or
PDB ; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Ephraim
JONCKHEER]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian
WOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah
WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or
FAME ; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol
COVA]; National People's Party or PNP ; New Antilles
Movement or MAN ; Nos Patria [Chin
BEHILIA]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA ;
Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB ; People's Party or PAPU
; Pro Curacao Party or PPK ; Saba
Democratic Labor Movement ; Saba Unity Party [Carmen
SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA ; Serious
Alternative People's Party or SAPP ; Social Action
Cause or KAS ; Socialist Independent or SI [George
HUECK]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM ;
Workers' Liberation Front or FOL
note: political parties are indigenous to each island
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Barbara J. STEPHENSON consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: (9) 4613066 FAX: (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
@Netherlands Antilles:Economy
Economy - overview: Tourism, oil shipping, and offshore finance are the key sectors of this small economy, which is strongly connected to the global market. The islands have a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared to other countries in the region. Nearly all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the primary suppliers. Poor soil and insufficient water resources limit agricultural development.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (1998 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.3% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,800 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1998)
Labor force: 89,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 14.9% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $710.8 million expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism (Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), oil refining (Curaçao), oil transshipment facilities (Curaçao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curaçao)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.02 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 949 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: aloe vera, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruits
Exports: $303 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: petroleum products 98% (1993)
Exports - partners: US 17.5%, Guatemala 8%, Costa Rica 6.5%, The
Bahamas 4.6%, Jamaica 4.1%, Chile 3.4% (1998)
Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: crude oil 64%, food, manufactured goods (1993)
Imports - partners: Venezuela 35.3%, US 21%, Mexico 9.8%, Italy 5.4%,
Netherlands 4.8%, Brazil 3.1% (1998)
Debt - external: $1.35 billion (1996)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - Netherlands provided a $97 million aid package in 1996
Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins
(NAf.) per US$1 - 1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Netherlands Antilles:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 75,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 11,727 (1995)
Telephone system: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: 2 submarine cables; 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's also a cable service that provides programs from several US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (1997)
Televisions: 69,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999)
@Netherlands Antilles:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 600 km paved: 300 km unpaved: 300 km (1992 est.)
Ports and harbors: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
Merchant marine: total: 110 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,028,910 GRT/1,285,837 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 27, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 16, liquefied gas 4, multi-functional large load carrier 18, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 26, roll-on/roll-off 6 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 2 countries: Belgium owns 9 ships, Germany 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Netherlands Antilles:Military
Military branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal
Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 53,766 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - suitable for military service: males age 15-49: 30,137 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 1,534 (2000 est.)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands
@Netherlands Antilles:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: money-laundering hub; transit point for South
American drugs heading to the US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
NETHERLANDS
@Netherlands:Introduction
Background: The Kingdom of the Netherlands was established in 1815. In 1830, Belgium broke away and became its own kingdom. The Netherlands stayed neutral during World War I but experienced a harsh invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. As a modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a major exporter of agricultural goods. The country was one of the founding members of NATO and the EU, and it was involved in the launch of the euro in 1999.
@Netherlands:Geography
Location: Western Europe, next to the North Sea, between Belgium and
Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52.30° N, 5.45° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 41,532 sq km land: 33,889 sq km water: 7,643 sq km
Area - comparative: just under two times 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild; coastal; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain: mainly coastal lowlands and reclaimed land (polders); a few hills in the southeast.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m
Natural resources: natural gas, oil, farmland
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 8% other: 39% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,000 sq km (1996 est.)
Natural hazards: the extensive network of levees and dams protects almost half of the total area from flooding.
Environment - current issues: water pollution due to heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients like nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from cars and industrial processes; acid rain
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 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,
Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: located at the mouths of three major European rivers
(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
@Netherlands:People
Population: 15,892,237 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 1,497,290; female 1,431,671) 15-64 years: 68% (male 5,490,518; female 5,305,848) 65 years and over: 14% (male 885,839; female 1,281,071) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.12 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 8.72 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.42 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.28 years male: 75.4 years female: 81.28 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups: Dutch 91%, Moroccans, Turks, and others 9% (1999 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)
Languages: Dutch
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 99% (1979 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Netherlands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden local short form: Nederland
Data code: NL
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is where the government is located.
Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular -
provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen,
Limburg, North Brabant, North Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland,
South Holland
Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence: 1579 (from Spain)
National holiday: Queen's Day, April 30
Constitution: adopted in 1814; amended several times, most recently on February 17, 1983.
Legal system: a civil law system that includes French penal theory; the constitution does not allow judicial review of actions taken by the States General; it accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with some reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since April 30, 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born April 27, 1967), son of the monarch head of government: Prime Minister Wim KOK (since August 22, 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since August 3, 1998) and Els BORST-EILERS (since August 3, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; after Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch note: government coalition - PvdA, VVD, and D'66; there is also a Council of State made up of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors who advise the executive 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 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003); Second Chamber - last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May 2002) election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDA 20, VVD 19, PvdA 15, D'66 4, other 17; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%, D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party - PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'66 14, other 24
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad, justices are appointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA; Democrats '66 or D'66; Labor Party or PvdA; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD; a bunch of smaller parties.
Political pressure groups and leaders: Federation of Netherlands Trade
Union Movement (which includes Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a
Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant
Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large
multinational companies; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands
Enterprises
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA,
ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joris M. VOS chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 244-5300 FAX: (202) 362-3430 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 telephone: (70) 310-9209 FAX: (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 has a lighter blue and is longer.
@Netherlands:Economy
Economy - overview: The Netherlands has a thriving and open economy where the government has successfully diminished its role since the 1980s. Most industrial activity centers around food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the workforce but generates substantial surpluses for the food-processing industry and exports. The Dutch are the third-largest in the world for agricultural export value, following the US and France. The Netherlands effectively tackled the issues of public finances and stagnant job growth well ahead of its European neighbors, which helped shield its economy from a slowdown in the eurozone. After a robust GDP growth of 3.8% in 1998, the economy continued to expand, albeit slightly slower, at 3.4% in 1999. The outlook remains positive, with real GDP growth in 2000 projected at 3.25%, along with a small budget surplus. The Dutch were among the first 11 EU countries to join the euro currency zone on January 1, 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $365.1 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,100 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 26.8% services: 69.7% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 7 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.5%, but generous welfare benefits have led many to leave the workforce (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $163 billion expenditures: $170 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: agriculture, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, oil, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1999)
Electricity - production: 88.736 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.32% hydro: 0.11% nuclear: 4.08% other: 4.49% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 94.325 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 400 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 12.2 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports: $169 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - products: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food items
Exports - partners: EU 78% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%,
France 11%, UK 10%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (1998)
Imports: $152 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; food, clothing
Imports - partners: EU 61% (Germany 20%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK 10%, France 7%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (1998)
Debt - external: $0
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $3.4 billion (1999)
Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents; note - to be replaced by the euro on January 1, 2002
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.8904 (January 1999), 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996), 1.6057 (1995) note: on January 1, 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 2.20371 guilders per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in agreeing countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Netherlands:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 8.431 million (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.016 million (1996)
Telephone system: highly developed and well-maintained domestic: the current system of multi-conductor cables is slowly being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the volume of cellular telephone traffic is rapidly increasing, and further updates to the system are expected in 2001, with the launch of the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 in the Indian Ocean and 2 in the Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (covering the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 15.3 million (1996)
Television broadcast stations: 15 (plus five low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 8.1 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 70 (1999)
@Netherlands:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,739 km standard gauge: 2,739 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1998)
Highways: total: 125,575 km paved: 113,018 km (including 2,235 km of expressways) unpaved: 12,557 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 5,046 km, with 47% being navigable by vessels that can carry 1,000 metric tons or more
Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km
Ports and harbors: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven,
Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen,
Utrecht
Merchant marine: total: 563 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 4,035,899 GRT/4,576,841 DWT. Ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 343, chemical tanker 41, combination bulk 2, container 56, liquified gas 20, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large load carrier 8, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 25, refrigerated cargo 32, roll-on/roll-off 16, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 5 (1999 est.) Note: many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the registry of the Netherlands Antilles (1998 est.)
Airports: 28 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Netherlands:Military
Military branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,090,273 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males aged 15-49: 3,566,882 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 96,684 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $6.956 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: NA%
@Netherlands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: major European producer of illegal amphetamines and other synthetic drugs; significant entry point for cocaine, heroin, and hashish coming into Europe
______________________________________________________________________
NEW CALEDONIA
@New Caledonia:Introduction
Background: Settled by both Britain and France in the first half of the 19th century, the island became a French possession in 1853. It functioned as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. The push for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s appears to have faded away.
@New Caledonia:Geography
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 land: 18,575 sq km water: 485 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,254 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; influenced by southeast trade winds; hot and humid
Terrain: flat coastal areas with mountains inland
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% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 12% forests and woodland: 39% other: 49% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1991)
Natural hazards: cyclones, which are most common from November to March.
Environment - current issues: erosion caused by mining exploitation and wildfires
@New Caledonia:People
Population: 201,816 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 31,396; female 30,160) 15-64 years: 64% (male 65,042; female 63,961) 65 years and over: 5% (male 5,324; female 5,933) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.52% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 20.84 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.62 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.57 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.77 years male: 69.84 years female: 75.85 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.52 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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.)
@New Caledonia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Data code: NC
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
National holiday: National Day, Storming of the Bastille, July 14 (1789)
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords give significant autonomy to the islands; previously governed by French law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since May 17, 1995), represented by High Commissioner Thierry LATASTE (since July 19, 1999) head of government: President of the Government Jean LEQUES (since May 28, 1999) cabinet: Consultative Committee elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president based on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members are from the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held May 9, 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 September 27, 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held May 25-June 1, 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; County Courts; Joint
Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance pour la Caledonie [Didier
LEROUX]; Développer Ensemble pour Construire l'Avenir or DEPCA [Robert
FROUIN]; Fédération des Comités de Coordination des Indépendantistes
or FCCI; Front Uni de Libération Kanak or FULK [Ernest
UNE]; Groupe de l'Alliance Multiraciale or GAM;
Indépendance et Progrès; Kanak Socialist Front
for National Liberation or FLNKS (includes PALIKA, UNI,
UC, UPM); La Calédonie Autrement; Loyalty Islands
Development Front or FDIL; National Front or FN [Guy
GEORGE]; Parti de Libération Kanak or PALIKA;
Rally for Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR;
Renouveau; Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Nidoish
NAISSELINE]; Union Calédonienne or UC; Union Nationale
pour l'Indépendance or UNI; Union Progressiste
Mélanésienne or UPM
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
@New Caledonia:Economy
Economy - overview: New Caledonia has over 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has struggled due to low international demand for nickel, which is the main source of export earnings. Only a small portion of the land is suitable for farming, and food makes up about 20% of imports. Besides nickel, significant financial support from France and tourism are crucial for the economy's health. The situation in 1998 was affected by financial issues in East Asia and falling nickel prices. Nickel prices surged in 1999, and there were major increases in production capacity.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3 billion (1998 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 30% services: 66% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (est. 1998)
Labor force: 79,395 (including 15,018 unemployed, 1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1994)
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: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.52 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 65.79% hydro: 34.21% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.414 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: vegetables; beef, venison, and other livestock products
Exports: $381 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners: Japan 36%, France 30%, US 14%, Taiwan 9%,
Australia 7% (1997)
Imports: $922 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: food, machinery and equipment, fuel, minerals
Imports - partners: France 41%, Australia 13%, New Zealand 7%, Japan 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $79 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $770 million from France (1998)
Currency: 1 French Pacific Territories franc (CFPF) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 117.67 (January 2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
@New Caledonia:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 44,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 825 (1995)
Telephone system: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@New Caledonia:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 5,562 km paved: 975 km unpaved: 4,587 km (1993)
Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (estimated 1999)
Airports: 28 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 6 (1999 est.)
@New Caledonia:Military
Military branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,
Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $192.3 million (1996)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 5.3% (1996)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@New Caledonia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands are claimed by France and Vanuatu.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW ZEALAND
@New Zealand:Introduction
Background: The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand pulled out of several defense alliances during the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years, the government has worked to address ongoing grievances from the native Maori population.
@New Zealand:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 41° S, 174° E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,670 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild with distinct regional differences
Terrain: mostly mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 50% forests and woodland: 28% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes happen frequently, but they're usually not serious; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native plants and animals severely affected by species introduced from outside.
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note: around 80% of the population resides in urban areas
@New Zealand:People
Population: 3,819,762 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 440,824; female 419,740) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,263,710; female 1,254,958) 65 years and over: 11% (male 191,511; female 249,019) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.17% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 14.28 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.57 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 4.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.39 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.82 years male: 74.85 years female: 80.93 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Māori 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
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@New Zealand:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ
Data code: NZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town
districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller,
Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont,
Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay,
Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay,
Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt,
Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie,
Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough,
Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua,
Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako,
Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga,
Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford,
Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,
Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,
Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea,
Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa,
Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland,
Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions
(Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are
subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,
Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central
Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne,
Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*,
Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie,
Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*,
Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston
North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney,
Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato,
South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames
Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa,
Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western
Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: September 26, 1907 (from the UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, February 6 (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: no official written constitution; made up of different
documents, including some acts from the UK and New Zealand
Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was supposed to take effect on 1
January 1987, but has not been put into action
Legal system: based on English law, with specific land laws and land courts for Māori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since March 21, 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since December 10, 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Jim ANDERTON (since December 10, 1999) 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; after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member districts to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on November 27, 1999 (next must be called by November 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NZLP 49, NP 39, Alliance 10, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 7, NZFP 5, UNZ 1 note: NZLP and Alliance formed the government coalition; the National Party became the opposition party
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: ACT, New Zealand ;
Alliance (a coalition of the New Labor Party, Democratic Party, New
Zealand Liberal Party, and Mana Motuhake) ; Christian
Coalition (a coalition of the Christian Democrats and Christian
Heritage Party) ; Conservative Party (formerly
Right of Centre Party) ; Democratic Party [John
WRIGHT]; Green Party ; Mana
Motuhake ; Mauri Pacific Party (made up of members who
split from the NZFP) ; National Party or NP [Jenny
SHIPLEY]; New Labor Party ; New Zealand First Party or
NZFP ; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP ;
New Zealand Liberal Party ; United New Zealand or UNZ
International organization participation: ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended
security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia
Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW,
PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,
UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-4800 FAX: (202) 667-5227 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Carol MOSELEY-BRAUN embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address: P.O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001 telephone: (4) 472-2068 FAX: (4) 471-2380 consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper left corner, featuring four red five-pointed stars outlined in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation.
@New Zealand:Economy
Economy - overview: Since 1984, the government has made significant progress in restructuring the economy, shifting from an agriculture-based system relying on favorable British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete on a global scale. This impressive growth has increased real incomes, enhanced the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and kept inflation under control. Inflation rates are among the lowest in the industrialized world. Per capita GDP is rising, approaching the levels of major West European economies. However, New Zealand's heavy reliance on trade makes its growth prospects sensitive to economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. Moderate growth is expected for the year 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $63.8 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,400 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 23% services: 69% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 1.86 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $24.9 billion expenditures: $23.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 35.789 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 27.17% hydro: 65.82% nuclear: 0% other: 7.01% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 33.284 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, potatoes, beans, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $12.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: dairy products, meat, fish, wool, forestry products, manufactured goods
Exports - partners: Australia 21%, Japan 13%, US 13%, UK 6% (1998)
Imports: $11.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics
Imports - partners: Australia 22%, US 20%, Japan 11%, UK 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $53 billion (1998)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $123 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@New Zealand:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.719 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 588,000 (1998)
Telephone system: excellent international and domestic 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 (along with 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.926 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 56 (1999)
@New Zealand:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,913 km narrow gauge: 3,913 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified) (1999)
Highways: total: 92,200 km paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,632 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km; not very important for transportation
Pipelines: oil products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) 150 km
Ports and harbors: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga,
Wellington
Merchant marine: total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 102,461 GRT/133,418 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, rail car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 111 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 44 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: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 43 (1999 est.)
@New Zealand:Military
Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 990,774 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males aged 15-49: 834,289 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 26,649 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $883 million (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY97/98)
@New Zealand:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
Dependency)
______________________________________________________________________
NICARAGUA
@Nicaragua:Introduction
Background: Established as a Spanish colony in the 1520s, Nicaragua gained its independence in 1821. By 1978, widespread violent resistance against government manipulation and corruption affected all social classes, leading to a brief civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan support for leftist rebels in El Salvador prompted the US to fund anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas throughout much of the 1980s. In 1990 and again in 1996, free elections resulted in defeats for the Sandinistas. The country has gradually rebuilt its economy during the 1990s but was significantly affected by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
@Nicaragua:Geography
Location: Middle America, located between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13° N, 85° W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 129,494 sq km land: 120,254 sq km water: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New York State
Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 25-nautical mile security zone continental shelf: natural extension territorial sea: 200 nautical miles
Climate: tropical in the lowlands, cooler in the highlands
Terrain: vast Atlantic coastal plains leading to central inland mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain disrupted by volcanoes.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, wood, fish
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 27% other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 880 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and sometimes severe hurricanes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; damage from Hurricane Mitch
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: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
@Nicaragua:People
Population: 4,812,569 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 971,580; female 936,888) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,372,169; female 1,392,861) 65 years and over: 3% (male 60,539; female 78,532) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.2% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 28.26 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 34.79 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.74 years male: 66.81 years female: 70.77 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.27 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Indigenous and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indigenous 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
Languages: Spanish (official) note: English and indigenous languages on the Atlantic coast
Literacy: definition: age 15 and up can read and write total population: 65.7% male: 64.6% female: 66.6% (1995 est.)
@Nicaragua:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua
Data code: NU
Government type: republic
Capital: Managua
Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*
Independence: September 15, 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 15 (1821)
Constitution: January 9, 1987, with updates in 1995 and 2000
Legal system: civil law system; the Supreme Court can review administrative actions.
Suffrage: 16 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (January 10, 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (January 10, 1997); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (January 10, 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (January 10, 1997); 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 October 20, 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001); note - in July 1995, the term of the office of the president was amended to five years election results: Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance - ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other candidates) 4.33%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected through proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on October 20, 1996 (next to be held in 2001) election results: percentage of votes 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, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, 16 judges elected for seven-year terms by the National Assembly.
Political parties and leaders: Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC); Central American Unionist Party (PUCA) [Blanca ROJAS Echaverry]; Conservative Action Movement (MAC) [Hernaldo ZUNIGA]; Conservative National Party (PNC) [Adolfo CALERO, Noel VIDAURRE]; Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCN) [Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha]; Independent Liberal Party (PLI); Independent Liberal Party for National Unity (PLIUN); Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC); Movement for Revolutionary Unity (MUR); National Democratic Party (PND); National Project (PRONAL) [Antonio LACAYO Oyanguren]; Nationalist Liberal Party (PLN) [Enrique SANCHEZ Herdocia]; Neoliberal Party (PALI); Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN); Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Road (PCCN) [Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party (PRN); Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN); Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS); Social Christian Party (PSC); Social Democratic Party (PSD); Unity Alliance (AU); UNO-96 Alliance. Note: Political blocs include: left - FSLN; center left - MRS, PSD, PSC, MUR, PIAC, AU, PCN, PND, PUCA, UNO-96 Alliance, and MDN; center right - PALI, PRN, PLI, PRONAL, and MAC; right - PCCN, PLC, PLIUN, PNC, and PLN.
Political pressure groups and leaders: The National Workers Front (FNT) is a Sandinista umbrella organization made up of eight labor unions: the Farm Workers Association (ATC); the Health Workers Federation (FETASALUD); the Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations (CONAPRO); the National Association of Educators of Nicaragua (ANDEN); the National Union of Employees (UNE); and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG). The FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group that also includes the Sandinista Workers Central (CST) and the Union of Journalists of Nicaragua (UPN). The Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is an umbrella organization for four non-Sandinista labor unions: the Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central (CTN-A); the Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS); the Independent General Confederation of Labor (CGT-I); and the Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS). The Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent labor union, and the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (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, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 939-6570 FAX: (202) 939-6542 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Oliver P. GARZA embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: (2) 662298, 666010, 666012, 666013, 666015, 666018, 666026, 666027, 666032, 666033 FAX: (2) 669074
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue, with the national coat of arms in the center of the white band; the coat of arms has a triangle surrounded by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA at the top and AMERICA CENTRAL at the bottom; it resembles the flag of El Salvador, which has a round emblem surrounded by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL in the center of the white band; it is also similar to the flag of Honduras, which features five blue stars arranged in an X pattern in the center of the white band.
@Nicaragua:Economy
Economy - overview: Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere, with a low per capita income, struggling socio-economic indicators, and a massive external debt. The country has made notable strides toward macro-economic stabilization over the last few years, despite the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998. International aid, debt relief, and ongoing foreign investment have played a key role in this stabilization process. GDP grew by 6.3% in 1999, while inflation remained around 12%, and unemployment decreased. Nicaragua may be eligible for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, but aid is dependent on improvements in governance, the transparency of government financial operations, poverty reduction, and human rights.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.5 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,650 (est. 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 22% services: 44% (1998)
Population below the poverty line: 50% (1999 est.)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 43%, agriculture 42%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1999 estimate); significant underemployment
Budget: revenues: $527 million expenditures: $617 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (1998 estimate)
Electricity - production: 2.714 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 53.43% hydro: 35.34% nuclear: 0% other: 11.23% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.52 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 99 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 95 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soybeans, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Exports: $573 million (f.o.b., 1998 estimate)
Exports - commodities: coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, beef, sugar, bananas; gold
Exports - partners: US 35%, Germany 13%, El Salvador 10%, Spain 4%,
Costa Rica 4%, France 2% (1998)
Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1999 estimate)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, raw materials, oil products, consumer goods
Imports - partners: US 31%, Costa Rica 11%, Guatemala 8%, Venezuela 6%, El Salvador 5%, Mexico 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $5.7 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: commitments of $1.4 billion in new assistance in 1999
Currency: 1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 12.29 (December 1999), 11.81 (1999), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Nicaragua:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 140,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,400 (1995)
Telephone system: expanding low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system; connected to the Central American Microwave System. Domestic: wire and microwave radio relay. 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Nicaragua:Transportation
Highways: total: 16,382 km paved: 1,818 km unpaved: 14,564 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 major lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km
Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas,
Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 182 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 171 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 144 (1999 est.)
@Nicaragua:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military personnel - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,229,103 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 755,002 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 57,125 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $26 million (FY98)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 1.2% (FY98)
@Nicaragua:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; regarding the maritime boundary issue in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJ referred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and suggested that a tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua would likely be needed; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras in the Caribbean Sea.
Illicit drugs: a transit hub for cocaine heading to the US and a transit hub for arms-for-drugs trade.
______________________________________________________________________
NIGERIA
@Nigeria:Introduction
Background: After almost 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, leading to a peaceful transition to civilian government. The new president is tasked with the challenging responsibility of rebuilding a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been wasted due to corruption and mismanagement, while also establishing a strong democracy. Additionally, the OBASANJO administration needs to address deep-rooted ethnic and religious tensions to create a stable foundation for economic growth and political stability.
@Nigeria:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to 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 land: 910,768 sq km water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative: just over 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 meters deep or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: varies; equatorial in the south, tropical in the center, arid in the north
Terrain: the southern lowlands blend into central hills and plateaus; mountains in the southeast, plains in the north.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources: oil, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas, hydropower, farmland
Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 44% forests and woodland: 12% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,570 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation; desertification; recent droughts in the north severely impacting marginal agricultural activities
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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Nigeria:People
Population: 123,337,822 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and shifts in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 27,181,020; female 26,872,317) 15-64 years: 53% (male 33,495,794; female 32,337,193) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,729,149; female 1,722,349) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.67% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 40.16 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 13.72 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 74.18 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.56 years male: 51.58 years female: 51.55 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.66 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups: Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is made up of over 250 ethnic groups. The most populous and politically influential are: 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: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 57.1% male: 67.3% female: 47.3% (1995 est.)
@Nigeria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria
Data code: NI
Government type: a republic moving from military to civilian control.
Capital: Abuja note: on December 12, 1991, the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices are still in Lagos while facilities in Abuja are being completed.
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,
Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto,
Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Independence: October 1, 1960 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, October 1 (1960)
Constitution: NA 1999 new constitution adopted
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since May 29, 1999); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since May 29, 1999); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Federal Executive Council elections: the president is elected by popular vote for a maximum of two four-year terms; the last election took place on February 27, 1999 (next to be held in 2003) election results: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) elected president; percent of vote - Olusegun OBASANJO 62.8%, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) 37.2%
Legislative branch: the National Assembly has two chambers, the Senate (109 seats, three from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory; members elected by popular vote for four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (360 seats, members elected by popular vote for four-year terms). Elections: Senate - the last election took place from February 20-24, 1999 (next to be held in 2003); House of Representatives - the last election occurred from February 20-24, 1999 (next to be held in 2003). Election results: Senate - percentage of votes by party - PDP 58%, APP 23%, AD 19%; seats by party - PDP 65, APP 24, AD 20; House of Representatives - percentage of votes by party - PDP 58%, APP 30%, AD 12%; seats by party - PDP 215, APP 75, AD 70.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government based on recommendations from the Advisory Judicial Committee.
Political parties and leaders: All People's Party or APP [Alhaji Yusuf
ALI]; Alliance for Democracy or AD; People's Democratic
Party or PDP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jibril AMINU chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 986-8400 FAX: (202) 775-1385 consulate(s) general: Atlanta and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL embassy: 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Lagos mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos telephone: (1) 261-0097 FAX: (1) 261-0257
Flag description: three equal vertical stripes of green (on the hoist side), white, and green.
@Nigeria:Economy
Economy - overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy, which has long struggled with political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, is experiencing significant economic reforms under the new civilian government. Nigeria's previous military leaders failed to diversify the economy, relying heavily on the capital-intensive oil sector, which accounts for 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of government revenues. The predominantly subsistence agricultural sector has not kept pace with rapid population growth, resulting in Nigeria, once a major net exporter of food, now needing to import food. In 2000, Nigeria is expected to secure a debt-restructuring agreement with the Paris Club and a $1 billion loan from the IMF, both dependent on economic reforms. Increased foreign investment, along with high global oil prices, should drive growth to over 5% in 2000-01.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $110.5 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $970 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 42% services: 25% (1997 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 34.1% (1992-93 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 31.4% (1992-93)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12.5% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 42.844 million
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry 6%, services 40% (1999 estimate)
Unemployment rate: 28% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, timber, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 14.75 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.69% hydro: 38.31% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 13.717 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish
Exports: $13.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: oil and oil products 95%, cocoa, rubber
Exports - partners: US 35%, Spain 11%, India 9%, France 6%, Italy (1998 est.)
Imports: $10 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery, chemicals, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, and live animals.
Imports - partners: UK 13%, US 12%, Germany 10%, France 9%,
Netherlands (1998 est.)
Debt - external: $29 billion (1999 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $39.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exchange rates: nairas (N) per US$1 - 96.261 (October 1999), 99 (1999), 21.886 (1998), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Nigeria:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 405,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 10,000 (1999)
Telephone system: a subpar system, further constrained by poor maintenance; significant expansion is needed and a start has been made. Domestic: intercity traffic is handled by coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, a domestic communications satellite system with 19 earth stations, and a coastal submarine cable; mobile cellular services and the Internet are available. International: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 in the Atlantic Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean); coaxial submarine cable SAFE (South African Far East).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 82, FM 35, shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios: 23.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 government-controlled; note - in addition, in 1993, 14 licenses to operate private television stations were granted (1999)
Televisions: 6.9 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Nigeria:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,557 km narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge note: years of neglect of both the trains and the tracks have seriously reduced the capacity and usefulness of the system; a project to restore Nigeria's railways is now in progress.
Highways: total: 194,394 km paved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways) unpaved: 134,326 km (1998 est.) note: many of the roads listed as paved might actually be gravel; due to poor maintenance and years of heavy truck traffic (partly because of the railroad system's failure), a lot of the road network is hardly usable.
Waterways: 8,575 km made up of the Niger and Benue rivers, along with smaller rivers and creeks.
Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km; natural gas 500 km
Ports and harbors: Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri
Merchant marine: total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 360,505 GRT/644,471 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 4, petroleum tanker 22, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 71 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 37 over 10,000 ft: 7 8,000 to 10,000 ft: 10 5,000 to 8,000 ft: 10 3,000 to 5,000 ft: 8 under 3,000 ft: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 18 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Nigeria:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 29,082,802 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 16,708,344 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 1,360,023 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $236 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.7% (FY99)
@Nigeria:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the demarcation of international borders near Lake Chad, which previously caused border incidents, has been finalized and is pending ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; there is an ongoing dispute with Cameroon regarding land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula that is currently before the ICJ; a maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea exists due to conflicting claims over oil-rich regions in the Gulf of Guinea.
Illicit drugs: it helps the movement of heroin traveling from Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America; it's increasingly becoming a transit route for cocaine from South America aimed at European, East Asian, and North American markets.
______________________________________________________________________
NIGER
@Niger:Introduction
Background: It wasn't until 1993, 33 years after gaining independence from France, that Niger held its first free and fair elections. A peace agreement in 1995 brought an end to a five-year Tuareg rebellion in the north. Following coups in 1996 and 1999, a National Reconciliation Council was established, leading to a shift to civilian rule in December 1999.
@Niger:Geography
Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 16° 00' N, 8° 00' E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1.267 million sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 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; mainly hot, dry, and dusty; tropical in the far south.
Terrain: mostly desert plains and sand dunes; flat to gently rolling plains in the south; hilly areas in the north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Niger River 200 m highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m
Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 2% other: 88% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (like elephants, hippos, giraffes, and lions) are threatened due to poaching and destruction of their habitats.
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
@Niger:People
Population: 10,075,511 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,461,391; female 2,373,617) 15-64 years: 50% (male 2,445,369; female 2,563,839) 65 years and over: 2% (male 121,570; female 109,725) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.75% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 51.45 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 23.17 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 0.95 males/females 65 years and over: 1.11 males/females total population: 1 male/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 124.9 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.27 years male: 41.43 years female: 41.11 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.16 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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: 80% Muslim, with the rest being indigenous beliefs and Christians
Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 13.6% male: 20.9% female: 6.6% (1995 est.)
@Niger:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Niger conventional short form: Niger local long form: Republique du Niger local short form: Niger
Data code: NG
Government type: republic
Capital: Niamey
Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departments, singular - department), and 1 capital district* (capital district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence: August 3, 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, December 18 (1958)
Constitution: the constitution from January 1993 was updated through a national referendum on May 12, 1996, and again by referendum on July 18, 1999.
Legal system: based on the French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since December 22, 1999); note - the president serves as both chief of state and head of government. head of government: President Mamadou TANDJA (since December 22, 1999); note - the president serves as both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since December 31, 1999) was appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president. note: President Ibrahim BARE was assassinated on April 9, 1999; subsequent elections were held under the nine-month provisional government of Major Daouda Mallam WANKE. cabinet: 24-member cabinet appointed by President TANDJA. elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last held on November 24, 1999 (next to be held NA 2004). election results: Mamadou TANDJA elected president; percent of vote - Mamadou TANDJA 60%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 40%.
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (83 seats, members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held on November 24, 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 Lahia 4
Judicial branch: State Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Rally of the People-Jama'a
or RDP-Jama'a; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama
or CDS-Rahama; Movement for Development and
Progress-Alkwali or MDP-Alkwali; National
Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Tandja
MAMADOU, chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic
Renewal or UNIRD; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and
Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni Adamou
DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Democratic Front-Mutunci or FDN-Mutunci [Ide
OUMAROU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or
PNDS-Tarayya; Nigerien Social Democrat
Party-Alheri or PSDN-Alheri; Party for People's
Dignity-Daraja or PDP-Daraja; Union of
Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua or UPDP-Chamoua
; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress-Amana or UDPS-Amana; Union of Popular
Forces for Democracy and Progress-Sawaba or UFPDP-Sawaba [Djibo
BAKARY]; Workers' Movement Party-Albarka or PMT-Albarka [Omar Idi
ANGO]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB,
WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-4224 through 4227
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Barbro OWENS-KIRKPATRICK embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: 72 26 61 to 72 26 64 FAX: 73 31 67
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange circle (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.
@Niger:Economy
Economy - overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked country in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the economy is focused on subsistence farming, livestock raising, reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, which has been its main export since the 1970s. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January 1994 helped increase exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and products from Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid— which was paused after the April 1999 coup d'état— for operational costs and public investment. Short-term prospects hinge on upcoming negotiations with the World Bank and the IMF regarding debt relief and extended assistance.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 18% services: 42% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 29.3% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1999)
Labor force: 70,000 earn regular wages or salaries
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $377 million, with $146 million coming from foreign sources expenditures: $377 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1999 est.)
Industries: uranium mining, cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, meatpacking
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 180 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 363 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 196 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Exports: $269 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: uranium ore 65%, livestock products, cowpeas, onions (1998 est.)
Exports - partners: US, Greece, Japan, France, Nigeria, Benin
Imports: $295 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, raw materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, oil, grains
Imports - partners: France, Ivory Coast, US, Benelux, Nigeria
Debt - external: $1.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $222 million (1995)
Currency: 1 West African CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 670 (January 2000), 560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Niger:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 13,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: a small network of wired, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links focused in the southwestern area. Domestic: wired, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with three earth stations and one planned. International: satellite earth stations - two Intelsat (one in the Atlantic Ocean and one in the Indian Ocean).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 680,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 10 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 125,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Niger:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 10,100 km paved: 798 km unpaved: 9,302 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: the Niger River can be navigated for 300 km from Niamey to Gaya at the
Benin border from mid-December to March
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 27 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Niger:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,137,181 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,155,054 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 105,884 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $20 million (FY96)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 1.1% (FY96)
@Niger:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Libya claims around 19,400 sq km in northern
Niger; the delimitation of international boundaries near
Lake Chad, which has caused border incidents in the past, has
been finalized and is pending ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
______________________________________________________________________
NIUE
@Niue:Introduction
Background: Niue's isolation, along with the cultural and language differences between its Polynesian residents and those in the rest of the Cook Islands, has led to its separate administration. The island's population keeps declining (from a high of 5,200 in 1966 to 2,100 in 2000) due to significant emigration to New Zealand.
@Niue:Geography
Location: Oceania, an 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 land: 260 sq km water: 0 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; influenced by the southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along the 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% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 19% other: 50% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment - current issues: growing focus on conservation practices to address soil fertility decline caused by 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 the world's largest coral islands
@Niue:People
Population: 2,113 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.47% (2000 estimate)
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: NA deaths per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born per woman
Nationality: noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (with about 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: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
@Niue:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue
Data code: NE
Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Niue is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs.
Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital: Alofi
Administrative divisions: none; note - there are no first-level administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages, each with its own village council, whose members are elected and serve three-year terms.
Independence: on October 19, 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand.
National holiday: Waitangi Day, February 6 (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: October 19, 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Warren SEARELL (since August 1993) head of government: Premier Sani LAKATANI (since April 1, 1999) cabinet: The Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers elections: The monarch is hereditary; the premier is elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; the last election was held on March 19, 1999 (next to be held in March 2002) election results: Sani LAKATANI elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA
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) elections: last held March 19, 1999 (next to be held March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - NPP 9, independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders: Niue People's Action Party or NPP International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), 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 UK flag in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the UK flag has five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue circle in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the thick red cross.
@Niue:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy relies heavily on aid and remittances from New Zealand. Government spending often exceeds revenue, and the deficit is covered by grants from New Zealand that are used to pay public employees' salaries. Niue has reduced government spending by cutting the public workforce by nearly half. The agricultural sector is mostly focused on subsistence farming, though some cash crops are grown for export. The industry mainly includes small factories that process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. Selling postage stamps to foreign collectors is a significant source of income. In recent years, the island has experienced a notable population decrease due to Niueans migrating to New Zealand. Efforts to boost GDP include promoting tourism and developing a financial services sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.5 million (1994 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,250 (1994 estimate)
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% (1995)
Labor force: 450 (1992 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: most people work on family plantations; paid work is only available in government service, small industries, 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 (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 3 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, and beef cattle
Exports: $117,500 (f.o.b., 1989)
Exports - commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root vegetables, limes, soccer balls, stamps, handicrafts
Exports - partners: New Zealand 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports: $4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Imports - commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Imports - partners: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Samoa, Australia, US
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $8.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8889 (1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5082 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Niue:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 376 (1991)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1991)
Telephone system: domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Niue:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 234 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 234 km
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Niue:Military
Military branches: Police Force
Military - note: defense is New Zealand's responsibility
@Niue:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
NORFOLK ISLAND
@Norfolk Island:Introduction
Background: Two British attempts to establish the island as a prison colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were eventually given up. In 1856, the island was repopulated by Pitcairn Islanders, who are descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.
@Norfolk Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, an 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 land: 34.6 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: subtropical, mild, minimal seasonal temperature fluctuation
Terrain: volcanic landscape featuring 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% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 0% other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially from May to July)
Environment - current issues: NA
@Norfolk Island:People
Population: 1,892 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -0.68% (2000 estimate)
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: NA deaths per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born per woman
Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australians, New Zealanders, Polynesians
Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mix of 18th century
English and ancient Tahitian
@Norfolk Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Data code: NF
Dependency status: territory of Australia; Canberra manages 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 Anniversary, June 8 (1856)
Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979
Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances, and acts; English common law applies to matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator A. J. MESSNER (since August 4, 1997) head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister George Charles SMITH (since April 30, 1997) cabinet: The Executive Council consists of four out of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council develops government policy and serves as an advisor to the Administrator elections: The monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the governor-general of Australia; the chief minister is elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of no more than three years; the last election was held on April 30, 1997 (next to be held by May 2000) election results: George Charles SMITH elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by voters who have nine equal votes each, but can only give four votes to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held on April 30, 1997 (next will be held by May 2000) election results: percent of vote - N/A; seats - independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Small Claims
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (part of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (part of Australia)
Flag description: three vertical stripes of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree in the center of the slightly wider white stripe.
@Norfolk Island:Economy
Economy - overview: Tourism, the main economic activity, has continuously grown over the years and has brought a level of prosperity that is uncommon among the people of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has become self-sufficient in producing 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: 1,395 (1991 est.)
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 (FY92/93)
Industries: tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: Norfolk Island pine seeds, Kentia palm seeds, grains, vegetables, fruits; cattle, poultry
Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)
Exports - commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small amounts of avocados
Exports - partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,
Asia, Europe
Imports: $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)
Imports - commodities: NA
Imports - partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,
Asia, Europe
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar (AUD) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.5207 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Norfolk Island:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 1,087 (1983)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1983)
Telephone system: domestic: N/A 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 receive Australian programs via satellite) (1998)
Televisions: 1,200 (1996)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Norfolk Island:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km
Ports and harbors: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Norfolk Island:Military
Military - note: defense is Australia's responsibility
@Norfolk Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
@Northern Mariana Islands:Introduction
Background: Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands chose in the 1970s not to pursue independence but to create stronger ties with the US. Negotiations for territorial status started in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution took effect in 1978.
@Northern Mariana Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 15.20° N, 145.75° E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands such as Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,482 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical marine; influenced by northeast trade winds, minimal seasonal temperature variation; dry season from December to June, rainy season from July to October.
Terrain: the southern islands are made up of limestone with flat terraces and surrounding coral reefs; the 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: 21% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: 0% other: 60%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially from 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: key location in the North Pacific Ocean
@Northern Mariana Islands:People
Population: 71,912 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 8,652; female 8,377) 15-64 years: 75% (male 25,441; female 28,233) 65 years and over: 1% (male 591; female 618) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.75% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 20.86 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 2.41 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 19.06 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.79 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.54 years male: 72.45 years female: 78.82 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians, and other Micronesians,
Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Religions: Christian (majority Roman Catholic, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still exist)
Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of the population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)
@Northern Mariana Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
Data code: CQ
Dependency status: a commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth managed 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 a political union with the US)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, January 8 (1978)
Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective November 4, 1986, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective January 1, 1978
Legal system: based on the US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxes
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal; indigenous people are US citizens but can’t vote in US presidential elections.
Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since January 20, 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since January 20, 1993) head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January 1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998) 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; last election held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-way race; percent of vote - Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican Party) 47%
Legislative branch: The bicameral legislature includes 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). Elections: Senate - last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999); House of Representatives - last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 13, Democratic Party 5. Note: The Commonwealth 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 (Juan N. BABAUTA).
Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal
District Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [chairman (currently vacant)]; Republican Party
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC
Flag description: blue, with a white, five-pointed star layered on top of the gray outline of a latte stone (a traditional building foundation stone) in the center, encircled by a wreath.
@Northern Mariana Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy greatly benefits from financial support from the US. The funding rate has decreased as local government revenues have increased. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 granted the islands $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, $11 million will be provided for infrastructure, with a matching local contribution. A rapidly growing main source of income is the tourism industry, which now employs about 50% of the workforce. Japanese tourists are the most common visitors. The agricultural sector is relatively unimportant and consists of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is the fastest growing industry, employing 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and generating $1 billion in shipments to the US in 1998 under duty and quota exemptions.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $524 million (1996 est.) note: GDP figures represent US expenditures
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,300 (1996 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (estimated for 1994)
Labor force: 6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: managerial 20.5%, technical and sales 16.4%, services 19.3%, farming 3.1%, precision production 13.8%, operators and fabricators 26.9%
Unemployment rate: 14% (residents)
Budget: revenues: $221 million expenditures: $213 million, including capital expenditures of $17.7 million (1996)
Industries: tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: coconuts, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports: $1 billion (1998)
Exports - commodities: garments
Exports - partners: US
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
Imports - partners: US, Japan
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $21.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@Northern Mariana Islands:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 15,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,200 (1995)
Telephone system: 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; additionally, two cable services on Saipan offer a variety of programming from satellite networks) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Northern Mariana Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 362 km (1991 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Saipan, Tinian
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Northern Mariana Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Northern Mariana Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
NORWAY
@Norway:Introduction
Background: Even though Norway maintained a stance of neutrality, it couldn't escape occupation by Germany during World War II. In 1949, Norway gave up its neutrality and joined NATO. The discovery of oil and gas in nearby waters in the late 1960s significantly improved Norway's economy. The current priority is to control spending on the extensive welfare system and to prepare for the eventual depletion of petroleum reserves. In referendums held in 1972 and 1994, Norway voted against joining the EU.
@Norway:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, next to 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: 2,515 km border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 4 nautical miles
Climate: mild along the coast, influenced by the North Atlantic Current; cooler inland; rainy all year on the west coast.
Terrain: covered in glaciers; mainly high plateaus and rugged mountains interspersed with fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply cut by fjords; arctic tundra in the north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Galdhopiggeh 2,469 m
Natural resources: oil, copper, natural gas, pyrite, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, wood, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 27% other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 970 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and harming lakes, threatening fish populations; 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 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; around 50,000 islands along its deeply indented coastline; strategically located next to sea lanes and air routes in the North Atlantic; one of the most rugged and longest coastlines in the world; Norway is the only NATO member with a land border with Russia.
@Norway:People
Population: 4,481,162 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 459,608; female 434,809) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,472,974; female 1,430,526) 65 years and over: 15% (male 283,741; female 399,504) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.5% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.79 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.89 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 2.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 males/females under 15 years: 1.06 males/females 15-64 years: 1.03 males/females 65 years and over: 0.71 males/females total population: 0.98 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.98 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.65 years male: 75.73 years female: 81.77 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups: Norwegian (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Sami (Lapps) 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 Lapp and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA%
@Norway:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge
Data code: NO
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-Trøndelag, Oppland, Oslo, Østfold, Rogaland,
Sogn og Fjordane, Sør-Trøndelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
Independence: On June 7, 1905, Norway declared that the union with Sweden was dissolved; on October 26, 1905, Sweden agreed to end the union.
National holiday: Constitution Day, May 17 (1814)
Constitution: May 17, 1814, updated in 1884
Legal system: a blend of customary law, civil law, and common law traditions; the Supreme Court provides advisory opinions to the legislature upon request; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with exceptions.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King HARALD V (since January 17, 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born July 20, 1973) head of government: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since March 17, 2000) cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of the Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; after parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the Parliament's approval
Legislative branch: a modified unicameral Parliament or Storting which, for specific purposes, splits into two chambers (165 seats; members are elected by popular vote using proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on September 15, 1997 (next to be held in September 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 35%, Center Party 7.9%, Conservative Party 14.3%, Christian People's Party 13.7%, Socialist Left Party 6%, Progress Party 15.3%, Liberal Party 4.4%, other parties 1.6%; seats by party - Labor Party 65, Center Party 11, Conservative Party 23, Christian People's Party 25, Socialist Left Party 9, Progress Party 25, Liberal Party 6, other parties 1 note: for specific purposes, the Parliament splits into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its members to an upper house or Lagting
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoyesterett, justices appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders: Center Party ;
Christian People's Party ; Conservative Party [Jan
PETERSEN]; Labor Party ; Liberal Party [Lars
SPONHEIM]; Norwegian Communist Party ; Progress
Party ; Red Electoral Alliance ;
Socialist Left Party
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU
(associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tom Erik VRAALSEN chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 333-6000 FAX: (202) 337-0870 consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David B. HERMELIN embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707 telephone: (22) 44 85 50 FAX: (22) 43 07 77
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 left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
@Norway:Economy
Economy - overview: The Norwegian economy is a successful example of welfare capitalism, mixing free market activity with government intervention. The government oversees essential areas, like the crucial petroleum sector (via large state-run enterprises), and heavily subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and regions with limited resources. The extensive welfare system pushes public sector spending to over 50% of GDP. As a major shipping nation with a strong reliance on international trade, Norway primarily exports raw materials and semi-processed goods. The country is blessed with natural resources—petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals—and is highly reliant on its oil production and global oil prices. Only Saudi Arabia exports more oil than Norway. Norway imports more than half of its food requirements. Oslo chose not to join the EU in a referendum in November 1994. Growth was a sluggish 0.8% in 1999 because of low private consumption and weak investment activity in the oil and other sectors. Growth is expected to rise in 2000, possibly to 2.7%. Despite their high per capita income and generous welfare benefits, Norwegians are concerned about the time in the next two decades when oil and gas resources start to deplete.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $111.3 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.8% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $25,100 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 26.3% services: 71.5% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 21.2% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 2.7 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 74%, industry 22%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 2.9% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $69.7 billion expenditures: $60.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: oil and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, paper products, metals, chemicals, wood, mining, textiles, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 115.485 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.58% hydro: 99.16% nuclear: 0% other: 0.26% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 111.001 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 4.4 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 8 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: barley, other grains, potatoes; beef, milk; fish
Exports: $47.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: oil and oil products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish
Exports - partners: EU 77% (UK 17%, Germany 12%, Netherlands 10%,
Sweden 10%, France 8%), US 7% (1998)
Imports: $38.6 billion (free on board, 1999 estimate)
Imports - products: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, food.
Imports - partners: EU 69% (Sweden 15%, Germany 14%, UK 10%, Denmark 7%), US 7%, Japan 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $0 (Norway holds more assets abroad than it owes)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 øre
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 8.0129 (January 2000), 7.7992 (1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Norway:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 2,325,010 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,676,763 (1997)
Telephone system: high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services domestic: domestic satellite system international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - North American Eutelsat, North American Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 4.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 209 (1997)
Televisions: 2.03 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 21 (1999)
@Norway:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,012 km standard gauge: 4,012 km 1.435-m gauge (2,530 km electrified; 96 km double track) (1998)
Highways: total: 90,741 km paved: 67,602 km (including 128 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,139 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 1,577 km along the west coast; accessible for vessels with a maximum draft of 2.4 m.
Pipelines: refined petroleum products 33 miles
Ports and harbors: Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad,
Haugesund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger,
Tromso, Trondheim
Merchant marine: total: 788 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 21,460,260 GRT/34,178,125 DWT ships by type: bulk 100, cargo 142, chemical tanker 111, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil 35, container 18, liquefied gas 86, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 11, petroleum tanker 157, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off 48, short-sea passenger 22, vehicle carrier 37 (1999 est.) note: the government has established an internal register, the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS), as part of the Norwegian register; ships in the NIS benefit from many advantages of flags of convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians (1998 est.)
Airports: 103 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 67 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 29 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 31 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Norway:Military
Military branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes
Coast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home
Guard
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,103,256 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - suitable for military service: males ages 15-49: 915,949 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 27,417 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3.113 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.1% (FY98)
@Norway:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud
Land)
______________________________________________________________________
OMAN
@Oman:Introduction
Background: In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and has been the sultan ever since. His broad modernization program has welcomed the country into the global community and has maintained a longstanding political and military alliance with Britain. Oman's balanced, independent foreign policy has aimed to foster good relations with all Middle Eastern nations.
@Oman:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and
Persian Gulf, located between Yemen and the UAE
Geographic coordinates: 21° 00' N, 57° 00' E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 212,460 sq km land: 212,460 sq km water: 0 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 and humid along the coast; hot and dry in the interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in the far south.
Terrain: a wide central desert plain, with rugged mountains to the north and south.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources: oil, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 0% other: 95% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 580 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: summer winds often create large sandstorms and dust storms in the interior; occasional droughts.
Environment - current issues: increasing soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; extremely limited natural freshwater 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 next to
Strait of Hormuz, an essential transit point for global crude oil
@Oman:People
Population: 2,533,389 note: includes 527,078 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 531,137; female 511,051) 15-64 years: 57% (male 875,625; female 555,895) 65 years and over: 2% (male 31,400; female 28,281) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.46% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 38.08 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.16 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 people (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.58 males/females 65 years and over: 1.11 males/females total population: 1.31 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23.28 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.78 years male: 69.66 years female: 74 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.08 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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, and various Indian dialects
Literacy: definition: NA total population: nearly 80% male: NA% female: NA%
@Oman:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman conventional short form: Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman
Data code: MU
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 says that Masqat is a governorate
Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday: National Day, November 18 (1940)
Constitution: none; note - on November 6, 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree introducing a new basic law that, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, establishes a prime minister, prohibits ministers from having interests in companies that do business with the government, creates a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens.
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; final appeal goes to the monarch; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: in Oman's latest elections in 1997, limited to about 50,000 Omanis selected by the government to vote in elections for the Majlis ash-Shura.
Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since July 23, 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 July 23, 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: the bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber, known as Majlis ad-Dawla (41 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has only advisory powers) and a lower chamber, called Majlis ash-Shura (82 seats; members elected by limited suffrage, but the monarch makes the final selections and can override election results; this body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers). elections: last held not applicable in October 1997 (next to be held not applicable in October 2000) election results: not applicable
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, has non-Islamic judges; traditional Islamic judges and a developing civil court system, managed by region
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988 FAX: (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John B. CRAIG embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat mailing address: international: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat Qaboos, Muscat telephone: 698989 FAX: 699779
Flag description: three horizontal stripes of white, red, and green of equal width with a wide, vertical red stripe on the left side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath overlaid on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is positioned at the top center of the vertical stripe.
@Oman:Economy
Economy - overview: Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 1999, mainly because of the rise in oil prices in the middle of the year. The government is progressing with the privatization of its utilities, developing commercial laws to encourage foreign investment, and raising its budget. Oman continues to open up its markets in an effort to join the World Trade Organization (WTo) and is expected to gain membership in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $19.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 40% services: 57% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.07% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 850,000 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $3.9 billion expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: oil extraction and processing, natural gas extraction, construction, cement, copper
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1997 estimate)
Electricity - production: 7.36 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 6.845 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cows; fish
Exports: $7.2 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: oil, reexports, seafood, metals, textiles
Exports - partners: Japan 21%, China 16%, Thailand 16%, South Korea 12%, US 3% (1997)
Imports: $5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners: UAE 23% (mostly reexports), Japan 16%, UK 13%, US 7.5%, Germany 5% (1997)
Debt - external: $4.8 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $76.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza
Exchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Oman:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 300,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 120,000 (1999)
Telephone system: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Oman:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 32,800 km paved: 9,840 km (including 550 km of expressways) unpaved: 22,960 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
Ports and harbors: Matrah, Mina al Fahl, Mina Raysut
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 16,306 GRT/8,210 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 142 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 136 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 56 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 35 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Oman:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Royal
Oman Police)
Military manpower - military age: 14 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 762,832 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 425,356 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 25,527 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.592 billion (FY99)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 11.1% (FY99)
@Oman:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the northern boundary with the UAE has not been defined bilaterally; the northern section in the Musandam Peninsula is an administrative boundary.
______________________________________________________________________
PACIFIC OCEAN
@Pacific Ocean:Introduction
Background: In spring 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization defined a fifth world ocean, separating it from the southern parts of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. This new ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica up to 60 degrees south latitude, which aligns with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Pacific Ocean continues to be the largest of the five oceans, followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean.
@Pacific Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0° 00' N, 160° 00' W
Map references: World
Area: total: 155.557 million sq km note: includes the Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Flores Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Java Sea, Philippine Sea, Savu Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea, and other nearby water bodies
Area - comparative: about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the Earth's surface; larger than the total land area of the planet.
Coastline: 135,663 km
Climate: global air pressure systems and resulting wind patterns show significant consistency in the south and east; trade winds and westerlies are well-established patterns that change with the seasons; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) can develop south of Mexico from June to October and impact Mexico and Central America; continental influences make climatic uniformity much less noticeable in the eastern and western areas at the same latitude in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific has a monsoon climate—there's a rainy season in summer when moist winds blow from the ocean onto the land, and a dry season in winter when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) can hit Southeast and East Asia from May to December.
Terrain: surface currents in the northern Pacific are controlled by a clockwise warm-water gyre (a broad circular system of currents), while in the southern Pacific, a counterclockwise cool-water gyre prevails. In the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk during winter. In the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica reaches its furthest extent north in October. The ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is characterized by the East Pacific Rise, whereas the western Pacific features deep trenches, including the Mariana Trench, which is the deepest in the world.
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 intense volcanic and earthquake activity often called the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; affected by tropical cyclones (typhoons) in Southeast and East Asia from May to December (most frequently from July to October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) can develop south of Mexico and hit Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September); the cyclical El Niño phenomenon occurs off the coast of Peru, when the trade winds weaken and the warm Equatorial countercurrent moves south, killing the plankton that serves as the main food source for anchovies; as a result, the anchovies relocate to better feeding areas, leading to thousands of resident marine birds starving due to the loss of their food source; ships can experience superstructure icing in the extreme north from October to May; persistent fog in the northern Pacific can pose 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 the Philippine Sea and South China Sea
Geography - note: the main chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama
Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator splits the
Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific
Ocean; scattered with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in
the southwestern Pacific Ocean
@Pacific Ocean:Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes appendix
@Pacific Ocean:Economy
Economy - overview: The Pacific Ocean is a key player in the global economy, especially for the countries that border it. It offers affordable sea transportation between the East and West, vast fishing areas, offshore oil and gas reserves, minerals, and sand and gravel for construction. As of 1996, more than 60% of the world's fish catch came from the Pacific Ocean. The extraction of offshore oil and gas is becoming increasingly important for the energy needs of Australia, New Zealand, China, the US, and Peru. Although the high costs of extracting offshore oil and gas and the volatility in world oil prices since 1985 have slowed down new drilling efforts, they haven’t stopped them altogether.
@Pacific Ocean:Transportation
Ports and harbors: Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Kaohsiung (Taiwan),
Los Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Busan (South Korea), San
Francisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney
(Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)
@Pacific Ocean:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see coastal states)
______________________________________________________________________
PAKISTAN
@Pakistan:Introduction
Background: The split of British India in 1947 into the Muslim state of Pakistan (which had two parts, West and East) and mostly Hindu India was never fully resolved. A third war between these nations in 1971 led to East Pakistan breaking away and becoming the independent nation of Bangladesh. A conflict over the region of Kashmir continues. In reaction to India’s nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan carried out its own tests in 1998.
@Pakistan:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, next to the Arabian Sea, between India to the east and Iran and Afghanistan to the west and China to the north
Geographic coordinates: 30° N, 70° E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 803,940 sq km land: 778,720 sq km water: 25,220 sq km
Area - comparative: a little 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; mild in the northwest; arctic in the north
Terrain: flat Indus plain in the east; mountains in the north and northwest;
Balochistan plateau in the west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Natural resources: land, large natural gas reserves, limited oil, low-quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 5% other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 171,100 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: common earthquakes, sometimes severe especially in the north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
Environment - current issues: water pollution from untreated sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff; limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population lacks access to clean drinking 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
@Pakistan:People
Population: 141,553,775 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 29,880,574; female 28,145,247) 15-64 years: 55% (male 39,751,222; female 37,981,378) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,856,305; female 2,939,049) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.17% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 32.11 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.51 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 82.49 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.07 years male: 60.27 years female: 61.91 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.56 children born per woman (2000 estimated)
Nationality: noun: Pakistani(s) adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India during the partition and their descendants)
Religions: 97% Muslim (77% Sunni, 20% Shi'a), Christian, Hindu, and 3% other
Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%,
Pashto 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%,
English (official and common language of the Pakistani elite and most
government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.8% male: 50% female: 24.4% (1995 est.)
@Pakistan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan conventional short form: Pakistan former: West Pakistan
Data code: PK
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, Punjab, Sindh note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
Independence: August 14, 1947 (from the UK)
National holiday: Pakistan Day, March 23 (1956) (proclamation of the republic)
Constitution: April 10, 1973, suspended July 5, 1977, restored with amendments December 30, 1985; suspended October 15, 1999
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: 21 years old; universal; separate voting districts and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims
Executive branch: note: after a military takeover on October 12, 1999, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF suspended Pakistan's constitution and took on the additional title of Chief Executive; exercising the powers of the head of government, he appointed an eight-member National Security Council to act as Pakistan's supreme governing body; President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR continues to serve as the ceremonial chief of state chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since December 31, 1997) head of government: Chief Executive Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF (since October 12, 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief executive elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; last election held on December 31, 1997 (next to be held in 2002); after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is typically elected prime minister by the National Assembly; last election held on February 3, 1997 (next to be held NA); note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF overthrew the government of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF in the military takeover on October 12, 1999; in May 2000, the Supreme Court validated the October 1999 coup and set a three-year limit for Chief Executive MUSHARRAF's time in office election results: Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of Parliament and provincial vote - NA; results are from the last election for prime minister prior to the military takeover on October 12, 1999 - Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament after the military takeover on October 12, 1999; the bicameral Parliament, or Majlis-e-Shoora, consists of the Senate (87 seats; members are indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms; one-third of the members are up for election every two years) and the National Assembly (217 seats - 10 represent non-Muslims; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held March 12, 1997 (next to be held NA); National Assembly - last held February 3, 1997 (next to be held NA); note - no timetable has been provided for elections following the military takeover election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J 2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML/N 137, PPP 18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1, independents 21, minorities 10; note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dismissed Parliament on October 15, 1999
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial leaders are appointed by the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'a) Court
Political parties and leaders:
Note: General Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament after the military takeover on October 12, 1999. However, political parties have been allowed to function. Some of these include: Awami National Party (ANP); Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group (BNM/H); Balochistan National Movement/Mengal Group (BNM/M) [Sardar Akhtar MENGAL]; Baluch National Party (BNP); Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP); Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH); Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction (JUI/F); Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction (JUP/NI); Millat Party; Milli Yakjheti Council (MYC), which is an umbrella organization that includes Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) [Qazi Hussain AHMED], Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction (JUI/S), Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan (TJP), and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction (JUP/NO); Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction (MQM/A); National People's Party (NPP); Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP); Pakhtun Quami Party (PKQP) [Mohammed AFZAL Khan]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT); Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group (PML/F); Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction (PML/J); Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N); Pakistan National Party (PNP); Pakistan People's Party (PPP); Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto (PPP/SB); Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI).
Note: Political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently.
Political pressure groups and leaders: the military is still an important political force; the clergy, landowners, industrialists, and small merchants are also influential.
International organization participation: AsDB, C (suspended), CCC,
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, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Chief of Mission: Ambassador Maleeha LODHI Chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Telephone: (202) 939-6200 Fax: (202) 387-0484 Consulates General: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William MILAM embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200 telephone: (51) 826161 to 826179 FAX: (51) 276427 consulate(s) general: Karachi consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar
Flag description: green with a vertical white band (representing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green background; the crescent, star, and green color are traditional symbols of Islam.
@Pakistan:Economy
Economy - overview: Pakistan is a poor, densely populated country, struggling with internal political conflicts, a lack of foreign investment, and an expensive standoff with neighboring India. The country’s economic outlook is still affected by its weak foreign exchange situation, particularly its ongoing dependence on international creditors for hard currency inflows. The MUSHARRAF government is dealing with $32 billion in external debt and is close to completing rescheduling agreements with Paris Club members and other bilateral creditors. Foreign loans and grants make up about 25% of government revenue, while debt service obligations account for nearly 50% of government spending. The IMF has not commented on future disbursements from its $1.56 billion bailout package introduced in 1999, and other international financial institutions are assessing the current administration's commitment to necessary fiscal reforms. MUSHARRAF's ambitious economic agenda includes plans to broaden the tax base, privatize public sector assets, and improve its trade balance. Pakistan has made privatization a key focus for economic recovery, but it might struggle to attract new investors until it receives a positive endorsement from the World Bank. The Bank has withheld its approval until the pricing dispute between the government and independent power producers is resolved.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $282 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (estimated in 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25.2% industry: 26.6% services: 48.2% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 34% (1991 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 27.7% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 38.6 million (1999) note: significant export of labor, mainly to the Middle East, and use of child labor
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7% (FY98/99 est.)
Budget: revenues: $10 billion expenditures: $11.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99)
Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 59.262 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 63.05% hydro: 36.31% nuclear: 0.64% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 55.114 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs
Exports: $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: cotton, fabrics, yarn, rice, and other agricultural products
Exports - partners: US 22%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 7%, Germany 7%, UAE 5%
(FY98/99)
Imports: $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery, oil, oil products, chemicals, transportation equipment, cooking oils, grains, legumes, flour
Imports - partners: US 8%, Japan 8%, Malaysia 7%, Saudi Arabia 7%, UAE 7% (FY98/99)
Debt - external: $32 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $2 billion (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 51.90 (December 1999), 44.550 (1998), 40.185 (1997), 35.266 (1996), 30.930 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Pakistan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 2.861 million (March 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 158,000 (1998)
Telephone system: the domestic system is average but getting better; service is sufficient for government and business use, partly because major companies have set up their own private systems. Since 1988, the government has prioritized investment in the national telecommunications system, significantly boosting network capacity. However, even with major improvements in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services are still not easily accessible to most of the rural population. domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 in Karachi and 2 in Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries.
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 Service Providers (ISPs): 26 (1999)
@Pakistan:Transportation
Railways: total: 8,163 km broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km double track) narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.)
Highways: total: 247,811 km paved: 141,252 km (including 339 km of expressways) unpaved: 106,559 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas 4,044 km (1987)
Ports and harbors: Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim
Merchant marine: total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a total of 288,249 GRT/444,451 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 15, container 3, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 118 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 82 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 7 (1999 est.)
@Pakistan:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 34,632,509 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 21,206,148 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 1,604,806 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $2.435 billion (FY99/00)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 3.9% (FY99/00)
@Pakistan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the status of Kashmir with India; water-sharing issues with India over the Indus River (Wular Barrage)
Illicit drugs: a producer of illegal opium and hashish for the international drug trade (poppy cultivation in 1999 - 1,570 hectares, a 48% decrease from 1998 due to eradication efforts and alternative development); a major transit area for Southwest Asian heroin heading to Western markets; narcotics continue to flow from Afghanistan into Balochistan Province.
______________________________________________________________________
PALAU
@Palau:Introduction
Background: After thirty years as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost group of the Caroline Islands chose to become independent in 1978 instead of joining the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986, but it wasn’t ratified until 1993. It went into effect the following year when the islands achieved their independence.
@Palau:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 7.5° N, 134.5° E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 458 sq km land: 458 sq km water: 0 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: continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nautical miles extended fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: rainy season from May to November; hot and humid
Terrain: varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands typically surrounded by large barrier reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m
Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), seafood, deep-sea minerals
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues: insufficient facilities for solid waste disposal; risks 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: includes the World War II battlefield of Peleliu and the famous rock islands; an archipelago of six island groups made up of over 200 islands in the Caroline chain.
@Palau:People
Population: 18,766 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27% (male 2,605; female 2,458) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,006; female 5,814) 65 years and over: 5% (male 416; female 467) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.75% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 19.88 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.35 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 5.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.15 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.12 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.59 years male: 65.47 years female: 71.88 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan
Ethnic groups: Palauans are Micronesian with blends of Malayan and Melanesian ancestry.
Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day
Saints), Modekngei religion (about one-third of the population practices this
religion, which is native to Palau)
Languages: English and Palauan are official in all states except Sonsoral (where Sonsorolese and English are official), Tobi (where Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (where Angaur, Japanese, and English are official).
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 92% male: 93% female: 90% (1980 est.)
@Palau:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Palau conventional short form: Palau local long form: Beluu er a Belau local short form: Belau former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Data code: PS
Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association started on October 1, 1994.
Capital: Koror note: a new capital is under construction about 20 km northeast of Koror
Administrative divisions: 18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur,
Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau,
Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island, Peleliu,
Sonsoral, Tobi
Independence: October 1, 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, July 9 (1979)
Constitution: 1 January 1981
Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since January 1, 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since January 1, 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since January 1, 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since January 1, 1993); 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 November 11, 1996 (next to be held in November 2000) election results: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of vote - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote - Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote based on population to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats - one from each state; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on November 11, 1996 (next to be held in November 2000); House of Delegates - last held on November 11, 1996 (next to be held in November 2000) election results: Senate - percentage of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - N/A; House of Delegates - percentage of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - N/A
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas
Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party [Polycarp
BASILIUS]
International organization participation: ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 452-6814 FAX: (202) 452-6281
Diplomatic representation from the US: Chief of Mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD (based in Manila); Charge d'Affaires: Allen E. NUGENT Embassy: Address not available, Koror Mailing Address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 Telephone: 488-2920, 2990 FAX: 488-2911
Flag description: light blue with a large yellow circle (representing the moon) slightly offset to the hoist side.
@Palau:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy mainly revolves around subsistence farming and fishing. The government is the biggest employer, heavily depending on financial aid from the US. The population has a per capita income that's over twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. The long-term outlook for tourism has improved significantly due to the growth of air travel in the Pacific and the increasing wealth of top East Asian countries.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $160 million (1997 est.) note: GDP figures represent US spending
GDP - real growth rate: 10% (1997 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,800 (1997 estimate)
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 NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 7%
Budget: revenues: $52.9 million expenditures: $59.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, handmade crafts (from shells, wood, pearls), construction, clothing manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 85% hydro: 15% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity - consumption: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes
Exports: $14.3 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports - commodities: trochus (a type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
Exports - partners: US, Japan
Imports: $72.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels
Imports - partners: US
Debt - external: approximately $100 million (1989)
Economic aid - recipient: $155.8 million (1995); note - the Compact of Free Association with the US, which started after the UN trusteeship ended on October 1, 1994, will give Palau up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in exchange for providing military facilities.
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: The US dollar is used
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@Palau:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1,500 (1988)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1988)
Telephone system: domestic: N/A international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 12,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 11,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Palau:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km
Ports and harbors: Koror
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Palau:Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending as a percentage 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 has access to the islands for 50 years.
@Palau:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
PALMYRA ATOLL
@Palmyra Atoll:Geography
Location: Oceania, an atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa.
Geographic coordinates: 5.52° N, 162.06° W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 11.9 sq km land: 11.9 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical, hot, and very rainy
Terrain: very low
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 100% other: 0%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: about 50 small islands covered with thick vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees reaching up to 30 meters tall
@Palmyra Atoll:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)
@Palmyra Atoll:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll
Data code: LQ
Dependency status: incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but managed from Washington, DC by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior.
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Palmyra Atoll:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Palmyra Atoll:Transportation
Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during World War
II are no longer usable and have become overgrown
Ports and harbors: West Lagoon
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Palmyra Atoll:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the U.S.
@Palmyra Atoll:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
PANAMA
@Panama:Introduction
Background: With US support, Panama broke away from Colombia in 1903 and quickly signed a treaty with the US that allowed for the construction of a canal and US control 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 September 7, 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by 1999. Certain parts of the Zone and increasing responsibility for the Canal were handed over in the years that followed. With US assistance, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was removed from power in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the surrounding area, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama on December 31, 1999.
@Panama:Geography
Location: Central America, next to both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates: 9° N, 80° W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 78,200 sq km land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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, and cloudy; extended rainy season
(May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain: mostly steep, rugged mountains and broken, high plains in the interior; coastal areas are mainly flat 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: 7% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 44% other: 27% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rainforests; land degradation and soil erosion threaten siltation of the Panama Canal.
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 at the eastern end of the isthmus forming a land bridge that connects North and South America; controls the Panama Canal, which links the North Atlantic Ocean through the Caribbean Sea to the North Pacific Ocean.
@Panama:People
Population: 2,808,268 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 439,590; female 422,949) 15-64 years: 63% (male 901,793; female 878,138) 65 years and over: 6% (male 79,330; female 86,468) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.34% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 19.53 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.95 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.03 males/females 65 years and over: 0.92 males/females total population: 1.02 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.8 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.47 years male: 72.74 years female: 78.31 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Indigenous and white) 70%, Indigenous and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Indigenous 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14% note: many Panamanians are bilingual
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 90.8% male: 91.4% female: 90.2% (1995 est.)
@Panama:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama
Data code: PM
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Panama
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia) and 2 territories* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí,
Coclé, Colón, Darién, Herrera, Los Santos, Ngäbe-Buglé*, Panamá, San
Blas*, and Veraguas
Independence: November 3, 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from
Spain on November 28, 1821)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 3, 1903
Constitution: October 11, 1972; major reforms approved in April 1983 and in 1994
Legal system: based on a civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since September 1, 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since September 1, 1999); Second Vice President (Dominador) Kaiser Baldonero BAZAN (since September 1, 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since September 1, 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since September 1, 1999); Second Vice President (Dominador) Kaiser Baldonero BAZAN (since September 1, 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 May 2, 1999 (next to be held in May 2004) election results: Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez elected president; percent of vote - Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (PA) 44%, Martin TORRIJOS (PRD) 37% note: government coalition - PRD, PLN, and Popular Nationalist Party
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on May 2, 1999 (next to be held in May 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 35, PA 18, PS 4, PDC 4, MOLIRENA 3, PRC 2, PLN 2, Democratic Change 2, MORENA 1; note - one seat had yet to be decided note: legislators from rural districts are chosen based on a plurality system, while those from more populated towns and cities elect multiple legislators using a proportion-based formula
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, or Corte Suprema de Justicia, consists of 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]; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Ruben
AROSEMENA]; Civic Renewal Party or PRC ;
Democratic Change ; Democratic Revolutionary Party
or PRD ; National Liberal Party or PLN [Dr. Roberto
ALEMAN Zubieta, Oscar UCROS, Raul ARANGO]; National Renovation
Movement or MORENA ; Nationalist Republican
Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA ; Solidarity Party or
PS
Political pressure groups and leaders: Chamber of Commerce; National
Civic Crusade; National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO;
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: CAN (associate), CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA (observer), NAM, 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 Guillermo FORD chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-1407 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Simon FERRO embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002 telephone: 227-1777 FAX: 227-1964
Flag description: divided into four equal rectangles; the top sections are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and solid red; the bottom sections are solid blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center.
@Panama:Economy
Economy - overview: Due to its strategic location, Panama's economy relies heavily on services, particularly banking, commerce, and tourism. The transfer of the canal and military bases from the US has sparked new construction projects. The MOSCOSO administration took over an economy that is structurally stronger and more liberal than the one its predecessor managed. Although export demand is expected to stay weak in some important markets—especially in the Andean countries—GDP growth in 2000 is likely to be between 3% and 4%. Key reform efforts from the previous administration, such as the privatization of public utilities, remain unfinished. While President MOSCOSO is unlikely to reverse any past reforms, her populist tendencies suggest that no new initiatives will be pursued in the near term. In fact, the government has struggled to create a comprehensive economic policy framework, and the only significant action it has taken by the end of 1999 is an increase in agricultural tariffs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $21 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,600 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 25% services: 67% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 42.5% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.044 million (1997 est.) note: shortage of skilled workers, but an oversupply of unskilled workers
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 18%, industry 18%, services 64% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13.1% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.4 billion expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $341 million (1997 est.)
Industries: construction, oil refining, brewing, cement and other building materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (estimated for 1995)
Electricity - production: 4.523 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 25.56% hydro: 73.78% nuclear: 0% other: 0.66% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 4.329 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 13 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 136 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Exports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee
Exports - partners: US 40%, Sweden, Costa Rica, Spain, Benelux,
Honduras (1998)
Imports: $6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, crude oil, food, consumer products, chemicals
Imports - partners: US 40%, Central America and Caribbean, Japan (1998)
Debt - external: $7 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $197.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Panama:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 325,300 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: both domestic and international services are well developed
domestic: NA
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 2 satellite earth stations
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave
System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 80, FM 44, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 815,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 9 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 510,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@Panama:Transportation
Railways: total: 355 km broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways: total: 11,258 km paved: 3,783 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,475 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal
Pipelines: crude oil 130 km
Ports and harbors: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part of
Colon area), Vacamonte
Merchant marine: total: 4,732 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 106,054,086 GRT/159,304,019 DWT ships by type: bulk 1,377, cargo 976, chemical tanker 323, combination bulk 68, combination ore/oil 15, container 525, liquified gas 184, livestock carrier 8, multi-functional large load carrier 12, passenger 46, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 496, rail car carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 313, roll-on/roll-off 106, short-sea passenger 42, specialized tanker 33, vehicle carrier 202 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 71 countries among which are Japan 1,262, Greece 378, Hong Kong 244, South Korea 259, Taiwan 229, China 193, Singapore 103, US 116, Switzerland 78, and Indonesia 53 (1998 est.)
Airports: 105 (1999 est.)
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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 49 (1999 est.)
@Panama:Military
Military branches: an amendment to the Constitution eliminated the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 761,568 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 521,487 (estimated in 2000)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $132 million (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.6% (FY97)
Military - note: on February 10, 1990, the government of then-President ENDARA got rid of Panama's military and revamped the security system by establishing the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly passed a constitutional amendment that banned the formation of a standing military force but allowed for the temporary creation of special police units to respond to "external aggression."
@Panama:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a key cocaine transshipment hub and a major center for laundering drug money; no recent indications of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is getting better, yet Panama has not prosecuted anyone for money laundering - official corruption continues to be a big issue.
______________________________________________________________________
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
@Papua New Guinea:Introduction
Background: The eastern half of New Guinea - the second largest island in the world - was split between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The southern part was handed over to Australia in 1902, which took control of the northern area during World War I and continued to manage both regions until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist uprising on Bougainville Island ended in 1997, resulting in about 20,000 deaths.
@Papua New Guinea:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, a group of islands that includes the eastern half of New Guinea, situated 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: a bit larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); minimal seasonal temperature variation.
Terrain: mostly mountains, with coastal lowlands and gently rolling foothills.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, wood, oil, fishery resources
Land use: arable land: 0.1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 92.9% other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanoes; located along the Pacific "Rim of Fire"; the country experiences frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mudslides; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: rainforests are facing deforestation due to increasing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought.
Environment - international agreements: party to: 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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: shares the island of New Guinea with Indonesia; has one of the world's largest swamps along the southwest coast.
@Papua New Guinea:People
Population: 4,926,984 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 972,289; female 940,049) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,470,158; female 1,365,523) 65 years and over: 3% (male 84,942; female 94,023) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.47% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 32.68 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.03 males/females 15-64 years: 1.08 males/females 65 years and over: 0.9 males/females total population: 1.05 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.89 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.1 years male: 61.05 years female: 65.26 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.38 children per woman (2000 estimate)
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 is spoken by 1%-2%, with pidgin English widely used, and Motu is spoken in the Papua region. Note: 715 indigenous languages.
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 72.2% male: 81% female: 62.7% (1995 est.)
@Papua New Guinea:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea abbreviation: PNG
Data code: PP
Government type: 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: September 16, 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 16 (1975)
Constitution: 16 September 1975
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since November 13, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA (since NA August 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Mao ZEMING (since NA December 1999) 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; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to five years based on majority support in National Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament - sometimes called the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next scheduled for NA June 2002) 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
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, with the chief justice appointed by the governor general based on the recommendation of the National Executive Council after discussing it with the minister responsible for justice, while other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
Political parties and leaders: Black Action Party; Bougainville Unity Alliance or BUA; Christian Democratic Party; Hausman Party; League for National Advancement or LNA; Liberal Party; Melanesian Alliance or MA; Melanesian Labor Party; Milne Bay Party; Movement for Greater Autonomy; National Alliance or NA; National Party or NP; Papua New Guinea First Party (includes People's National Congress or PNC and Christian Country Party); Papua New Guinea United Party or Pangu Pati; People's Action Party or PAP [Ted DIRO]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM; People's National Alliance; People's Progress Party or PPP [Michael NALI]; People's Resources Awareness Party; People's Solidarity Party; People's Unity Party or PUP [Alfred KAIABE]; United Party or UP; United Resource Party International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 745-3680 FAX: (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby telephone: 321-1455 FAX: 321-3423
Flag description: divided diagonally from the 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.
@Papua New Guinea:Economy
Economy - overview: Papua New Guinea is rich in natural resources, but its exploitation has been hindered by the rugged landscape and the high costs of building infrastructure. Agriculture serves as a subsistence livelihood for most of the population. Mineral resources, including oil, copper, and gold, make up 72% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid through the World Bank have helped keep the economy afloat. In 1995, Port Moresby reached an agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a structural adjustment program, with the first phase successfully completed in 1996. In 1997, droughts caused by the El Nino weather pattern devastated Papua New Guinea's coffee, cocoa, and coconut production, which are crucial to the agricultural economy and major sources of export income. The coffee crop was reduced by up to 50% in 1997. Despite the drought issues, 1998 saw a slight recovery in GDP. Growth increased to 3.6% in 1999 and may reach even higher in 2000, around 4.3%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (estimated for 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.6% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 35% services: 40% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.5% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.941 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining for gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.74 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.54% hydro: 30.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.618 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruits, vegetables; poultry, pork
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, and shrimp
Exports - partners: Australia 20%, Japan 13%, Germany 7%, South Korea 5%, Philippines 4%, UK 3% (1998)
Imports: $1 billion (f.o.b., estimated in 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuel, chemicals
Imports - partners: Australia 51%, Singapore 10%, Japan 8%, US 5%, New
Zealand 5%, Malaysia 3% (1998)
Debt - external: $2.4 billion (estimated 1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $400 million (1999 est.)
Currency: 1 kina (K) = 100 toea
Exchange rates: Kina (K) per US$1 - 2.7624 (November 1999), 2.520 (1999), 2.058 (1998), 1.434 (1997), 1.318 (1996), 1.276 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Papua New Guinea:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 44,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: services are sufficient and being enhanced; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services. domestic: primarily 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 (1997)
Televisions: 42,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Papua New Guinea:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 10,940 km
Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine: total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 36,417 GRT/52,432 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 492 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 473 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 402 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Papua New Guinea:Military
Military branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground,
Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,274,818 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 706,159 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $42 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1% (FY98)
@Papua New Guinea:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
PARACEL ISLANDS
@Paracel Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, a 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 land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: NA
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 518 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment - current issues: NA
@Paracel Islands:People
Population: no native inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese military outposts (July 2000 est.)
@Paracel Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Data code: PF
@Paracel Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: In 1997, China announced plans to open the islands for tourism.
@Paracel Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and
Duncan Island are being expanded.
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Paracel Islands:Military
Military - note: controlled by China
@Paracel Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and
Vietnam
______________________________________________________________________
PARAGUAY
@Paraguay:Introduction
Background: In the terrible War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and a lot of its territory. The economy stagnated for the next fifty years. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, Paraguay gained large, economically significant areas from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and since then, fairly free and regular presidential elections have been held.
@Paraguay:Geography
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 land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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: ranging from subtropical to temperate; significant rainfall in the eastern areas, becoming semi-arid in the far west.
Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of the Paraguay River; the Gran Chaco region west of the Paraguay River is mostly low, marshy land near the river, with dry forests and thorny scrub in other areas.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m
Natural resources: hydropower, wood, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 55% forests and woodland: 32% other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: local flooding in the southeast (early September to
June); poorly drained plains might get muddy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues: deforestation (about 2 million hectares of forest land were lost from 1958-85); water pollution; and insufficient waste disposal methods pose health risks for many city dwellers.
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; located between Argentina, Bolivia, and
Brazil
@Paraguay:People
Population: 5,585,828 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 1,109,887; female 1,074,815) 15-64 years: 56% (male 1,574,978; female 1,563,872) 65 years and over: 5% (male 120,662; female 141,614) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.64% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 31.27 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.81 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.81 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.68 years male: 71.22 years female: 76.27 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.16 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indigenous) 95%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant
Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani (spoken by most of the rural population)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.1% male: 93.5% female: 90.6% (1995 est.)
@Paraguay:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay
Data code: PA
Government type: constitutional republic
Capital: Asuncion
Administrative divisions: 17 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento) and one capital city; Alto Paraguay, Alto Paraná,
Amambay, Asunción (city), Boquerón, Caaguazú, Caazapá, Canindeyú,
Central, Concepción, Cordillera, Guairá, Itapúa, Misiones, Ñeembucú,
Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence: May 14, 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Days, May 14-15 (1811)
Constitution: promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory until age 75
Executive branch: chief of state: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since March 28, 1999); vice president (vacant); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since March 28, 1999); vice president (vacant); note - the president serves as 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; last election held on May 10, 1998 (next election scheduled for May 2003) election results: Raul CUBAS Grau elected president; percent of vote - 55.3%; resigned on March 28, 1999 note: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi, formerly president of the Chamber of Senators, constitutionally succeeded President Raul CUBAS Grau, who resigned after being impeached shortly after the assassination of Vice President Luis Maria ARGANA; the successor to ARGANA will be determined in an election expected to be held in August 2000
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: Senate - last held May 10, 1998 (next to be held in May 2003); House of Representatives - last held May 10, 1998 (next to be held in May 2003). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Colorado Party 25, PLRA 13, PEN 7; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Colorado Party 45, PLRA 26, PEN 9.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de
Justicia, judges appointed based on the recommendation of the Council of
Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura
Political parties and leaders: Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA)
; Christian Democratic Party (PDC)
; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF) [Carlos Maria
LJUBETIC]; National Encounter (PEN); National
Republican Association - Colorado Party [acting president Bader RACHID
LICHI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Esteban AGUIRRE MARTINEZ chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-6960 through 6962 FAX: (202) 234-4508 consulate(s) general: Kansas City (Kansas), Miami, New Orleans, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Stephan G. MCFARLAND embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001 telephone: (21) 213-715 FAX: (21) 213-728
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes in red (top), white, and blue with an emblem in the center of the white stripe; this flag is unique because the emblem differs on each side; the front (hoist side on the left) displays the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star surrounded by a green wreath topped with the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the back (hoist side on the right) shows the treasury seal (a yellow lion under a red Cap of Liberty along with the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) topped with the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
@Paraguay:Economy
Economy - overview: Paraguay has a market economy characterized by a sizable informal sector. This informal sector includes the reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, along with the operations of thousands of microenterprises and street vendors in urban areas. Due to the significance of the informal sector, it's challenging to get accurate economic measurements. A large portion of the population makes a living through agricultural activities, often at a subsistence level. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually from 1995 to 1997, but GDP saw a slight decline in 1998 and 1999. On a per capita basis, real income has remained stuck at 1980 levels. Most analysts point to political instability, corruption, lack of progress on structural reforms, and inadequate infrastructure as reasons for Paraguay's weak economic performance. Growth is expected to bounce back in 2000, possibly reaching 2%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $19.9 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,650 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 21% services: 51% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 32% (estimated for 1997-98)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 46.6% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1999)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 45%
Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.9 billion expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (1995 est.)
Industries: sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 50.324 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.12% hydro: 99.66% nuclear: 0% other: 0.22% (1998)
Electricity - usage: 1.494 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 45.307 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Exports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: soybeans, animal feed, cotton, meat, cooking oils
Exports - partners: Brazil, Argentina, EU
Imports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: cars, consumer products, tobacco, oil products, electrical equipment
Imports - partners: Brazil 34%, US, Argentina, Uruguay, EU, Hong Kong (1998)
Debt - external: $2.7 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: guarani (G) per US$ - 3,332.0 (January 2000), 3,119.1 (1999), 2,726.5 (1998), 2,177.9 (1997), 2,056.8 (1996), 1,963.0 (1995); note - since early 1998, the exchange rate has been a managed float; before that, the exchange rate was determined freely in the market.
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Paraguay:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 167,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 15,807 (1995)
Telephone system: limited telephone service; main switching center is Asuncion domestic: decent microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three not in use) (1998)
Radios: 925,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 10 (1997)
Televisions: 515,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Paraguay:Transportation
Railways: total: 971 km standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge note: there are 470 km of various gauges that are privately owned
Highways: total: 29,500 km paved: 15,000 km unpaved: 14,500 km (1999)
Waterways: 3,100 km
Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Merchant marine: total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 30,287 GRT/32,510 DWT ships by type: cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 4, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 937 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 927 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 29 914 to 1,523 m: 346 under 914 m: 551 (1999 est.)
@Paraguay:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,349,800 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 974,313 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age every year: males: 56,701 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $125 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY98)
@Paraguay:Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs: illegal producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in South America; transshipment country for Bolivian cocaine headed for Southern Cone markets and Europe and a limited amount to the US
______________________________________________________________________
PERU
@Peru:Introduction
Background: After twelve years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980. Recently, ambitious reform programs and notable progress in reducing guerrilla activity and drug trafficking have led to strong economic growth.
@Peru:Geography
Location: Western South America, next to the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates: 10° S, 76° W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 1,285,220 sq km land: 1.28 million sq km water: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 (approx.), Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,414 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 200 nautical miles
Climate: ranges from tropical in the east to dry desert in the west; temperate to frigid in the Andes.
Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in the center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of the Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, oil, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphorus, potash, hydroelectric power
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 66% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,800 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, minor volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation (some due to illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the coast and mountains leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining waste.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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 Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia
@Peru:People
Population: 27,012,899 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 4,776,074; female 4,628,899) 15-64 years: 61% (male 8,224,829; female 8,119,751) 65 years and over: 4% (male 579,465; female 683,881) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.75% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 24.48 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.84 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.6 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.01 years male: 67.63 years female: 72.5 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.04 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups: Indigenous 45%, mixed (Indigenous and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and others 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.7% male: 94.5% female: 83% (1995 est.)
@Peru:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Peru conventional short form: Peru local long form: República del Perú local short form: Perú
Data code: PE
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: the 1979 constitution mandated the creation of regions (regiones, singular - region) to eventually function as autonomous economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been established from 23 of the 24 departments - Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali); the formation of another region has been delayed due to the constitutional province of Callao's reluctance to merge with the department of Lima; because of insufficient funding from the central government and organizational and political challenges, the regions have not yet taken on significant responsibilities; the 1993 constitution keeps the regions but limits their authority; the 1993 constitution also reaffirms the roles of departmental and municipal governments.
Independence: July 28, 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 28 (1821)
Constitution: 31 December 1993
Legal system: based on a civil law system; has not accepted mandatory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since July 28, 1990); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government; there are also two vice presidents head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since July 28, 1990); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government; there are also two vice presidents note: Prime Minister Alberto BUSTAMANTE (since October 13, 1999) does not have executive power; this authority lies with the president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on April 9, 1995 (next one scheduled for April 9, 2000) election results: President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of vote - Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%
Legislative branch: unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress or Congresso Constituyente Democratico (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on April 9, 1995 (next to be held on April 9, 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, other parties 33.9%; seats by party - C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, CODE-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovation Party 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, other parties 3
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: American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA); Change 90-New Majority (C90/NM) [Alberto FUJIMORI]; Civic Works Movement (OBRAS); Democratic Coordinator (CODE-Pais Posible) [Jose BARBA Caballero and Alejandro TOLEDO]; Independent Agrarian Movement (MIA); Independent Moralizing Front (FIM); Peru 2000 [Alberto FUJIMORI]; coalition of C90/NM and Vamos Vecino; Popular Action Party (AP); Popular Christian Party (PPC) [Luis BEDOYA Reyes]; Renovation Party; Union for Peru (UPP); United Left (IU); Vamos Vecino (VV)
Political pressure groups and leaders: leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael Guzmán Reynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel Macario (top leader still on the run)]; Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor Polay (imprisoned), Hugo Avallena Valdez (top leader still on the run)]
International organization participation: APEC, CAN, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, 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 Alfonso RIVERO Monsalve chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 833-9860 through 9869 FAX: (202) 659-8124 consulates general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John HAMILTON embassy: Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000 telephone: (1) 434-3000 FAX: (1) 434-3037
Flag description: three equal vertical stripes of red (on the hoist side), white, and red, with the coat of arms centered on the white stripe; the coat of arms displays a shield featuring a llama, a cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia overflowing with gold coins, all surrounded by a green wreath.
@Peru:Economy
Economy - overview: The Peruvian economy has become more market-oriented, with significant privatizations happening since 1990 in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications sectors. Due to strong foreign investment and collaboration between the FUJIMORI government and the IMF and World Bank, growth was robust from 1994 to 1997, and inflation was kept in check. In 1998, the effects of El Niño on agriculture, the financial crisis in Asia, and instability in Brazilian markets hampered growth. Additionally, 1999 was another tough year for Peru, as the repercussions of El Niño and the Asian financial crisis continued to affect the economy. Lima did manage to finalize negotiations for an Extended Fund Facility with the IMF in June 1999, although it later had to adjust the targets. Pressure on spending is increasing as the 2000 elections approach. Nevertheless, better commodity prices and a recovery in the fishing sector should help boost GDP growth above 5% in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $116 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,400 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 42% services: 45% (1998)
Population below the poverty line: 54% (1991 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 34.3% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 7.6 million (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services
Unemployment rate: 7.7%; significant underemployment (1997)
Budget: revenues: $8.5 billion expenditures: $9.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $2 billion (1996 est.)
Industries: metal mining, oil extraction, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement production, car manufacturing, steel production, shipbuilding, metal fabrication
Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (1996)
Electricity - production: 18.28 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 24.53% hydro: 74.79% nuclear: 0% other: 0.68% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 17.002 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 2 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish
Exports: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: fish and seafood products, copper, zinc, gold, crude oil and its byproducts, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton
Exports - partners: US 25%, China 8%, Japan 7%, Switzerland, Germany,
UK, Brazil (1997)
Imports: $8.4 billion (c.i.f., estimated for 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, food, oil, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners: US 19%, Colombia 6%, Venezuela 5%, Chile 4%,
Brazil 4% (1997)
Debt - external: $31 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $895.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 3.500 (January 2000), 3.383 (1999), 2.930 (1998), 2.664 (1997), 2.453 (1996), 2.253 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Peru:Communications
Telephones - total main lines in use: 1.509 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 504,995 (1998)
Telephone system: sufficient for most needs 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 15 (1999)
@Peru:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,988 km standard gauge: 1,608 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 380 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways: total: 72,900 km paved: 8,700 km unpaved: 64,200 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of the Amazon system and 208 km of Lake Titicaca
Pipelines: crude oil 500 miles; natural gas and natural gas liquids 40 miles
Ports and harbors: Callao, Chimbote, Ilo, Matarani, Paita, Puerto Maldonado, Salaverry, San Martin, Talara, Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are all located in the upper parts of the Amazon and its tributaries
Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 65,193 GRT/100,584 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 6 (1999 est.)
Airports: 234 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 44 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 190 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 67 under 914 m: 94 (1999 est.)
@Peru:Military
Military branches: Army (Ejército Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del
Perú; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza
Aérea del Perú), National Police (Policía Nacional)
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 7,059,079 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 4,752,112 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 268,646 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.3 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY98)
@Peru:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the agreed-upon border with
Ecuador was finalized in May 1999
Illicit drugs: until recently the world's largest producer of coca leaves, Peru has cut down the area of coca cultivation by 24% to 38,700 hectares by the end of 1999. Most of the coca base is sent to neighboring Colombia, Bolivia, and Brazil for processing into cocaine for the international drug market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing by sea transport to Mexico, the US, and Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
PHILIPPINES
@Philippines:Introduction
Background: The Philippines were handed over from Spain to the US in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. They gained their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Ferdinand MARCOS's 21-year rule ended in 1986 when a large public rebellion forced him into exile. In 1992, the US shut down its last military bases in the islands. A 25-year-long guerrilla war with Muslim separatists on the island of Mindanao, which resulted in 120,000 deaths, concluded with a treaty in 1996.
@Philippines:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, a group of islands 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 land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 36,289 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since the late 1970s has also claimed a polygonal-shaped area in the South China Sea up to 285 nm in width
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Terrain: primarily mountains with narrow to broad coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources: wood, oil, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 46% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 15,800 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: located in the typhoon belt, typically impacted by 15 storms and hit by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; damaging earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps, which are important fish breeding grounds.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
@Philippines:People
Population: 81,159,644 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 37% (male 15,344,555; female 14,807,320) 15-64 years: 59% (male 23,777,245; female 24,285,565) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,312,646; female 1,632,313) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.07% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 27.85 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.13 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.52 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.48 years male: 64.65 years female: 70.46 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.48 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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: Filipino (official, based on Tagalog), English (official)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 94.6% male: 95% female: 94.3% (1995 est.)
@Philippines:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas
Data code: RP
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, 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, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*,
Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
Independence: July 4, 1946 (from the US)
National holiday: Independence Day, June 12 (1898) (from Spain)
Constitution: February 2, 1987, effective February 11, 1987
Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts mandatory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since June 30, 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since June 30, 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since June 30, 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since June 30, 1998); 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 May 11, 1998 (next to be held May 11, 2004) election results: Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent of vote - approximately 40%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent of vote - NA%
Legislative branch: The bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (24 seats - half elected every three years; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (221 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - an additional 50 members may be appointed by the president) elections: Senate - last held on May 11, 1998 (next to be held on May 11, 2001); House of Representatives - elections last held on May 11, 1998 (next to be held on May 11, 2001) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, other 3; note - the Senate currently has only 23 members with one seat vacated when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became vice president; the seat can only be filled by election and is likely to remain open until the next regular election in 2001; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, Aksyon Demokratiko 1, other 35
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president based on recommendations from the Judicial and Bar Council.
Political parties and leaders: Aksyon Demokratiko or Democratic Action
; Laban ng Masang Pilipino or LAMP (Struggle of the
Filipino Masses) [Joseph ESTRADA, titular head, Eduardo "Danding"
COJUANGO, chairman, Edgardo ANGARA, party president]; Lakas [Raul
MANGLAPUS, chairman, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, secretary general, Jose
DE VENECIA, party president]; Liberal Party or LP [Raul DAZA,
president, Jovito SALONGA, chairman, Florencio ABAD, secretary
general]; People's Reform Party or PRP
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTAET,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ernesto MACEDA chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 467-9300 FAX: (202) 328-7614 consulates general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam) consulates: San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000 mailing address: FPO 96515 telephone: (2) 523-1001 FAX: (2) 522-4361
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle on the left side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight main rays (each having three smaller rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star.
@Philippines:Economy
Economy - overview: In 1998, the Philippine economy—a blend of agriculture, light industry, and support services—declined due to the effects of the Asian financial crisis and unfavorable weather conditions. Growth dropped to about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but bounced back to 2.9% in 1999. The government has committed to continuing its economic reforms to help the Philippines keep up with the development pace of the newly industrialized countries in East Asia. The strategy includes enhancing infrastructure, revamping the tax system to increase government revenues, and moving towards further deregulation and privatization of the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $282 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.9% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,600 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 32% services: 48% (1997 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 32% (1997 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 33.5% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1999)
Labor force: 32 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 39.8%, government and social services 19.4%, services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%, construction 5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.6% (October 1998)
Budget: revenues: $14.5 billion expenditures: $12.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 1.7% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 39.623 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 70.12% hydro: 10.75% nuclear: 0% other: 19.13% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 36.849 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
Exports: $34.8 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: electronic devices, machinery and transportation equipment, clothing, coconut products
Exports - partners: US 34%, EU 20%, Japan 14%, Netherlands 8%,
Singapore 6%, UK 6%, Hong Kong 4% (1998)
Imports: $30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Imports - commodities: raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, consumer goods, fuels
Imports - partners: US 22%, Japan 20%, South Korea 8%, Singapore 6%,
Taiwan 5%, Hong Kong 4% (1998 est.)
Debt - external: $51.9 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $1.1 billion (1998)
Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 40.427 (January 2000), 39.089 (1999), 40.893 (1998), 29.471 (1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Philippines:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.9 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.959 million (1998)
Telephone system: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and inter-island service is adequate. Domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations. International: 9 international gateways; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 in the Indian Ocean and 2 in the Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 366, FM 290, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios: 11.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 31 (1997)
Televisions: 3.7 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 93 (1999)
@Philippines:Transportation
Railways: total: 492 km (another 405 km are not in operation) narrow gauge: 492 km 1.067-m gauge (1996)
Highways: total: 199,950 km paved: 39,590 km unpaved: 160,360 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 3,219 km; restricted to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels
Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km
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: 480 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a total of 5,973,024 GRT/9,025,087 DWT ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 122, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 9, container 7, liquefied gas 13, livestock carrier 9, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off 19, short-sea passenger 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 20 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 19 ships, Hong Kong 5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Netherlands 1, Singapore 1, and UK 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 266 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 76 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 190 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 66 under 914 m: 121 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Philippines:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine Corps),
Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 20,731,979 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 14,607,014 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 835,817 (2000 estimate)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $995 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY98)
@Philippines:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: involved in a complex disagreement over the
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly
Brunei; the claim to Malaysia's Sabah State has not been fully revoked
Illicit drugs: exports locally grown marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; acts as a transit point for heroin and crystal meth.
______________________________________________________________________
PITCAIRN ISLANDS
@Pitcairn Islands:Introduction
Background: Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Outmigration, mainly to New Zealand, has reduced the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to around 50 today.
@Pitcairn Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway from Peru to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 25°04' S, 130°06' W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 47 sq km land: 47 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 51 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 3 nautical miles
Climate: tropical, hot, humid; influenced by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: rough volcanic landscape; rocky shore with cliffs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Natural resources: miro trees (used for crafts), fish note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been found offshore
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially from November to March)
Environment - current issues: deforestation (only a small part of the original forest is left due to burning and clearing for housing)
@Pitcairn Islands:People
Population: 54 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -2.06% (2000 estimate)
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: NA deaths per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born per woman
Nationality: noun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian spouses
Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages: English (official), Pitcairnese, Tahitian, 18th century
English dialect
@Pitcairn Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Data code: PC
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: Celebration of the Queen's Birthday (second
Saturday in June)
Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system: local island by-laws
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal with three years of residency
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by the UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands, Martin WILLIAMS (since May 1998); Commissioner (nonresident) Leon SALT (since NA; serves as the liaison between the governor and the Island Council) head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council, Jay WARREN (since NA) cabinet: NA elections: the monarch is hereditary; the high commissioner and commissioner are appointed by the monarch; the island magistrate is elected by popular vote for a three-year term; last known election held in December 1993 (next was to be held in December 1996) election results: Jay WARREN reelected as island magistrate; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: one-chamber 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: occur every December; last held NA December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch: Island Court, the island magistrate leads the court and is elected every three years.
Political parties 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 UK flag in the upper left corner and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer part of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue, featuring a shield with a yellow anchor.
@Pitcairn Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: The people of this small economy rely on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. The fertile valleys produce a diverse range of fruits and vegetables, such as citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Trading goods directly is a key part of the economy. The main sources of income come from selling postage stamps to collectors and selling handicrafts to visiting ships.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per person: 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 capable men (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: no traditional business community; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $729,884 expenditures: $878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: postage stamps, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: a wide range of fruits and vegetables
Exports: $NA
Exports - goods: fruits, vegetables, souvenirs, stamps
Exports - partners: NA
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: fuel oil, machinery, construction materials, flour, sugar, and other food items
Imports - partners: NA
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Pitcairn Islands:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 1 (there are 17 phones on a shared line) (1997)
Telephone system: shared telephone service on the island domestic: NA international: radiotelephone
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Pitcairn Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 6.4 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6.4 km
Ports and harbors: Bounty Bay
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: none
@Pitcairn Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the UK's responsibility
@Pitcairn Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
POLAND
@Poland:Introduction
Background: Poland gained its independence in 1918, only to be invaded by Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. After the war, it became a Soviet satellite state, but one that was relatively tolerant and progressive. Labor unrest in 1980 led to the creation of an independent trade union called "Solidarity," which eventually grew into a political force and, by 1990, had won parliamentary elections and the presidency. True freedom arrived with the collapse of the USSR in 1991. A "shock therapy" program in the early 1990s allowed the country to transform its economy into one of the strongest in Central Europe, raising hopes for quick acceptance into the EU. Poland joined the NATO alliance in 1999.
@Poland:Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52° N, 20° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 312,685 sq km land: 304,465 sq km water: 8,220 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,888 km border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mild with cold, overcast winters that can be pretty harsh and often wet; warm summers with frequent rain and thunderstorms
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along the southern border
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, farmland
Land use: arable land: 47% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 29% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: the situation has improved since 1989 because of the decline in heavy industry and growing environmental awareness from post-communist governments; however, air pollution is still a major issue due to sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has harmed forests; water contamination from industrial and municipal sources is also a concern, as is the disposal of hazardous waste.
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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,
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, a conflict zone due to the flat landscape and the absence of natural barriers on the North European Plain
@Poland:People
Population: 38,646,023 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 3,767,454; female 3,587,822) 15-64 years: 69% (male 13,201,825; female 13,352,950) 65 years and over: 12% (male 1,809,839; female 2,926,133) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.04% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 10.13 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.99 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.61 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.19 years male: 69.01 years female: 77.6 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.38 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 others 5%
Languages: Polish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1978 est.)
@Poland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Poland conventional short form: Poland local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska local short form: Polska
Data code: PL
Government type: republic
Capital: Warsaw
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (województwa, singular -
województwo); Dolnośląskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Łódzkie, Lubelskie,
Lubuskie, Małopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie,
Pomorskie, Śląskie, Świętokrzyskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie,
Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie
Independence: November 11, 1918 (independent republic declared)
National holiday: Constitution Day, May 3 (1791); Independence Day,
November 11 (1918)
Constitution: October 16, 1997; adopted by the National Assembly on April 2, 1997; passed by national referendum on May 23, 1997
Legal system: a blend of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and remnants of communist legal theory; changes are being slowly implemented as part of a wider democratization effort; there is limited judicial review of legislative acts, although under the new constitution, the Constitutional Tribunal's ruling will be final as of October 1999; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since December 23, 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jerzy BUZEK (since October 31, 1997), Deputy Prime Ministers Leszek BALCEROWICZ (since October 31, 1997), Longin KOMOLOWSKI (since October 19, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers accountable to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election round held on November 5, 1995, second round on November 19, 1995 (next election to be held in November 2000); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president; percentage of popular vote, second round - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%
Legislative branch: The bicameral National Assembly, or Zgromadzenie Narodowe, is made up of the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected using a complex proportional representation system to serve four-year terms) and the Senate, or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms). Elections: Sejm elections were last held on September 21, 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001); Senate elections were last held on September 21, 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001). Election results: Sejm - percent of vote by party - RS-AWS 33.8%, SLD 27.1%, UW 13.4%, PSL 7.3%, ROP 5.6%, MNSO 0.4%, other 12.4%; seats by party - AWS 201, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 27, ROP 6, MNSO 2; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AWS 51, SLD 28, UW 8, ROP 5, PSL 3, independents 5; note - seats by party in the Sejm as of January 2000: AWS 186, SLD 159, UW 60, PSL 26, PP 7, ROP 4, MNSO 2, KPN-O 5, PPS-RLP 3, other 8. Note: Two seats are assigned to ethnic minority parties.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, where judges are appointed by the president based on recommendations from the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite term; the Constitutional Tribunal, where judges are selected by the Sejm for nine-year terms.
Political parties and leaders: Center Alliance Party or PC [Antoni
TOKARCZUK]; Christian National Union or ZCHN ;
Confederation for an Independent Poland or KPN ;
Confederation for an Independent Poland-Patriotic Camp or KPN-OP
(KPN-Fatherland or KPN-O is a small group within the KPN-OP) [Adam
SLOMKA]; Conservative Peasant Party or SKL ;
Democratic Left Alliance or SLD (Social Democracy of Poland) [Leszek
MILLER]; Freedom Union or UW ; German Minority of
Lower Silesia or MNSO ; Labor Party or PP ;
Labor Union or UP ; Movement of Polish Working People or
RLP ; Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland or ROP [Jan
OLSZEWSKI]; Polish Christian Democrats or PPChD ;
Polish Peasant Party or PSL ; Polish Socialist
Party or PPS ; Realpolitik Union or UPR [Janusz
KORWIN-MIKKE]; Solidarity Electoral Action or AWS (includes RS-AWS and
Solidarity) ; Social Movement-Solidarity Electoral
Action or RS-AWS
note: post-Communist - SLD and PSL; post-Solidarity - UW, Freedom
Union, ZCHN, PC, PL, RS AWS, UP, and PK; non-Communist, non-Solidarity
- ROP, KPN, MN, and UPR
Political pressure groups and leaders: All-Poland Trade Union Alliance (OPZZ); Roman Catholic Church; Solidarity (trade union)
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC
(observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant),
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, 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, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WEU
(associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 234-3800 to 3802 FAX: (202) 328-6271 consulates general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: Chief of Mission: Ambassador Daniel FRIED Embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-054, Warsaw P1 Mailing Address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) Telephone: (22) 628-30-41 FAX: (22) 625-67-31 Consulate(s) General: Krakow
Flag description: two equal horizontal stripes of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco, which are red (top) and white.
@Poland:Economy
Economy - overview: Poland today stands out as one of the most successful and open transition economies. The privatization of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on starting new businesses marked the rapid growth of a private sector now responsible for 70% of economic activity. In contrast to the vibrant expansion of private non-farm activity, the large agricultural sector continues to struggle with structural issues, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. The government’s commitment to joining the EU as soon as possible influences most aspects of its economic policies. Addressing Poland's worsening current account deficit and tightening monetary policy, now focused on inflation targeting, are also priorities. Warsaw continues to keep the budget deficit around 2% of GDP. Structural reforms in pensions, health care, and public administration advanced in 1999, but resulted in larger-than-expected fiscal pressures. Further progress on public finance depends mainly on privatizing the remaining state sector. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal and steel) has started, but there is still more work to be done. Growth in 2000 is expected to be slightly higher than in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $276.5 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.8% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,200 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1998)
Population below poverty line: 23.8% (1993 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 22.1% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.4% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 15.3 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 25%, agriculture 25%, services 50% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $31.6 billion expenditures: $34.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: machinery manufacturing, steel production, coal extraction, chemical production, ship construction, food processing, glass making, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 134.879 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 96.47% hydro: 3.18% nuclear: 0% other: 0.35% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 121.938 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 8.1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 4.6 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, beef, milk, cheese
Exports: $27.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods and chemicals 57%, machinery and equipment 21%, food and live animals 12%, mineral fuels 7% (1997)
Exports - partners: Germany 36%, Italy 5.8%, Russia 5.6%, Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.6%, Ukraine 3.8%, UK 3.8 (1998)
Imports: $40.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods and chemicals 43%, machinery and equipment 36%, mineral fuels 9%, food and live animals 8% (1997)
Imports - partners: Germany 25.8%, Italy 9.4%, France 6.5%, Russia 5.1%, UK 4.9%, US 3.8%, Netherlands 3.8% (1998)
Debt - external: $44 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $4.312 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Exchange rates: zlotys (Zl) per US$1 - 4.1696 (December 1999), 3.9671 (1999), 3.4754 (1998), 3.2793 (1997), 2.6961 (1996), 2.4250 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Poland:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 8.07 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.58 million (1998)
Telephone system: outdated and underdeveloped system; the government aims to have 10 million phones in service by 2000; the process of partially privatizing the state-owned telephone monopoly has started. 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: 150 (1997)
Televisions: 13.05 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 161 (1999)
@Poland:Transportation
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; 8,978 km double track) narrow gauge: 1,135 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m, 0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1998)
Highways: total: 381,046 km paved: 249,966 km (including 268 km of expressways) unpaved: 131,080 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 3,812 km of navigable rivers and canals (1996)
Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 2,280 km; natural gas 17,000 km (1996)
Ports and harbors: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin,
Swinoujscie, Ustka, Warsaw, Wroclaw
Merchant marine: total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,120,165 GRT/1,799,569 DWT ships by type: bulk 50, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 123 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 85 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 42 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
@Poland:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Force
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 10,454,717 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 8,138,723 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 336,293 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $3.2 billion (FY00)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.1% (FY00)
@Poland:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a major illegal producer of amphetamines for the global market; a minor transit point for Asian and Latin American illegal drugs to Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
PORTUGAL
@Portugal:Introduction
Background: After its peak as a world power in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status due to the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the loss of its Brazilian colony in 1822. A revolution in 1910 overthrew the monarchy; for most of the next sixty years, oppressive governments ruled the country. In 1974, a leftist military coup brought about significant democratic reforms. The next year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal joined the EC in 1985.
@Portugal:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, next to 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 water: 440 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 meters deep or to the depth of resources we can use exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in the north, warmer and drier in the south
Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in the 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, farmland, hydro power
Land use: arable land: 26% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 36% other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: Azores are prone to severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues: soil erosion; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, particularly in coastal areas
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: The Azores and Madeira Islands are located in key positions along the western sea routes to the Strait of Gibraltar.
@Portugal:People
Population: 10,048,232 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 880,501; female 834,062) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,319,143; female 3,468,009) 65 years and over: 15% (male 628,101; female 918,416) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.18% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 11.49 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 10.2 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.05 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.75 years male: 72.24 years female: 79.49 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups: a uniform Mediterranean background; citizens of Black African descent who moved to the mainland during decolonization number fewer than 100,000.
Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)
Languages: Portuguese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 87.4% male: NA% female: NA%
@Portugal:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form: República Portuguesa local short form: Portugal
Data code: PO
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Lisbon
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiões autónomas, singular - região autónoma); Aveiro, Açores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarém, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence: 1140 (independent republic declared on October 5, 1910)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, June 10 (1580)
Constitution: April 25, 1976, revised October 30, 1982, June 1, 1989, November 5, 1992, and September 3, 1997
Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since March 9, 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera GUTERRES (since October 28, 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president based on the prime minister’s recommendation note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory body to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held January 14, 1996 (next to be held in January 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is typically appointed prime minister by the president election results: Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Social Democrat) 46.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da República (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on October 10, 1999 (next to be held by NA October 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - PSP 43.9%, PSD 32.3%, CDU 9%, PP 8.3%, The Left Bloc 2.4%; seats by party - PSP 113, PSD 83, CDU 17, PP 15, The Left Bloc 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justiça, judges appointed for life by the Superior Council of the Judiciary.
Political parties and leaders: Popular Party or PP;
Portuguese Communist Party/United Democratic Coalition or PCP/CDU
; Portuguese Socialist Party or PSP [Antonio
GUTERRES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD;
The Left Bloc
International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA
(observer), MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNMOP, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joao Alberto Bacelar DA ROCKA PARIS chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-8610 FAX: (202) 462-3726 consulates general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco consulates: Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald S. MCGOWAN embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726 telephone: (21) 727-3300 FAX: (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
@Portugal:Economy
Economy - overview: Portugal is an emerging capitalist economy with a per capita GDP that is two-thirds of the four major West European economies. In 1999, it maintained strong economic growth, decreasing interest rates, and low unemployment. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and joined 10 other European nations in launching the euro on January 1, 1999. Portugal's inflation rate for 1999 was 2.4%, which was comfortably low. The country continues to experience a trade deficit and a balance of payments deficit. The government is focused on modernizing infrastructure and boosting the country's competitiveness in the increasingly integrated global markets. Growth is expected to remain stable in 2000 as Europe continues to integrate. Improvements in the education sector are crucial for the catch-up process.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $151.4 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 36% services: 60% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 4.75 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 60%, industry 30%, agriculture 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.6% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $48 billion expenditures: $52 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.4 billion (1996 est.)
Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 38.581 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 63.14% hydro: 33.46% nuclear: 0% other: 3.4% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 36.18 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 3.7 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 4 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $25 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: clothing and shoes, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper products, hides
Exports - partners: EU 82% (Germany 20%, Spain 16%, France 14%, UK 12%
Netherlands 5%, Benelux 5%, Italy), US 5% (1998)
Imports: $34.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, oil, textiles, agricultural products
Imports - partners: EU 77% (Spain 24%, Germany 15%, France 11%, Italy 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%), US, Japan (1998)
Debt - external: $13.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $271 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1 - 172.78 (January 1999), 180.10 (1998), 175.31 (1997), 154.24 (1996), 151.11 (1995) note: on January 1, 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 200.482 escudos per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Portugal:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.724 million (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 887,216 (1999)
Telephone system: domestic: generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite ground stations international: 6 submarine cables; satellite ground stations - 3 Intelsat (2 in the Atlantic Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to the Azores; note - an earth station for Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned
Radio stations: AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 36 (plus 62 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 3.31 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 20 (1999)
@Portugal:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,850 km broad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified; 426 km double track) narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (1998)
Highways: total: 68,732 km paved: 59,110 km (including 797 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,622 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 820 km navigable; not particularly important to the national economy, used by shallow-draft vessels limited to a cargo capacity of 300 metric tons or less.
Pipelines: crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km; natural gas 700 km note: the secondary lines for the natural gas pipeline that will be 300 km long have not yet been built
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: 151 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,061,202 GRT/1,601,267 DWT ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 80, chemical tanker 14, container 8, liquefied gas 8, multifunctional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 6, short-sea passenger 5, vehicle carrier 5 (1999 est.) note: Portugal has set up a special register in Madeira for Portuguese-owned ships; ships registered in Madeira (MAR) will benefit from taxation and crewing advantages similar to those of a flag of convenience (1998 est.)
Airports: 66 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 40 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)
@Portugal:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National
Republican Guard
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,534,872 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,036,712 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 74,050 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.458 billion (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY97)
@Portugal:Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs: key transit country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; transfer hub for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin.
______________________________________________________________________
PUERTO RICO
@Puerto Rico:Introduction
Background: Discovered by Columbus in 1493, the island was handed over by Spain to the US in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. A governor elected by the people has been in office since 1948. In votes held in 1967 and 1993, citizens opted to keep their commonwealth status.
@Puerto Rico:Geography
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 land: 8,959 sq km water: 145 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical marine, mild; minimal seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains, with a coastal plain in the north; mountains that drop steeply into the sea on the west coast; sandy beaches lining 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 oil both on land and offshore.
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 16% other: 49% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues: erosion; occasional drought leading to water shortages
Geography - note: important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping route to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the largest and most excellent natural harbors in the Caribbean; numerous small rivers and tall central mountains make sure the land is well-watered; the south coast is relatively dry; fertile coastal plain stretches along the north.
@Puerto Rico:People
Population: 3,915,798 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 480,100; female 457,684) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,234,065; female 1,336,848) 65 years and over: 10% (male 174,383; female 232,718) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.56% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 15.47 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.74 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.71 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.55 years male: 71.05 years female: 80.3 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups: NA
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and others 15%
Languages: Spanish, English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% (1980 est.)
@Puerto Rico:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Data code: RQ
Dependency status: commonwealth in association 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 affiliated with the US)
National holiday: US Independence Day, July 4, 1776
Constitution: ratified March 3, 1952; approved by the US Congress July 3, 1952; effective July 25, 1952
Legal system: based on the Spanish Civil Code
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal; indigenous people are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections.
Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since January 20, 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since January 20, 1993) head of government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since January 2, 1993) cabinet: N/A elections: US president and vice president are elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor is elected by popular vote for a four-year term; last election was held on November 5, 1996 (next will be on November 7, 2000) election results: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor; percent of vote - 51.1%
Legislative branch: the 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 (54 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms). Elections: Senate - last held on November 5, 1996 (next scheduled for November 7, 2000); House of Representatives - last held on November 5, 1996 (next scheduled for November 7, 2000). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1. Note: Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; elections last held on November 5, 1996 (next scheduled for November 7, 2000); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO).
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices appointed by the governor with Senate approval; Superior Courts, justices appointed by the governor with Senate approval; Municipal Courts, justices appointed by the governor with Senate approval.
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party [William
MIRANDA]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico; New
Progressive Party (PNP); Popular Democratic Party (PPD); Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Armed Forces for National
Liberation (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)
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 on the left side features a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US flag.
@Puerto Rico:Economy
Economy - overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most vibrant economies in the Caribbean. A diverse industrial sector has now overtaken agriculture as the main source of economic activity and income. Thanks to duty-free access to the US and tax incentives, US companies have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws are in effect. Sugar production has been eclipsed by dairy and other livestock products as the primary source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has always been a significant source of income for the island, with nearly 5 million tourists arriving in 1999. The outlook for 2000 is positive, provided that the tourism and construction sectors remain strong and the US economy continues to thrive.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $38.1 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.2% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,800 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 45% services: 54% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13% (FY97/98 est.)
Budget: revenues: $6.7 billion expenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00)
Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, clothing, food products; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 17.765 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.06% hydro: 1.94% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 16.521 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Exports: $34.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: drugs, electronics, clothing, canned tuna, rum, drink concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners: US 88% (1999)
Imports: $25.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Imports - partners: US 60% (1999)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: The US dollar is used
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Puerto Rico:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.196 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 171,000 (1995)
Telephone system: modern system, connected 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 18 (1999)
@Puerto Rico:Transportation
Railways: total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service
Highways: total: 14,400 km paved: 14,400 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, San
Juan
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 17,513 GRT/14,976 DWT ships by type: roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 30 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
@Puerto Rico:Military
Military branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Puerto Rico:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
QATAR
@Qatar:Introduction
Background: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy suffered due to the ongoing draining of oil revenues by the amir who had been in power since 1972. He was removed in a peaceful coup by his own son in 1995. Oil and natural gas income allows Qatar to enjoy a per capita income that is close to the top industrial nations of Western Europe.
@Qatar:Geography
Location: Middle East, peninsula next to the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 25.5° N, 51.25° E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a little smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: as defined by bilateral agreements or the median line territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sticky in summer
Terrain: mainly flat and dry desert filled with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, and sandstorms are common.
Environment - current issues: the limited availability of fresh natural water resources is leading to a greater reliance on large-scale desalination plants.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Waste, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: strategic location in the central Persian Gulf close to major oil deposits
@Qatar:People
Population: 744,483 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 99,702; female 95,960) 15-64 years: 71% (male 378,741; female 152,978) 65 years and over: 3% (male 12,120; female 4,982) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.35% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 16.07 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.19 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 21.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.48 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.43 male(s)/female total population: 1.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.14 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.37 years male: 69.92 years female: 74.94 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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 is commonly used as a second language.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.4% male: 79.2% female: 79.9% (1995 est.)
@Qatar:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Data code: QA
Government type: traditional monarchy
Capital: Doha
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Independence: September 3, 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 3, 1971
Constitution: temporary constitution put into effect on April 19, 1972
Legal system: a discretionary system of law managed by the amir, although civil codes are being put into practice; Islamic law plays an important role in personal matters.
Suffrage: voting rights are restricted to local elections
Executive branch: chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since June 27, 1995, when, as crown prince, he removed his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the third son of the monarch (appointed crown prince by the monarch on October 22, 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also serves as the 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 October 30, 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since January 20, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - in March 1999, Qatar held elections for representatives to its Central Municipal Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed) note: the constitution states that elections are supposed to be held for part of this consultative body, but no elections have taken place since 1970, when there were partial elections for the body; Council members have had their terms extended every four years since.
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 274-1600 consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE embassy: 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: 884 101 FAX: 884 150 note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday
Flag description: maroon with a wide white jagged band (nine white points) on the hoist side
@Qatar:Economy
Economy - overview: Oil makes up over 30% of GDP, about 80% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proven oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should keep output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP that's about three-fourths of the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proven natural gas reserves exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, which is over 5% of the world's total and the third largest globally. The production and export of natural gas are becoming more important. Long-term goals include developing offshore petroleum and diversifying the economy. If high oil prices persist in 2000, Qatar will achieve its highest trade surplus ever, exceeding $4 billion.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,000 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 49% services: 50% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1999)
Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $5 billion expenditures: $4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel rebar, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 6.715 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 6.245 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Exports: $6.7 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: oil products 80%, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners: Japan 50%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 9%, US, UAE (1997)
Imports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: UK 25%, France 13%, Japan 10%, US 9%, Italy 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $10 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Qatar:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 146,980 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 18,469 (1995)
Telephone system: 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: 2 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 230,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Qatar:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
Merchant marine: total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 721,756 GRT/1,132,510 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 5 (1999 est.)
Airports: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Qatar:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Homeland Security
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 306,850 note: includes non-nationals (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 160,899 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 6,471 (2000 est.)
Military spending - total amount: $816 million (FY99/00)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 8.1% (FY99/00)
@Qatar:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the territorial disagreement with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain are currently being handled by the International Court of Justice (ICJ); the June 1999 agreement has advanced the aim of clearly establishing the border with Saudi Arabia.
______________________________________________________________________
REUNION
@Reunion:Introduction
Background: The Portuguese found the uninhabited island in 1513. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration along with waves of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians contributed to the island's diverse population. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 diminished the island's significance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route.
@Reunion:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 21° 06' S, 55° 36' E
Map references: World
Area: total: 2,512 sq km land: 2,502 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 207 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical, but temperatures get cooler with higher elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April.
Terrain: mostly rough and hilly; fertile plains along the coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, farmland, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 35% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: occasional, destructive cyclones (December to April);
Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues: NA
@Reunion:People
Population: 720,934 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 119,291; female 113,741) 15-64 years: 62% (male 220,066; female 227,632) 65 years and over: 6% (male 16,336; female 23,868) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.63% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 21.84 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.55 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.05 males/females 15-64 years: 0.97 males/females 65 years and over: 0.68 males/females total population: 0.97 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.67 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.68 years male: 69.28 years female: 76.24 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.61 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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 commonly spoken
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79% male: 76% female: 80% (1982 est.)
@Reunion:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Reunion conventional short form: Reunion local long form: none local short form: Ile de la Reunion
Data code: RE
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 four districts, 24 municipalities, and 47 localities.
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Storming of the Bastille, July 14 (1789)
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since May 17, 1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996) 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 elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-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.
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (47 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); 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 - PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCR 7, UDF 8, PS 6, RPR 4, various right-wing candidates 15, various left-wing candidates 5 note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate; elections last held 14 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, PCR 2; Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCR 3, PS 1, and RPR-UDF 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; France-Reunion Future or FRA; Left Radical Movement or MRG; National Front or FN; Rally for the Republic or RPR; Socialist Party or PS; Union for France or UPF (includes RPR and UDF); Union for French Democracy or UDF 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
@Reunion:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy has typically relied on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the main crop for over a century, and in some years, it makes up 85% of exports. The government has been promoting the growth of a tourism industry to help reduce high unemployment, which exceeds 40% of the workforce. The disparity in Reunion between the wealthy and the poor is striking and leads to ongoing social tensions. The white and Indian communities are significantly better off than other parts of the population, often nearing European standards, while minority groups face poverty and unemployment similar to those in poorer African nations. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 highlights the seriousness of these socioeconomic tensions. The economic stability of Reunion relies heavily on continued financial support from France.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.4 billion (estimated 1998)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.8% (estimated for 1998)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,800 (1998 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 261,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 8%, industry 19%, services 73% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 42.8% (1998)
Budget: revenues: $1.2 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $260 million (1995)
Industries: sugar, rum, cigarettes, handmade items, flower oil extraction
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.11 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 54.05% hydro: 45.95% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.032 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn
Exports: $214.162 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% (1994)
Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, food, drinks, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
Imports - partners: France 64%, Bahrain 3%, Germany 3%, Italy 3% (1994)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - significant annual subsidies from France
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Reunion:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 236,500 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 42,000 (1998)
Telephone system: sufficient system; main hub is Saint-Denis domestic: updated 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 (1998)
Radios: 173,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 22 (plus 18 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 127,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Reunion:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,784 km paved: 2,187 km unpaved: 597 km (1987 est.)
Ports and harbors: Le Port, Pointe des Galets
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 28,264 GRT/44,885 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Reunion:Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and
Gendarmerie)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 187,423 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 95,854 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 6,037 (2000 est.)
Military - note: defense is France's responsibility.
@Reunion:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
ROMANIA
@Romania:Introduction
Background: After World War II, the Soviet occupation resulted in the establishment of a communist People's Republic in 1947 and the king's abdication. President Nicolae CEAUSESCU's rule became more oppressive throughout the 1980s. He was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists continued to lead the government until 1996, when they were ousted from power. Significant economic restructuring is still needed before Romania can fulfill its goal of joining the EU.
@Romania:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, next to the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Ukraine
Geographic coordinates: 46° N, 25° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 237,500 sq km land: 230,340 sq km water: 7,160 sq km
Area - comparative: a little 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 (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 meters depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild; cold, overcast winters with regular snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent rain showers and thunderstorms
Terrain: the central Transylvanian Basin is bordered on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and on the south by the Transylvanian Alps, which separate it from the Plain of Moldavia and the Walachian Plain, respectively.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources: oil (reserves are declining), wood, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, farmland, hydroelectric power
Land use: arable land: 41% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 29% other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 31,020 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: earthquakes are most severe in the south and southwest; the geological structure and climate promote landslides.
Environment - current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in the south from industrial waste; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, 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: controls the easiest land route to travel between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
@Romania:People
Population: 22,411,121 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 2,111,320; female 2,015,347) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,597,958; female 7,707,498) 65 years and over: 14% (male 1,237,368; female 1,741,630) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.21% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 10.76 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 12.29 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 19.84 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.93 years male: 66.1 years female: 73.99 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.35 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups: Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 7.1%, Roma 1.8%, German 0.5%,
Ukrainian 0.3%, other 0.8% (1992)
Religions: Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are
Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%
Languages: Romanian, Hungarian, German
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 95% (1992 est.)
@Romania:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania
Data code: RO
Government type: republic
Capital: Bucharest
Administrative divisions: 40 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, Maramures,
Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu,
Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence: 1881 (from Turkey; republic declared on December 30, 1947)
National holiday: National Day of Romania, December 1 (1990)
Constitution: 8 December 1991
Legal system: previously a blend of civil law and communist legal theory; now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since November 29, 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Mugur ISARESCU (since December 22, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; last election held on November 3, 1996, with a runoff between the top two candidates on November 17, 1996 (next to be held in November/December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote - Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion ILIESCU 45.6%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (143 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote based on proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (343 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote based on proportional representation to serve four-year terms). elections: Senate - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held fall 2000); Chamber of Deputies - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held fall 2000) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDR 30.7%, PDSR 23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%; seats by party - CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%, USD 12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by party - CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, ethnic minorities 15
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court of Justice, where judges are appointed by the president based on recommendations from the Superior Council of Magistrates.
Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Democratic Party of Romania (PDAR); Alliance Party for Romania (APR) [Tedor MELESCANU]; Civic Alliance Party (PAC); Democratic Party (PD); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR); Liberal Party '93 (PL-93) [Dinu PATRICIU]; National Liberal Party (PNL); National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention (PNL-CD) [Nicolae CERVENI]; National Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party (PNTCD); Party of Social Democracy in Romania (PDSR) [Ion ILIESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) (PRM) [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Romanian National Unity Party (PUNR); Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSDR); Socialist Labor Party (PSM); Socialist Party (PS); The Democratic Convention (CDR). Note: To increase their voting power, several of the aforementioned parties came together under umbrella organizations: PNTCD, PNL, and PNL-CD make up the majority of the Democratic Convention (CDR); PD and PSDR form the Union of Social Democrats (USD); and PAC and PL-93 create the National Liberal Alliance (ANL) [Nicolae MANOLESCU]; PSM, PS, ANL, and several other smaller parties failed to secure representation in the most recent election.
Political pressure groups and leaders: different human rights and professional organizations
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mircea Dan GEOANA chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851 FAX: (202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James C. ROSAPEPE embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) telephone: (1) 210 01 49, 210 40 42 FAX: (1) 210 03 95 branch office: 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 it’s similar to the flag of Chad and also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova.
@Romania:Economy
Economy - overview: After the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in 1989-91, Romania was left with an outdated industrial base and an industrial capacity that didn’t meet its needs. In February 1997, Romania started a comprehensive program for macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform, but the reform process has been frustrating and inconsistent. Restructuring programs included shutting down large, energy-intensive industries and major reforms in the agricultural and financial sectors. In 1999, Romania's economy shrank for the third consecutive year, by an estimated 4.8%. Romania reached an agreement with the IMF in August for a $547 million loan, but the release of the second tranche was pushed back in October due to unresolved requirements for private sector lending and disagreements over budget spending. Bucharest managed to avoid defaulting on mid-year lump-sum debt payments but had to significantly deplete reserves to do so; reserves bounced back to an estimated $1.5 billion by the end of 1999. The government's priorities include: securing renewed IMF lending, tightening fiscal policy, speeding up privatization, and restructuring unprofitable firms. In December 1999, the EU invited Romania to start accession negotiations.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $87.4 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -4.8% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,900 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 51% services: 26% (1997)
Population below the poverty line: 21.5% (1994 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 44% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 9.6 million (1998 estimate)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 36.5%, industry 34.4%, services 29.1% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 11% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $11.2 billion expenditures: $12.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, machinery manufacturing, food processing, and oil production and refining
Industrial production growth rate: -8.7% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 52.495 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59% hydro: 31.67% nuclear: 9.33% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 49.552 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 537 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 1.269 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, potatoes, grapes; milk, eggs, beef
Exports: $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: textiles and footwear 33.4%, metals and metal products 19.1%, machinery and equipment 9.5%, minerals and fuels 6.1% (1998)
Exports - partners: Italy 22%, Germany 19.6%, France 5.9%, US 3.8% (1998)
Imports: $9.6 billion (free on board, 1999 estimate)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and minerals 14.2%, chemicals 8.7%, textiles and footwear 17.1% (1998)
Imports - partners: Germany 17.5%, Italy 17.4%, France 6.9%, US 4.2% (1998)
Debt - external: $9 billion (estimated in 1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $510.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 leu (L) = 100 bani
Exchange rates: lei (L) per US$1 - 17,996.4 (December 1999), 15,332.8 (1999), 8,875.6 (1998), 7,167.9 (1997), 3,084.2 (1996), 2,033.3 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Romania:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 3.84 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 52,000 (1999)
Telephone system: domestic: poor service; 90% of the telephone network is automated; the trunk network mainly uses microwave radio relay, with some fiber-optic cable; about one-third of exchange capacity is digital; approximately 3,300 villages lack service. international: 1 Intelsat satellite earth station; new digital international direct-dial exchanges are operational in Bucharest; note - Romania actively participates in several international telecommunications network projects (1999)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 7.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 130 (plus around 400 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 5.25 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 30 (1999)
@Romania:Transportation
Railways: total: 11,385 km (3,888 km electrified) standard gauge: 10,898 km narrow gauge: 487 km (1996)
Highways: total: 153,359 km paved: 103,671 km (including 133 km of expressways) unpaved: 49,688 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 1,724 km (1984)
Pipelines: crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km; natural gas 6,400 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea
Merchant marine: total: 142 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,154,127 GRT/1,612,314 DWT ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 110, container 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, rail car carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off 6, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 62 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 37 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 23 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Romania:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Forces,
Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 5,899,912 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 4,960,011 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 190,083 (2000 est.)
Military spending - total amount: $650 million (FY96)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY96)
@Romania:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: dispute with Ukraine over the continental shelf of the Black Sea, where significant gas and oil deposits may be found; agreed in 1997 to a two-year negotiation period, after which either party can refer the dispute to the ICJ.
Illicit drugs: a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin passing through the Balkan route and small quantities of Latin American cocaine heading to Western Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
RUSSIA COUNTRY FLAG OF RUSSIA
______________________________________________________________________
RWANDA
@Rwanda:Introduction
Background: In 1959, three years before independence, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next few years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and around 150,000 were forced into exile in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with various political and economic upheavals, worsened ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994 in a genocide during which about 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and put an end to the genocide in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees—many fearing Tutsi retaliation—fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC). Since then, most of the refugees have returned. Despite significant international assistance and political reforms—including Rwanda's first-ever local elections held in March 1999—the country continues to struggle to increase investment and agricultural output and to promote reconciliation. A series of large population displacements, a persistent Hutu extremist insurgency, and Rwandan involvement in two wars over the past four years in the neighboring DROC continue to obstruct Rwanda's efforts.
@Rwanda:Geography
Location: Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 2° S, 30° E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 26,338 sq km land: 24,948 sq km water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 the mountains, with frost and snow possible.
Terrain: mostly grassy uplands and hills; the land is mountainous with elevation dropping 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, farmable land
Land use: arable land: 35% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 22% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional droughts; the volcanic Birunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Environment - current issues: deforestation is caused by uncontrolled tree cutting for fuel; overgrazing; soil depletion; soil erosion; extensive poaching.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: surrounded by land; mainly rural population
@Rwanda:People
Population: 7,229,129 note: estimates for this country explicitly consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 1,558,730; female 1,548,175) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,943,268; female 1,971,542) 65 years and over: 3% (male 83,699; female 123,715) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.14% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 34.78 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 20.95 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 120.06 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.34 years male: 38.58 years female: 40.13 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.07 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic groups: Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%, indigenous beliefs and others 25%
Languages: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu language, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in business areas
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 60.5% male: 69.8% female: 51.6% (1995 est.)
@Rwanda:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Rwandese Republic conventional short form: Rwanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda local short form: Rwanda
Data code: RW
Government type: republic; presidential, multiparty system
Capital: Kigali
Administrative divisions: 12 prefectures (in French - préfectures, singular - préfecture; in Kinyarwanda - plural - NA, singular -_prefegitura); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri
Independence: July 1, 1962 (from Belgium-controlled UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 1 (1962); Liberation Day, July 4 (1994)
Constitution: on May 5, 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted a new constitution that included parts of the constitution from June 18, 1991, as well as provisions from the 1993 Arusha peace agreement and the multiparty protocol of understanding from November 1994.
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 old; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (FPR) (since April 22, 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since March 8, 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: typically, the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; a special election for a new president by deputies of the National Assembly and government ministers was held on April 17, 2000 (the next regular election is scheduled for 2002); the prime minister is appointed by the president election results: Paul KAGAME was elected president in a special parliamentary vote, receiving 81 out of a possible 86 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale de Transition (a power-sharing body with 70 seats established on December 12, 1994, following a multiparty protocol of understanding; members were predetermined by the Arusha peace accord) elections: the last national legislative elections were held on December 16, 1988, for the National Development Council (the legislature before the Transitional National Assembly); no elections have been held for the Transitional National Assembly since the distribution of seats was predetermined by the Arusha peace accord election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FPR 13, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, RPA 6, PSR 2, PDI 2, other 2; note - the distribution of seats was predetermined
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, includes the Court of
Cassation and the Council of State in joint session
Political parties and leaders: Centrist Democratic Party or PDC; Democratic and Socialist Party or PSD; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR [Pierre Celestin RWIGEMA, chairman]; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI; Liberal Party or PL; National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development or MRNDD (formerly known as the National Movement for Democracy and Development or MRND); Rwanda Patriotic Army or RPA; Rwandan Patriotic Front or FPR; Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR.
Political pressure groups and leaders: IBUKA - association of genocide survivors
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC,
CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard SEZIBERA chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 232-2882 FAX: (202) 232-4544
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George M. STAPLES embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: 756 01 to 03, 721 26, 771 47 FAX: 721 28
Flag description: three equal vertical stripes of red (on the hoist side), yellow, and green, with a large black letter R in the center of the yellow stripe; it features the well-known pan-African colors of Ethiopia and resembles the flag of Guinea, which has a solid yellow stripe.
@Rwanda:Economy
Economy - overview: Rwanda is primarily a rural country, with around 90% of the population involved in mostly subsistence agriculture. It is the most densely populated nation in Africa, is landlocked, and has limited natural resources and very little industry. The main exports are coffee and tea. The 1994 genocide severely damaged Rwanda's fragile economy, left the population, especially women, in deep poverty, and weakened the country’s ability to attract private and foreign investment. However, Rwanda has made noticeable strides in stabilizing and rebuilding its economy. GDP has recovered, and inflation has been managed. In June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) with the IMF. The country has also started an ambitious privatization program in partnership with the World Bank. Continued growth in 2000 relies on maintaining levels of international aid and improving global prices for coffee and tea.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.3% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $720 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 44% industry: 20% services: 36% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 51.2% (1993 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 24.2% (1983-85)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1998)
Labor force: 3.6 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 90%, government and services, industry and commerce
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $202 million expenditures: $361 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: cement, farm products, small-scale drinks, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic items, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate: 8.7% (1998 estimate)
Electricity - production: 159 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.52% hydro: 97.48% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 165 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 3 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 20 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Exports: $70.8 million (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: coffee, tea, animal hides, tin ore
Exports - partners: Brazil, Germany, Belgium, Pakistan, Spain, Kenya
Imports: $242 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: food, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement, and construction materials
Imports - partners: Kenya, Tanzania, US, Benelux, France
Debt - external: $1.2 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $591.5 million (1997); note - in the summer of 1998, Rwanda shared its policy goals and development priorities with donor governments, leading to multiyear commitments totaling $250 million.
Currency: 1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1 - 349.53 (January 2000), 333.94 (1999), 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997), 306.82 (1996), 262.20 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Rwanda:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 15,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: the telephone system mainly serves businesses and government. Domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay; the rest of the network relies on wire and HF radiotelephone. International: international connections use microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; there is one Intelsat satellite earth station (Indian Ocean) in Kigali, which includes telex and telefax service.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 601,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA; likely under 1,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Rwanda:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 12,000 km paved: 1,000 km unpaved: 11,000 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: Lake Kivu can be navigated by shallow-draft barges and local boats.
Ports and harbors: Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
Airports: 8 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
@Rwanda:Military
Military branches: Army, Gendarmerie, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,774,459 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 902,970 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $92 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 3.8% (FY99)
@Rwanda:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Rwandan military forces are backing the rebel forces in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
______________________________________________________________________
SAINT HELENA
@Saint Helena:Introduction
Background: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, the island was occupied by the British during the 17th century. It became well-known as the location of Napoleon Bonaparte's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821.
@Saint Helena:Geography
Location: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, roughly halfway between
South America and Africa
Geographic coordinates: 15° 56' S, 5° 42' W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 410 sq km land: 410 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha Island
Area - comparative: slightly more than two times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 60 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild, moderated by trade winds; Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine, mild, moderated by trade winds (usually cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain: Saint Helena - rough, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains note: the other islands in 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: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 6% other: 82% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Tristan da Cunha
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: has at least 40 species of plants that can't be found anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a nesting area for sea turtles and sooty terns.
@Saint Helena:People
Population: 7,212 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 705; female 691) 15-64 years: 72% (male 2,691; female 2,472) 65 years and over: 9% (male 274; female 379) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.76% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 13.73 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23.23 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.83 years male: 73.95 years female: 79.85 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian
Ethnic groups: African descent, white
Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman
Catholic
Languages: English
Literacy: definition: age 20 and older can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 98% (1987 est.)
@Saint Helena:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena
Data code: SH
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: Celebration of the Queen's Birthday (second
Saturday in June)
Constitution: 1 January 1989
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA years of age
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952) head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David HOLLAMBY (since NA June 1999) cabinet: Executive Council includes the governor, two ex officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch inherits the position; the governor is appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (15 seats, including the speaker, 3 ex officio members, and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote for four-year terms) elections: last held on July 9, 1997 (next to be held in July 2001) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties 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 UK flag in the upper left corner and the Saint Helenian shield in the center of the outer half of the flag; the shield shows a rocky coastline and a three-masted sailing ship.
@Saint Helena:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy relies heavily on financial support from the UK, which was around $5 million in 1998. The local community makes money through fishing, livestock farming, and selling handicrafts. Since there are limited job opportunities, many workers have left to find jobs abroad.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $13.9 million (FY94/95 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (FY94/95 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: 2,416 (1991 est.) note: a significant number of workers have left to find jobs abroad
Labor force - by occupation: farmers and fishermen 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%, services 46% (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate: 18% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $11.2 million expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)
Industries: construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, intricate woodwork), fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 6 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 6 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, potatoes, vegetables; wood; 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: South Africa, UK
Imports: $14.434 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports - commodities: food, drinks, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, construction materials, cars and parts, machinery and parts
Imports - partners: UK, South Africa
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from the UK (1997)
Currency: 1 Saint Helenian pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 6.180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6047 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995); note - the Saint Helenian pound is equal to the British pound.
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Saint Helena:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 2,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone system: domestic: automatic network; HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to Ascension, then into global submarine cable and satellite networks international: major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and the UK at Ascension; 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 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Communications - note: Gough Island has a weather station
@Saint Helena:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA km) paved: 180.7 km (Saint Helena 98 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha 2.70 km) unpaved: NA km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA km)
Ports and harbors: Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Saint Helena:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Saint Helena:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Introduction
Background: First settled by the British in 1623, the islands, along with Anguilla, became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. St. Kitts and Nevis gained independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from St. Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority required.
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Geography
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) land: 261 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 135 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin territorial sea: 12 nautical miles contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles
Climate: tropical, moderated by steady sea breezes; minimal seasonal temperature changes; rainy season from 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: 22% permanent crops: 17% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 17% other: 41% (1993 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
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:People
Population: 38,819 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 5,999; female 5,746) 15-64 years: 61% (male 11,770; female 11,838) 65 years and over: 9% (male 1,431; female 2,035) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.22% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 19.06 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.38 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -11.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 0.99 males/females 65 years and over: 0.7 males/females total population: 0.98 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.72 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.73 years male: 67.95 years female: 73.68 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups: mostly Black, with 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.)
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Government
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
Data code: SC
Government type: constitutional monarchy with a 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 Capisterre, Saint John
Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul
Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint
Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence: September 19, 1983 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 19 (1983)
Constitution: 19 September 1983
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since January 1, 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since July 6, 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since July 6, 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister 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
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 elected by the public from single-member districts; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on July 3, 1995 (next to be held by July 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats by party - SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint
Lucia), one Supreme Court judge is based in Saint Kitts
Political parties and leaders: Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM)
; Nevis Reformation Party (NRP); People's
Action Movement (PAM); Saint Kitts and Nevis
Labor Party (SKNLP)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Osbert W. LIBURD chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 686-2636 FAX: (202) 686-5740
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador in Barbados is assigned to Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower left side by a wide black band featuring two white, five-pointed stars; the black band has a yellow edge; the upper triangle is green, and the lower triangle is red.
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy has traditionally relied on growing and processing sugarcane; falling global prices have negatively impacted the industry in recent years. Tourism, export-focused manufacturing, and offshore banking have become more significant. Most food is imported. The government has launched a program aimed at revitalizing the struggling sugar sector. It is also working to improve revenue collection to better fund social programs. In 1997, some leaders in Nevis were advocating for separation from Saint Kitts, arguing that Nevis was paying much more in taxes than it received in government services, but the vote on separation failed in August 1998. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused about $445 million in damages and hindered GDP growth for the year.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $244 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1998 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 22.5% services: 72% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (estimated in 1998)
Labor force: 18,172 (June 1995)
Labor force - by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $64.1 million expenditures: $73.3 million, including capital expenditures of $10.4 million (1997 est.)
Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, coconut products, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 85 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity consumption: 79 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Exports: $42 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners: US 68.5%, UK 22.3%, Caricom countries 5.5% (1995 est.)
Imports: $160 million (1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery, manufactured goods, food, fuels
Imports - partners: US 42.4%, Caricom countries 17.2%, UK 11.3% (1995 est.)
Debt - external: $62 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $5.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 14,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: reliable interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone connections and international links through Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles). Domestic: interisland connections are managed by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone. International: international calls are transmitted by radiotelephone to Antigua and Barbuda, where they are then switched to a submarine cable or to Intelsat, or sent to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) via radiotelephone and then 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Transportation
Railways: total: 58 km narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to support sugarcane plantations (1995)
Highways: total: 320 km paved: 136 km unpaved: 184 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Basseterre, Charlestown
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast
Guard, Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for South American drugs heading to the US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
SAINT LUCIA
@Saint Lucia:Introduction
Background: The island, with its great natural harbor at Castries, was fought over by England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing hands 14 times); it was finally given to the UK in 1814. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
@Saint Lucia:Geography
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: 620 sq km land: 610 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 158 km
Maritime claims: 200 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, influenced by the northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August.
Terrain: volcanic and hilly with some wide, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, pumice, mineral springs, geothermal energy potential
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 21% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 13% other: 53% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural disasters: hurricanes and volcanic eruptions
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion, especially 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
@Saint Lucia:People
Population: 156,260 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 26,087; female 25,159) 15-64 years: 62% (male 47,420; female 49,290) 65 years and over: 5% (male 3,113; female 5,191) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.21% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 22.19 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.43 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -4.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 0.96 males/females 65 years and over: 0.6 males/females total population: 0.96 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.64 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.31 years male: 68.74 years female: 76.14 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups: Black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and older have ever attended school total population: 67% male: 65% female: 69% (1980 est.)
@Saint Lucia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Data code: ST
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: February 22, 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, February 22, 1979
Constitution: 22 February 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth ANTHONY (since May 24, 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since May 24, 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister 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
Legislative branch: The Parliament is bicameral and consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the prime minister's advice, three on the leader of the opposition's advice, and two after consulting 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). Elections: House of Assembly - last held on May 23, 1997 (next to be held NA 2002). Election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SLP 16, UWP 1.
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction covers
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 Freedom Party or NFP [Martinus
FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP; United
Workers Party or UWP
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP, C,
Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, ISO (subscriber), 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: (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: (202) 364-6728 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador in Barbados is also responsible for Saint Lucia.
Flag description: blue, with a gold triangle below a black arrowhead; the top edges of the arrowhead have a white border.
@Saint Lucia:Economy
Economy - overview: The recent changes in the EU import preference system and the rise in competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification more important than ever in Saint Lucia. Improvements in the construction sector and growth in the tourism industry helped boost GDP in 1998-99. The agriculture sector experienced its fifth year of decline in 1997 mainly due to a significant drop in banana production. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean, and the government is starting to create regulations for the small offshore financial sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $656 million (estimated in 1998)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10.7% industry: 32.3% services: 57% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1998 estimate)
Labor force: 43,800
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $141.2 million expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of $25.1 million (FY97/98 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: 110 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 102 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus fruits, root crops, cocoa
Exports: $75 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: bananas 41%, apparel, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners: UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995)
Imports: $290 million (1998)
Imports - commodities: food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan 5%,
Canada 4% (1995)
Debt - external: $135 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $51.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Saint Lucia:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 31,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,000 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: the 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 (two are commercial stations and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)
Televisions: 32,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Saint Lucia:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,210 km paved: 63 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Castries, Vieux Fort
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Saint Lucia:Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $5 million (FY91/92)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY91/92)
@Saint Lucia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a transit point for South American drugs heading to the
US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Introduction
Background: First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands are the only remaining trace of France's once extensive North American holdings.
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Geography
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 land: 242 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: cold and wet, with a lot of mist and fog; spring and fall 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% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 4% other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: constant fog all year round can be a risk for maritime activities
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: vegetation scanty
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:People
Population: 6,896 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.19% (male 924; female 882) 15-64 years: 64.01% (male 2,254; female 2,160) 65 years and over: 9.8% (male 286; female 390) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.49% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 16.53 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.67 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 males/females under 15 years: 1.05 males/females 15-64 years: 1.04 males/females 65 years and over: 0.73 males/females total population: 1.01 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.61 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.6 years male: 75.36 years female: 79.95 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.14 children per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Frenchman (men), Frenchwoman (women) adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%
Languages: French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1982 est.)
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Data code: SB
Dependency status: self-governing territorial community of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France) note: there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by the US Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under
French control since 1763)
National holiday: National Day, Storming of the Bastille, July 14 (1789)
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law with specific adjustments for local conditions, like housing and taxes.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since May 17, 1995), represented by Prefect Remi THUAU (since NA) head of government: President of the General Council Bernard LE SOAVEC (since NA 1996) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; 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
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 on March 20, 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 15, other 4 note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elects 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 May 25 - June 1, 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDF 1
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Appeals or Superior Tribunal d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR
; Socialist Party or PS ; Union pour la
Democratie Francaise or UDF
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 sits on a dark blue background with a black wave line beneath the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is split into three sections: the top section is red with a green diagonal cross reaching the corners, overlaid by a white cross that divides the square into four parts; the middle section has a white background with an ermine pattern; the bottom section features a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one atop the other; the flag of France is used for official events.
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Economy
Economy - overview: The residents have traditionally supported themselves through fishing and by providing services to fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. However, the economy has been declining due to disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decrease in the number of ships visiting Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration panel granted the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to resolve a long-standing territorial dispute with Canada, although this is only 25% of what France had aimed for. The islands receive significant subsidies from France, greatly improving living standards. The government hopes that an increase in tourism will enhance economic prospects.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $74 million (1996 est.); supported by yearly payments from France of around $65 million.
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 spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (average from 1991 to 1996)
Labor force: 3,000 (1997)
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 support for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 40 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 37 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports: $5 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products, shellfish and crustaceans, fox and mink fur
Exports - partners: USA, France, UK, Canada, Portugal
Imports: $66 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports - goods: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials
Imports - partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: around $65 million in yearly grants from France
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.98673 (January 2000), 0.93863 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 4,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone system: 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 that rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
Televisions: 4,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 114 km paved: 69 km unpaved: 45 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: Saint Pierre
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Introduction
Background: Disputed between France and Great Britain in the 18th century, Saint Vincent was given to Britain in 1783. Autonomy was granted in 1969, and independence in 1979.
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13.25° N, 61.20° W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) land: 389 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; minimal seasonal temperature change; 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% permanent crops: 18% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 36% other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: hurricanes; the Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint
Vincent is an ongoing threat.
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by recreational boats and other waste; in some areas, the pollution is so bad that swimming is not allowed.
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 management of the Grenadines islands is split between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:People
Population: 115,461 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 17,868; female 17,263) 15-64 years: 63% (male 37,377; female 35,623) 65 years and over: 7% (male 3,144; female 4,186) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.43% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 18.25 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.21 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -7.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.06 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.3 years male: 70.6 years female: 74.06 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.11 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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%
Religions: Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Hindu, other Protestant
Languages: English, French patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older has ever gone to school total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96% (1970 est.)
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Data code: VC
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: October 27, 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, October 27 (1979)
Constitution: 27 October 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Charles ANTROBUS (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since July 30, 1984) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is typically appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives are chosen through popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on June 15, 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 8, ULP 7
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia), with one judge of the Supreme Court based in Saint Vincent.
Political parties and leaders: National Reform Party (NRP) [Joel MIGUEL]; New Democratic Party (NDP); Progressive Labor Party (PLP); United People's Movement (UPM); Unity Labor Party (ULP) (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party (SVLP) and the Movement for National Unity (MNU)).
International organization involvement: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), 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 Kingsley C. A. LAYNE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 364-6730 FAX: (202) 364-6736
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn’t have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador in Barbados is assigned to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band has three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern.
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Economy
Economy - overview: Agriculture, mainly focused on banana production, is the most important part of this lower-middle-income economy. The services sector, largely driven by a growing tourism industry, is also significant. The government has struggled to introduce new industries, and the unemployment rate remains high at 22%. The ongoing reliance on a single crop is the biggest barrier to the islands' development; tropical storms devastated large portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism sector has considerable potential for growth over the next decade. Recent expansion has been fueled by strong activity in the construction industry and improvements in tourism. There is a small manufacturing sector and a limited offshore financial sector, with strict confidentiality laws that have raised some international concern.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $309 million (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,600 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10.6% industry: 17.5% services: 71.9% (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% (1999 estimated)
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: $85.7 million expenditures: $98.6 million, including capital expenditures of $25.7 million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 64 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 67.19% hydro: 32.81% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 60 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; a small number of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Exports: $47.8 million (1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis rackets
Exports - partners: Caricom countries 49%, UK 16%, US 10% (1995)
Imports: $180 million (1998 est.)
Imports - goods: food, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports - partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 28%, UK 13% (1995)
Debt - external: $83.6 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $47.5 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (1998)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 20,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 83 (1993)
Telephone system: domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone connecting Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone connecting Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique via 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,040 km paved: 320 km unpaved: 720 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Kingstown
Merchant marine: total: 825 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 7,253,092 GRT/10,894,566 DWT. Ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 142, cargo 400, chemical tanker 31, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 5, container 47, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 5, multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 60, refrigerated cargo 41, roll-on/roll-off 51, short-sea passenger 12, specialized tanker 8, vehicle carrier 1 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20 countries, among which are Croatia 17, Slovenia 7, China 5, Greece 5, UAE 3, Norway 2, Japan 2, and Ukraine 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (which includes the Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for South American drugs headed to the US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
SAMOA COUNTRY FLAG OF SAMOA
______________________________________________________________________
SAN MARINO
@San Marino:Introduction
Background: The world's third smallest state also claims to be the world's oldest republic, founded by Saint Marinus (after whom the country is named) in 301 A.D. San Marino's foreign policy lines up with Italy's. Social and political trends in the republic also closely follow those of its larger neighbor.
@San Marino:Geography
Location: Southern Europe, a region in central Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43° 46' N, 12° 25' E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 60.5 sq km land: 60.5 sq km water: 0 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 749 m
Natural resources: building stone
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 83% (1993 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 Vatican City and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines.
@San Marino:People
Population: 26,937 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 2,181; female 2,038) 15-64 years: 68% (male 8,992; female 9,425) 65 years and over: 16% (male 1,849; female 2,452) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.49% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 10.88 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.65 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 11.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.33 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.14 years male: 77.57 years female: 85.02 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.29 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural) adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups: Sammarinese, Italian
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian
Literacy: definition: ages 10 and up can read and write total population: 96% male: 97% female: 95% (1976 est.)
@San Marino:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of San Marino conventional short form: San Marino local long form: Repubblica di San Marino local short form: San Marino
Data code: SM
Government type: republic
Capital: San Marino
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
Independence: 301 (by tradition)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic, 3
September (301)
Constitution: October 8, 1600; the electoral law of 1926 fulfills certain functions of a constitution.
Legal system: based on a civil law system influenced by Italian law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: cochiefs of state Captain Regent Loris FRANCINI and Captain Regent Alberto CECCHETTI (for the period April 1, 1999 - September 30, 1999) head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986) cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term elections: cochiefs of state (captain regents) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; last held NA September 1999 (next to be held NA March 2000); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; last held NA June 1998 (next to be held NA June 2003) election results: Loris FRANCINI and Alberto CECCETTI elected captain regents; percent of legislative vote - NA; Gabriele GATTI reelected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA 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 ten other members, all selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are three secretaries of state - Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance - and several additional secretaries; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has taken on many of the responsibilities of a prime minister.
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 on May 31, 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - PDCS 40.8%, PSS 23.3%, PPDS 18.6%, APDS 9.8%, RC 3.3%, SR 4.2%; seats by party - PDCS 25, PSS 14, PPDS 11, APDS 6, RC 2, SR 2
Judicial branch: Council of Twelve or Council of Twelve
Political parties and leaders: Communist Refoundation or RC [Giuseppe
AMICHI]; Democratic Movement or MD; San Marino
Christian Democratic Party or PDCS [Cesare Antonio GASPERONI,
secretary general]; San Marino Popular Democratic Party or APDS
; San Marino Progressive Democratic Party or PPDS
; San Marino Socialist Party or PSS
; Socialists for Reform or SR
International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, 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.
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is assigned to San Marino.
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms placed in the center; the coat of arms includes a shield (showing three towers on three peaks) surrounded by a wreath, beneath a crown and above a scroll that says LIBERTAS (Liberty)
@San Marino:Economy
Economy - overview: The tourism sector makes up over 50% of GDP. In 1997, more than 3.3 million tourists visited San Marino. The main industries are banking, clothing, electronics, and ceramics. The primary agricultural products are wine and cheese. The per capita output and standard of living are similar to those of Italy, which provides a lot of its food.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $500 million (estimated in 1997)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $20,000 (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1997)
Labor force: 15,600 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: services 60%, industry 38%, agriculture 2% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (April 1996)
Budget: revenues: $320 million expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $26 million (1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: N/A kWh note: electricity provided by Italy
Agriculture - products: wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides
Exports: trade data is included with the statistics for Italy
Exports - products: construction stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, leather, ceramics
Imports: trade data are included with the stats for Italy
Imports - commodities: a wide range of consumer products, food
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi; note - also mints its own coins
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,668.7 (January 1998), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@San Marino:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 18,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3,010 (1998)
Telephone system: domestic: fully automated telephone system seamlessly integrated into the Italian system international: microwave radio relay and cable connections to the Italian network; no satellite ground stations
Radio stations: AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 16,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (Residents of San Marino also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)
Televisions: 9,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@San Marino:Transportation
Railways: 0 km; note - there is a 1.5 km cable car connecting the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore
Highways: total: 220 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
@San Marino:Military
Military branches: Volunteer Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agency
Military expenses - total amount: $700,000 (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@San Marino:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
@Sao Tome and Principe:Introduction
Background: Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' economy based on sugar transitioned to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century—all produced with plantation slave labor, which continued into the 20th century. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms didn't happen until the late 1980s. The first free elections took place in 1991.
@Sao Tome and Principe:Geography
Location: Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, located on the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1.00 N, 7.00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,001 sq km land: 1,001 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: over five times larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 209 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; hot and 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: 36% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and depletion
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Sao Tome and Principe:People
Population: 159,883 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 38,588; female 37,624) 15-64 years: 48% (male 37,216; female 39,959) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,961; female 3,535) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.16% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 42.98 births per 1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 7.76 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1.03 males/females 15-64 years: 0.93 males/females 65 years and over: 0.84 males/females total population: 0.97 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 50.41 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.25 years male: 63.84 years female: 66.7 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.08 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups: mestizos, 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 (mainly Portuguese)
Religions: Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant,
Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Portuguese (official)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 73% male: 85% female: 62% (1991 est.)
@Sao Tome and Principe:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Data code: TP
Government type: republic
Capital: Sao Tome
Administrative divisions: 2 provinces; Príncipe, São Tomé note: Príncipe has had self-government since April 29, 1995
Independence: July 12, 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 12, 1975
Constitution: approved March 1990; effective September 10, 1990
Legal system: based on the Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since April 4, 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since December 30, 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president based on the prime minister's proposal elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on June 30 and July 21, 1996 (next to be held in July 2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president election results: Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - Miguel TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on November 8, 1998 (next to be held in November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD 14.5%, ADI 29%; seats by party - MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National
Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Front or FDC
; Democratic Opposition Coalition or CODO [leader
NA]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI; Movement for
the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or
MLSTP-PSD; Party for Democratic Convergence or
PCD; other small parties
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Sao Tome and Principe doesn't have an embassy in the US, but it does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, led by First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, phone (212) 317-0533.
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is assigned to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes regular visits to the islands.
Flag description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (twice the width), and green, featuring two black five-pointed stars positioned side by side in the center of the yellow band, along with a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side; incorporates the well-known pan-African colors of Ethiopia.
@Sao Tome and Principe:Economy
Economy - overview: This small, struggling island economy has become increasingly reliant on cocoa since gaining independence 25 years ago. However, cocoa production has significantly declined due to drought and poor management. The resulting cocoa export shortage has led to a constant balance-of-payments issue. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a large amount of food. Over the years, it has been unable to manage its external debt and has had to rely on concessional aid and debt restructuring. There's a lot of potential for developing a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to improve facilities in recent years. The government has also tried to reduce price controls and subsidies, but economic growth has remained slow. Sao Tome is also hopeful that significant oil discoveries are on the horizon in its territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to undermine the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $169 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 19% services: 58% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.5% (estimated year-end 1999)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: population mainly involved in subsistence farming and fishing note: shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate: 50% in the formal business sector (1998 estimate)
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: 15 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 46.67% hydro: 53.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 14 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Exports: $4.9 million (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1997)
Exports - partners: Netherlands 51%, Germany 6%, Portugal 6% (1997)
Imports: $19.5 million (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Imports - goods: machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners: Portugal 26%, France 18%, Angola, Belgium, Japan (1997)
Debt - external: $274 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $57.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 dobra (Db) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1 - 7,200.0 (October 1999), 7,104.05 (1998), 4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996), 1,420.3 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Sao Tome and Principe:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 38,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 23,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Sao Tome and Principe:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Merchant marine: total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 43,587 GRT/34,802 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, container 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Sao Tome and Principe:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Security Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 32,933 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 17,391 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1 million (FY94)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY94)
@Sao Tome and Principe:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SAUDI ARABIA
@Saudi Arabia:Introduction
Background: In 1902, Abdul al-Aziz Ibn SAUD took control of Riyadh and began a 30-year effort to unify the Arabian Peninsula. In the 1930s, the discovery of oil changed the country dramatically. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia welcomed the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while permitting Western and Arab troops to be stationed in the country for the liberation of Kuwait the next year. A growing population, depletion of aquifers, and an economy heavily reliant on oil production and prices are significant concerns for the government.
@Saudi Arabia:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to 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 land: 1,960,582 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a little more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries: total: 4,415 km border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 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: tough, arid desert with significant temperature extremes
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 1% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: common sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the absence of year-round rivers or permanent water sources has led to the creation of large seawater desalination plants; coastal pollution from oil spills.
Environment - international agreements: party to: 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: long coastlines along the Persian Gulf and Red Sea give significant advantage for shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal.
@Saudi Arabia:People
Population: 22,023,506 note: includes 5,360,526 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 4,781,695; female 4,607,038) 15-64 years: 55% (male 7,093,567; female 4,969,848) 65 years and over: 2% (male 309,638; female 261,720) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.28% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 37.47 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.02 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.43 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.18 male(s)/female total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.9 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.77 years male: 66.11 years female: 69.51 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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 older can read and write total population: 62.8% male: 71.5% female: 50.2% (1995 est.)
@Saudi Arabia:Government
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
Data code: SA
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)
National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, September 23 (1932)
Constitution: governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that outlines the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes are 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 June 13, 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (the king's half-brother, heir to the throne since June 13, 1982, regent from January 1 to February 22, 1996); note - the monarch serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since June 13, 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (the king's half-brother, heir to the throne since June 13, 1982, regent from January 1 to February 22, 1996); note - the monarch serves as both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: The Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes several royal family members elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: a consultative council (90 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders: not allowed
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,
BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
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 telephone: (202) 342-3800 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr. 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: (1) 488-3800 FAX: (1) 488-7360 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (which can be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points towards the flagpole); green is the traditional color of Islam.
@Saudi Arabia:Economy
Economy - overview: This is an oil-based economy with significant government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia holds the largest petroleum reserves in the world (26% of the confirmed total), is the top exporter of petroleum, and plays a key role in OPEC. The petroleum sector makes up about 75% of budget revenues, 40% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Around 35% of GDP comes from the private sector. Approximately 4 million foreign workers are crucial to the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors. Saudi Arabia was instrumental in the successful efforts of OPEC and other oil-producing countries to elevate oil prices in 1999 to their highest level since the Gulf War by cutting production. While oil prices are expected to stay relatively high in 2000, Riyadh anticipates a $7.5 billion budget deficit partly due to increased spending on education and other social issues. In 1999, the government announced plans to start privatizing the electricity companies, following the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is expected to continue promoting private sector growth to reduce the kingdom's reliance on oil and increase job opportunities for the growing Saudi population. Water shortages and rapid population growth will limit government efforts to boost self-sufficiency in agricultural products.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $191 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.6% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 47% services: 47% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.2% (1999)
Labor force: 7 million note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $41.9 billion expenditures: $49.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: crude oil production, oil refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 110.132 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 102.423 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; lamb, chickens, eggs, milk
Exports: $48 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: oil and oil products 90%
Exports - partners: Japan 17%, US 15%, South Korea 11%, Singapore 8%,
India 4%, France 4% (1998)
Imports: $28 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - goods: machinery and equipment, food, chemicals, cars, textiles
Imports - partners: US 21%, UK 9%, Japan 9%, Germany 6%, France 5%,
Italy 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $28 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to support the reconstruction of Lebanon; since 1993, Saudi Arabia has committed $208 million for aid to the Palestinians.
Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate since
June 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Saudi Arabia:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 3.1 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1 million note: in 1998, the government contracted for the installation of 575,000 more Group Speciale Mobile (GSM) cellular telephone lines over 15 months to increase the total number of subscribers to over one million; Riyadh planned to further expand the GSM system in 1999 by adding another one million lines (1998)
Telephone system: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial 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 in the Atlantic Ocean and 2 in the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999)
@Saudi Arabia:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,390 km standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
Highways: total: 146,524 km paved: 44,104 km unpaved: 102,420 km (1997 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 4,000 miles; petroleum products 93 miles; natural gas 1,367 miles (includes natural gas liquids 994 miles)
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: 70 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,071,003 GRT/1,388,802 DWT ships by type: cargo 12, chemical tanker 7, container 5, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off 12, short-sea passenger 8 (1999 est.)
Airports: 205 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 72 over 3,047 m: 31 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 133 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 77 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 13 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1999 est.)
@Saudi Arabia:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense
Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military personnel - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 5,786,089 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,225,809 (2000 est.)
Military personnel - reaching military age each year: males: 221,026 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $18.1 billion (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 12% (FY97)
@Saudi Arabia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: a large section of the boundary with Yemen is not defined; the location and status of the boundary with the UAE is not final, with the de facto boundary reflecting the 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; the June 1999 agreement has advanced the goal of definitively establishing the border with Qatar.
Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; rising use of heroin and cocaine
______________________________________________________________________
SENEGAL
@Senegal:Introduction
Background: Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 and partnered with The Gambia to create the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the planned integration of the two countries was never implemented, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite attempts at peace talks, a southern separatist group has intermittently clashed with government forces since 1982. Senegal has a rich history of involvement in international peacekeeping.
@Senegal:Geography
Location: Western Africa, along the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates: 14° N, 14° W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; the rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; the dry season (December to April) is dominated by hot, dry harmattan winds.
Terrain: mostly low, rolling plains that rise to foothills in the 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: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 54% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 710 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: lowlands that flood seasonally; occasional droughts
Environment - current issues: wildlife populations are threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing.
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, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note: The Gambia is almost surrounded by Senegal.
@Senegal:People
Population: 9,987,494 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 2,237,678; female 2,213,632) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,501,649; female 2,729,412) 65 years and over: 3% (male 152,236; female 152,887) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.94% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 37.94 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.57 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 people (2000 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: 1 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 58.08 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.19 years male: 60.6 years female: 63.82 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.21 children born per woman (2000 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 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly
Roman Catholic)
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 33.1% male: 43% female: 23.2% (1995 est.)
@Senegal:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form: Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal
Data code: SG
Government type: republic with a multiparty democratic system
Capital: Dakar
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (region, singular);
Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis,
Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence: April 4, 1960, from France; full independence was achieved when the federation with Mali was dissolved on August 20, 1960. (The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on December 12, 1981 (constituted February 1982) to create a loose confederation called Senegambia, but this agreement was dissolved on September 30, 1989.)
National holiday: Independence Day, April 4, 1960
Constitution: March 3, 1963, updated in 1991
Legal system: based on the French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; Senegal has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since NA 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Niasse MOUSTAPHA (since NA 2000) 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 27 February 2000 (next to be held 27 February 2007); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdoulaye WADE elected president; percent of vote in the second round of voting - Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) NA%, Abdou DIOUF (PS) NA%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (140 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote for five-year terms) Elections: last held on May 24, 1998 (next to be held in May 2003) Election results: percentage of vote by party - PS 50%, PDS 19%, UDS-R 13%, And Jef 5%, LD-MPT 4%, CDP 2%, FSD 1%, PDS-R 1%, RND 1%, BGC 1%, PIT 1%, other 2%; seats by party - PS 93, PDS 23, UDS-R 11, And Jef 4, LD-MPT 3, CDP 1, FSD 1, PDS-R 1, RND 1, BGC 1, PIT 1
Judicial branch: under the terms of a reform of the judicial system implemented in 1992, the main parts of the judiciary are as follows: Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals
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;
Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (also known as Garab-Gi)
; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT
; Front for Socialism and Democracy or FSD
; Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul
DIAS]; Independence and Labor Party or PIT; National
Democratic Rally or RND; Senegalese Democratic Party or
PDS; Senegalese Democratic Party-Renewal or PDS-R
; Senegalese Democratic
Union-Renewal or UDS-R; Socialist Party or PS
; 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, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-0540
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Harriet L. ELAM-THOMAS embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: 823-4296, 823-7384 FAX: 822-2991
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (on the hoist side), yellow, and red, with a small green five-pointed star in the center of the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia.
@Senegal:Economy
Economy - overview: In January 1994, Senegal launched an ambitious economic reform program with help from international donors. This reform started with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which is fixed to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been gradually removed. After experiencing a 2.1% contraction in the economy in 1993, Senegal made a significant recovery due to the reform program, with real GDP growth averaging 5% per year from 1995 to 1999. Annual inflation has been reduced to 2%, and the fiscal deficit has been decreased to less than 1.5% of GDP. Investment grew steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), Senegal is striving for greater regional integration through a unified external tariff. Senegal achieved full Internet connectivity in 1996, sparking a mini-boom in information technology-based services. Private sector activity now makes up 82% of GDP. However, Senegal still struggles with serious urban issues such as chronic unemployment, youth delinquency, and drug addiction. Real GDP growth is projected to exceed 6%, while inflation is expected to remain at 2% in 2000-2001.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.6 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,650 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 20% services: 61% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 42.8% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 60%
Unemployment rate: NA%; urban youth 40%
Budget: revenues: $885 million expenditures: $885 million, including capital expenditures of $125 million (1996 est.)
Industries: agriculture and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, oil refining, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.2 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.116 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, leafy greens; cattle, chickens, pigs; fish
Exports: $925 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - products: fish, peanuts, petroleum, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners: France 22%, Italy, India, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali (1998)
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: food and drinks, consumer products, capital goods, oil products
Imports - partners: France 36%, other EU countries, Nigeria, Cameroon,
Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, US, China, Japan (1998)
Debt - external: $3.4 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $647.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Central African Financial Community franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1966), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF is fixed to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Senegal:Communications
Telephones – active landlines: 82,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 122 (1995)
Telephone 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 10, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 361,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Senegal:Transportation
Railways: total: 906 km narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track)
Highways: total: 14,576 km paved: 4,271 km unpaved: 10,305 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal River, and 112 km on the Saloum River
Ports and harbors: Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll,
Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Airports: 20 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Senegal:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males aged 15-49: 2,218,920 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,158,893 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 109,381 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $68 million (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY97)
@Senegal:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: a short section of the boundary with The Gambia is unclear.
Illicit drugs: a key transfer hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin heading to Europe and North America; illegal grower of cannabis.
______________________________________________________________________
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
@Serbia and Montenegro:Introduction
Background: Serbia and Montenegro have declared the creation of a joint independent state, but this entity hasn’t been officially recognized as a state by the US. The US stance is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation. In 1999, large-scale expulsions of ethnic Albanians by Serbs in the autonomous republic of Kosovo sparked an international reaction, including the bombing of Serbia and the deployment of NATO and Russian peacekeepers in Kosovo.
@Serbia and Montenegro:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, next to the Adriatic Sea, between
Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates: 44° N, 21° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 102,350 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,938 sq km) land: 102,136 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,724 sq km) water: 214 sq km (Serbia 0 sq km; Montenegro 214 sq km)
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky (Serbia is slightly larger than Maine; Montenegro is slightly smaller than Connecticut)
Land boundaries: total: 2,246 km border countries: Albania 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro), Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro), Bulgaria 318 km (with Serbia), Croatia (north) 241 km (with Serbia), Croatia (south) 25 km (with Montenegro), Hungary 151 km (with Serbia), The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km (with Serbia), Romania 476 km (with Serbia) note: the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km
Coastline: 199 km (Montenegro 199 km, Serbia 0 km)
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: in the north, a continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in the central part, both continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, the Adriatic climate along the coast, with hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland.
Terrain: highly diverse; to the north, lush fertile plains; to the east, limestone hills and valleys; to the southeast, ancient mountains and ridges; to the southwest, very steep coastline with no islands offshore.
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
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist areas like Kotor; air pollution in Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial waste dumped into the Sava River, which flows into the Danube.
Environment - international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: controls one of the major land routes from Western
Europe to Turkey and the Near East; it's strategically located along the
Adriatic coast
@Serbia and Montenegro:People
Population: 10,662,087 (Serbia - 9,981,929; Montenegro - 680,158) note: all data regarding population is subject to significant error due to the disruptions caused by military action and ethnic cleansing (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: Serbia - 19.95% (male 1,028,355; female 963,366); Montenegro - 22.05% (male 77,582; female 72,395) 15-64 years: Serbia - 65.22% (male 3,187,746; female 3,322,425); Montenegro - 66.16% (male 222,095; female 227,923) 65 years and over: Serbia - 14.83% (male 638,204; female 841,833); Montenegro - 11.79% (male 32,400; female 47,763) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: Serbia - 0.739%; Montenegro - -12.22% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: Serbia - 12.20 births per 1,000 people; Montenegro - 14.9 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: Serbia - 11.08 deaths per 1,000 people; Montenegro - 7.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: Serbia - 6.26 migrants per 1,000 people;
Montenegro - -29.18 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: Serbia - 1.08 males for every female; Montenegro - 1.09 males for every female under 15 years: Serbia - 1.07 males for every female; Montenegro - 1.07 males for every female 15-64 years: Serbia - 0.96 males for every female; Montenegro - 0.97 males for every female 65 years and over: Serbia - 0.76 males for every female; Montenegro - 0.68 males for every female total population: Serbia - 0.95 males for every female; Montenegro - 0.95 males for every female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: Serbia - 20.13 deaths per 1,000 live births;
Montenegro - 10.97 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: Serbia - 72.39 years; Montenegro - 75.46 years male: Serbia - 69.31 years; Montenegro - 71.45 years female: Serbia - 75.72 years; Montenegro - 79.82 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: Serbia - 1.70 children per woman; Montenegro - 1.96 children per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s) adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Ethnic groups: Serb 62.6%, Albanian 16.5%, Montenegrin 5%, Yugoslav 3.4%, Hungarian 3.3%, other 9.2% (1991)
Religions: Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 11%
Languages: Serbian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
@Serbia and Montenegro:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Serbia and Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Srbija-Crna Gora note: Serbia and Montenegro has declared itself the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY), but the US believes that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation.
Data code: Serbia - SR; Montenegro - MW
Government type: republic
Capital: Belgrade (Serbia), Podgorica (Montenegro)
Administrative divisions: 2 republics (republics, singular - republic); and 2 nominally autonomous provinces* (autonomous provinces, singular - autonomous province); Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*
Independence: April 11, 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, or FRY, formed as the self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, or SFRY)
National holiday: St. Vitus Day, June 28
Constitution: 27 April 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years old if employed; 18 years old for everyone.
Executive branch: chief of state: President Slobodan MILOSEVIC (since July 23, 1997); note - Milan MILUTINOVIC is president of Serbia (since December 21, 1997); Milo DJUKANOVIC is president of Montenegro (since December 21, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Momir BULATOVIC (since May 20, 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Nikola SAINOVIC (since September 15, 1995), Jovan ZEBIC (since April 9, 1998), and Vladan KUTLESIC (since March 20, 1997), Danilo VUKSANOVIC (since May 20, 1998), Tomislav NIKOLIC (since August 12, 1999), Maja Gojkovic (since August 12, 1999) cabinet: Federal Executive Council elections: president elected by the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; last election held July 23, 1997 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Slobodan MILOSEVIC elected president; percent of legislative vote - Slobodan MILOSEVIC 90%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Savezna Skupstina consists of the Chamber of Republics or Vece Republika (40 seats - 20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin; members distributed based on party representation in the republican assemblies to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Citizens or Vece Gradjana (138 seats - 108 Serbian with half elected by constituency majorities and half by proportional representation, 30 Montenegrin with six elected by constituency and 24 proportionally; members serve four-year terms) elections: Chamber of Republics - last held December 24, 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); Chamber of Citizens - last held November 3, 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Chamber of Republics - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - seats are filled on a proportional basis to reflect the composition of the legislatures of the republics of Montenegro and Serbia; note - since 1998 Serbia has effectively barred Montenegro from its constitutional right to delegate deputies to the Chamber of Republics; Chamber of Citizens - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SPS/JUL/ND 64, Zajedno coalition 22, DPS 20, SRS 16, NS 8, SVM 3, other 5; note - Zajedno coalition included SPO, DS, GSS
Judicial branch: Federal Court or Savezni Sud, judges are chosen by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms; Constitutional Court, judges are selected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms.
Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM
; Civic Alliance of Serbia or GSS [Goran SVILANOVIC,
chairman]; Democratic Alliance of Kosovo or LDK [Dr. Ibrahim RUGOVA,
president]; Democratic Alliance of Vojvodina Croats or DSHV [Bela
TONKOVIC]; Democratic Community of Vojvodina Hungarians or DZVM
; Democratic League of Albanians ;
Democratic Party or DS ; Democratic Party of Serbia or
DSS ; Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
or DPS ; League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina or
LSV ; Liberal Alliance of Montenegro ;
New Democracy or ND ; Parliamentary Party of Kosovo
or PPK ; Party for the Democratic Progress of Kosovo or
PPDK ; Party of Democratic Action or SDA [Dr. Sulejman
UGLJANIN]; People's Party of Montenegro or NS ;
Reformist Democratic Party of Vojvodina or RDSV ;
Serbian Radical Party or SRS ; Serbian Renewal
Movement or SPO ; Serbian Socialist Party or
SPS (former Communist Party) ; Social Democratic
Party of Montenegro or SDP ; Socialist People's Party
of Montenegro or SNP ; Yugoslav United Left or JUL
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Movement for the
Liberation of Kosovo or LKCK ; The People's Movement for
Kosovo or LPK
International organization participation: ICFTU, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UNHCR
Diplomatic representation in the US: the Embassy of the Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia stopped operating on March 25, 1999.
Diplomatic representation from the US: currently, the US has no diplomatic presence in Serbia and Montenegro; the US office in Pristina, Kosovo, opened in 1999; its staff are not accredited to a foreign government.
@Serbia and Montenegro:Economy
Economy - overview: The rapid collapse of the Yugoslav federation in 1991 was followed by devastating warfare, instability of republic borders, and the breakdown of significant inter-republic trade. Output in Serbia and Montenegro fell by half in 1992-93. Like the other former Yugoslav republics, it had relied on its neighboring republics for substantial amounts of energy and manufactured goods. The varying climates, mineral resources, and levels of technology among the republics emphasized this interdependence, as did the communist practice of concentrating most industrial output in a few large plants. The breakdown of many trade relationships, the severe drop in output as industrial plants lost suppliers and markets, and the destruction of physical assets during the fighting all contributed to the economic hardships of the republics. One key factor in Serbia's economic situation is the ongoing leadership of a government mainly focused on political and military control, rather than economic reform. Hyperinflation ceased with the introduction of a new currency in June 1993; prices remained fairly stable from 1995 to 1997, but inflation pressures returned in 1998. Reliable statistics are still hard to find, and the GDP estimate is very rough. The economic boom the government expected after the lifting of UN sanctions in December 1995 has not happened. Government mismanagement is mainly to blame, but the damage to Serbia’s infrastructure and industry from NATO bombing during the Kosovo war has worsened the issues. Additionally, sanctions continue to cut off Belgrade from international financial institutions; an investment ban and asset freeze imposed in 1998, along with the oil embargo during the NATO bombing, are still in effect.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $20.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -20% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,800 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 50% services: 30% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 42% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.6 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 30% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: machine manufacturing (aircraft, trucks, and cars; tanks and weapons; electrical gear; farming machinery); metallurgy (steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth, cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore, limestone); consumer products (textiles, shoes, food items, appliances); electronics, oil products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
Industrial production growth rate: -22% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 38.84 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 67.88% hydro: 32.12% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 36.141 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 20 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 40 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $1.5 billion (1999)
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods, food and live animals, raw materials
Exports - partners: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, North Macedonia, Germany (1998)
Imports: $3.3 billion (1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, fuels and lubricants, manufactured products, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
Imports - partners: Germany, Italy, Russia, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia (1998)
Debt - external: $14.1 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Yugoslav New Dinar (YD) = 100 paras; Montenegro made the German deutsche mark (1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige) legal tender alongside the Yugoslav dinar (1999)
Exchange rates: Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1 - official rate: 10.0 (December 1998), 5.85 (December 1997), 5.02 (September 1996), 1.5 (early 1995); black market rate: 14.5 (December 1998), 8.9 (December 1997), 2 to 3 (early 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Serbia and Montenegro:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 2.017 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 38,552 (1999)
Telephone system: domestic: N/A 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: over 771 (including 86 major stations and 685 low-power stations, plus 20 repeaters in the main networks; also many local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)
Televisions: 2.75 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999)
@Serbia and Montenegro:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,095 km standard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (1,377 km partially electrified since 1992) note: during the 1999 Kosovo conflict, the Serbian rail system took significant damage from destroyed bridges; many rail bridges have been rebuilt, but the bridge over the Danube at Novi Sad was still down in early 2000; however, a by-pass is available; Montenegrin rail lines remain intact
Highways: total: 48,603 km paved: 28,822 km (including 560 km of expressways) unpaved: 19,781 km (1998 est.) note: due to the 1999 Kosovo conflict, many road bridges were destroyed; since the conflict ended in June 1999, Serbia has launched a rapid reconstruction program to either rebuild bridges or create bypass routes.
Waterways: 587 km; the Danube River flows through Serbia, linking Europe to the Black Sea; in the early 2000s, the river was blocked at Novi Sad because of a pontoon bridge; there is a canal system in northern Serbia that can be used to bypass damage, but the size of the locks is limited (1999)
Pipelines: crude oil 415 km; petroleum products 130 km; natural gas 2,110 km
Ports and harbors: Bar, Belgrade, Kotor, Novi Sad, Pancevo, Tivat,
Zelenika
Airports: 48 (Serbia 43, Montenegro 5) (1999 est.)
Airports with paved runways: total: 19 (Serbia 16, Montenegro 3) over 3,047 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (Serbia 3, Montenegro 2) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 1) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0) under 914 m: 5 (Serbia 5, Montenegro 0) (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 29 (Serbia 27, Montenegro 2) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0) 914 to 1,523 m: 13 (Serbia 12, Montenegro 1) under 914 m: 14 (Serbia 13, Montenegro 1) (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Serbia and Montenegro:Military
Military branches: Army (including ground forces with border troops, naval forces, air forces, and air defense forces)
Military manpower - military age: Serbia - 19 years old; Montenegro - 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,603,224 (Serbia - 2,424,990; Montenegro - 178,234) (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,089,191 (Serbia - 1,945,422; Montenegro - 143,769) (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 82,553 (Serbia - 76,856; Montenegro - 5,697) (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $911 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 6.5% (FY99)
@Serbia and Montenegro:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: conflicts with Bosnia and Herzegovina over areas populated by Serbs; the Albanian majority in Kosovo wants independence from the Serbian republic; Serbia and Montenegro are challenging Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia, as it controls access to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently monitored by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP); the border commission created by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve border delineation issues has made no progress so far.
Illicit drugs: hub for Southwest Asian heroin being transported to Western Europe via the Balkan route
______________________________________________________________________
SEYCHELLES
@Seychelles:Introduction
Background: A long conflict between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were handed over to Great Britain. Independence was achieved in 1976. Socialist governance concluded with a new constitution and free elections in 1993.
@Seychelles:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, a 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 land: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 491 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: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during the southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during the northwest monsoon (March to May)
Terrain: The Mahe Group consists of granitic land, characterized by a narrow coastal strip that is rocky and hilly; other areas are composed of flat, elevated coral reefs.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources: fish, coconut products, cinnamon trees
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 11% other: 74% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: it is outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are uncommon; short droughts may occur.
Environment - current issues: water supply relies on catchments to gather 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: 40 granite islands and about 50 coral islands
@Seychelles:People
Population: 79,326 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 11,499; female 11,338) 15-64 years: 65% (male 25,143; female 26,386) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,674; female 3,286) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.49% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 17.99 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.74 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.74 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.41 years male: 64.87 years female: 76.12 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychelles
Ethnic groups: Seychellois (a mix of Asians, Africans, and Europeans)
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%
Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60% (1971 est.)
@Seychelles:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles
Data code: SE
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: June 29, 1976 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, June 18 (1993) (adoption of the constitution)
Constitution: 18 June 1993
Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage: 17 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since June 5, 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President France Albert RENE (since June 5, 1977); 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 March 20-22, 1998 (next to be held in 2003) election results: France Albert RENE reelected president; percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 66.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 19.5%, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 13.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (35 seats - 25 elected by popular vote, 10 allocated based on a proportional system to parties that win at least nine percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held March 20-22, 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party (elected) - SPPF 24, DP 1; seats by party (awarded) - SPPF 6, DP 1, UO 3 note: the 10 awarded seats are distributed according to the share of each party in the total vote
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or DP; New Democratic Party; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF - the ruling party; United Opposition or UO - a coalition of the following parties: Seychelles Party or PS [Wavel RAMKALAWAN], Seychelles Democratic Movement or MSPD, and Seychelles Liberal Party or SLP.
Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church; labor unions
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 972-1785 FAX: (212) 972-1786
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is responsible for Seychelles.
Flag description: five diagonal stripes of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) spreading out from the bottom of the hoist side.
@Seychelles:Economy
Economy - overview: Since gaining independence in 1976, the per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has increased to about seven times the previously near-subsistence level. The growth has been primarily driven by the tourism sector, which employs around 30% of the workforce and accounts for over 70% of hard currency earnings, along with tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has promoted foreign investment to improve hotels and other services. Simultaneously, it has aimed to reduce reliance on tourism by fostering the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the tourism sector was highlighted by a significant decline in 1991-92, mainly due to the Gulf War. Although the industry has bounced back, the government acknowledges the ongoing need to enhance the sector amid strong international competition. Other challenges facing the government include addressing the budget deficit and advancing the privatization of public enterprises. Growth slowed in 1998-99, due to sluggish performance in both the tourism and tuna sectors.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $590 million (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.8% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 21% services: 75% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1999)
Labor force: 26,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 19%, services 57%, government 14%, fishing, agriculture, and forestry 10% (1989)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $220 million expenditures: $241 million, including capital expenditures of $36 million (1994 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: 125 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 116 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish
Exports: $91 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)
Exports - partners: France, UK, Netherlands, Italy, China, Germany,
Japan
Imports: $403 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners: South Africa, UK, China, Singapore, France, Italy
Debt - external: $149 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $16.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 5.3060 (September 1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997), 4.9700 (1996), 4.7620 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Seychelles:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 17,844 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,249 (1997)
Telephone system: domestic: radio telephone communications between islands in the archipelago international: direct radio telephone communications with nearby island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 42,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 11,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Seychelles:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 280 km paved: 176 km unpaved: 104 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Victoria
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 14 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (1999 est.)
@Seychelles:Military
Military branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force, National Guard, Presidential Security Unit, Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 22,677 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 11,345 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $13 million (FY93)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.8% (FY93)
@Seychelles:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory
______________________________________________________________________
SIERRA LEONE
@Sierra Leone:Introduction
Background: Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 2 million people (more than one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. A peace agreement, signed on July 7, 1999, brings hope that the country can rebuild its shattered economy and infrastructure, but past peace efforts have failed. As of late 1999, up to 6,000 UN peacekeepers were being deployed to support the peace deal.
@Sierra Leone:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to 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: a bit smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries: total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nautical miles continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain: coastal area of mangrove swamps, hilly forested country, elevated plateau, mountains to the 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: 7% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 31% forests and woodland: 28% other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 290 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dry, sandy harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(November to May); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment - current issues: rapid population growth is putting pressure on the environment; excessive logging, increased cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn farming have led to deforestation and depleted soil; civil war is draining natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
@Sierra Leone:People
Population: 5,232,624 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44.73% (male 1,148,264; female 1,192,533) 15-64 years: 52.16% (male 1,305,039; female 1,424,076) 65 years and over: 3.11% (male 81,291; female 81,421) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.67% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 45.63 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 19.58 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 10.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: by the end of 1999, it's assumed that refugees from Sierra Leone are returning
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 148.66 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.25 years male: 42.37 years female: 48.21 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.08 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups: 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who settled in the Freetown area in the late 18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians.
Religions: 60% Muslim, 30% indigenous beliefs, 10% Christian
Languages: English (official, commonly used by a literate minority), Mende (main local language in the south), Temne (main local language in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves settled in the Freetown area, serves as a lingua franca and is the first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write in English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 31.4% male: 45.4% female: 18.2% (1995 est.)
@Sierra Leone:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone
Data code: SL
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Freetown
Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern,
Southern, Western*
Independence: April 27, 1961 (from the UK)
National holiday: Republic Day, April 27, 1961
Constitution: October 1, 1991; later amended several times
Legal system: based on English law and the traditional laws of local tribes; has not accepted obligatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since March 29, 1996, reinstated March 10, 1998); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since March 29, 1996, reinstated March 10, 1998); note - the president serves as 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 accountable to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election held February 26-27 and March 15, 1996 (next to be held in 2001); note - the president's term is limited to two five-year terms election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH elected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 59.5%, John Karefa-Smart (UNPP) 40.5%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (80 seats - 68 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 36.1%, UNPP 21.6%, PDP 15.3%, APC 5.7%, NUP 5.3%, DCP 4.8%, other 11.2%; seats by party - SLPP 27, UNPP 17, PDP 12, APC 5, NUP 4, DCP 3; note - first elections since the former House of Representatives was shut down by the military coup of 29 April 1992
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: All People's Congress (APC) [Edward
Mohammed TURAY, chairman]; Democratic Centre Party (DCP) [Adu Aiah
KOROMA]; National Democratic Alliance (NDA);
National Republican Party (NRP); National Unity
Party (NUP); People's Democratic Party (PDP);
People's Progressive Party (PPP); Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP);
Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP); United National People's
Party (UNPP) [John KARIFA-SMART in exile, Raymond KAMARA, acting
leader]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Ernest LEIGH chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 939-9261 to 9263 FAX: (202) 483-1793
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph MELROSE embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (22) 226481 through 226485 FAX: (22) 225471
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of light green (top), white, and light blue
@Sierra Leone:Economy
Economy - overview: Sierra Leone has significant mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is underdeveloped, and serious social issues continue to hinder economic growth. Around two-thirds of the working-age population is involved in subsistence farming. Manufacturing mainly includes processing raw materials and light manufacturing for the local market. Bauxite and rutile mines have been closed due to civil unrest. The main source of hard currency comes from diamond mining, most of which is smuggled out of the country. The resurgence of internal conflict in 1999 led to another major decline in GDP. The state of the economy in 2000 relies on the mid-1999 peace agreement holding and the rebels reopening areas under their control.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (estimated 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: -10% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $500 (estimated 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 52% industry: 16% services: 32% (1996)
Population below the poverty line: 68% (1989 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.) note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $96 million expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (drinks, textiles, cigarettes, shoes); oil refining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 235 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 219 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm nuts, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports: $41 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - goods: diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports - partners: Benelux 49%, Spain 10%, US 8%, UK 3% (1997)
Imports: $166 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - goods: food, machinery and equipment, fuel and lubricants, chemicals
Imports - partners: UK 24%, Ivory Coast 14%, Benelux 10%, US 8% (1997)
Debt - external: $1.15 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $203.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 leone (Le) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: leones (Le) per US$1 - 2,324.77 (January 2000), 1,804.20 (1999), 1,563.62 (1998), 981.48 (1997), 920.73 (1996), 755.22 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Sierra Leone:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 17,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: limited telephone and telegraph service domestic: national microwave radio relay system rendered nonfunctional due to military activities 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Sierra Leone:Transportation
Railways: total: 84 km used occasionally because the mine at Marampa is closed narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 11,300 km paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 800 km; 600 km navigable all year round
Ports and harbors: Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,105 GRT/1,307 DWT ships by type: specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 10 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Sierra Leone:Military
Military branches: Army
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,119,540 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 543,124 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $46 million (FY96/97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY96/97)
@Sierra Leone:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SINGAPORE
@Singapore:Introduction
Background: Established as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. It then developed into one of the world’s most prosperous countries, boasting strong international trade connections (its port is one of the busiest in the world) and having a per capita GDP that surpasses that of the leading nations in Western Europe.
@Singapore:Geography
Location: Southeast Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 1.22° N, 103.48° E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 647.5 sq km land: 637.5 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly over 3.5 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 193 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond the territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no distinct rainy or dry seasons; thunderstorms happen on 40% of all days (67% of days in April)
Terrain: flat land; a gently rolling central plateau includes a water catchment area and nature reserve.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 5% other: 87% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability creates waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze caused by 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: central point for Southeast Asian sea routes
@Singapore:People
Population: 4,151,264 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 390,352; female 365,730) 15-64 years: 75% (male 1,520,875; female 1,590,355) 65 years and over: 7% (male 124,413; female 159,539) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.54% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 12.79 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.21 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 26.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.65 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.05 years male: 77.1 years female: 83.23 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.16 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups: Chinese 77%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.6%, 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 older can read and write total population: 91.1% male: 95.9% female: 86.3% (1995 est.)
@Singapore:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore
Data code: SN
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: Singapore
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: August 9, 1965 (from Malaysia)
National holiday: National Day, August 9 (1965)
Constitution: June 3, 1959, amended 1965 (based on the pre-independence
State of Singapore Constitution)
Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted mandatory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN (since September 1, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since November 28, 1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since November 28, 1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since August 1, 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; last election held on August 28, 1999 (next to be held in August 2005); after 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 (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on January 2, 1997 (next ones to be held by 2002) election results: percentage of vote by party - PAP 65% (in contested constituencies), other 35%; seats by party - PAP 81, WP 1, SPP 1; note - after the election, there was a change in the distribution of seats, the new distribution is as follows: PAP 80, WP 1, SPP 1, vacant 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the president with advice from the prime minister, and other judges are appointed by the president with advice from the chief justice; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders: National Solidarity Party or NSP [C. K.
TAN]; People's Action Party or PAP
- the ruling party; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon
Juan]; Singapore People's Party or SPP; Workers'
Party or WP
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, Australia
Group (observer), BIS, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 537-3100 FAX: (202) 537-0876 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Steven J. GREEN embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing address: FPO AP 96507 telephone: 476-9100 FAX: 476-9340
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the left side of the red band, there’s a vertical white crescent (the closed part faces the left) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle.
@Singapore:Economy
Economy - overview: Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy, a very open and corruption-free business environment, stable prices, and the fifth highest per capita GDP in the world. Exports, especially in electronics and chemicals, along with services, are the main drivers of the economy. The government encourages high levels of savings and investment through a mandatory savings scheme and invests significantly in education and technology. It also owns government-linked companies (GLCs) – mainly in manufacturing – which function as commercial entities and make up 60% of GDP. As Singapore looks toward a future increasingly defined by globalization, the country is positioning itself as the region's financial and high-tech hub.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $98 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $27,800 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NEGL% industry: 28% services: 72%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.4% (1999)
Labor force: 1.932 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: financial, business, and other services 38%, manufacturing 21.6%, commerce 21.4%, construction 7%, other 12%
Unemployment rate: 3.2% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $13.9 billion expenditures: $16.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $8.1 billion (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: electronics, 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: 14% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 26.586 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 24.725 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rubber, copra, fruits, vegetables; poultry, eggs, fish, veggies, orchids, ornamental fish
Exports: $114 billion (1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment (including electronics) 63%, chemicals, mineral fuels (1998)
Exports - partners: US 19%, Malaysia 17%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 7%,
Taiwan 5%, Thailand 4%, UK 4%, China 3%, Germany 3% (1998)
Imports: $111 billion (1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 57%, mineral fuels, chemicals, food products (1998)
Imports - partners: US 17%, Japan 17%, Malaysia 16%, Thailand 5%,
China 5%, Taiwan 4%, Germany, Saudi Arabia (1998)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.6733 (January 2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Singapore:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 54.6 million (including 46.62 million that serve fax machines, computers, and other communication devices) (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.02 million (1998)
Telephone system: strong domestic facilities; reliable international service domestic: NA 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 15, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: 2.55 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 1.33 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 8 (1999)
@Singapore:Transportation
Railways: total: 38.6 km narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge note: there is an 83 km mass transit system with 48 stations
Highways: total: 3,122 km paved: 3,038 km (including 150 km of expressways) unpaved: 84 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Singapore
Merchant marine: total: 891 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 21,808,813 GRT/34,783,544 DWT ships by type: bulk 140, cargo 121, chemical tanker 66, combination bulk 6, combination ore/oil 6, container 162, liquefied gas 26, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large load carrier 3, petroleum tanker 294, refrigerated cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off 10, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 36 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 22 countries among which are Japan 41, Denmark 35, Sweden 28, Thailand 28, Hong Kong 26, Germany 19, Taiwan 19, and Indonesia 11 (1998 est.)
Airports: 9 (1999 est.)
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 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Singapore:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force,
Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,278,525 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 932,978 (2000 est.)
Military expenses - dollar amount: $4.4 billion (FY98/99)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 4.9% (FY98/99)
@Singapore:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: two islands are in conflict with Malaysia
Illicit drugs: a transit point for Golden Triangle heroin heading to North America, Western Europe, and developing countries; also serves as a money-laundering hub.
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SLOVAKIA
@Slovakia:Introduction
Background: In 1918, the Slovaks teamed up with their closely related neighbors, the Czechs, to create Czechoslovakia. After the turmoil of World War II, Czechoslovakia turned into a communist country within the Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe. The Soviet influence fell apart in 1989, and Czechoslovakia regained its freedom. The Slovaks and Czechs decided to separate peacefully on January 1, 1993. Slovakia has faced more challenges than the Czech Republic in building a modern market economy.
@Slovakia:Geography
Location: Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 48.67 N, 19.50 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 48,845 sq km land: 48,800 sq km water: 45 sq km
Area - comparative: approximately twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries: total: 1,355 km border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: mild; cool summers; cold, overcast, humid winters
Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern regions and lowlands in the south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovka 2,655 m
Natural resources: brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper, and manganese; salt; farmland.
Land use: arable land: 31% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 17% forests and woodland: 41% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 800 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants poses risks to human health; acid rain damages 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, 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
@Slovakia:People
Population: 5,407,956 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 538,780; female 514,427) 15-64 years: 69% (male 1,854,779; female 1,880,584) 65 years and over: 12% (male 236,072; female 383,314) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.12% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 10 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.29 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.05 males/females 15-64 years: 0.99 males/females 65 years and over: 0.62 males/females total population: 0.95 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.18 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.74 years male: 69.71 years female: 77.98 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups: Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.6%, Romani 1.6% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Romani community, which is around 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%
@Slovakia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska Republika local short form: Slovensko
Data code: LO
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Bratislava
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj);
Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky,
Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Independence: January 1, 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and
Slovak Republics)
National holiday: Slovak Constitution Day, September 1 (1992);
Anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising, August 29 (1944)
Constitution: ratified September 1, 1992, fully effective January 1, 1993; amended in September 1998 to permit direct election of the president
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 the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to remove Marxist-Leninist legal theory.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Rudolf SCHUSTER (since June 15, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since October 30, 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president based on the prime minister's recommendation elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on May 30, 1999 (next election scheduled for 2004); note - after the National Council elections in September 1998, the Constitution was amended to allow direct election of the president; typically, after National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed prime minister by the president election results: Rudolf SCHUSTER won the first direct popular election with 57% of the vote note: government coalition - SDK, SDL, SMK, SOP
Legislative branch: unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Národná Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected based on proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held September 25-26, 1998 (next to be held in September 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - HZDS 27%, SDK 26.3%, SDL 14.7%, SMK 9.1%, SNS 9.1%, SOP 8%; seats by party - governing coalition 93 (SDK 42, SDL 23, SMK 15, SOP 13), opposition 57 (HZDS 43, SNS 14)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Council; Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president from a group of nominees approved by parliament.
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Movement or KDH
; Coexistence ; Democratic Party or DS
; Democratic Union or DU ; Hungarian
Christian Democratic Movement or MKDH ; Hungarian Civic
Party or MOS ; Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or
HZDS ; Party of Civic Understanding or SOP [Pavol
HAMZIK]; Party of Greens in Slovakia or SZS ; Party
of the Democratic Center or SDS ; Party of the
Democratic Left or SDL ; Party of the Hungarian Coalition
or SMK (includes MKDH, MOS, and Coexistence) ; Slovak
Democratic Coalition or SDK (includes KDH, DS, DU, SSDS, SZS) [Mikulas
DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS ; Social
Democratic Party of Slovakia or SSDS ; SMER [Robert
FICO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association of Employers of
Slovakia; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Christian Social
Union; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or
KOVO and METALURG; Party of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen of Slovakia
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC
(observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
NAM (guest), NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Martin BUTORA chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 965-5161 FAX: (202) 965-5166
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas HENGEL embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (7) 5443-0861, 5443-3338 FAX: (7) 5441-5148
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovak cross placed in a shield on the left side; the cross is white and centered against a red and blue background.
@Slovakia:Economy
Economy - overview: Slovakia is still trying to shift from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. It started 1999 with a significant slowdown in GDP growth, large budget and current account deficits, rapidly increasing external debt, and ongoing corruption, but made notable strides towards macroeconomic stabilization later in the year. Harsh austerity measures introduced in May reduced the overall fiscal deficit from 6% in 1998 to below 4% of GDP, and the current account deficit was cut by half to an estimated 5% of GDP. In December, the EU invited Slovakia to start accession negotiations in early 2000. Interest from foreign investors is growing, but it hasn't yet led to actual deals; several credit rating agencies have improved their outlook for the country. However, Slovakia's fiscal situation remains fragile; inflation and unemployment are still high; and the government is only now tackling the structural issues left over from the MECIAR era, like large inefficient companies, an insolvent banking sector, significant inter-company debts, and decreasing tax and social support payments. Additionally, the government is dealing with considerable public dissatisfaction regarding the austerity measures, persistently high unemployment—which hit a record 20% in December 1999—rising consumer prices, reduced social benefits, and falling living standards. Real GDP is expected to stagnate in 2000; inflationary pressures will continue to be strong due to further price liberalization; and there’s limited room for further fiscal tightening in the 2000 budget, which is based on more optimistic assumptions than almost all private forecasts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $45.9 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.9% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,500 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 33% services: 62% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 5.1% highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 3.32 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.4 billion expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and synthetic fibers; machinery; paper and printing; pottery and ceramics; transportation vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical equipment; rubber products
Industrial production growth rate: 0.9% (1998)
Electricity - production: 20.035 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 24% hydro: 20% nuclear: 56% other: 0% (1999 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 23.3 billion kWh (est. 1999)
Electricity - exports: 920 million kWh (estimated in 1999)
Electricity - imports: 840 million kWh (estimated in 1999)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Exports: $10.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 37%; intermediate manufactured goods 30%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%; chemicals 9%; raw materials 4% (1998)
Exports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 29%, Austria 7%), Czech Republic 20%, Poland 7% (1998)
Imports: $11.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 40%; intermediate manufactured goods 18%; fuels 11%; chemicals 11%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 10% (1998)
Imports - partners: EU 50% (Germany 26%, Italy 6%), Czech Republic 18%, Russia 10% (1998)
Debt - external: $10.6 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $421.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halers
Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 42.059 (January 2000), 41.363 (1999), 35.233 (1998), 33.616 (1997), 30.654 (1996), 29.713 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Slovakia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.557 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 641,000 (1998)
Telephone system: domestic: mostly an analog system that is now getting digital equipment and expanding with fiber-optic cable, especially in bigger cities; mobile cellular capability has been added international: 3 international exchanges, 1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica, are available; Slovakia is taking part in several international telecommunications projects that will enhance the availability of external services
Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 3.12 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (1998)
Televisions: 2.62 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (1999)
@Slovakia:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,660 km broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1,505 km electrified; 1,011 km double track) narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1998)
Highways: total: 17,710 km paved: 17,533 km (including 288 km of expressways) unpaved: 177 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 107 miles on the Danube
Pipelines: petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km
Ports and harbors: Bratislava, Komarno
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a combined tonnage of 15,041 GRT/19,517 DWT ships by type: cargo 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 36 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.)
@Slovakia:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense,
Territorial Defense Forces, Civil Defense Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,484,567 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,134,751 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 45,605 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $332 million (FY99)
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: 1.7% (FY99)
@Slovakia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary; agreement with Czech Republic signed November 24, 1998, resolves issues of redistributing former Czechoslovak federal property - approval by both parliaments is expected in 2000
Illicit drugs: a transfer point for Southwest Asian heroin heading to Western Europe
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SLOVENIA COUNTRY FLAG OF SLOVENIA
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SOLOMON ISLANDS
@Solomon Islands:Introduction
Background: The UK set up a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the fiercest battles of World War II took place on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976, and independence came two years later. Current issues include government deficits, deforestation, and malaria control.
@Solomon Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 8° S, 159° E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 28,450 sq km land: 27,540 sq km water: 910 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 5,313 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; few extreme temperatures and weather conditions
Terrain: mostly rough mountains with a few low coral islands
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% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 88% other: 9% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons, but they are usually not damaging; a geologically active area with regular earthquakes; 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
@Solomon Islands:People
Population: 466,194 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 105,024; female 101,065) 15-64 years: 53% (male 124,627; female 121,358) 65 years and over: 3% (male 6,935; female 7,185) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.04% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 34.79 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.35 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
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: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.26 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.28 years male: 68.86 years female: 73.81 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United
(Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other
Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs 4%
Languages: Melanesian pidgin is the common language in most of the country, while English is spoken by 1%-2% of the population. Note: there are 120 indigenous languages.
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
@Solomon Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Solomon Islands former: British Solomon Islands
Data code: BP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Honiara
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western. Note: there may be two new provinces, Choiseul (Lauru) and Rennell/Bellona, and the administrative unit of Honiara may have been abolished.
Independence: July 7, 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 7, 1978
Constitution: 7 July 1978
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Father John LAPLI (since NA 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU (since August 27, 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since August 27, 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general based on the prime minister's advice from among the members of Parliament 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 typically 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
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on August 6, 1997 (next to be held by August 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - GNUR 21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6, other 3
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: known for their changing alliances;
Christian Fellowship; Group for National Unity and
Reconciliation or GNUR; Labor Party or LP [Joses
TUHANUKU]; Liberal Party; National Action
Party of Solomon Islands or NAPSI; National Party [leader
NA]; Nationalist Front for Progress or NFP; People's
Alliance Party or PAP; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP
; Solomon Islands National Unity, Reconciliation, and
Progressive Party or SINURP (leader of
opposition); United Party or UP
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Rex HOROI (represents the country as both the permanent representative to the UN and the ambassador to the US) chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 599-6192, 6193 FAX: (212) 661-8925
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in the Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is assigned to the Solomon Islands.
Flag description: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower left corner; the upper triangle (left side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green.
@Solomon Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: Most of the population relies on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their income. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products need to be imported. The islands have abundant undeveloped mineral resources like lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Economic challenges in Southeast Asia caused a significant decline in the timber industry, leading to an approximate 10% drop in economic output in 1998. The government implemented pay cuts for public services and other budget cuts. The economy started to recover in 1999 due to rising international gold prices and the first full year of the Gold Ridge mining operation. However, the closing of the country’s major palm oil plantation in the middle of the year raised concerns about future prospects.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.21 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,650 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 50% industry: 3.5% services: 46.5% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 26,842
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $147 million expenditures: $168 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: fish (tuna), mining, timber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 30 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 28 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish
Exports: $142 million (free on board, 1998 estimate)
Exports - products: wood, fish, palm oil, cocoa, copra
Exports - partners: Japan 50%, Spain 16%, UK 5%, Thailand 5% (1996)
Imports: $160 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, manufactured products, food and live animals, fuel
Imports - partners: Australia 42%, Japan 10%, Singapore 9%, New Zealand 8%, United States 5% (1996)
Debt - external: $135 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $46.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 5.0745 (January 2000), 4.8381 (1999), 4.8156 (1998), 3.5664 (1997), 3.4059 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Solomon Islands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 7,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 230 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: N/A 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Solomon Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,360 km paved: 34 km unpaved: 1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation roads) (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor,
Yandina
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 33 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 21 (1999 est.)
@Solomon Islands:Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Solomon Islands
National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands
Police (RSIP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Solomon Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SOMALIA
@Somalia:Introduction
Background: Intermittent civil war has been a reality in Somalia since 1977. In 1991, the northern part of the country declared itself independent as Somaliland; while it operates independently and is relatively stable compared to the chaotic south, no foreign government has recognized it. Starting in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (mainly in the south) was able to ease famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having faced significant casualties, order had still not been reestablished.
@Somalia:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, next to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates: 10° N, 49° E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 637,657 sq km land: 627,337 sq km water: 10,320 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than Texas
Land boundaries: total: 2,366 km border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline: 3,025 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: mainly desert; December to February - northeast monsoon, mild temperatures in the north and very hot in the south; May to October - southwest monsoon, scorching in the north and hot in the south, uneven rainfall, hot and humid spells (tangambili) between monsoons.
Terrain: mainly flat with some rolling hills in the north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
Natural resources: uranium and mostly untapped reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 69% forests and woodland: 26% other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,800 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: ongoing droughts; frequent dust storms over the eastern plains in summer; floods during the 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 signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: strategic location on the Horn of Africa along the southern routes to Bab el Mandeb and the passage through the Red Sea and Suez Canal
@Somalia:People
Population: 7,253,137 note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; counting the population in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements due to famine and clan warfare (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 1,610,945; female 1,608,209) 15-64 years: 53% (male 1,938,263; female 1,892,752) 65 years and over: 3% (male 90,717; female 112,251) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.9% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 47.7 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 18.69 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 125.77 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.23 years male: 44.66 years female: 47.85 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.18 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali
Ethnic groups: Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 24% male: 36% female: 14% (1990 est.)
@Somalia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Data code: SO
Government type: none
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 the unification of British Somaliland, which gained independence from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which achieved independence from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to create the Somali Republic)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: August 25, 1979, presidential approval September 23, 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: Somalia has no functioning government; the United
Somali Congress (USC) removed the regime of Major General Mohamed SIAD
Barre on January 27, 1991; the current political situation is one of
chaos, characterized by interclan conflict and random banditry
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha Shacbiga note: not functioning
Judicial branch: (not working); note - after the collapse of the national government, most areas have returned to Islamic law with an option to appeal all sentences.
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: many clan and subclan factions are currently competing 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, Intelsat, 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 doesn't have an embassy in the US (operations ceased on May 8, 1991)
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: (2) 334141; FAX (2) 340838
Flag description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)
Government - note: While chaos and clan fighting continue in most of Somalia, some level of orderly government has been established in the northern region. In May 1991, the leaders of clans in the former British Somaliland declared the independent Republic of Somaliland, which, despite not being recognized by any government, maintains a stable existence, supported by the significant influence of the ruling clan and the economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American military aid programs. Neighboring Puntland has also made progress in building a legitimate, representative government. In February 1996, the EU agreed to fund the reconstruction of the port of Berbera; since then, additional aid projects have been taken on by the EU and a non-governmental Italian organization.
@Somalia:Economy
Economy - overview: Somalia is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with very few resources. Additionally, much of its economy has been wrecked by civil war. Agriculture is the most crucial sector, with livestock contributing around 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. A significant portion of the population consists of nomads and semi-nomads who rely on livestock for their livelihoods. Bananas are the second most important export after livestock; the domestic market also includes sugar, sorghum, corn, and fish. The small industrial sector, which focuses on processing agricultural products, represents 10% of GDP; however, most facilities have closed down due to ongoing civil unrest. Furthermore, in 1999, continuous civil disturbances in Mogadishu and surrounding areas hindered any meaningful economic progress and international aid efforts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.3 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $600 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 59% industry: 10% services: 31% (1995 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: 3.7 million (very few are skilled workers) (1993 est.)
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 small sectors, including sugar refining, textiles, and petroleum refining (mostly closed down)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 265 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 246 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, sorghum, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish
Exports: $187 million (f.o.b., estimated for 1998)
Exports - commodities: livestock, bananas, hides, fish (1997)
Exports - partners: Saudi Arabia 57%, UAE 15%, Italy 12%, Yemen 8% (1997)
Imports: $327 million (f.o.b., 1998 estimate)
Imports - goods: manufactured products, oil products, food items, building materials (1995)
Imports - partners: Djibouti 20%, Kenya 11%, Belarus 11%, India 10%,
Saudi Arabia 9%, Brazil 9% (1997)
Debt - external: $2.6 billion (1997 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $191.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 2,620 (January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996 est.), 5,000 (January 1, 1995), 2,616 (July 1, 1993), 4,200 (December 1992) note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling (So. Sh.)
Fiscal year: NA
@Somalia:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems. domestic: recently, 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 0, shortwave 4 (1988)
Radios: 470,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 135,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Somalia:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 15 km
Ports and harbors: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu
(Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 61 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 54 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
@Somalia:Military
Military branches: no functioning central government military forces; clan militias are still fighting for control of key economic or political assets.
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,772,631 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 984,103 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending as a percentage of GDP: NA%
@Somalia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: most of the southern half of the border with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden.
______________________________________________________________________
SOUTH AFRICA
@South Africa:Introduction
Background: After the British took control of the Cape of Good Hope in 1806, many Dutch settlers (the Boers) moved north to establish their own republics. The discovery of diamonds in 1867 and gold in 1886 created wealth, attracted immigrants, and intensified the oppression of the native population. The Boers fought back against British expansion but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa implemented a policy of apartheid — the separate development of different races. The 1990s saw the end of apartheid and the beginning of black majority rule.
@South Africa:Geography
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 water: 0 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
Area - comparative: just under twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 4,750 km border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 855 km, Eswatini 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline: 2,798 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along the east coast; sunny days and cool nights.
Terrain: a large flat interior area surrounded by steep hills and a narrow coastal strip.
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: 10% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 67% forests and woodland: 7% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,700 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts
Environment - current issues: the absence of significant rivers or lakes necessitates comprehensive water conservation and management strategies; increasing water usage is likely to exceed supply; river pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste; air pollution leading to acid rain; soil erosion; desertification.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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 entirely surrounds Swaziland.
@South Africa:People
Population: 43,421,021 note: South Africa conducted a census in October 1996 that reported a population of 40,583,611 (after an official adjustment for a 6.8% undercount based on a post-enumeration survey); estimates for this country explicitly consider the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the age and sex distribution of the population than what would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.46% (male 7,094,756; female 6,999,009) 15-64 years: 62.76% (male 13,111,457; female 14,139,372) 65 years and over: 4.78% (male 782,397; female 1,294,030) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.5% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 24.56 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 14.69 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 males/females under 15 years: 1.01 males/females 15-64 years: 0.93 males/females 65 years and over: 0.61 males/females total population: 0.94 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 58.88 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.1 years male: 50.41 years female: 51.81 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: South African(s) adjective: South African
Ethnic groups: Black 75.2%, White 13.6%, Coloured 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
Religions: Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, around 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), indigenous beliefs and animism 28.5%
Languages: 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English,
Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 81.8% male: 81.9% female: 81.7% (1995 est.)
@South Africa:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa abbreviation: RSA
Data code: SF
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, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape,
Northern Province, Western Cape
Independence: May 31, 1910 (from the UK)
National holiday: Freedom Day, April 27 (1994)
Constitution: December 10, 1996; this new constitution was approved by
the Constitutional Court on December 4, 1996, signed by then
President MANDELA on December 10, 1996, and became effective on February 3,
1997; it is being rolled out in phases
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Thabo MBEKI (since June 16, 1999); Executive Deputy President Jacob ZUMA (since June 17, 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Thabo MBEKI (since June 16, 1999); Executive Deputy President Jacob ZUMA (since June 17, 1999); 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 June 2, 1999 (next scheduled for sometime between May and July 2004) election results: Thabo MBEKI elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation) note: ANC-IFP governing coalition
Legislative branch: a bicameral parliament made up of the National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote using a proportional representation system 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 safeguarding cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities); note - after the new constitution took effect on February 3, 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 organization's responsibilities have been adjusted somewhat by the new constitution. Elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces - last held June 2, 1999 (next scheduled for NA 2004). Election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 66.4%, DP 9.6%, IFP 8.6%, NP 6.9%, UDM 3.4%, FF 0.8%, other 4.3%; seats by party - ANC 266, DP 38, IFP 34, NP 28, UDM 14, FF 3, other 17; National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANC 61, NP 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 (ACDP); African National Congress (ANC); Democratic Party (DP) [Tony LEON, president]; Freedom Front (FF); Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP); National Party (now the New National Party) (NP) [Marthinus VAN SCHALKWYK, executive director]; Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC); United Democratic Movement (UDM)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU; South African Communist Party or SACP; 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, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MONUC, NAM, NSG, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Makate Sheila SISULU chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 232-4400 FAX: (202) 265-1607 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Delano E. LEWIS embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia 0083 mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: (12) 342-1048 FAX: (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 that splits into a horizontal Y, with the arms reaching the corners of the hoist side; the Y surrounds a black isosceles triangle, with the arms separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes. Note: before April 26, 1994, the flag was actually four flags combined - three miniature flags displayed in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which features three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags consist of a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State, with a horizontal flag of the UK next to it on the hoist side, and a horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic on the other side.
@South Africa:Economy
Economy - overview: South Africa is a middle-income, developing country with plenty of resources, well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors, a stock exchange that’s one of the 10 biggest in the world, and a modern infrastructure that helps efficiently distribute goods to major cities across the region. However, growth hasn't been strong enough to reduce the 30% unemployment rate, and significant economic challenges from the apartheid era remain, particularly issues of poverty and lack of economic empowerment among disadvantaged groups. Other issues include crime, corruption, and HIV/AIDS. At the beginning of 2000, President MBEKI promised to boost economic growth and attract foreign investment by loosening strict labor laws, speeding up privatization, and cutting unnecessary government spending. His policies are facing strong opposition from organized labor.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $296.1 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.6% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,900 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 47.3% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 15 million people actively working (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $30.5 billion expenditures: $38 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6 billion (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: mining (largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium in the world), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizers, food products
Industrial production growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production: 192.015 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 92.09% hydro: 0.83% nuclear: 7.08% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 174.486 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 4.093 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 5 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, chicken, lamb, wool, dairy products
Exports: $28 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: gold, diamonds, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
Exports - partners: UK, Italy, Japan, US, Germany (1997)
Imports: $26 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery, food, equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments
Imports - partners: Germany, US, UK, Japan
Debt - external: $25.7 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $676.3 million
Currency: 1 rand (R) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1 - 6.12439 (January 2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@South Africa:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 5.075 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: over 2,000,000 (1999)
Telephone system: 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 stations: AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 13.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 5.2 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 58 (1999)
@South Africa:Transportation
Railways: total: 21,431 km narrow gauge: 20,995 km 1.067-m gauge (9,087 km electrified); 436 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 534,131 km paved: 63,027 km (including 2,032 km of expressways) unpaved: 471,104 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; natural gas 322 km
Ports and harbors: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mossel Bay, Port
Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha
Merchant marine: total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 274,797 GRT/270,837 DWT ships by type: container 6, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 744 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 143 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 46 914 to 1,523 m: 73 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 601 1,524 to 2,437 m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 303 under 914 m: 265 (1999 est.)
@South Africa:Military
Military branches: South African National Defense Force, or SANDF (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service, or SAPS
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 11,345,031 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males aged 15-49: 6,901,252 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 460,917 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $2 billion (FY99/00)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY99/00)
Military - note: the National Defense Force is still incorporating former military personnel, forces from black homelands, and ex-opposition groups.
@South Africa:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Swaziland has requested South Africa to start talks about bringing back some nearby South African areas that are inhabited by ethnic Swazis or that were once part of the Swazi Kingdom.
Illicit drugs: a transshipment hub for heroin and cocaine; cocaine use is increasing; the world's largest market for illegal methaqualone, often smuggled in from India through various East African countries; illegal marijuana cultivation.
______________________________________________________________________
SOUTHERN OCEAN
@Southern Ocean:Introduction
Background: In spring 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization defined a fifth world ocean, created from the southern parts of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. This new ocean stretches from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, which aligns with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Southern Ocean is now the fourth-largest of the world's five oceans, coming after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean.
@Southern Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and
Antarctica
Geographic coordinates: 65°00' S, 0°00' E (approximately), but the Southern Ocean is uniquely known as a massive circumpolar body of water that completely surrounds the continent of Antarctica. This area of water sits between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica, covering all 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: just over twice the size of the US
Coastline: 17,968 km
Climate: sea temperatures range from about 10 degrees Celsius to -2 degrees Celsius; cyclonic storms move eastward around the continent and are often intense due to the temperature difference between ice and open ocean; the ocean region from about latitude 40 south to the Antarctic Circle experiences 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, causing surface temperatures to drop well below 0 degrees Celsius; at certain coastal locations, strong, persistent drainage winds from the interior keep the shoreline ice-free all winter long.
Terrain: the Southern Ocean is deep, typically between 4,000 and 5,000 meters throughout most of its area, with only a few shallow regions; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, with its edge at depths of 400 to 800 meters (the global average is 133 meters); the Antarctic ice pack expands from a minimum average of 2.6 million square kilometers in March to about 18.8 million square kilometers in September, which is more than a sevenfold increase in area; the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which is 21,000 km long, flows continuously eastward; it is the world's largest ocean current, moving 130 million cubic meters of water every second—100 times the combined 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: likely large and possibly enormous oil and gas fields on the continental margin, manganese nodules, potential placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water in the form of icebergs, squid, whales, and seals - all unexplored; krill, fish
Natural hazards: massive icebergs with depths reaching several hundred meters; smaller icebergs and fragments; sea ice (typically 0.5 to 1 meter thick) that can change quickly and has significant annual and multi-year variations; a deep continental shelf covered by glacial deposits that vary widely over short distances; strong winds and large waves for much of the year; ship icing, especially from May to October; and most of the area is far from search and rescue resources.
Environment - current issues: increased solar ultraviolet radiation from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years is reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by up to 15% and harming the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing has surged in recent years, particularly with an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish being caught than permitted by regulations, which could jeopardize the sustainability of the stock; significant incidental mortality of seabirds results 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 governed by all international agreements related to the world's oceans; additionally, it is subject to specific agreements for the region: International Whaling Commission (bans 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 (places limits on sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (regulates fishing). Note: many countries (including the US) prohibit exploration and extraction of mineral resources south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), which is located in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and acts as the dividing line between the very cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north.
Geography - note: the main chokepoint is the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) is the best natural marker for the northern boundary of the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct area in 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 go all the way around Antarctica, extending south of 60 degrees south near New Zealand and around 48 degrees south in the far South Atlantic, following the path of the strongest westerly winds.
@Southern Ocean:Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix.
@Southern Ocean:Economy
Economy - overview: From July 1, 1998, to June 30, 1999, fisheries caught a total of 119,898 metric tons, with 85% being krill and 14% being Patagonian toothfish. In late 1999, international agreements were established to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which, during the 1998-1999 season, accounted for five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than what was caught legally. During the Antarctic summer of 1998-1999, 10,013 tourists, mostly arriving by sea, visited the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, an increase from 9,604 the previous year. Nearly 16,000 tourists are anticipated for the 1999-2000 season.
@Southern Ocean:Transportation
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 their use to only short periods in midsummer; even then, some cannot be accessed without the assistance of icebreakers; most Antarctic ports are operated by government research stations and, except in emergencies, 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
Transportation - note: Drake Passage provides an alternative to transit through the Panama Canal
@Southern Ocean:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The Antarctic Treaty puts on hold claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in the Antarctica entry); sections (some overlapping) are claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK; the US and most other countries do not acknowledge the maritime claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (the US keeps the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the area between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west.
______________________________________________________________________
SOUTH GEORGIA
______________________________________________________________________
SPAIN
@Spain:Introduction
Background: Spain's powerful world empire in the 16th and 17th centuries eventually lost control of the seas to England. Its failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions led to the country falling behind Britain, France, and Germany in terms of economic and political power. Spain stayed neutral in World Wars I and II but went through a devastating Civil War from 1936 to 1939. In the latter half of the 20th century, it has worked to catch up within the western international community. Ongoing issues include high unemployment and the Basque separatist movement.
@Spain:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, next to the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and the Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 40.00 N, 4.00 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 504,782 sq km land: 499,542 sq km water: 5,240 sq km note: includes the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five areas of sovereignty (plazas de soberanía) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta, Melilla, Islas Chafarinas, Peñón de Alhucemas, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera
Area - comparative: just a bit more than double 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 (only applies to the Atlantic Ocean) territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mild; clear, hot summers inland, more moderate and cloudy along the coast; cloudy, cold winters inland, partly cloudy and cool along the coast.
Terrain: a large, flat to uneven plateau surrounded by rugged hills;
Pyrenees to the 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, farmland
Land use: arable land: 30% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 32% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 34,530 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from untreated sewage and waste from offshore oil and gas production; water quality and availability across the country; air pollution; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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 the routes to the Strait of
Gibraltar
@Spain:People
Population: 39,996,671 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 3,046,379; female 2,866,712) 15-64 years: 68% (male 13,702,947; female 13,618,766) 65 years and over: 17% (male 2,830,607; female 3,931,260) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.11% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 9.22 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.03 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.88 migrant(s) per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 males/females under 15 years: 1.06 males/females 15-64 years: 1.01 males/females 65 years and over: 0.72 males/females total population: 0.96 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.99 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.79 years male: 75.32 years female: 82.49 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.15 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish
Ethnic groups: a mix of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Languages: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%,
Basque 2%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: NA% female: NA%
@Spain:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local short form: España
Data code: SP
Government type: parliamentary monarchy
Capital: Madrid
Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autónomas, singular - comunidad autónoma); Andalucía, Aragón, Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Cataluña, Comunidad Valenciana, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, País Vasco (Basque Country) note: there are five areas of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco: Ceuta and Melilla are managed as autonomous communities; Islas Chafarinas, Peñón de Alhucemas, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera are directly administered by Spain.
Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
National holiday: National Day, October 12
Constitution: December 6, 1978, effective December 29, 1978
Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; 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 Francisco ALVAREZ CASCOS Fernandez (since 5 May 1996) and Second Vice President (and Minister of Economy and Finance) Rodrigo RATO Figaredo (since 5 May 1996) 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 elections: the monarch is hereditary; president proposed by the monarch and elected by the National Assembly following legislative elections; election last held 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA 2004); vice presidents appointed by the monarch on proposal of the president election results: Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez (PP) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 44%
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) elections: Senate - last held March 12, 2000 (next to be held March 2004); Congress of Deputies - last held March 12, 2000 (next to be held March 2004) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders: Basque Nationalist Party or PNV [Xabier
ARZALLUS Antia]; Canarian Coalition or CC (a coalition of five
parties); Convergence and Union or CiU [Jordi
PUJOL i Soley, secretary general] (a coalition of the Democratic
Convergence of Catalonia or CDC and the
Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC);
Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG; Party of
Independents from Lanzarote or PIL; Popular Party or PP
; Spanish Communist Party or PCE [Francisco
FRUTOS]; Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Joaquin ALMUNIA
Amann, secretary general]; United Left or IU (a coalition of parties
including the PCE and other small parties)
Political pressure groups and leaders: business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; Euskal Herritarok or EH; free labor unions (allowed in April 1977); on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty or ETA and the First of October Antifascist Resistance Group or GRAPO use terrorism to oppose the government; Opus Dei; Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO; university students; Workers Confederation or CC.OO
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTAET,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio OYARZABAL MARCHESI chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 452-0100, 728-2340 FAX: (202) 833-5670 consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward L. ROMERO embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: APO AE 09642 telephone: (91) 587-2200 FAX: (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 left side of the yellow band; the coat of arms features the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two cliffs (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar.
@Spain:Economy
Economy - overview: Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that, per capita, is about 75% of the four leading Western European economies. Its center-right government successfully worked to join the first group of countries that launched the European single currency on January 1, 1999. The AZNAR administration has continued to push for liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy and has introduced some tax reforms to support this. However, unemployment remains the highest in the EU at 16%. For political reasons, the government has made only limited progress in changing labor laws or reforming pension systems, which are essential for the sustainability of Spain's internal economic growth and its competitiveness in a single currency area. Adjusting to the monetary and other economic policies of an integrated Europe – and reducing the unacceptably high unemployment rate – will present significant challenges for Spain in the coming years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $677.5 billion (estimated 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.6% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.2% industry: 33.6% services: 63.2% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 16.2 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 64%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 28%, agriculture 8% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $115 billion expenditures: $125 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: textiles and clothing (including shoes), food and drinks, metals and metal products, chemicals, shipbuilding, cars, machine tools, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (estimated for 1999)
Electricity - production: 179.468 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 48.23% hydro: 19.16% nuclear: 31.23% other: 1.38% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 170.306 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 5.6 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 9 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus fruits; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish
Exports: $112.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - products: machinery, cars; food, other consumer goods
Exports - partners: EU 72% (France 20%, Germany 14%, Italy 9%,
Portugal 9%, UK 8%), Latin America 7%, US 4% (1998)
Imports: $137.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods; food products, consumer goods (1997)
Imports - partners: EU 67% (France 18%, Germany 15%, Italy 10%, UK 8%,
Benelux 8%), US 6%, OPEC 5%, Japan 3%, Latin America 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $90 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.3 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 143.39 (January 1999), 149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 166.386 pesetas per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in agreeing countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Spain:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 17.336 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 8.394 million (1999)
Telephone system: generally sufficient, modern facilities domestic: NA international: 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Atlantic Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to neighboring countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 208, FM 715, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 13.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 228 (plus 2,112 repeaters); note - these numbers include 11 television broadcast stations and 89 repeaters in the Canary Islands (September 1995)
Televisions: 16.2 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 49 (1999)
@Spain:Transportation
Railways: total: 13,950 km broad gauge: 12,781 km 1.668-m gauge (6,358 km electrified; 2,295 km double track) standard gauge: 525 km 1.435-m gauge (525 km electrified) narrow gauge: 644 km 1.000-m gauge (438 km electrified) (1998)
Highways: total: 346,858 km paved: 343,389 km (including 9,063 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,469 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 1,045 km, but they are not very important for the economy.
Pipelines: crude oil 165 miles; petroleum products 1,115 miles; natural gas 1,037 miles
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: 130 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,131,648 GRT/1,688,996 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 24, chemical tanker 9, container 9, liquefied gas 2, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off 36, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 105 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 70 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Spain:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard,
National Police, Coastal Civil Guard
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 10,569,785 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males ages 15-49: 8,481,690 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 295,335 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $6 billion (FY97)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 1.1% (FY97)
@Spain:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The Gibraltar issue with the UK; Spain has control over five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas.
Illicit drugs: major European entry point for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market; transshipment hub for and user of Southwest Asian heroin
______________________________________________________________________
SPRATLY ISLANDS
@Spratly Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, a group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, roughly two-thirds of the distance 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 land: less than 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes about 100 islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea
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, bird droppings, and uncertain oil and natural gas potential
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: typhoons; a significant maritime risk due to the many reefs and shallow areas.
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: strategically located close to major shipping routes in the central South China Sea; includes many small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs.
@Spratly Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered military bases occupied by personnel from several claimant states (July 2000 est.)
@Spratly Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Data code: PG
@Spratly Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic activity is focused on commercial fishing. The closeness to nearby oil and gas sedimentary basins hints at the possibility of oil and gas deposits, but the area is mostly unexplored, and there are no trustworthy estimates of potential reserves; commercial extraction has not yet been developed.
@Spratly Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Spratly Islands:Military
Military - note: The Spratly Islands include over 100 small islands or reefs, about 45 of which are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
@Spratly Islands:Transnational Issues
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 set up an exclusive fishing zone that includes Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island.
______________________________________________________________________
SRI LANKA
@Sri Lanka:Introduction
Background: Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was handed over to the British in 1802. It gained independence as Ceylon in 1948 and had its name changed in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists turned violent in the mid-1980s. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic conflict that still continues.
@Sri Lanka:Geography
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 land: 64,740 sq km water: 870 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,340 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly low, flat to gently rolling plains; mountains in the 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: 14% permanent crops: 15% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 32% other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional hurricanes and tornadoes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urban development; coastal degradation from mining activities and rising pollution; freshwater resources being contaminated by industrial waste 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: important location close to key shipping routes in the Indian Ocean
@Sri Lanka:People
Population: 19,238,575 note: since the start of the conflict between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have left the island; as of mid-1999, around 66,000 were in 133 refugee camps in southern India, another 40,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and over 200,000 Tamils have found refuge in the West (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 2,605,251; female 2,490,416) 15-64 years: 67% (male 6,285,118; female 6,606,196) 65 years and over: 7% (male 602,470; female 649,124) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.89% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 16.78 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.43 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.05 males/females 15-64 years: 0.95 males/females 65 years and over: 0.93 males/females total population: 0.97 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.51 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.83 years male: 69.33 years female: 74.45 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born per woman (2000 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% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 90.2% male: 93.4% female: 87.2% (1995 est.)
@Sri Lanka:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka conventional short form: Sri Lanka former: Ceylon
Data code: CE
Government type: republic
Capital: Colombo
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western note: North Eastern province may have been divided into two - Northern and Eastern
Independence: February 4, 1948 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence and National Day, February 4 (1948)
Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978
Legal system: a very complicated blend of English common law, Roman-Dutch law, Muslim law, Sinhalese law, and customary law; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since November 12, 1994); note - Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime minister; in Sri Lanka, the president is seen as both the chief of state and the head of the government, which is different from the more common practice of splitting these roles between the president and the prime minister when both positions exist head of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since November 12, 1994); note - Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime minister; in Sri Lanka, the president is regarded as both the chief of state and the head of the government, which contrasts with the more typical division of these roles between the president and the prime minister when both offices are present 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 on December 21, 1999 (next to be held in 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 based on a modified proportional representation system by district to serve six-year terms) elections: last held on August 16, 1994 (next to be held by August 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - PA 49.0%, UNP 44.0%, SLMC 1.8%, TULF 1.7%, SLPF 1.1%, EPDP 0.3%, UPF 0.3%, PLOTE 0.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - PA 105, UNP 94, EPDP 9, SLMC 7, TULF 5, PLOTE 3, SLPF 1, UPF 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president;
Court of Appeals, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC)
; Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) ; Communist
Party ; Communist Party of China (CPC) ;
Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF) ; Democratic
United National Front (DUNLF) ; Desha Vimukthi
Janatha Party (DVJP) ; Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) ; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) ; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS) ; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) ; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP) [leader
NA]; Liberal Party (LP) ; New Socialist Party (NSSP)
(Nava Sama Samaja Party) ; People's Alliance (PA)
; People's Liberation Organization
of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) ; People's United Front (MEP)
(Mahajana Eksath Peramuna) ; Sri Lanka Freedom
Party (SLFP) ; Sri Lanka Muslim
Congress (SLMC) ; Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) (Sri
Lanka Mahajana Party) ; Sri Lanka Progressive Front (SLPF)
; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) ;
Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) ; United National
Party (UNP) ; Upcountry People's Front (UPF)
; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in
either parliament or provincial councils
Political pressure groups and leaders: Buddhist monks; labor unions;
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE (an insurgent group fighting for
a separate state); radical nationalist Sinhalese groups like the
National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist community groups.
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Warnasena RASAPUTRAM chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-4025 through 4028 FAX: (202) 232-7181 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Shaun E. DONNELLY embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo telephone: (1) 448007 FAX: (1) 437345, 446013
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’s a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels.
@Sri Lanka:Economy
Economy - overview: In 1977, Colombo shifted away from state-controlled economic policies and its import substitution trade strategy toward market-oriented policies and export-driven trade. Sri Lanka's most active industries today include food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, telecommunications, and banking and insurance. By 1996, plantation crops represented only 20% of exports (down from 93% in 1970), while textiles and garments made up 63%. The GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.5% throughout the 1990s until a drought and worsening security conditions reduced growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy bounced back in 1997-98 with growth rates of 6.4% and 4.7%, but slowed to 3.7% in 1999. For the next phase of reforms, the central bank of Sri Lanka suggests that Colombo enhance market mechanisms in non-plantation agriculture, eliminate the government's monopoly on wheat imports, and encourage greater competition in the financial sector. A persistent issue for the economy is the ongoing conflict between the Sinhalese and the minority Tamils, which has resulted in 50,000 deaths over the past 15 years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $50.5 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,600 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 19% services: 60% (1998)
Population below the poverty line: 22% (1997 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 39.7% (1995-96 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 6.6 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: services 45%, agriculture 38%, industry 17% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (1998 est.)
Industries: processing rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural products; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1998)
Electricity - production: 5.505 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 30.97% hydro: 69.03% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 5.12 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, sugarcane, grains, legumes, oilseeds, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef
Exports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: textiles and clothing, tea, diamonds, coconut products, oil products (1998)
Exports - partners: US 40%, UK 11%, Middle East 9%, Germany 5%, Japan 4% (1998)
Imports: $5.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, textiles, oil, food items (1998)
Imports - partners: India 10%, Japan 10%, South Korea 8%, Hong Kong 7%, Taiwan 6% (1998)
Debt - external: $8.4 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $577 million (1998)
Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLR) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRe) per US$1 - 72.364 (January 2000), 70.402 (1999), 64.593 (1998), 58.995 (1997), 55.271 (1996), 51.252 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Sri Lanka:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 494,509 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 228,604 (1999)
Telephone system: very poor domestic service, especially in rural areas; there’s some hope for improvement with the privatization of the national telephone company and encouragement for private investment; good international service (1999). Domestic: the national trunk network is mostly made up of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links are now in use in the Colombo area, and two fixed wireless local loops have been set up; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems; telephone density remains low at 2.6 main lines per 100 people (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 Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Sri Lanka:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,463 km broad gauge: 1,404 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (1996)
Highways: total: 11,285 km paved: 10,721 km unpaved: 564 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 267 miles; navigable by shallow-draft boats
Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)
Ports and harbors: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee
Merchant marine: total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a total of 192,190 GRT/293,832 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 16, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 5 (1999 est.)
Airports: 14 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Sri Lanka:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 5,251,045 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 4,081,742 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 196,584 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $719 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 4.2% (FY98)
@Sri Lanka:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SUDAN
@Sudan:Introduction
Background: Military dictatorships promoting an Islamic government have primarily governed the country since gaining independence from the UK in 1956. Over the last twenty years, a civil war between black Christians and animists in the south and Arab Muslims in the north has resulted in at least 1.5 million deaths due to warfare and famine, along with the displacement of millions more.
@Sudan:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, next to the Red Sea, between Egypt and
Eritrea
Geographic coordinates: 15°N, 30°E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 2,505,810 sq km
land: 2.376 million sq km
water: 129,810 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical in the south; arid desert in the north; rainy season (April to October)
Terrain: mostly flat, unremarkable plain; mountains to the east and west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Red Sea 0 m highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources: oil; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 19% other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 19,460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms
Environment - current issues: not enough clean drinking water; wildlife populations at risk from overhunting; soil erosion; desertification
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: the largest country in Africa; largely shaped by the Nile and its tributaries
@Sudan:People
Population: 35,079,814 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 8,064,592; female 7,712,839) 15-64 years: 53% (male 9,300,886; female 9,290,340) 65 years and over: 2% (male 406,034; female 305,123) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.84% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 38.58 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 10.28 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 1.33 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 70.21 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.55 years male: 55.49 years female: 57.66 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.47 children born per woman (2000 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% (mainly in the north), indigenous beliefs 25%,
Christian 5% (mostly found in the south and Khartoum)
Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, various dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English note: Arabization program in progress
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 46.1% male: 57.7% female: 34.6% (1995 est.)
@Sudan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Data code: SU
Government type: transitional - previously ruled by a military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections were held in March 1996; a new constitution drafted by the Presidential Committee took effect on June 30, 1998, after being approved in a nationwide referendum.
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: January 1, 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, January 1 (1956)
Constitution: April 12, 1973, suspended after the coup on April 6, 1985; interim constitution of October 10, 1985 suspended after the coup on June 30, 1989; new constitution implemented on June 30, 1998, partially suspended on December 12, 1999, by President BASHIR
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of January 20, 1991, the now-defunct Revolutionary Command Council implemented Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states, regardless of their religion; there are some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal, but not mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: 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 (Police) Maj. Gen. George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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 (Police) Maj. Gen. George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - President BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan's National Islamic Front (NIF), a fundamentalist political organization formed from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; in 1998, the NIF created the National Congress as its legal front; the National Congress/NIF dominates much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies; President BASHIR named a new cabinet on 20 April 1996 which includes members of the National Islamic Front, serving and retired military officers, and civilian technocrats; on 8 March 1998, he reshuffled the cabinet and brought in several former rebel and opposition members as ministers; he reshuffled his cabinet again on 24 January 2000 but announced few changes elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR elected president; percent of vote - Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 75.7%; note - about forty other candidates ran for president note: BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October 1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were transferred to the president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's appointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by the National Assembly elected in March 1996; on 12 December 1999 BASHIR dismissed the National Assembly during an internal power struggle between the president and speaker of the Parliament Hasan al-TURABI
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (400 seats; 275 elected by popular vote, 125 elected by a supra assembly of interest groups known as the National Congress) elections: last held March 6-17, 1996 (next scheduled for NA 2000) election results: NA; the March 1996 elections were held without political parties; parties are prohibited in the new National Assembly note: on December 12, 1999, President BASHIR dispatched troops to take over parliament
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
Political parties and leaders: political parties were banned after the coup on June 30, 1989; however, political "associations" are permitted under a new law crafted in 1998 and put into effect on January 1, 1999. This includes the National Congress. Note: the political association law is currently being reviewed.
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Islamic Front (NIF) (the National Congress acts as its legal front)
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mahdi Ibrahim MAHAMMAD (recalled to Khartoum in August 1998) chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 338-8565 FAX: (202) 667-2406
Diplomatic representation from the US: US officials at the US Embassy in Khartoum were relocated for security reasons in February 1996 and are now at the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Cairo, Egypt. The US Embassy in Khartoum (located on Sharia Abdul Latif Avenue; mailing address - P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829; telephone - (11) 774611 or 774700; FAX - (11) 774137) remains open with local staff. The US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya is located in the Interim Office Building on Mombasa Road, Nairobi; mailing address - P. O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; telephone - (2) 751613; FAX - (2) 743204. The US Embassy in Cairo, Egypt is located at (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo; mailing address - Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900; telephone - (2) 3557371; FAX - (2) 3573200.
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle on the left side.
@Sudan:Economy
Economy - overview: Sudan is facing civil war, ongoing political instability, bad weather, low global commodity prices, a decline in remittances from abroad, and ineffective economic policies. The private sector mainly focuses on agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment occurring before 1980. Agriculture employs 80% of the workforce, and industry mainly processes agricultural products. Poor economic performance over the last decade, largely due to decreasing annual rainfall, has kept per capita income low. A significant foreign debt and large arrears continue to create problems. In 1990, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its failure to pay arrears to the Fund. After Sudan failed to fulfill promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF threatened to kick Sudan out of the Fund. To avoid expulsion, Khartoum agreed to make minimal payments on its arrears to the Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and cut subsidies, which it has partially implemented. The government's ongoing civil war and increasing international isolation hindered growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy in 1999. The government has collaborated with foreign partners to develop the oil sector, and the country is producing about 150,000 barrels per day.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $32.6 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $940 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 17% services: 42% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 11 million (1996 est.) note: labor shortages for nearly all types of skilled jobs (1983 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6%, unemployed 4%
Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92/93 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.2 billion expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap, distilling, shoes, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1996 estimate)
Electricity - production: 1.815 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44.9% hydro: 55.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.688 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, peanuts, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sesame; sheep
Exports: $580 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: cotton, sesame, livestock, peanuts, oil, gum arabic
Exports - partners: Saudi Arabia 24%, Italy 10%, Germany 5%, Egypt 5%,
France 3%, Japan 3%, China 1% (1998)
Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: food, oil products, manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles
Imports - partners: China 27%, France 14%, UK 10%, Germany 7%, Japan 4%, Netherlands 3%, Canada 1% (1998)
Debt - external: $24 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $187 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Sudanese dinar (SD) = 100 piastres; note - in July 1999, the Sudanese Central Bank officially declared that all transactions using the Sudanese pound should cease.
Exchange rates: Sudanese dinars (SD) per US$1 - 230.2 (1999), 172.2 (1998), 148.8 (1997), 118.2 (1996); (old currency) Sudanese pounds per US$1 - 2,526.34 (2nd Qtr 1999), 2,008.02 (1998), 1,575.74 (1997), 1,250.79 (1996), 580.87 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Sudan:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 75,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3,000 (1998)
Telephone system: a large, well-equipped system by regional standards, but barely sufficient and poorly maintained by today's standards; cellular communications began in 1996. 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.
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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Sudan:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,311 km narrow gauge: 4,595 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gauge plantation line note: the main line connecting Khartoum to Port Sudan handles more than two-thirds of Sudan's rail traffic
Highways: total: 11,900 km paved: 4,320 km unpaved: 7,580 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 5,310 km navigable
Pipelines: refined products 815 km
Ports and harbors: Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan,
Sawakin
Merchant marine: total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 38,093 GRT/49,727 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 61 (1999 est.)
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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Sudan:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force
Militia
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 8,144,048 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 5,014,429 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 386,168 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $550 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Sudan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the administrative boundary with Kenya does not align with the international boundary; Egypt claims the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km that is partially administered by Sudan and is defined by an administrative boundary that takes precedence over the treaty boundary of 1899.
______________________________________________________________________
SURINAME
@Suriname:Introduction
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 series of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally led to a democratic election.
@Suriname:Geography
Location: Northern South America, next to the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4° N, 56° W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 163,270 sq km land: 161,470 sq km water: 1,800 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; tempered by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; a narrow coastal plain with swamps.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m
Natural resources: wood, hydroelectric power, fish, clay, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, and iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 96% other: 4% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 600 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation as timber is harvested for export; pollution of rivers and streams due to small-scale mining activities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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: mostly tropical rainforest; a wide variety of plant and animal species that are increasingly at risk due to new development; a relatively small population, with most people living along the coast.
@Suriname:People
Population: 431,303 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 70,871; female 67,466) 15-64 years: 62% (male 137,209; female 131,905) 65 years and over: 6% (male 10,907; female 12,945) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.65% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 21.08 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.69 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.06 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.36 years male: 68.71 years female: 74.14 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors immigrated from northern India in the late 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% (mostly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is the native language of Creoles
and much of the younger population and is a common language 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.)
@Suriname:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Data code: NS
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: November 25, 1975 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, November 25 (1975)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: based on the Dutch legal system that incorporates French criminal theory
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since September 14, 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since September 14, 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since September 14, 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since September 14, 1996); 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 vote 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 May 23, 1996; runoff election held September 5, 1996 (next to be held in May 2000) note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the calling of elections a year early election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of legislative vote - N/A; National Assembly failed to elect the president; results reflect votes cast by the People's Assembly - Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) received 438 votes, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) received 407 votes.
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or National Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on May 23, 1996 (next to be held in May 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, Pertjaja Luhur 4, The Progressive Development Alliance 3, DA '91 2, OPDA 2 note: widespread protests during the summer of 1999 prompted the decision to hold elections a year earlier
Judicial branch: Court of Justice, justices appointed for life
Political parties and leaders: Alternative Forum or AF [Rick VAN
RAVENSWAY]; Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the
AF and BEP, formed in January 1991); Democratic
Party or DP; Independent Progressive Democratic
Alternative or OPDA; National Democratic Party
or NDP; National Party of Suriname or NPS [Ronald
VENETIAAN]; Naya Kadam; Party for Brotherhood
and Unity in Politics or BEP; Party for Renewal and
Democracy or BVD; Party of National Unity and Solidarity
or KTPI; Party of the Federation of Land Workers or
PVF; Pertjaja Luhur; Progressive Reform
Party or VHP; Progressive Workers' and Farm
Laborers' Union or PALU; Reformed Progressive Party
or HPP; Suriname Labor Party or SPA;
The New Front or NF (a coalition of four parties NPS, VHP, SPA, and
Pertjaja Luhur); The Progressive Development
Alliance (a combination of two parties, HPP and PVF) [Harry
KISOENSINGH]
Political pressure groups and leaders: General Liberation and
Development Party or ABOP; Mandela Bushnegro
Liberation Movement; 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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), 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 Arnold Theodoor HALFHIDE chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 244-7488 FAX: (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: 472900, 477881, 476459 FAX: 420800
Flag description: five horizontal stripes 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 stripe.
@Suriname:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is largely driven by the bauxite industry, which makes up over 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. After taking office in the fall of 1996, the WIJDENBOSCH government put an end to the structural adjustment program initiated by the previous administration, arguing it was unfair to the poorer parts of society. Tax revenues dropped as old taxes expired and the government struggled to introduce new tax options. By the end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was put on hold as relations between the Surinamese Government and the Netherlands soured. Economic growth slowed in 1998, along with declines in the mining, construction, and utility sectors. Overspending by the government, ineffective tax collection, a bloated civil service, and decreased foreign aid in 1999 contributed to a fiscal deficit estimated at 11% of GDP. The government attempted to address this deficit through monetary expansion, which resulted in a significant rise in inflation and depreciation of the exchange rate. Suriname's economic outlook in the medium term will hinge on a renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and the implementation of structural reforms aimed at liberalizing markets and encouraging competition.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.48 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,400 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 22% services: 65% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 170% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 100,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $393 million expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.)
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum production, logging, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 estimate)
Electricity - production: 2.008 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 24.65% hydro: 75.35% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.867 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
Exports: $406.1 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: alumina, aluminum, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Exports - partners: Norway 24%, Netherlands 23.8%, US 21.7%, France 7.3%, Japan 4.9%, UK (1998 est.)
Imports: $461.4 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - goods: machinery, oil, food, cotton, consumer products
Imports - partners: US 31.2%, Netherlands 17.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 16.1%, Japan 4.3%, UK 4%, Brazil (1998)
Debt - external: $175.6 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: Netherlands received $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (1998)
Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 995 (December 1999), 710 (May 1999), 850 (January 1999); central bank midpoint rate: 639.50 (1st Qtr 1999), 401.00 (1998), 401.00 (1997), 401.26 (1996), 442.23 (1995); parallel rate: 1,325 (December 1999), 2000 (May 1999), 800 (December 1998), 412 (December 1995) note: starting in July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined; during 1998, the exchange rate split into four different rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, but later fixed it when the black-market rate dropped
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Suriname:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 56,844 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3,671 (1995)
Telephone system: 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) (1997)
Televisions: 63,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Suriname:Transportation
Railways: total: 166 km (single track) standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 4,530 km paved: 1,178 km unpaved: 3,352 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km; the main way to transport goods; large ocean-going ships with drafts up to 7 m can travel on many of the main waterways.
Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam,
Wageningen
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 3,432 GRT/4,525 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 46 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (1999 est.)
@Suriname:Military
Military branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force units), Civil Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 120,152 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 70,580 (2000 est.)
Military spending - total amount: $8.5 million (FY97 est.)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.6% (FY97 est.)
@Suriname:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims area in French Guiana between Litani
River and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); claims area
in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari
Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Illicit drugs: a hub for South American drugs mostly headed for Europe
______________________________________________________________________
SVALBARD
@Svalbard:Introduction
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.
@Svalbard:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents
Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78° N, 20° E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 62,049 sq km land: 62,049 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: arctic, tempered by the warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; the North Atlantic Current flows along the west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping the water open and navigable for most of the year.
Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of the high land is covered in ice; the west coast is ice-free for about half of the year; fjords line the 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: ice floes frequently block the entrance to Bellsund (a shipping point for coal export) on the west coast and sometimes render parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic.
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: the northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
@Svalbard:People
Population: 2,416 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -3.55% (2000 estimate)
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: NA deaths per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born per woman
Ethnic groups: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other negligible% (1994)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
@Svalbard:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes called Spitzbergen)
Data code: SV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; managed by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) living in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; according to a treaty (9 February 1920), sovereignty was granted 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 January 17, 1991) head of government: Governor Morten RUUD (since November 1998) and Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since 1996) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor are accountable to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
International organization participation: none
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
@Svalbard:Economy
Economy - overview: Coal mining is the main economic activity in Svalbard. The treaty from February 9, 1920, grants the 41 signatories equal rights to extract mineral resources, following Norwegian regulations. While coal companies from the US, UK, Netherlands, and Sweden have mined in the past, the only companies currently mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements in Svalbard are essentially company towns. The state-owned Norwegian coal company employs almost 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, manages many local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some hunting of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
GDP: $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: $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: $11.7 million expenditures: $11.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Exports: $NA
Imports: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $8.7 million from Norway (1997)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NOK) = 100 øre
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 8.0129 (January 2000), 7.7992 (1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995)
@Svalbard:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: local phone service international: satellite earth station - 1 of NA type (for communication with the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Svalbard:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund, Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
@Svalbard:Military
Military - note: demilitarized by treaty (February 9, 1920)
______________________________________________________________________
SWAZILAND
@Swaziland:Introduction
Background: The British guaranteed autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa in the late 19th century, and independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to reluctantly permit political reform and more democracy.
@Swaziland:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26.5° S, 31.5° E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 17,363 sq km land: 17,203 sq km water: 160 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: ranges from tropical to almost temperate
Terrain: primarily mountains and hills; some gently 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: 11% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 62% forests and woodland: 7% other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: limited supplies of drinkable water; wildlife populations declining due to overhunting; 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
@Swaziland:People
Population: 1,083,289 Note: Estimates for this country explicitly consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and gender than would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 245,626; female 247,825) 15-64 years: 52% (male 270,308; female 291,884) 65 years and over: 2% (male 11,357; female 16,289) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.02% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 40.64 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 20.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 people (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 108.95 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 40.44 years male: 39.54 years female: 41.37 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.87 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%
Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.7% male: 78% female: 75.6% (1995 est.)
@Swaziland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Eswatini conventional short form: Eswatini
Data code: WZ
Government type: monarchy; independent member of the Commonwealth
Capital: Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
Shiselweni
Independence: September 6, 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, September 6 (1968)
Constitution: none; the constitution from September 6, 1968, was suspended on April 12, 1973; a new constitution was announced on October 13, 1978, but was never officially presented to the public; since then, a few more drafts for a constitution have been created under the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), but so far, none have been approved.
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: NA years of age
Executive branch: chief of state: King MSWATI III (since April 25, 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since August 9, 1996) cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and approved 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 on October 16 and 24, 1998 (next to be held in 2003) election results: House of Assembly - voting is conducted on a non-party 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 are narrowed down to a single winner in a second round.
Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the king or queen;
Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king or queen
Political parties and leaders: Convention for Full Democracy in Swaziland (COFUDESWA); Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party (NGWASOREP); People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO); Swaziland Communist Party (SWACOPA); Swaziland Democratic Alliance (represents key opposition parties); Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU); Swaziland Liberation Front (FROLISA); Swaziland National Front (SWANAFRO); Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) - included in PUDEMO. Note: political parties are banned by the constitution established on October 13, 1978; illegal parties are not allowed to hold large public gatherings.
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 362-6683 FAX: (202) 244-8059
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gregory L. JOHNSON embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: 404-6441 through 404-6445 FAX: 404-5959
Flag description: three horizontal stripes of blue (top), red (three times wider), and blue; the red stripe is bordered in yellow; in the center of the red stripe is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all positioned horizontally
@Swaziland:Economy
Economy - overview: In this small landlocked economy, more than 60% of the population is involved in subsistence agriculture. The manufacturing sector includes several agro-processing factories. Mining has become less significant in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were exhausted by 1978, and concerns about health issues have reduced global demand for asbestos. The primary sources of hard currency are exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar, and wood pulp. Surrounded by South Africa, with the exception of a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland relies heavily on South Africa, receiving four-fifths of its imports from there and sending three-fourths of its exports to the country. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines add as much as 20% to locally earned income. The government is working to create a better environment for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought continue to pose challenges for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.2 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,200 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 48% services: 42% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: private sector around 70%, public sector about 30%
Unemployment rate: 22% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $400 million expenditures: $450 million, including capital expenditures of $115 million (FY96/97)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (FY 95/96)
Electricity - production: 420 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 48.81% hydro: 51.19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.078 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 687 million kWh note: imports about 60% of its electricity from South Africa (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Exports: $825 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus, and canned fruit
Exports - partners: South Africa 74%, EU 12%, Mozambique 5%, US, North
Korea (1997)
Imports: $1.05 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: cars, machinery, transport equipment, food, oil products, chemicals
Imports - partners: South Africa 83%, EU 6%, Japan, UK, Singapore (1997)
Debt - external: $180 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $55 million (1995)
Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 6.1237 (January 2000), 6.1087 (1999), 5.4807 (1998), 4.6032 (1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995); note - the Swazi lilangeni is equal to the South African rand.
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Swaziland:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 20,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1996)
Telephone system: domestic: the 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 4, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 155,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus seven repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 21,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Swaziland:Transportation
Railways: total: 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 2,896 km (1997 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 18 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
@Swaziland:Military
Military branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal
Swaziland Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 242,398 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 140,299 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $23 million (FY95/96)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY95/96)
@Swaziland:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Swaziland has requested that South Africa start discussions about bringing back some nearby South African territories that are inhabited by ethnic Swazis or that used to belong to the Swazi Kingdom a long time ago.
______________________________________________________________________
SWEDEN
@Sweden:Introduction
Background: A military power in the 17th century, Sweden hasn't been involved in any wars for almost two hundred years. It maintained a stance of armed neutrality during both World Wars. Sweden's long-standing successful economic model, which mixes capitalism with significant welfare components, has recently faced challenges due to high unemployment, increasing maintenance costs, and a decreasing presence in global markets. Uncertainty about the country’s role in Europe’s political and economic integration led Sweden to delay joining the EU until 1995 and to pass on adopting the euro in 1999.
@Sweden:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, next to the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
Kattegat, and Skagerrak, situated between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62° N, 15° E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 449,964 sq km land: 410,934 sq km water: 39,030 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 meters deep or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
Climate: mild in the south with cold, overcast winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in the north.
Terrain: mainly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains to the west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, wood, uranium, hydroelectric power
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 68% other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can disrupt maritime traffic
Environment - current issues: acid rain harming 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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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 position along the Danish Straits connecting
the Baltic and North Seas
@Sweden:People
Population: 8,873,052 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 837,358; female 794,774) 15-64 years: 64% (male 2,901,809; female 2,805,138) 65 years and over: 18% (male 648,865; female 885,108) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.02% (2000 estimated)
Birth rate: 10.01 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 10.62 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.05 males/females 15-64 years: 1.03 males/females 65 years and over: 0.73 males/females total population: 0.98 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.49 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.58 years male: 76.95 years female: 82.37 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 Lapp and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1979 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Sweden:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige
Data code: SW
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 21 counties (lan, singular and plural);
Blekinge, Dalarna, Gävleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jämtland,
Jönköping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Örebro, Östergötland,
Skåne, Södermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Värmland, Västerbotten,
Västernorrland, Västmanland, Västra Götaland
Independence: June 6, 1523 (Gustav VASA elected as king)
National holiday: Swedish Flag Day, June 6
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with some reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since September 19, 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the monarch (born July 14, 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since March 21, 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister elected by the Parliament; last election held in September 1998 (next to be held in 2002) election results: Goran PERSSON reelected as prime minister with 131 out of 349 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote using proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on September 20, 1998 (next to be held in September 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 36.5%, Moderates 22.7%, Left Party 12%, Christian Democrats 11.8%, Center Party 5.1%, Liberal Party 4.7%, Greens 4.5%; seats by party - Social Democrats 131, Moderates 82, Left Party 43, Christian Democrats 42, Center Party 18, Liberal Party 17, Greens 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges are appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Center Party ;
Christian Democratic Party ; Communist Workers' Party
; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokesperson is
Briger SCHLAUG]; Left Party or VP (formerly Communist) [Gudrun
SCHYMAN]; Liberal People's Party ; Moderate Party
(conservative) ; New Democracy Party ;
Social Democratic Party
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-6, G-
9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO,
UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rolf EKEUS chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702 telephone: (202) 467-2600 FAX: (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr. embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch) telephone: (8) 783 53 00 FAX: (8) 661 19 64
Flag description: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
@Sweden:Economy
Economy - overview: Thanks to peace and neutrality throughout the twentieth century, Sweden has achieved a remarkable standard of living under a mixed system of advanced capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled workforce. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore form the resource base of an economy that heavily relies on foreign trade. Privately owned companies make up about 90% of industrial output, with the engineering sector representing 50% of that output and exports. Agriculture contributes only 2% to GDP and 2% of jobs. However, in recent years, this exceptionally favorable situation has been overshadowed by budget challenges, inflation, high unemployment, and a gradual decline in competitiveness in international markets. Sweden has aligned its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the beginning of 1995. Sweden chose not to join the euro system when it launched in January 1999 but plans to hold a referendum in 2000 on whether to join. GDP growth is expected to be 4% in 2000, supported by strong consumer confidence.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $184 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.8% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $20,700 (estimated in 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 30.5% services: 67.3% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.4% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 4.3 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% plus around 5% in training programs (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $109.4 billion expenditures: $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)
Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, weapons), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 156.772 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 6.09% hydro: 46.49% nuclear: 45.16% other: 2.26% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 135.098 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 16.8 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 6.1 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, sugar beets, potatoes; meat, milk
Exports: $85.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners: EU 57% (Germany 11%, UK 9%, Denmark 6%, Finland 5%), Norway 9%, US 9% (1998)
Imports: $67.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery, oil and oil products, chemicals, cars, iron and steel; food, clothing
Imports - partners: EU 68% (Germany 19%, UK 10%, Denmark 6%, France 6%), Norway 8%, US 6% (1998)
Debt - external: $66.5 billion (1994)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 öre
Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 8.4831 (January 2000), 8.2624 (1999), 7.9499 (1998), 7.6349 (1997), 6.7060 (1996), 7.1333 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Sweden:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 6.017 million (December 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3.835 million (October 1998)
Telephone system: great domestic and international features; automatic system domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables handle most voice traffic; a parallel microwave radio relay network carries some extra 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: 163 (1997)
Televisions: 4.6 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 29 (1999)
@Sweden:Transportation
Railways: total: 12,821 km (includes 3,594 km of privately-owned railways) standard gauge: 12,821 km 1.435-m gauge (7,918 km electrified and 1,152 km double track) (1998)
Highways: total: 210,907 km paved: 163,453 km (including 1,439 km of expressways) unpaved: 47,454 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 2,052 km accessible for small steamers and barges
Pipelines: natural gas 84 km
Ports and harbors: Gävle, Gothenburg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall,
Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Sölvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
Merchant marine: total: 165 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 2,301,633 GRT/1,726,018 DWT ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 26, chemical tanker 33, combination ore/oil 4, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 23, rail car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 43, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier 18 (1999 est.)
Airports: 256 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 147 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 80 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 25 (estimated 1999)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 109 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 104 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Sweden:Military
Military branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,067,631 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,809,129 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 51,962 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $5 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.1% (FY98)
@Sweden:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SWITZERLAND
@Switzerland:Introduction
Background: Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been respected by the major European powers, and Switzerland stayed out of both World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past fifty years, along with Switzerland's involvement in numerous UN and international organizations, might be making the country's focus on neutrality less relevant.
@Switzerland:Geography
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 land: 39,770 sq km water: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative: a little 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: mild, but changes with elevation; cold, overcast, rainy or snowy winters; cool to warm, overcast, humid summers with occasional rain.
Terrain: mainly mountains (Alps in the south, Jura in the 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% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 28% forests and woodland: 32% other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (estimated 1993)
Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions and open burning; acid rain; water pollution from the increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity.
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, 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, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, has the highest elevations in Europe.
@Switzerland:People
Population: 7,262,372 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 637,782; female 605,626) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,498,540; female 2,421,802) 65 years and over: 15% (male 444,627; female 653,995) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.3% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 10.4 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.75 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.53 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.6 years male: 76.73 years female: 82.63 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 0.6%, other 8.9%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1980 estimate) male: NA% female: NA%
@Switzerland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German), Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian)
Data code: SZ
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Bern
Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (singular - canton in
French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular -
kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft,
Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Glarus, Graubünden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden,
Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, St. Gallen,
Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud,
Zug, Zurich
Independence: 1 August 1291
National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss
Confederation, August 1 (1291)
Constitution: 29 May 1874
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except for federal decrees that are generally obligatory; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Adolf OGI (since January 1, 2000); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since January 1, 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Adolf OGI (since January 1, 2000); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since January 1, 2000); 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 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 1999 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: Adolf OGI elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - Adolf OGI 71.8%; Moritz LEUENBERGER 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 Ständerat (in German), Conseil des États (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 based on proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Council of States - last held in 1999 (each canton decides when the next election will take place); National Council - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held in October 2003) election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDP 12, CVP 11, SVP 6, SPS 4, other 1; note - as of 1 January 2000, 12 seats were up for runoff elections; National Council - percent of vote by party - SPS 22.5%, SVP 22.6%, FDP 19.9%, CVP 15.8%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SPS 51, SVP 44, FDP 43, CVP 35, Greens 9, other small parties 18
Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court, judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Independents' Party
(Landesring der Unabhaengigen or LdU, Alliance des Independants or
AdI); Christian Democratic People's Party
(Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti
Démocrate-Chrétien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano
Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or
PCD); Freedom Party or FPS [Roland
BORER]; Green Party (Grüne Partei der Schweiz or Grüne, Parti
Écologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I
Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Hanspeter THUER,
president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische
Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Démocratique Suisse or PRD,
Partito Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Franz STEINEGGER,
president]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der
Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialiste Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista
Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS)
; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische
Volkspartei or SVP, Union Démocratique du Centre or UDC, Unione
Democratica di Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC)
; Ticino League (Lega dei Ticinesi)
; and other minor parties including Swiss Democratic Party
(Schweizer Demokraten or SD, Démocrates Suisses or DS, Democratici
Svizzeri or DS), Liberal Party (Liberale Partei der Schweiz or LPS,
Parti Liberal Suisse or PLS, Partito Liberale Svizzero or PLS),
Workers' Party (Parti Suisse du Travail or PST, Partei der Arbeit der
Schweiz or PdAdS, Partito Svizzero del Lavoro or PSdL), Evangelical
People's Party (Evangelische Volkspartei der Schweiz or EVP, Parti
Évangélique Suisse or PEV, Partito Evangelico Svizzero or PEV), and
the Union of Federal Democrats (Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union or
EDU, Union Démocratique Fédérale or UDF, Unione Democratica Federale
or UDF)
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA
(observer), NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred DEFAGO chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 745-7900 FAX: (202) 387-2564 consulates general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador J. Richard FREDERICKS embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (31) 357 70 11 FAX: (31) 357 73 44
Flag description: red square with a thick, equal-sided white cross in the center that doesn't reach the edges of the flag
@Switzerland:Economy
Economy - overview: Switzerland is a wealthy and stable modern market economy with a per capita GDP that is 20% higher than that of the major Western European economies. However, it saw slower growth in 1999 due to weak demand both abroad and at home. Growth is expected to pick up again to over 2% in 2000. In recent years, the Swiss have aligned their economic practices closely with those of the EU to boost their international competitiveness. Although they are not seeking EU membership in the near future, Bern and Brussels signed agreements in 1999 to further liberalize trade relations. Those agreements still need to be approved in a Swiss referendum set for spring 2000. Switzerland continues to be viewed as a safe haven for investors because it has maintained a level of bank secrecy and preserved the long-term external value of the franc.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $197 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $27,100 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.8% industry: 31.1% services: 66.1% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 28.6% (1982)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 3.8 million (956,000 foreign workers, mainly Italian) (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 67%, industry 28%, agriculture and forestry 5% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.8% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $32.66 billion expenditures: $34.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3 billion (1998 est.)
Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (estimated for 1999)
Electricity - production: 61.076 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3.74% hydro: 54.29% nuclear: 40.18% other: 1.79% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 50.8 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 29.6 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 23.6 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, and eggs
Exports: $98.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - products: machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural goods
Exports - partners: EU 62% (Germany 24%, France 10%, Italy 8%, UK 6%,
Austria 3%), US 10%, Japan 4% (1998)
Imports: $99 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners: EU 80% (Germany 33%, France 12%, Italy 10%,
Netherlands 5%, UK 5%), US 6%, Japan 3% (1998)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Swiss franc (SFR) = 100 centimes.
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SFR) per US$1 - 1.5878 (January 2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Switzerland:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 4.82 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 810,170 (1999)
Telephone system: great 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: 108 (1997)
Televisions: 3.31 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 115 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (1999)
@Switzerland:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,492 km (1,564 km double track) standard gauge: 3,317 km 1.435-m gauge (3,288 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,165 km 1.000-m gauge (1,165 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (1998)
Highways: total: 71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways) (1998 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (from Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to
Lake Constance); 12 navigable lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
Ports and harbors: Basel
Merchant marine: total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 429,998 GRT/771,227 DWT ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 5, chemical tanker 5, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 67 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 15 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)
@Switzerland:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Border Guards, Fortification
Guards
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,855,808 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,579,921 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 42,169 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $3.1 billion (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY98)
@Switzerland:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: due to stricter government regulations, used much less as a money-laundering hub; a transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin.
______________________________________________________________________
SYRIA
@Syria:Introduction
Background: After the Ottoman Empire fell apart during World War I, Syria was managed by the French until it gained independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976, Syrian forces have been present in Lebanon, supposedly for peacekeeping purposes. Recent discussions with Israel about the return of the Golan Heights have been renewed.
@Syria:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to the Mediterranean Sea, between
Lebanon and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35° N, 38° E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 185,180 sq km land: 184,050 sq km water: 1,130 sq km note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 35 nautical miles
Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along the coast; cold weather with snow or sleet occasionally hitting Damascus.
Terrain: mostly semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in the west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources: oil, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 28% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 3% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from dumping raw sewage and waste from oil refining; insufficient supplies of drinkable 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 (August 1999 est.)
@Syria:People
Population: 16,305,659
Note: Additionally, around 38,200 people are living in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 18,200 Arabs (16,500 Druze and 1,700
Alawites) and about 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 3,410,417; female 3,210,215) 15-64 years: 56% (male 4,688,967; female 4,476,022) 65 years and over: 3% (male 254,448; female 265,590) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.58% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 31.11 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.29 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
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: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 34.86 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.46 years male: 67.35 years female: 69.64 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.06 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and others 9.7%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (small communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages: Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, and Circassian are widely understood; French and English are somewhat understood.
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 70.8% male: 85.7% female: 55.8% (1997 est.)
@Syria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic conventional short form: Syria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah local short form: Suriyah former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Data code: SY
Government type: republic under military rule 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: April 17, 1946 (from the League of Nations mandate under
French administration)
National holiday: National Day, April 17, 1946
Constitution: 13 March 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; includes special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since February 22, 1971); note - President ASAD took power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers on February 22, 1971, and was confirmed as president in the national elections on March 12, 1971; Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since March 11, 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since March 11, 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Mohammad Mustaf MIRU (since March 13, 2000), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since March 11, 1984), Dr. Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI (since July 4, 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; referendum/election last held on February 8, 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Hafiz al-ASAD reelected president; percent of vote - Hafiz al-ASAD 99%
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on November 30-December 1, 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, non-NPF 33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - the constitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receives half of the seats
Judicial branch: The Supreme Constitutional Court, with justices appointed for four-year terms by the president; the High Judicial Council; the Court of Cassation; State Security Courts.
Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Front (NPF) (includes the Ba'th Party, ASU, Arab Socialist Party, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party, ASP, SCP);
Political pressure groups and leaders: The Communist Party is ineffective; conservative religious leaders; the Muslim Brotherhood (operates in exile in Jordan and Yemen); non-Ba'th parties have little real political influence.
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU,
CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 232-6313 FAX: (202) 234-9548
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: (11) 333-2814, 333-0788, 332-0783 FAX: (11) 224-7938
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.
@Syria:Economy
Economy - overview: Syria's mostly state-controlled economy is unstable due to Damascus's failure to implement comprehensive economic reform. The agricultural sector, which is the most dominant, remains underdeveloped, with about 80% of agricultural land still reliant on rain-fed sources. While Syria has enough water overall during normal precipitation levels, the significant distance between major water sources and population centers leads to serious distribution challenges. The water issue is worsened by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. Private investment is essential for modernizing the agricultural, energy, and export sectors. Oil production is plateauing, and the non-oil sector's efforts to enter international markets have not been successful. Syria's inadequate infrastructure, outdated technology, and weak educational system make it vulnerable to future crises and hinder competition with neighboring countries like Jordan and Israel.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $42.2 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 22% services: 49% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 15%-25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 4.7 million (1998 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12%-15% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $3.5 billion expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: oil, textiles, food production, drinks, tobacco, phosphate mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (1996 estimate)
Electricity - production: 17.5 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.86% hydro: 57.14% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 16.275 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, lamb, eggs, chicken, milk
Exports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., estimated 1999)
Exports - commodities: petroleum 65%, textiles 10%, manufactured goods 10%, fruits and vegetables 7%, raw cotton 5%, live sheep 2%, phosphates 1% (1998 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 14%, Turkey 13%, Italy 12%, France 9%,
Lebanon 9%, Spain (1998 est.)
Imports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., estimated in 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 23%, foodstuffs/animals 20%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%, chemicals 10% (1998 est.)
Imports - partners: Ukraine 16%, Italy 6%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5%,
France 4%, South Korea, Japan, US (1998 est.)
Debt - external: $22 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $199 million (1997 est.)
Currency: 1 Syrian pound = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Syrian pounds per US$1 - 46 (1998), 41.9 (January 1997); official fixed rate - 11.225 Syrian pounds per US$1
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Syria:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 930,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: a fair system currently getting significant upgrades and digital improvements, 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 stations: AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 4.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 54 (including 36 low-power and repeater stations) (1997)
Televisions: 1.05 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Syria:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,750 km standard gauge: 2,423 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 327 km 1.050-m gauge (2000)
Highways: total: 36,377 km paved: 26,299 km (including 877 km of expressways) unpaved: 10,078 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 870 km; low economic significance
Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km
Ports and harbors: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
Merchant marine: total: 137 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 429,005 GRT/626,069 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 120, livestock carrier 5, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 104 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 63 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Syria:Military
Military branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air
Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,220,578 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,358,973 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 196,616 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $800 million-$1 billion (FY97 est.); note - based on official budget data that may underestimate actual spending
Military spending - percent of GDP: 5.9% (FY98)
@Syria:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Golan Heights is occupied by Israel; there is a dispute with upstream country Turkey over its water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; Syrian troops have been in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976.
Illicit drugs: a transit hub for opiates and hashish headed for regional and Western markets
______________________________________________________________________
TAIWAN
@Taiwan:Introduction
Background: In 1895, a military defeat forced China to give up Taiwan to Japan, but it returned to Chinese control after World War II. After the communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and set up a government that has gradually democratized and integrated the native population over the past five decades. During this time, the island has thrived and become one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The main political issue remains the relationship between Taiwan and China and the question of potential reunification.
@Taiwan:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, islands along 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 land: 32,260 sq km water: 3,720 sq km note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Area - comparative: a bit smaller than the combined size of Maryland and Delaware.
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,566.3 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during the southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is consistent and widespread throughout the year.
Terrain: the eastern two-thirds are mainly rugged mountains; the west features flat to gently rolling plains.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Yu Shan 3,997 m
Natural resources: small amounts of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 55% other: 15%
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; illegal trade in endangered species; disposal of low-level radioactive waste
Environment - international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Taiwan:People
Population: 22,191,087 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 2,485,421; female 2,292,901) 15-64 years: 70% (male 7,869,939; female 7,629,195) 65 years and over: 8% (male 1,013,074; female 900,557) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.81% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 14.42 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.91 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.06 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.35 years male: 73.62 years female: 79.32 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions: 93% Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist; 4.5% Christian; 2.5% other
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86% (1980 est.); note - literacy for the total population has reportedly increased to 94% (1998 est.) male: 93% (1980 est.) female: 79% (1980 est.)
@Taiwan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan
Data code: TW
Government type: multiparty democratic system led by a president elected by the people
Capital: Taipei
Administrative divisions: in the past, the authorities claimed to be the government of all of China, so the central administrative divisions include the provinces of Fujian (about 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu) and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); note - the more commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Changhua, Chiayi, Chiayi*, Keelung*, Hsinchu, Hsinchu*, Hualien, Yilan, Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung**, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taichung, Taichung*, Tainan, Tainan*, Taipei, Taipei**, Taitung, Taoyuan, and Yunlin; the provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
National holiday: National Day, October 10 (1911) (Anniversary of the
Chinese Revolution)
Constitution: January 1, 1947, updated in 1992, 1994, and 1997
Legal system: based on a civil law system; accepts mandatory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years old; universal
Executive branch: note: President-elect CHEN Shui-bian is set to take office on May 20, 2000. chief of state: President LEE Teng-hui (took office after the death of President CHIANG Ching-kuo on January 13, 1988, elected by the National Assembly on March 21, 1990, and elected by popular vote in the first-ever direct presidential elections on March 23, 1996); Vice President LIEN Chan (since May 20, 1996) head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) Vincent SIEW (since September 1, 1997) and Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) LIU Chao-shiuan (since December 10, 1997) cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; last election held on March 18, 2000 (next to be held in March 2004); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president based on the premier's recommendation election results: CHEN Shui-bian elected president; percent of vote - CHEN Shui-bian (DPP) 39.3%, James SOONG (independent) 36.84%, LIEN Chan (KMT) 23.1%, HSU Hsin-liang (independent) 0.63%, LEE Ao (CNP) 0.13%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168 elected by popular vote, 41 elected based on the proportion of nationwide votes received by participating political parties, eight elected from overseas Chinese constituencies based on the proportion of nationwide votes received by participating political parties, and eight elected by popular vote among indigenous populations; members serve three-year terms) and unicameral National Assembly (334 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Legislative Yuan - last held on December 5, 1998 (next to be held in December 2001); National Assembly - last held on March 23, 1996 (next to be held in 2000) election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - KMT 46%, DPP 29%, CNP 7%, independents 10%, other parties 8%; seats by party - KMT 123, DPP 70, CNP 11, independents 15, other parties 6; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP 14%, other 1%; seats by party - KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6
Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan, justices appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Chinese New Party or CNP [CHOU Yang-sun]; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [LIN Yi-hsiung, chairman]; Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [LIEN Chan, acting chairman]; Taiwan Independence Party or TAIP; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: Taiwan independence movement, various business and environmental groups. Note: The debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics in Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature have opened public discussions about the island's national identity. Advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the ruling party's traditional position that the island will eventually reunify with mainland China. The goals of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation in Taiwan and joining 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, ADB, BCIE, ICC, IOC,
WCL, WTO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private entity, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US, which is based in Taipei and has field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities.
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people in Taiwan are handled through a private organization, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), headquartered in Rosslyn, Virginia (phone: (703) 525-8474 and FAX: (703) 841-1385) and with offices in Taipei at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, phone (2) 2709-2000, FAX (2) 2702-7675, and in Kaohsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, phone (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX (7) 223-8237, and the American Trade Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, phone (2) 2720-1550, FAX (2) 2757-7162.
Flag description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper left corner that has a white sun with 12 triangular rays
@Taiwan:Economy
Economy - overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing government control over investment and foreign trade. Following this trend, some large government-owned banks and industrial companies are being privatized. Real GDP growth has averaged about 8% over the past three decades. Exports have increased even more rapidly and have been the main driver of industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low, there is a substantial trade surplus, and foreign reserves are the third largest in the world. Agriculture contributes 3% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are consistently being moved offshore and replaced by more capital- and technology-intensive sectors. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has resulted in an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal. Due to its cautious financial practices and entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan faced little impact compared to many of its neighbors during the Asian financial crisis in 1998-99. Growth in 2000 is expected to improve slightly from 1999, supported by an increase in domestic consumption, exports, and private investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $357 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $16,100 (est. 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 33% services: 64% (1999 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 1% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.4% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 9.7 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 55%, industry 37%, agriculture 8% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.9% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $36.82 billion expenditures: $40.53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: electronics, oil refining, chemicals, textiles, steel, machinery, cement, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 133.586 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 65.91% hydro: 7.84% nuclear: 26.25% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 124.235 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish
Exports: $121.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: electronics, electrical and machinery equipment 52%, metals, textiles, plastics, chemicals
Exports - partners: US 26%, Hong Kong 21%, Europe 18%, Japan 10%,
Singapore 3% (1999)
Imports: $101.7 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: electronics, electrical and machinery equipment 45%, minerals, precision instruments
Imports - partners: Japan 27%, US 18%, Europe 16%, South Korea 6%,
Malaysia 4% (1999)
Debt - external: $35 billion (September 1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 31.395 (year-end 1999), 32.216 (1998), 32.052 (1997), 27.5 (1996), 27.5 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30 (up to FY98/99); July 1, 1999 - December 31, 2000 for FY00; calendar year (after FY00)
@Taiwan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 12 million (October 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 10.2 million (October 1999)
Telephone system: domestic: offers modern telecommunications services for all business and personal needs; fully digitalized international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Pacific Ocean and 1 in the Indian Ocean); underwater 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 15 (1999)
@Taiwan:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,481 km (519 km electrified) narrow gauge: 2,481 km 1.067-m (1999)
Highways: total: 34,901 km paved: 31,271 km (including 538 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,630 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: oil products 3,400 km; natural gas 1,800 km (1999)
Ports and harbors: Keelung, Hualien, Kaohsiung, Su-ao,
Taichung
Merchant marine: total: 175 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 4,944,166 GRT/7,710,891 DWT ships by type: bulk 45, cargo 33, combination bulk 1, container 69, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 38 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 35 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Taiwan:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Coastal
Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined
Service Forces
Military manpower - military age: 19 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,554,373 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 5,017,643 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 201,413 (2000 estimate)
Military spending - dollar amount: $8.042 billion (FY98/99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.8% (FY98/99)
@Taiwan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: involved in a complex argument over the Spratly
Islands with China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly
Brunei; the Paracel Islands are occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and
Taiwan; also claims the Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku
Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China.
Illicit drugs: viewed as a key transit point for heroin; significant issue with local use of methamphetamines and heroin
______________________________________________________________________
TAJIKISTAN
@Tajikistan:Introduction
Background: Tajikistan has gone through three government changes and a civil war since gaining independence in 1991 when the USSR fell apart. A peace deal between rival groups was signed in 1997, but its implementation has been slow. However, several opposition political parties have been legalized and are taking part in elections, indicating that the country might be politically stabilizing. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian-commanded border guards are positioned along the border with Afghanistan.
@Tajikistan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates: 39° N, 71° E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 143,100 sq km land: 142,700 sq km water: 400 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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: mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in the Pamir Mountains.
Terrain: The Pamir and Alay mountains dominate the landscape; the western Fergana
Valley is in the north, and the Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys are in the southwest.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Syrdariya 300 m highest point: Pik Imeni Ismail Samani 7,495 m
Natural resources: hydropower, some oil, uranium, mercury, lignite, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 4% other: 65% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: insufficient sanitation facilities; rising soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive use of pesticides; part of the basin of the shrinking Aral Sea is facing severe overuse of available water for irrigation and related pollution.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked
@Tajikistan:People
Population: 6,440,732 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 1,362,521; female 1,336,205) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,714,545; female 1,734,430) 65 years and over: 4% (male 126,170; female 166,861) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.12% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 33.56 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.64 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -3.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 117.42 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.08 years male: 60.95 years female: 67.38 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.35 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Tajikistani(s) adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining due to emigration), other 6.6%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
Languages: Tajik (official), with Russian commonly used in government and business
Literacy: definition: age 15 and up can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97% (1989 est.)
@Tajikistan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan conventional short form: Tajikistan local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston local short form: none former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: TI
Government type: republic
Capital: Dushanbe
Administrative divisions: 2 regions (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and one autonomous region* (viloyati mukhtori); Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshoni* (Khorugh - formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa - formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobod (Khujand - formerly Leninabad) note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Independence: September 9, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: National Day, September 9 (1991)
Constitution: 6 November 1994
Legal system: based on a civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Emomali RAHMONOV (since November 6, 1994; head of state and chairman of the Supreme Assembly since November 19, 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Ogil OQILOV (since January 20, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held on November 6, 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Emomali RAHMONOV elected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMONOV 96%, Davlat USMONOV 4%
Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli (181 seats; next election 96 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on February 26 and March 12, 1995 (next to be held on February 27 and March 23, 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; estimated seats by party - Communist Party and affiliates 100, People's Party 10, Party of People's Unity 6, Party of Economic and Political Renewal 1, other 64
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, where judges are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or TDP [Mahmadruzi
ISKANDDAROV, chairman]; Islamic Rebirth Party [Muhammadsharif
HIMMAT-ZODA, chairman]; Lali Badakhshan Movement ;
National Unity Party - evolved from the People's Party and Party of
People's Unity; Party of Justice and Development ;
People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT ;
Rastokhez (Rebirth) Movement ; Tajik Communist
Party or CPT ; Tajikistan Party of Economic and
Political Renewal or TPEPR ; United Tajik Opposition or UTO
- an umbrella group including; Adolatho "Justice"
Party
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tajikistan doesn't have an embassy in the US, but it does have a permanent mission to the UN: address - 136 East 67th Street, New York, NY 10021, telephone - (212) 472-7645, FAX - (212) 628-0252; the permanent representative to the UN is Rashid ALIMOV.
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert FINN embassy: temporarily located with the US Embassy in Almaty (Kazakhstan) mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: NA FAX: NA
Flag description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown topped with seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe.
@Tajikistan:Economy
Economy - overview: Tajikistan has the lowest per capita GDP among the 15 former Soviet republics. Cotton is the most important crop. The country's mineral resources are diverse but limited in quantity and include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Its industry mainly includes a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and outdated small factories primarily in light industry and food processing. The Tajikistani economy has been severely impacted by six years of civil conflict, as well as the withdrawal of subsidies from Moscow and the loss of markets for its goods. As a result, Tajikistan relies on aid from Russia and Uzbekistan, along with international humanitarian assistance for many of its basic survival needs. Even with the peace agreement reached in June 1997, the country faces significant challenges in integrating refugees and former combatants into the economy. The future of Tajikistan's economy and its potential to attract foreign investment hinge on maintaining stability and continuing progress in the peace process.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,020 (estimated 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 24% services: 42% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 1.9 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 50%, industry 20%, services 30% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% only includes those officially registered as unemployed; there are also many underemployed workers and unregistered unemployed individuals (December 1998)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, machine tools for metal cutting, refrigerators, and freezers
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 13.27 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.51% hydro: 98.49% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 12.561 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 3.33 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 3.55 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $634 million (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
Exports - partners: Uzbekistan 37%, Liechtenstein 26%, Russia 16%,
Kazakhstan 6% (1997)
Imports: $770 million (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: electricity, oil products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, food.
Imports - partners: Netherlands 32%, Uzbekistan 29%, Switzerland 20%,
Russia 9% (1997)
Debt - external: $1.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $64.7 million (1995)
Currency: Tajikistani ruble (TJR) = 100 tanga
Exchange rates: Tajikistani rubles (TJR) per US$1 - 1550 (January 2000), 998 (January 1999), 350 (January 1997), 284 (January 1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Tajikistan:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 263,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: not well developed and poorly maintained; many towns are not connected to the national network. Domestic: cable and microwave radio relay. International: connected by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics, and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe is linked by Intelsat to the international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 2 Intelsat.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: 1.291 million (1991)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, repeaters that relay programs from Russia, Iran, and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: 860,000 (1991)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Tajikistan:Transportation
Railways: total: 480 km in public transport service; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways: total: 13,700 km paved: 11,330 km (these roads are considered hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced) unpaved: 2,370 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: natural gas 400 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 59 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 36 (1994 est.)
@Tajikistan:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Presidential
National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,529,832 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,253,427 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 68,262 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $17 million (FY97)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 1.8% (FY97)
@Tajikistan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: parts of the border with China are unclear; there is a territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan over the northern boundary in the Isfara Valley area.
Illicit drugs: limited illegal cultivation of cannabis, primarily for domestic use; opium poppy cultivation was negligible in 1998 due to the government's eradication program; significant transshipment point for illegal drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe.
______________________________________________________________________
TANZANIA
@Tanzania:Introduction
Background: Shortly after gaining independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to create the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule ended in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s.
@Tanzania:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, next to the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 6°00'S, 35°00'E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 945,087 sq km land: 886,037 sq km water: 59,050 sq km note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Area - comparative: a bit more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,402 km
border countries: Burundi 451 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: ranges from tropical along the coast to temperate in the highlands
Terrain: coastal plains; central plateau; highlands in the north and 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: 3% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 38% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: the tsetse fly; 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
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa.
@Tanzania:People
Population: 35,306,126 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and shifts in the distribution of the population by age and sex compared to what would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 7,970,453; female 7,883,442) 15-64 years: 52% (male 9,110,501; female 9,325,726) 65 years and over: 3% (male 463,889; female 552,115) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.57% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 40.17 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 12.88 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males per female under 15 years: 1.01 males per female 15-64 years: 0.98 males per female 65 years and over: 0.84 males per female total population: 0.99 males per female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 80.97 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.26 years male: 51.32 years female: 53.23 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.51 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian
Ethnic groups: mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu, made up of over 130 tribes), other 1% (including Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African
Religions: mainland - Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%; Zanzibar - over 99% Muslim
Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (the term for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, the main language for business, government, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), and many local languages. Note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the native language of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and the nearby coastal areas of Tanzania. Although Kiswahili has Bantu origins and structure, its vocabulary includes elements from various sources, such as Arabic and English, making it the common language across central and eastern Africa. For most people, their first language is one of the local languages.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic total population: 67.8% male: 79.4% female: 56.8% (1995 est.)
@Tanzania:Government
Country name: conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form: Tanzania former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Data code: TZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Dar es Salaam note: some government offices have been moved to Dodoma, which is intended to be the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets there regularly
Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma,
Iringa, 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, Ziwa Magharibi
note: Ziwa Magharibi may have been renamed Kagera
Independence: April 26, 1964; Tanganyika gained independence on December 9, 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent on December 19, 1963 (from the UK); Tanganyika and Zanzibar united on April 26, 1964, to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; it was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania on October 29, 1964.
National holiday: Union Day, April 26, 1964
Constitution: April 25, 1977; major updates October 1984
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts is limited to interpretation matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since November 23, 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since November 23, 1995); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since November 23, 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since November 23, 1995); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government note: Zanzibar elects a president who is the head of government for local matters; Dr. Salmin AMOUR was elected to that position on October 22, 1995 cabinet: Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms; the last election was held from October 29 to November 19, 1995 (next is scheduled for October 29, 2000); prime minister is appointed by the president election results: percent of vote - Benjamin William MKAPA 61.8%, Augustine Lyatonga MREMA 27.8%, Ibrahim Haruna LIPUMBA 6.4%, John Momose CHEYO 4%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats - 232 elected by popular vote, 37 reserved for women nominated by the president, five for 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 also enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives to create laws specifically for Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000) election results: National Assembly: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 186, CUF 24, NCCR-Mageuzi 16, CHADEMA 3, UDP 3; Zanzibar House of Representatives: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 26, CUF 24
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; High Court, judges chosen by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo or
CHADEMA; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM
(Revolutionary Party); Civic United Front or
CUF; Democratic Party (unregistered) [Reverend
MTIKLA]; National Convention for Construction and Reform or NCCR
; Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga
MREMA]; Union for Multiparty Democracy or UMD;
United Democratic Party or UDP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB,
ECA, FAO, G-6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-6125 FAX: (202) 797-7408
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles R. STITH embassy: 285 Toure Drive, Dar es Salaam (temporary location) mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam telephone: (51) 666010 through 666015 FAX: (51) 666701
Flag description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue.
@Tanzania:Economy
Economy - overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy heavily relies on agriculture, which makes up half of the GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the workforce. However, the land's topography and climate restrict cultivated crops to just 4% of the land area. Industry mainly focuses on processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and various bilateral donors have offered funds to improve Tanzania's failing economic infrastructure. Between 1991 and 1999, there was a rise in industrial production and a significant increase in mineral output, particularly gold. Natural gas exploration in the Rufiji Delta shows promise, with production potentially starting by 2002. Recent banking reforms have boosted private sector growth and investment. Short-term economic development also relies on reducing corruption.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $23.3 billion (estimate for 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $550 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 17% services: 34% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 51.1% (1991 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 30.2% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.8% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 13.495 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $1 billion expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: mainly 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: 1.7 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.41% hydro: 70.59% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.625 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 44 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (an insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $828 million (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashew nuts, minerals, tobacco, sisal (1996)
Exports - partners: India 9.8%, Germany 8.9%, Japan 7.8%, Malaysia 6.5%, Rwanda 5.2%, Netherlands 4.7% (1997)
Imports: $1.44 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil
Imports - partners: South Africa 12.9%, Kenya 9.6%, UK 8.7%, Saudi
Arabia 6.6%, Japan 4.9%, China 4.6% (1997)
Debt - external: $7.7 billion (1999 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $963 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1 - 798.90 (January 2000), 744.76 (1999), 664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997), 579.98 (1996), 574.76 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Tanzania:Communications
Telephones - total lines in service: 127,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 30,000 (1999)
Telephone system: a fair system working below capacity and being updated for improved service; VSAT (very small aperture terminal) system is in progress. domestic: trunk service provided by open wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links are being converted to digital. international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Indian Ocean and 1 in the Atlantic Ocean).
Radio stations: AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 8.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1999)
Televisions: 103,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (1999)
@Tanzania:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,569 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge note: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia (of which 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km are in Zambia) is not part of Tanzania Railways Corporation; due to the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to Tanzania Railways
Highways: total: 88,200 km paved: 3,704 km unpaved: 84,496 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
Pipelines: crude oil 982 km
Ports and harbors: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko, Lindi,
Mtwara, Mwanza, Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar
Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,618 GRT/26,321 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 129 (1999 est.)
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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 118 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 65 under 914 m: 35 (1999 est.)
@Tanzania:Military
Military branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes
Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit,
Militia
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 8,104,226 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 4,690,681 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $21 million (FY98/99)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 0.2% (FY98/99)
@Tanzania:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: disagreement with Malawi over the border in
Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Illicit drugs: increasing involvement in the transshipment of Southwest and
Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine headed for
European and US markets, along with South Asian methaqualone destined for
Southern Africa
______________________________________________________________________
THAILAND
@Thailand:Introduction
Background: A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century; it was called Siam until 1939. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that has never been colonized by a European power. A peaceful revolution in 1932 resulted in a constitutional monarchy. After being allied with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally after the war.
@Thailand:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, next to 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 land: 511,770 sq km water: 2,230 sq km
Area - comparative: just over twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Myanmar 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
Malaysia 506 km
Coastline: 3,219 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, and cloudy during the southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry and cool during the northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); the southern isthmus is always hot and humid.
Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau to the east; mountains in other areas.
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, farmland
Land use: arable land: 34% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 26% other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 44,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: land subsidence in the Bangkok area due to the
Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and industrial waste; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations endangered by illegal hunting.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, 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: it only controls the land route from Asia to Malaysia and
Singapore
@Thailand:People
Population: 61,230,874 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and alterations in the age and sex distribution of the population compared to what would normally be anticipated (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 7,386,231; female 7,107,010) 15-64 years: 70% (male 21,102,363; female 21,714,411) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,726,043; female 2,194,816) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 16.86 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.53 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.48 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.55 years male: 65.29 years female: 71.97 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.88 children per woman (2000 estimate)
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 (second language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 96% female: 91.6% (1995 est.)
@Thailand:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand conventional short form: Thailand
Data code: TH
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 His Majesty the King, December 5 (1927)
Constitution: new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on October 11, 1997
Legal system: based on a civil law system, with influences from common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since June 9, 1946) head of government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since November 15, 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Privy Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the prime minister is chosen from among the members of the House of Representatives; after a national election for the House of Representatives, the leader of the party that can form a majority coalition typically becomes prime minister
Legislative branch: The bicameral National Assembly, or Rathasapha, consists of the Senate, or Wuthisapha, which is a 253-member appointed body that will transition into a 200-member elected body starting in March 2000; members serve six-year terms. The House of Representatives, or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon, currently has 392 members but will expand to a 500-member body after the next election; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. Elections: House of Representatives - last held on November 17, 1996 (next one scheduled by November 17, 2000, but may occur earlier). Election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NAP 125, DP 123, NDP 52, TNP 39, SAP 20, TCP 18, SP 8, LDP 4, MP 2, PDP 1.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or DP (Prachathipat
Party); Liberal Democratic Party or LDP (Seri Tham)
; Mass Party or MP [CHALERM Yoobamrung, SOPHON
Petchsavang]; National Development Party or NDP (Chat Phattana) [KON
Thappharangsi]; New Aspiration Party or NAP (Khwamwang Mai) [Gen.
CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut]; Phalang Dharma Party or PDP (Phalang Tham)
; Social Action Party or SAP (Kitsangkhom Party)
; Solidarity Party or SP (Ekkaphap Party) [CHAIYOT
Sasomsap]; Thai Citizen's Party or TCP (Prachakon Thai) [SAMAK
Sunthonwet]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BANHAN
Sinlapa-acha]; Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram (scheduled to leave March 2000) chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 944-3600 FAX: (202) 944-3611 consulates general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard HECKLINGER embassy: 120 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: (2) 205-4000 FAX: (2) 254-2990 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description: five horizontal stripes of red (top), white, blue (twice the width), white, and red.
@Thailand:Economy
Economy - overview: After experiencing the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995—averaging nearly 9% each year—increased speculation on Thailand's currency in 1997 triggered a crisis that revealed weaknesses in the financial sector and compelled the government to float the baht. Previously fixed at 25 to the dollar, the baht plummeted to its lowest point of 56 to the dollar in January 1998, and the economy shrank by almost 10% that same year. Thailand began recovering in 1999; early estimates suggest the economy grew by about 4%—most analysts expect similar growth in 2000. Starting in 1999, the baht stabilized, and inflation and interest rates began to decrease. The CHUAN government has worked closely with the IMF and followed its recovery program, which includes passing new bankruptcy and foreclosure laws. The regional recovery spurred exports, while government spending supported domestic demand. Although slow progress has been made in recapitalizing the financial sector, difficult measures—like implementing a privatization plan and compelling the private sector to restructure—are still pending.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $388.7 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,400 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 39% services: 49% (1997 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 12.5% (1998 estimate)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 37.1% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 32.6 million (1997 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services 31% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $20 billion expenditures: $23 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: tourism; textiles and clothing, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing like jewelry; electrical appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest producer of tungsten and third-largest producer of tin.
Industrial production growth rate: 12.6% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 85 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.44% hydro: 8.56% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 80.293 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 138 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 700 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Exports: $58.5 billion (f.o.b., estimated in 1999)
Exports - commodities: computers and components, clothing, rice
Exports - partners: US 22.3%, Japan 13.7%, Singapore 8.6%, Hong Kong 5.1%, Netherlands 4.0%, UK 3.9%, Malaysia 3.3%, China 3.2%, Taiwan 3.2%, Germany 2.9% (1998)
Imports: $45 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels
Imports - partners: Japan 23.6%, US 14.0%, Singapore 5.5%, Malaysia 5.1%, Taiwan 5.2%, Germany 4.2%, China 4.2%, South Korea 3.5%, Oman 2.6%, Indonesia 2.1% (1998)
Debt - external: $80 billion (1999 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.732 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1 - 37.349 (January 2000), 37.844 (1999), 41.359 (1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995)
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@Thailand:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 5.4 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.3 million (1998)
Telephone system: service to the general public is sufficient, but investment in tech upgrades has been cut back due to the recession; most of the service for government operations is provided by a multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network. domestic: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; a domestic satellite system is currently being developed international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Indian Ocean and 1 in the Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios: 13.96 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (all located in Bangkok; and 131 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 15.19 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (1999)
@Thailand:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,940 km narrow gauge: 3,940 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)
Highways: total: 64,600 km paved: 62,985 km unpaved: 1,615 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,999 km of main waterways; 3,701 km have navigable depths of 0.9 m or more year-round; many smaller waterways can be navigated by shallow-draft local boats.
Pipelines: oil products 67 km; natural gas 350 km
Ports and harbors: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip,
Si Racha, Songkhla
Merchant marine: total: 299 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,834,809 GRT/2,949,558 DWT ships by type: bulk 39, cargo 135, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 13, liquefied gas 19, multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 63, refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off 2, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 5 (1999 est.)
Airports: 106 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 56 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 33 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
@Thailand:Military
Military branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal
Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 17,621,080 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 10,603,857 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 580,014 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $2.075 billion (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.3% (FY97/98)
@Thailand:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: parts of the border with Laos are unclear; maritime boundary with Vietnam settled in August 1997; parts of the border with Cambodia are unclear; maritime boundary with Cambodia is not clearly defined; occasional conflict with Burma over the border alignment.
Illicit drugs: a small producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; a major transit point for heroin heading to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have decreased the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to nearby countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced due to eradication efforts; also a center for drug money laundering; a minor player in amphetamine production for local use; rising local abuse of methamphetamines and heroin.
______________________________________________________________________
TOGO
@Togo:Introduction
Background: French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Despite the appearance of multiparty rule established in the early 1990s, the government is still largely controlled by the military, which has held its power nearly uninterrupted since 1967.
@Togo:Geography
Location: Western Africa, next to 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 land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 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 and humid in the south; semi-arid in the north
Terrain: gently rolling savanna in the north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with large lagoons and marshes
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble, farmland
Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 17% other: 34% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: the hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in the north during winter; periodic droughts.
Environment - current issues: deforestation caused by slash-and-burn farming and the use of wood for fuel; recent droughts impacting agriculture
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
@Togo:People
Population: 5,018,502 note: estimates for this country explicitly account for the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex than would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 1,161,610; female 1,153,877) 15-64 years: 51% (male 1,254,437; female 1,327,306) 65 years and over: 3% (male 53,101; female 68,171) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.7% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 38.02 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 11.18 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.55 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.69 years male: 52.75 years female: 56.7 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.5 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups: native African (37 tribes; the largest and most significant are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Christian 20%, Muslim 10%
Languages: French (official and the language of business), Ewe and Mina (the two main African languages in the south), Kabye (also spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two main African languages in the north)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and up can read and write total population: 51.7% male: 67% female: 37% (1995 est.)
@Togo:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique Togolaise local short form: none former: French Togoland
Data code: TO
Government type: republic transitioning to multiparty democracy
Capital: Lome
Administrative divisions: 5 regions (regions, singular - region); De
La Kara, Des Plateaux, Des Savanes, Du Centre, Maritime
Independence: April 27, 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, April 27 (1960)
Constitution: multiparty draft constitution approved by the High Council of the Republic on July 1, 1992; adopted by public referendum on September 27, 1992
Legal system: French-based court system
Suffrage: NA years old; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since April 14, 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Eugene Koffi ADOBOLI (since May 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on June 21, 1998 (next one scheduled for 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Gnassingbe EYADEMA reelected as president; percentage of votes - Gnassingbe EYADEMA 52.13%, Gilchrist OLYMPIO 34.12%, other 13.75%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held March 21, 1999 (next scheduled for 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - RPT 77, independents 2, vacant 2 note: Togo's main opposition parties boycotted the election due to claims that EYADEMA manipulated the 1998 presidential polls; since March 1999, opposition parties have been negotiating with the president to create an independent electoral commission and plan a new round of legislative elections for sometime in 2000.
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Court of Appeal; Supreme Court or
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Action Committee for Renewal or CAR
; Coordination of New Forces or CFN [Joseph
KOFFIGOH]; Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Leopold
GNININVI]; Party for Democracy and Renewal or PDR ;
Patriotic Pan-African Convergence or CPP ; Rally of the
Togolese People or RPT ; Union of
Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO (in exile), Jeane-Pierre
FABRE, general secretary in Togo]; Union of Independent Liberals or
ULI
note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA,
was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was
legalized on April 12, 1991
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Akoussoulelov BODJONA chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-4212 FAX: (202) 232-3190
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda Brown SCHOONOVER embassy: Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome telephone: 21 77 17, 21 29 91 through 21 29 94 FAX: 21 79 52
Flag description: five equal horizontal stripes of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; there’s a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper left corner; features the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia.
@Togo:Economy
Economy - overview: This small sub-Saharan economy relies heavily on both commercial and subsistence farming, which provides jobs for 65% of the workforce. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton combined account for about 30% of export earnings. Togo is self-sufficient in basic food supplies during normal harvests, although it occasionally faces regional supply challenges. In the industrial sector, phosphate mining is the most significant activity, but it has struggled due to falling global phosphate prices and increased foreign competition. Togo acts as a regional commercial and trade hub. The government’s decade-long effort, backed by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reforms, attract foreign investment, and align revenues with expenditures has stalled. Political unrest, including strikes in both the private and public sectors throughout 1992 and 1993, jeopardized the reform program, reduced the tax base, and disrupted essential economic activities. The currency devaluation on January 12, 1994, by 50% provided a crucial boost for renewed structural adjustment; this was supported by the end of conflict in 1994 and a return to political stability. Progress depends on continuing privatization, increasing transparency in government financial operations (to accommodate higher social service spending), and potentially downsizing the military, which the regime has relied upon to maintain power. A lack of aid, along with low cocoa prices, caused a 1% decline in GDP in 1998, but growth resumed in 1999. If the political situation doesn’t worsen, growth should increase to 5% per year in 2000-01.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.6 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 21% services: 37% (1997)
Population below the poverty line: 32% (1987-89 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 1.538 million (1993 est.)
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: 90 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 93.33% hydro: 6.67% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 434 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 350 million kWh (1998) note: imports electricity from Ghana
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Exports: $400 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners: Canada, Philippines, Ghana, France (1998)
Imports: $450 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - goods: machinery and equipment, food, oil products
Imports - partners: Ghana, France, Ivory Coast, China (1998)
Debt - external: $1.3 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $201.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 West African CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since January 1, 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Togo:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 22,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: a fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes, supplemented by open-wire lines and a cellular system. Domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for the conventional system; the cellular system has the capacity for 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Togo:Transportation
Railways: total: 525 km (1995) narrow gauge: 525 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 50 km Mono river
Ports and harbors: Kpeme, Lome
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 56,332 GRT/97,443 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 9 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Togo:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,131,451 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 593,589 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $27 million (FY96)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY96)
@Togo:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers
______________________________________________________________________
TOKELAU
@Tokelau:Introduction
Background: Originally settled by Polynesian migrants from nearby island groups, the Tokelau Islands became a British protectorate in 1889. They were handed over to New Zealand's administration in 1925.
@Tokelau:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of three islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.
Geographic coordinates: 9° S, 172° W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 10 sq km land: 10 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; influenced by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain: flat coral islands surrounding 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: located in the Pacific typhoon belt
Environment - current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are driving people to emigrate to New Zealand.
@Tokelau:People
Population: 1,458 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -0.89% (2000 estimate)
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: NA deaths per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA kids born/woman
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 being the most common.
Languages: Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
@Tokelau:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau
Data code: TL
Dependency status: territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans are creating a constitution, building institutions, and establishing self-governance as Tokelau works towards free association with Wellington.
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, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand)
Constitution: governed by the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as updated in 1970
Legal system: British and local laws
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993) head of government: Aliki Faipule FALIMATEAO (since NA 1997) cabinet: the Council of Faipule, made up of three elected leaders, one from each atoll; acts as a cabinet elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government is selected from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term
Legislative branch: unicameral General Fono (45 seats - 15 from each of the three atolls; members selected by each atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 grants legislative authority to the General Fono
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court in New Zealand has authority over civil and criminal cases.
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: SPC, WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (New Zealand territory)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (part of New Zealand)
Flag description: the flag of New Zealand is used
@Tokelau:Economy
Economy - overview: Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources significantly limit economic development and keep agriculture at a subsistence level. The people depend on aid from New Zealand to support public services, with annual aid being much higher than GDP. The main sources of income are from selling copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Additionally, families receive money from relatives in New Zealand.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.5 million (1993 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 estimate)
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 businesses for coconut processing, woodworking, handmade crafts; stamps, coins; fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: coconuts, dried coconut meat, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, chickens, goats
Exports: $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)
Exports - commodities: stamps, copra, handicrafts
Exports - partners: NZ
Imports: $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)
Imports - products: food, construction materials, fuel
Imports - partners: NZ
Debt - external: $0
Economic aid - recipient: $3.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@Tokelau:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1999)
Telephone system: 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)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 0 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Tokelau:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: none; lagoon landings by amphibious planes from Samoa
@Tokelau:Military
Military - note: defense is New Zealand's responsibility
@Tokelau:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
TONGA
@Tonga:Introduction
Background: The group of islands known as "The Friendly Islands" came together to form a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It turned into a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and became a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga gained its independence in 1970 and joined the Commonwealth of Nations. It is still the only monarchy in the Pacific.
@Tonga:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, located approximately two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.
Geographic coordinates: 20°S, 175°W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 748 sq km land: 718 sq km water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative: four times larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 419 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; influenced by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain: most islands have a limestone base formed from raised coral formations; others have limestone on top of a 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: 24% permanent crops: 43% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 11% other: 16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Environment - current issues: deforestation is happening as more land is being cleared for farming and housing; there’s some damage to coral reefs from starfish and careless collectors of coral and shells; overhunting is putting native sea turtle populations at risk.
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: a group of 170 islands (36 of which are inhabited)
@Tonga:People
Population: 102,321 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.52% (male 21,633; female 20,850) 15-64 years: 54.43% (male 27,419; female 28,274) 65 years and over: 4.05% (male 1,877; female 2,268) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 24.92 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.86 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.45 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.94 years male: 65.54 years female: 70.45 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.2 children per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian, Europeans around 300
Religions: Christian (The Free Wesleyan Church has more than 30,000 members)
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.)
@Tonga:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands
Data code: TN
Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Nuku'alofa
Administrative divisions: three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu,
Vava'u
Independence: June 4, 1970 (freedom from UK protectorate)
National holiday: Emancipation Day, June 4 (1970)
Constitution: November 4, 1875, revised January 1, 1967
Legal system: based on English law
Suffrage: 21 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since December 16, 1965) head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since August 22, 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since August 22, 1991) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch note: there is also a Privy Council that includes the monarch and the Cabinet elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister are appointed for life by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 set aside for cabinet ministers who are part of it by default, nine for nobles chosen by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by public vote; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held NA March 1999 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote - pro-democratic 40%; seats - pro-democratic 5, traditionalist 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king/queen;
Privy Council along with the chief justice of the Supreme
Court serves as the Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Human Rights and Democracy Movement [Huliki WATAB, chair, Viliami FUKOFUKA, president, 'Akilisi POHIVA, vice president]
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tonga doesn’t have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO resides in London. The address is: Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, c/o Tonga High Commission, 36 Molyneux Street, London W1H 6AB, telephone (171) 724-5828, FAX (171) 723-9074. Consulate(s) general: San Francisco.
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is responsible for Tonga.
Flag description: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper left corner
@Tonga:Economy
Economy - overview: The foundation of the economy is agriculture, which contributes 30% to GDP. The main crops are squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans, and agricultural exports represent two-thirds of total exports. The country has to import a significant amount of its food, mostly from New Zealand. The industrial sector makes up only 10% of GDP. Tourism is the main source of foreign currency earnings. The country continues to rely on substantial external aid and remittances to balance its trade deficit. The government is focusing on developing the private sector, particularly by promoting investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $238 million (1998 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.3% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,200 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 10% services: 60% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (estimated for 1998)
Labor force: 36,665 (1994)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.8% (FY93/94)
Budget: revenues: $49 million expenditures: $120 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: tourism, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (FY95/96)
Electricity - production: 35 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 33 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Exports: $8 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: squash, fish, vanilla beans
Exports - partners: Japan 53%, US 18%, NZ 6%, Australia 6% (1997 est.)
Imports: $69 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - products: food, machinery, transportation equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners: NZ 30%, Australia 19%, US 11%, UK 11%, Japan 3% (1997 est.)
Debt - external: $62 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $38.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Exchange rates: pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.6250 (November 1999), 1.4921 (1998), 1.2635 (1997), 1.2323 (1996), 1.2709 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Tonga:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 7,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 114 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: N/A international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 61,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Tonga:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 17,760 GRT/25,948 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, liquified gas 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Tonga:Military
Military branches: Tonga Defense Services (includes, Royal Tongan
Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Maritime Force, Police); note - a new
Air Wing that will report to the Defense Ministry is being
developed
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Tonga:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
@Trinidad and Tobago:Introduction
Background: The islands were brought under British control in the 19th century; they gained independence in 1962. The country is one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, mainly due to its petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, primarily in Tobago, is set for expansion and is on the rise.
@Trinidad and Tobago:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 11° N, 61° 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: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the outer edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain: mainly flat with a few hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, asphalt
Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 46% other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 220 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: outside the typical path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment - current issues: water pollution from farm chemicals, industrial waste, and untreated sewage; oil spills on beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Trinidad and Tobago:People
Population: 1,175,523 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25% (male 151,736; female 146,135) 15-64 years: 68% (male 410,668; female 389,303) 65 years and over: 7% (male 34,559; female 43,122) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.49% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 13.84 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.84 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -9.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.05 males/females 65 years and over: 0.8 males/females total population: 1.03 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.76 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.97 years male: 65.45 years female: 70.59 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s) adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups: Black 39.5%, East Indian (a local term - mainly immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese and others 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: ages 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 98.8% female: 97% (1995 est.)
@Trinidad and Tobago:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Data code: TD
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: August 31, 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, August 31 (1962)
Constitution: 1 August 1976
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted mandatory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since March 19, 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since November 9, 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by an electoral college made up of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term; last election held in November 1995 (next to be held by November 2000); prime minister appointed from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives is typically appointed prime minister election results: Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 69%
Legislative branch: The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; members are 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 on November 6, 1995 (next to be held by December 2000) Election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM 52%, UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party - PNM 15, UNC 19, NAR 1, independent 1; note - the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR. Note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members serving four-year terms.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court includes the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals. Judges are appointed by the president based on the prime minister's advice.
Political parties and leaders: Movement for Social Transformation or
MOTION; Movement for Unity and Progress or MUP
; National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [leader
NA]; National Development Party or NDP; National
Joint Action Committee or NJAC; People's National
Movement or PNM; United National Congress or UNC
Political pressure groups and leaders: Jamaat Al Musilmeen
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael A. ARNEAUD chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 467-6490 FAX: (202) 785-3130 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain telephone: (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176 FAX: (809) 628-5462
Flag description: red with a black diagonal band edged in white running from the top hoist side.
@Trinidad and Tobago:Economy
Economy - overview: Trinidad and Tobago has built a reputation as a great place for international businesses to invest. Effective economic reforms were put in place in 1995, leading to flourishing foreign investment and trade. However, consistently high unemployment continues to be a major challenge for the government. The petrochemical sector has driven growth in other related industries, strengthening the government's focus on diversifying the economy. Tourism is on the rise, particularly in the pleasure boat sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.41 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,500 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 44% services: 54% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21% (1992 estimate)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 558,700 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: construction and utilities 12.4%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services 64.1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 14.2% (1998)
Budget: revenues: $1.54 billion expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $117.3 million (1998)
Industries: oil, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverages, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1995)
Electricity - production: 4.763 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.27% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0.73% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 4.43 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus fruits, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: oil and oil products, chemicals, steel items, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruits, flowers
Exports - partners: US 36.9%, Caricom countries 29.4%, Central and
South America 9.7%, EU 6.3% (1998)
Imports: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals
Imports - partners: US 44.7%, Latin America 18.9%, EU 13.7%, Japan 4.8% (1998)
Debt - external: $2.2 billion (1997 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $121.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1 - 6.2697 (January 2000), 6.2963 (1999), 6.2983 (1998), 6.2517 (1997), 6.0051 (1996), 5.9478 (1995)
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@Trinidad and Tobago:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 209,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 5,615 (1995)
Telephone system: outstanding international service; reliable local service domestic: N/A international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 680,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 425,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Trinidad and Tobago:Transportation
Railways: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway service ended in 1968.
Highways: total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas 904 km
Ports and harbors: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas,
Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 2,439 GRT/4,040 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 6 (1999 est.)
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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Trinidad and Tobago:Military
Military branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 342,980 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 245,253 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $83 million (FY94)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@Trinidad and Tobago:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a key transit point for South American drugs headed for the US and Europe; a producer of cannabis
______________________________________________________________________
TROMELIN ISLAND
@Tromelin Island:Geography
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 land: 1 sq km water: 0 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: contiguous zone: 12 nm 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
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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (scattered bushes)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: important location for predicting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary
@Tromelin Island:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)
@Tromelin Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin
Data code: TE
Dependency status: possession of France; managed by a high commissioner of the Republic, living in Reunion
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Tromelin Island:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Tromelin Island:Communications
Communications - note: important weather station
@Tromelin Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; only offshore anchorage available
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Tromelin Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France.
@Tromelin Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar and Mauritius
______________________________________________________________________
TUNISIA
@Tunisia:Introduction
Background: After gaining independence from France in 1956, President Habib BOURGUIBA set up a strict one-party state. He ruled the country for 31 years, suppressing Islamic fundamentalism and securing women's rights that were unmatched by any other Arab nation. In recent years, Tunisia has adopted a moderate, non-aligned approach in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has aimed to ease growing pressure for a more open political society.
@Tunisia:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, next to the Mediterranean Sea, between
Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates: 34° 00' N, 9° 00' E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mild in the north with cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in the south.
Terrain: mountains in the north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south that merges into the Sahara.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m
Natural resources: oil, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt, arable land
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 4% other: 44% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,850 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses risks to human health; water pollution from untreated 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: important position in the center of the Mediterranean
@Tunisia:People
Population: 9,593,402 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 1,469,048; female 1,375,782) 15-64 years: 64% (male 3,080,631; female 3,089,244) 65 years and over: 6% (male 290,388; female 288,309) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.17% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 17.38 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s) per female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s) per female 15-64 years: 1 male(s) per female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s) per female total population: 1.02 male(s) per female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.09 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.69 years male: 72.14 years female: 75.36 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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 business),
French (business)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 66.7% male: 78.6% female: 54.6% (1995 est.)
@Tunisia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis
Data code: TS
Government type: republic
Capital: Tunis
Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Al Kaf, Al Mahdiyah, Al
Munastir, Al Qasrayn, Al Qayrawan, Aryanah, Bajah, Banzart, Bin 'Arus,
Jundubah, Madanin, Nabul, Qabis, Qafsah, Qibili, Safaqis, Sidi Bu
Zayd, Silyanah, Susah, Tatawin, Tawzar, Tunis, Zaghwan
Independence: March 20, 1956 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, March 20 (1956)
Constitution: June 1, 1959; amended July 12, 1988
Legal system: based on the French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in a joint session.
Suffrage: 20 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since November 7, 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since November 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on October 24, 1999 (next to be held in 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 (163 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - the government changed the electoral code to ensure that the opposition secured seats.
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Rally Party
or RCD; Movement of
Democratic Socialists or MDS; five other political parties
are legal, including the Communist Party.
Political pressure groups and leaders: the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is banned.
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Noureddine MEJDOUB chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 862-1850
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robin L. RAPHEL embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (1) 782-566 FAX: (1) 789-719
Flag description: red with a white circle in the center featuring a red crescent almost surrounding a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are classic symbols of Islam.
@Tunisia:Economy
Economy - overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, featuring significant sectors in agriculture, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing. While the government still has substantial control over economic matters, this has gradually reduced over the past decade due to increased privatization, a simplified tax structure, and a cautious approach to debt. Real growth averaged 5.0% during the 1990s, and inflation is slowing down. Growth in tourism and boosted trade have played key roles in this ongoing growth. Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union took effect on March 1, 1998, marking the first such agreement between the EU and Mediterranean countries to be implemented. Under this agreement, Tunisia will gradually eliminate trade barriers with the EU over the next decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to attract more foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges ahead.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $52.6 billion (estimate for 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 6% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 28% services: 60% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 14.1% (1990 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 30.7% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 3 million (1997 estimate) note: shortage of skilled workers
Labor force - by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16.5% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.1 billion expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (1999 est.)
Industries: oil, mining (especially phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, shoes, food, drinks
Industrial production growth rate: 8% (1998 estimate)
Electricity - production: 7.94 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 7.549 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 165 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: olives, grains, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruits, beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds
Exports: $5.8 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - products: textiles, machinery, phosphates and chemicals, agricultural goods, hydrocarbons
Exports - partners: France 27%, Italy 22%, Germany 15%, Belgium 6%,
Libya 4% (1998)
Imports: $8.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and tools, oil and gas, chemicals, fuel, food
Imports - partners: France 27%, Italy 20%, Germany 12%, Spain 4%,
Belgium 4%, US 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $12.1 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $933.2 million (1995); note - ODA, $90 million (1998 est.)
Currency: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 1.2455 (January 2000), 1.2546 (December 1999), 1.1387 (1998), 1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996), 0.9458 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Tunisia:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 628,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 50,000 (1998)
Telephone system: above the African average and still being improved; main hubs are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access available. domestic: trunk facilities include 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; part of Medarabtel; two international gateway digital switches.
Radio stations: AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 2.06 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 19 (plus a few low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 920,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Tunisia:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,168 km standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,687 km 1.000-m gauge dual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (three rails)
Highways: total: 23,100 km paved: 18,226 km unpaved: 4,874 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural gas 742 km
Ports and harbors: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis,
Zarzis
Merchant marine: total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 151,084 GRT/159,576 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 32 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
@Tunisia:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces,
National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,669,934 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,523,849 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 102,464 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $356 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY99)
@Tunisia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; Malta and Tunisia are in talks about the commercial use of the continental shelf between their nations, especially for oil exploration.
______________________________________________________________________
TURKEY
@Turkey:Introduction
Background: Turkey was established in 1923 from what was left of the Ottoman Empire. Shortly after, the country implemented secular laws to replace traditional religious decrees. In 1945, Turkey became a member of the UN, and in 1949, it joined NATO. In 1974, Turkey took control of the northern part of Cyprus to stop a Greek takeover of the island; relations between the two countries are still tense. Occasional military operations against Kurdish militants have displaced some people in southeastern Turkey and have faced international criticism.
@Turkey:Geography
Location: southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (the part of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically considered 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° N, 35° E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 780,580 sq km land: 770,760 sq km water: 9,820 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,627 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline: 7,200 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: in the Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR territorial sea: 6 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea; 12 nautical miles in the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean Sea
Climate: moderate; hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters; more severe in the interior
Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau
(Anatolia)
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, farmland, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 32% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 26% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 36,740 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: very strong earthquakes, especially in northern
Turkey, along a curve stretching from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Environment - current issues: water pollution from the dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, especially in urban areas; deforestation; worry about oil spills due to rising shipping traffic in the Bosporus.
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 connect the Black and Aegean
Seas
@Turkey:People
Population: 65,666,677 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 9,722,217; female 9,375,920) 15-64 years: 65% (male 21,671,638; female 20,966,110) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,811,599; female 2,119,193) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.27% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 18.65 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.96 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.03 males/females 65 years and over: 0.85 males/females total population: 1.02 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 48.9 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.97 years male: 68.63 years female: 73.41 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Turk(s) adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%
Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (Christian and
Jews)
Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 82.3% male: 91.7% female: 72.4% (1995 est.)
@Turkey:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Turkey conventional short form: Turkey local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti local short form: Turkiye
Data code: TU
Government type: republican parliamentary democracy
Capital: Ankara
Administrative divisions: 80 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, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gazi Antep,
Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul,
Izmir, Kahraman Maras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri,
Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya,
Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye,
Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas,
Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat,
Zonguldak
note: Karabuk, Kilis, Osmaniye, and Yalova are the four newest
provinces (there may be a fifth - Duzce); the US Board on Geographic
Names is waiting for an official Turkish administrative map for
verification of the boundaries
Independence: October 29, 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic, 29
October (1923)
Constitution: 7 November 1982
Legal system: based on different European continental legal systems; accepts mandatory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ahmed Necdet SEZER (since May 16, 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Bulent ECEVIT (since January 11, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president based on the prime minister's nomination note: there is also a National Security Council that acts as an advisory group to the president and the cabinet elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a seven-year term; last election held on May 5, 2000 (next scheduled for May 2007); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ahmed Necdet SEZER elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 60%
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 on April 18, 1999 (next to be held in 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DSP 136, MHP 130, FP 110, DYP 86, ANAP 88; note - as of March 7, 2000 seating was DSP 136, MHP 127, FP 103, DYP 85, ANAP 88, independents 6, vacancies 5
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president; Court of Appeals, judges elected by the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors.
Political parties and leaders: Changing Turkey Party or DEPAR [Gokhan
CAPOGLU]; Democracy and Peace Party or DBP ;
Democratic Left Party or DSP ; Democratic Party or DP
; Democratic Turkey Party or DTP ;
Enlightened Turkey Party or ATP ; Freedom and
Solidarity Party or ODP ; Grand Unity Party or BBP [Muhsin
YAZICIOGLU]; Labor Party or EP ; Liberal Democratic
Party or LDP ; Motherland Party or ANAP ;
My Turkey Party or TP ; Nation Party or MP [Aykut
EDIBALI]; Nationalist Action Party or MHP ; New
Democracy Movement or YDH ; Peace Party or BP [Ali
Haydar VEZIROGLU]; People's Democracy Party or HADEP ;
Republican People's Party or CHP ; Revolutionary People's
Party ; Socialist Power Party or SIP ; True
Path Party or DYP ; Virtue Party or FP ;
Workers' Party or IP
note: Welfare Party or RP was officially outlawed
on February 22, 1998
Political pressure groups and leaders: Confederation of Revolutionary
Workers Unions or DISK; Independent Industrialists and
Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD; Moral Rights Workers
Union or Hak-Is; Turkish Industrialists' and
Businessmen's Association or TUSIAD; Turkish
Confederation of Employers' Unions or TISK; Turkish
Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is; Turkish Union of
Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB
International organization participation: AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC, 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, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Baki ILKIN chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 612-6700 FAX: (202) 612-6744 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert PEARSON embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823 telephone: (312) 468-6110 FAX: (312) 467-0019 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana
Flag description: red with a vertical white crescent (the closed part is towards the side with the flagpole) and a white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening.
@Turkey:Economy
Economy - overview: Turkey has a vibrant economy that combines modern industry and commerce with traditional village agriculture and crafts. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, but the government still plays a significant role in essential industries, banking, transportation, and communication. The most important industry and largest exporter is textiles and clothing, which is almost entirely privately owned. The economic situation in recent years has been characterized by inconsistent growth and serious imbalances. After a sharp decline in 1994, real GNP averaged 6.5% annual growth from 1995 to 1998; it then dropped about 5% in 1999 as Turkey was negatively impacted by Russia's economic crisis and two major earthquakes. The already-large public sector fiscal deficit widened in 1999 to around 14% of GDP, largely due to the significant burden of interest payments, which accounted for 42% of central government spending. Despite the start of a customs union with the EU in January 1996, foreign direct investment in the country remains low—less than $1 billion annually—potentially because investors are worried about economic and political stability. However, future prospects are looking brighter, including for foreign investment, as the ECEVIT government is rolling out a major economic reform program that includes a tighter budget, social security reform, banking reorganization, and greatly accelerated privatization.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $409.4 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,200 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 29% services: 53% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 65% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 23.8 million (April 1999) note: approximately 1.5 million Turks work abroad (1994)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 45.8%, services 33.7%, industry 20.5% (April 1999)
Unemployment rate: 7.3% plus underemployment at 6.9% (April 1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $45.2 billion expenditures: $66.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.4 billion (1999)
Industries: textiles, food processing, automotive, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, oil, construction, timber, paper
Industrial production growth rate: -5.2% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 116.5 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.4% hydro: 30.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 118.5 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 209 million kWh (estimated for 1999)
Electricity - imports: 2.3 billion kWh (estimated for 1999)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, cotton, grains, olives, sugar beets, legumes, citrus fruits; livestock
Exports: $26 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: clothing 28%, food products 17%, textiles 12%, metal goods 9% (1998)
Exports - partners: Germany 21%, US 9%, UK 7%, Italy 6%, France 6% (1999)
Imports: $40 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery 29%, semi-finished goods 16%, chemicals 14%, transport equipment 11%, fuels 8% (1998)
Imports - partners: Germany 14%, Italy 8%, US 8%, France 8%, Russia 6%, UK 5% (1999)
Debt - external: $104 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $195 million (1993)
Currency: Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kuruş (theoretical)
Exchange rates: Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 545,584 (January 2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Turkey:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 17.244 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3.2 million (1998)
Telephone system: experiencing rapid modernization and expansion, especially with cellular phones. domestic: more digital exchanges are allowing a quick increase in subscribers; building a network of advanced intercity trunk lines, using both fiber-optic cables and digital microwave radio relay, is improving communication between urban centers; remote areas are served by a domestic satellite system; the number of people subscribing to mobile cellular phone services is increasing quickly. international: international service is supported by three submarine fiber-optic cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, connecting Turkey with Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia, as well as by 12 Intelsat earth stations and 328 mobile satellite terminals in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 72, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios: 11.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 69 (along with 476 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 20.9 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 24 (1999)
@Turkey:Transportation
Railways: total: 8,607 km standard gauge: 8,607 km 1.435-m gauge (1,524 km electrified) (1999)
Highways: total: 382,397 km paved: 95,599 km (including 1,726 km of expressways) unpaved: 286,798 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: about 1,200 km
Pipelines: crude oil 1,738 km; petroleum products 2,321 km; natural gas 708 km
Ports and harbors: Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli
(Izmit), Icel (Mersin), Samsun, Trabzon
Merchant marine: total: 547 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 5,935,173 GRT/9,771,421 DWT ships by type: bulk 155, cargo 244, chemical tanker 37, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 6, container 20, liquefied gas 5, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 35, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off 22, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 5 (1999 est.)
Airports: 118 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 82 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 26 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Turkey:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Aviation and Naval Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 20 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 18,523,950 (2000 estimate)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 11,227,922 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 664,024 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $6.737 billion (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 4.3% (FY97)
@Turkey:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: complicated maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea; the Cyprus issue with Greece; a dispute with downstream countries (Syria and Iraq) over water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; traditional claims regarding former Armenian lands in Turkey have decreased.
Illicit drugs: a key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and, to a much lesser extent, the US, via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; labs that convert imported morphine base into heroin are located in remote areas of Turkey as well as near Istanbul; the government enforces strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and the production of poppy straw concentrate.
______________________________________________________________________
TURKMENISTAN
@Turkmenistan:Introduction
Background: Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1925. It gained its independence when the USSR fell apart in 1991. President NIYAZOV maintains complete control over the country, and opposition is not accepted. Large reserves of hydrocarbons and natural gas could be a major advantage for this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects can be successfully established.
@Turkmenistan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, next to the Caspian Sea, between Iran and
Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates: 40° N, 60° E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 488,100 sq km land: 488,100 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 that rise up to mountains in the south; low mountains along the border with Iran; borders the Caspian Sea to the west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m (note - Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northeastern Turkmenistan that experiences significant fluctuations in water levels; at its shallowest, the level is -110 m; it is currently at -60 m, which is 20 m above Vpadina Akchanaya) highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 63% forests and woodland: 8% other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,000 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals and pesticides; salination and waterlogging of soil due to poor irrigation practices; pollution of the Caspian Sea; diversion of a significant portion of the Amu Darya's flow for irrigation, which hinders the river's ability 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
@Turkmenistan:People
Population: 4,518,268 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38% (male 887,088; female 850,384) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,277,176; female 1,321,465) 65 years and over: 4% (male 69,383; female 112,772) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.87% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 28.88 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.04 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 73.3 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.91 years male: 57.29 years female: 64.71 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.63 children born per woman (2000 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 older can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97% (1989 est.)
@Turkmenistan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: TX
Government type: republic
Capital: Ashgabat
Administrative divisions: 5 regions (singular - region): Ahal Region (Ashgabat), Balkan Region (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Region (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Region (Charjew), Mary Region. Note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses).
Independence: October 27, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, October 27, 1991
Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; 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 took place); note - the president serves as 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 took place); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government. cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president. 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). elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 21 June 1992 (next scheduled 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%.
Legislative branch: under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies: a unicameral People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (over 100 seats, with some elected by popular vote and others appointed; meets infrequently) and a unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: People's Council - N/A; Assembly - last held on December 12, 1999 (next scheduled for N/A 2004). Election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - N/A; note - all 50 elected officials were preapproved by President NIYAZOV; most are from the DPT.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, where judges are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT)
note: official opposition parties are banned; minor, unofficial opposition movements operate underground or in other countries
International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 588-1500 FAX: (202) 588-0697
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Steven R. MANN embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat mailing address: use the embassy street address telephone: (9312) 35-00-45, 35-00-46, 35-00-42, 51-13-06, Tie Line 962-0000 FAX: (9312) 51-13-05
Flag description: a green background with a vertical red stripe on the left side, featuring five carpet guls (designs used in making rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches like those on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars are in the upper corner of the field, just to the right of the red stripe.
@Turkmenistan:Economy
Economy - overview: Turkmenistan is mostly a desert country with nomadic cattle farming, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and vast gas and oil resources. Half of its irrigated land is used to grow cotton, making it the tenth largest producer in the world. It also has the fifth largest reserves of natural gas and significant oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states because its economy got a boost from higher prices for oil and gas and a sharp rise in hard currency earnings. In 1994, Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and mounting debts from its main customers in the former USSR for gas deliveries led to a significant decline in industrial production and caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. 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 rely on gas and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. Privatization goals remain limited. Turkmenistan is actively trying to open new gas export routes through Iran and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many years to achieve. In 1998-99, Turkmenistan faced revenue shortfalls due to the ongoing lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and obligations from extensive short-term external debt. The outlook in the near future is bleak because of widespread internal poverty and the burden of foreign debt. Assistance from the IMF seems necessary, yet the government is not yet ready to meet IMF conditions. Turkmenistan's 1999 agreement to transport 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas through Russia's Gazprom will help cover the fiscal shortfall in 2000, but won't compensate for the lack of meaningful progress in economic reform.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 9% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 62% services: 28% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 2.34 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 19%, other 37% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $521 million expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $83 million (1996 est.)
Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 8.745 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.94% hydro: 0.06% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 5.453 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 2.74 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 60 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, grains; livestock
Exports: $1.1 billion (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil and gas 55%, cotton 22% (1998)
Exports - partners: Iran, Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan,
Azerbaijan
Imports: $1.25 billion (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 45%, chemicals, food products (1998)
Imports - partners: Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, Germany, US, Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan
Debt - external: $2.1 billion (estimated in 1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $27.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Turkmen manat (TMM) = 100 tenesi
Exchange rates: Turkmen manats per US$1 - 5,200 (January 2000), 5,350
(January 1999), 4,070 (January 1997), 2,400 (January 1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Turkmenistan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 320,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: underdeveloped domestic: N/A international: connected by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries through leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat routes 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 (a lot of programming is relayed from Russia and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: 820,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Turkmenistan:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,187 km broad gauge: 2,187 km 1.520-m gauge (1996 est.)
Highways: total: 24,000 km paved: 19,488 km (these roads are considered hard-surfaced, meaning some are paved and some are all-weather gravel) unpaved: 4,512 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: the Amu Darya is a significant inland waterway
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km
Ports and harbors: Turkmenbashi
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 64 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 42 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)
@Turkmenistan:Military
Military branches: Ministry of Defense (Army, Air Force and Air Defense,
Navy, Border Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,141,227 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 926,160 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 46,487 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $90 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 3.4% (FY99)
@Turkmenistan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The boundaries of the Caspian Sea are still unresolved among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Russia, and
Illicit drugs: small-scale illegal cultivation of opium poppy, mostly for local use; limited government eradication efforts; increasingly serving as a transit hub for illegal drugs moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe; also a transit point for acetic anhydride headed for Afghanistan.
______________________________________________________________________
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
@Turks and Caicos Islands:Introduction
Background: The islands were under Jamaican control until 1962, when they became a crown colony. The governor of The Bahamas managed affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands got their own governor in 1973. Although independence was intended for 1982, that decision was changed, and the islands are currently a British overseas territory.
@Turks and Caicos Islands:Geography
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas
Geographic coordinates: 21.75° N, 71.58° W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 389 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; marine; influenced by trade winds; sunny and fairly dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; vast 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% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns gather rainwater.
Geography - note: 30 islands (8 inhabited)
@Turks and Caicos Islands:People
Population: 17,502 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 2,889; female 2,806) 15-64 years: 63% (male 5,834; female 5,274) 65 years and over: 4% (male 313; female 386) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.55% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 25.65 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.57 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 14.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.66 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.28 years male: 71.15 years female: 75.51 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: none adjective: none
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older has ever gone to school total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.)
@Turks and Caicos Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Data code: TK
Dependency status: British overseas territory
Government type: NA
Capital: Cockburn Town (on Grand Turk)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, August 30 (1976)
Constitution: introduced on August 30, 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised on March 5, 1988
Legal system: based on the laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1953), represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996) head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since January 31, 1995) cabinet: Executive Council is made up of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch; chief minister is appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held March 4, 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percentage of vote by party - PDM 52.2%, PNP 40.9%, independent 6.9%; seats by party - PDM 9, PNP 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Movement or PDM
; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington
MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP
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, featuring the UK flag in the upper hoist-side corner and the colonial shield positioned in the center of the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and includes a conch shell, lobster, and cactus.
@Turks and Caicos Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy of the Turks and Caicos relies on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for local consumption are imported. In 1996, the US was the top source of tourists, making up over half of the 87,000 visitors; tourist arrivals increased to 93,000 by 1998. Key sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs revenue.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $117 million (estimated in 1997)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1997 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,700 (1997 estimate)
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, finance, and other services (1997 est.)
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 (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - usage: 5 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Exports: $4.7 million (1993)
Exports - commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports - partners: US, UK
Imports: $46.6 million (1993)
Imports - commodities: food and drinks, tobacco, clothing, manufactured goods, construction materials
Imports - partners: US, UK
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $5.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: The US dollar is used
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Turks and Caicos Islands:Communications
Telephones - active landlines: 3,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone services
domestic: NA
international: 2 submarine cables; 1 satellite earth station
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (one not in use), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 8,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas can be received; cable television is available) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Turks and Caicos Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km
Ports and harbors: Grand Turk, Providenciales
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Turks and Caicos Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the UK's responsibility
@Turks and Caicos Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a transfer point for South American narcotics aimed at the US
______________________________________________________________________
TUVALU
@Tuvalu:Introduction
Background: In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands led the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The next year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract to lease its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over the following twelve years.
@Tuvalu:Geography
Location: Oceania, an island group made up of nine coral atolls in the
South Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between Hawaii and
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 8° S, 178° E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 26 sq km land: 26 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 24 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; cooled by easterly trade winds (March to
November); westerly storms and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral islands
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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: severe tropical storms are typically rare, but in 1997, there were three cyclones; the low elevation of islands makes them very vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Environment - current issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater isn't safe to drink, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build another); beach erosion due to the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearing of forest undergrowth for 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 impact on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water supply.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
@Tuvalu:People
Population: 10,838 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 1,872; female 1,802) 15-64 years: 61% (male 3,149; female 3,458) 65 years and over: 5% (male 239; female 318) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.41% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 21.78 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 7.66 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23.3 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.32 years male: 64.21 years female: 68.53 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Tuvaluan(s) adjective: Tuvaluan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian 96%
Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages: Tuvaluan, English
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
@Tuvalu:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands
Data code: TV
Government type: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; began discussing republic status in 1992
Capital: Funafuti
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: October 1, 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, October 1 (1978)
Constitution: 1 October 1978
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years old; everyone can vote
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA (since June 26, 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA (since NA April 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU (since NA April 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister are elected by and from the members of Parliament; election last held on April 27, 1999 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: Ionatana IONATANA elected prime minister; percent of Parliament vote - NA; Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU elected deputy prime minister; percent of Parliament vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also known as the House of Assembly (12 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held March 26-27, 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12
Judicial branch: eight Island Courts; High Court; note - a chief justice visits twice a year to oversee sessions of the High Court.
Political parties and leaders: there are no political parties, but members of Parliament typically come together in informal groups.
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, Sparteca,
SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tuvalu doesn't have an embassy in the US.
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn't have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is also responsible for Tuvalu.
Flag description: light blue with the UK flag in the top left corner; the outer part of the flag shows a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars representing the nine islands.
@Tuvalu:Economy
Economy - overview: Tuvalu is made up of a densely populated group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country lacks known mineral resources and has very few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the main economic activities. The government mainly earns revenue from selling stamps and coins and from worker remittances. About 1,000 Tuvaluans are employed in Nauru's phosphate mining industry. However, Nauru has started sending Tuvaluans back home as phosphate resources decline. The country receives significant annual income from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, with additional support from Japan and South Korea. Due to smart investments and cautious withdrawals, this fund has grown from an initial $17 million to over $35 million by 1999. The US government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu, with payments from a 1988 fisheries treaty totaling around $9 million in 1999, a sum expected to increase each year. To reduce reliance on foreign aid, the government is implementing public sector reforms, which include privatizing some government roles and cutting personnel by up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu started earning revenue from its area code for "900" lines and from selling its ".tv" Internet domain name. Royalties from these new tech sources could potentially triple GDP over the next decade. Low-lying Tuvalu is especially vulnerable to any rise in sea level due to future global warming.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.8 million (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 8.7% (1995 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $800 (1995 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (average 1985-93)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: people primarily earn a living through the exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls, as well as through wages sent home by those working abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors).
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $4.3 million expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Industries: fishing, tourism, copra
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 3 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: 3 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1995)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1995)
Agriculture - products: coconuts; fish
Exports: $165,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
Exports - commodities: copra
Exports - partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ
Imports: $4.4 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Imports - products: food, livestock, fossil fuels, equipment, manufactured items
Imports - partners: Fiji, Australia, New Zealand
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $7.9 million (1995); note - significant annual support from an international trust fund
Currency: 1 Tuvaluan dollar ($T) or 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.5207 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Tuvalu:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 400 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone system: domestic: radio telephone communication between islands international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 4,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Tuvalu:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 8 km (1996 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Funafuti, Nukufetau
Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,500 GRT/63,978 DWT ships by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Tuvalu:Military
Military branches: no standing military forces; the Police Force includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and surveillance operations.
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Tuvalu:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
UGANDA
@Uganda:Introduction
Background: Uganda gained independence from the UK in 1962. The dictatorial rule of Idi Amin (1971-79) led to the deaths of around 300,000 opponents; guerrilla warfare and human rights violations under Milton Obote (1980-85) resulted in an additional 100,000 deaths. In the 1990s, the government introduced non-party presidential and legislative elections.
@Uganda:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates: 1° N, 32° E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 236,040 sq km land: 199,710 sq km water: 36,330 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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; usually rainy with two dry seasons (December to
February, June to August); semiarid in the northeast
Terrain: mainly a plateau surrounded by 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, farmland
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 28% other: 29% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 90 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: draining of wetlands for farming; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching is common
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
@Uganda:People
Population: 23,317,560 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex compared to what would normally be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 51% (male 5,986,645; female 5,936,754) 15-64 years: 47% (male 5,443,613; female 5,448,563) 65 years and over: 2% (male 240,819; female 261,166) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.72% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 48.04 births per 1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 18.44 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Note: According to the UNHCR, by the end of 1998, Uganda was hosting 205,000 refugees from several neighboring countries, including: Sudan 190,000, Rwanda 7,500, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 5,400; refugees started returning to their home countries in 2000.
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: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 93.25 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 42.93 years male: 42.22 years female: 43.67 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.96 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ugandan(s) adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups: Baganda 17%, Karamojong 12%, Basogo 8%, Iteso 8%, Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Bunyoro 3%, Batobo 3%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 23%
Religions: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, Indigenous beliefs 18%
Languages: English (official national language, taught in elementary schools, used in courts, and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (the most commonly spoken Niger-Congo language, preferred for local publications in the capital and may be taught in schools), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 61.8% male: 73.7% female: 50.2% (1995 est.)
@Uganda:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Uganda conventional short form: Uganda
Data code: UG
Government type: republic
Capital: Kampala
Administrative divisions: 39 districts; Apac, Arua, Bundibugyo,
Bushenyi, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kalangala,
Kampala, Kamuli, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum,
Kotido, Kumi, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto,
Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pallisa, Rakai,
Rukungiri, Soroti, Tororo
Independence: October 9, 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, October 9 (1962)
Constitution: October 8, 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent Assembly, tasked with discussing the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved when the constitution was officially enacted in October 1995.
Legal system: In 1995, the government reinstated a legal system based on English common law and customary law; it accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since taking power on January 29, 1986); note - the president serves as both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since taking power on January 29, 1986); Prime Minister Apollo NSIBAMBI (since April 5, 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; the prime minister helps the president oversee the cabinet cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on May 9, 1996 (next to be held by May 31, 2001); note - the first popular election for president since independence in 1962 occurred 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 74%, Paul Kawanga SSEMOGERERE 24%, Muhammad MAYANJA 2%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (276 members - 214 directly elected by popular vote, 62 nominated by legally recognized special interest groups and approved by the president - women 39, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 3; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held June 27, 1996 (next to be held in 2001); election results: N/A; note - party election campaigning was not allowed.
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president; High Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: only one political organization, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), is recognized. The president insists that the NRM is not a political party but a movement that claims the loyalty of all. Among the existing political parties that are prohibited from sponsoring candidates, the most significant are the Ugandan People's Congress (UPC), Democratic Party (DP) [Paul SSEMOGERERE], and Conservative Party (CP). The new constitution requires the suspension of political party activities until a referendum is held on the matter in 2000.
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB,
ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, 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 telephone: (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416 FAX: (202) 726-1727
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Martin G. BRENNAN embassy: Parliament Avenue, Kampala mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: (41) 259792, 259793, 259795 FAX: (41) 259794
Flag description: six equal horizontal stripes of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white circle is centered on the flag featuring a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the side where the flag is attached.
@Uganda:Economy
Economy - overview: Uganda has significant natural resources, including fertile land, reliable rainfall, and large mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most vital part of the economy, employing over 80% of the workforce. Coffee is the primary export crop and makes up the majority of export revenue. Since 1986, the government, with support from foreign nations and international organizations, has worked to revive and stabilize the economy by implementing currency reforms, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing petroleum prices, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes specifically aim to reduce inflation and enhance production and export earnings. From 1990 to 1999, the economy showed strong performance due to ongoing investments in infrastructure rehabilitation, improved incentives for production and exports, decreased inflation, gradually better domestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. However, Uganda's involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rising corruption within the government, and a decline in the government's commitment to reforms raise concerns about the sustainability of strong growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $24.2 billion (est. 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,060 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 44% industry: 17% services: 39% (1997 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 55% (1993 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 33.4% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1999)
Labor force: 8.361 million (1993 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: 9.3% (FY98/99)
Electricity - production: 792 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.88% hydro: 99.12% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 622 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 115 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, legumes; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry
Exports: $471 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: coffee, fish and fish products, tea; electrical products, iron, and steel
Exports - partners: EU 51% (Netherlands 6%, Switzerland 6%, Germany 5%, Belgium 4%), Kenya 5% (1998)
Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - goods: cars, oil, medical supplies; grains
Imports - partners: Kenya 12%, UK 6%, Japan 4%, India 4%, South Africa (1998)
Debt - external: $3.1 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $839.9 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Ugandan shilling (USh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Ugandan shillings (USh) per US$1 - 1,525.8 (January 2000), 1,454.8 (1999), 1,240.2 (1998), 1,083.0 (1997), 1,046.1 (1996), 968.9 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Uganda:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 54,074 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 9,000 (1998)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 19, FM 4, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: 2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 8 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)
Televisions: 315,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@Uganda:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,241 km narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge note: a program to upgrade the railroad is in progress (1995)
Highways: total: 27,000 km paved: 1,800 km unpaved: 25,200 km (of which about 4,800 km are all-weather roads) (1990 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) totaling 5,091 GRT/8,229 DWT ships by type: roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 26 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Uganda:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,952,945 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,687,924 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $95 million (FY98/99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY98/99)
@Uganda:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Ugandan military forces are backing the rebel groups in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
______________________________________________________________________
UKRAINE
@Ukraine:Introduction
Background: Rich in natural resources, Ukraine has been contested and oppressed for centuries; its struggle for freedom in the 20th century is still ongoing. A brief independence from Russia (1917-1920) was followed by harsh Soviet rule that caused two man-made famines (1921-22 and 1932-33), resulting in over 8 million deaths, along with World War II, during which German and Soviet forces caused about 7 million more deaths. Even though independence was achieved in 1991 with the fall of the USSR, genuine freedom remains out of reach as many of the former Soviet elite continue to hold power, hindering progress on economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties.
@Ukraine:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, along the Black Sea, between Poland and
Russia
Geographic coordinates: 49° N, 32° E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 603,700 sq km land: 603,700 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: a little smaller than Texas
Land boundaries: total: 4,558 km border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km, Poland 428 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 90 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 is unevenly distributed, with the highest amounts in the west and north, and less in the east and southeast; winters range from cool along the Black Sea to cold further inland; summers are warm in most parts of the country, hot in the south.
Terrain: most of Ukraine is made up of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, with mountains located only in the west (the Carpathians) and in the Crimean Peninsula in the far 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, farmland
Land use: arable land: 58% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 18% other: 9% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 26,050 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: insufficient access to clean drinking water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from the 1986 accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, 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, 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: key location at the intersection of Europe and Asia; the second-largest country in Europe
@Ukraine:People
Population: 49,153,027 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 4,482,754; female 4,296,206) 15-64 years: 68% (male 16,018,331; female 17,509,078) 65 years and over: 14% (male 2,243,266; female 4,603,392) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.83% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 9.03 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 16.48 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.67 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.98 years male: 60.39 years female: 71.85 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.26 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ukrainian(s) adjective: Ukrainian
Ethnic groups: Ukrainian 73%, Russian 22%, Jewish 1%, other 4%
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: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 98% male: 100% female: 97% (1989 est.)
@Ukraine:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ukraine local long form: none local short form: Ukrayina former: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: UP
Government type: republic
Capital: Kiev (Kyyiv)
Administrative divisions: 24 oblasts (singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (autonomous republic), and 2 municipalities (cities, singular - city) 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: oblasts have the administrative center name following in parentheses
Independence: December 1, 1991 (from the Soviet Union, approved by voters)
National holiday: Independence Day, August 24 (1991)
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1996
Legal system: based on a civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Leonid D. KUCHMA (since July 19, 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Viktor YUSHCHENKO (since December 22, 1999), First Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy YEKHANUROV (since December 30, 1999), and three deputy prime ministers cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, but significantly revamped and strengthened under President KUCHMA; the NSDC staff is responsible for developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president; a Presidential Administration that helps draft presidential decrees and provides policy support to the president; and a Council of Regions that acts as an advisory body created by President KUCHMA in September 1994 that includes the mayors of Kyyiv (Kiev) and Sevastopol and the heads of the regions elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on October 31 and November 14, 1999 (next to be held in 2004); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the People's Council election results: Leonid D. KUCHMA elected president; percent of vote - Leonid KUCHMA 56.21%, Petro SYMONENKO 37.77%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; according to Ukraine's new election law, half of the Rada's seats are distributed on a proportional basis to parties that receive 4% of the national electoral vote; the other 225 members are elected by popular vote in single-mandate constituencies; all serve four-year terms) elections: last held on March 29, 1998 (next to be held in 2002) election results: percentage of vote by party (for parties clearing the 4% threshold on March 29, 1998) - Communist 24.7%, Rukh (combined) 9.4%, Socialist/Peasant 8.6%, Green 5.3%, People's Democratic Party 5.0%, Hromada 4.7%, Progressive Socialist 4.0%, United Social Democratic Party 4.0%; seats by faction (as of February 25, 2000) - Communist 115, PRVU 36, Fatherland Party 35, United Social Democratic 34, People's Democratic Party 27, Trudova Ukrayina 27, Rukh (K) 27, left-center 23, Green 18, Rukh (U) 17, Peasant Party 15, Hromada 14, Reforms Congress 12, independents 14, unaffiliated 31, vacant 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party of Ukraine or APU
; Communist Party of Ukraine [Petro
SYMONENKO]; Fatherland (Motherland) All Ukrainian Party [Yuliya
TYMOSHENKO, chairperson]; Green Party of Ukraine or PZU [Vitaliy
KONONOV, chairman]; Hromada ; Liberal Party of
Ukraine or LPU ; Party of Regional Revival of
Ukraine or PRVU ; Peasant Party of Ukraine or SelPU
; People's Democratic Party [Valeriy PUSTOVOYTENKO,
chairman]; People's Movement of Ukraine or Rukh U [Hennadiy UDOVENKO,
chairman]; Progressive Socialist Party ; Reforms
Congress ; Reforms and Order Party ; Sobor
Party ; Social Democratic Party of
Ukraine (United) ; Socialist Party of
Ukraine or SPU ; Trudova Ukrayina/Working
Ukraine ; Ukrainian Popular Movement or Rukh K
; United Social Democratic Party of Ukraine
; Yabluko Party
note: and numerous smaller parties
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Konstantin Ivanovych HRYSHCHENKO chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 333-0606 FAX: (202) 333-0817 consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Steven Karl PIFER embassy: 10 Yuria Kotsubynskoho, 254053 Kiev 53 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (44) 246-9750 FAX: (44) 244-7350
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and gold represent grain fields under a blue sky.
@Ukraine:Economy
Economy - overview: After Russia, Ukraine was by far the most important economic part of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next largest republic. Its rich black soil generated over a quarter of the Soviet agricultural output, and its farms supplied large amounts of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Similarly, its diverse heavy industry provided equipment and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other areas of the former USSR. Ukraine relies on energy imports, especially natural gas. Shortly after the collapse of the USSR in December 1991, the Ukrainian government liberalized most prices and established a legal framework for privatization, but widespread opposition to reform within the government and legislature quickly stalled these efforts, leading to some setbacks. Output from 1992 to 1999 dropped to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Since his election in July 1994, President KUCHMA has pushed for economic reforms, maintained financial discipline, and attempted to remove almost all remaining controls on prices and foreign trade. The financial crisis in Russia crushed Ukraine's hopes for its first year of economic growth in 1998 due to a sharp decline in export revenue and reduced domestic demand. Output continued to decline slightly in 1999. The government has also struggled to significantly reduce its massive backlog of wage and pension arrears. Despite increasing pressure from the IMF to speed up reforms, substantial economic restructuring seems unlikely in 2000, mainly due to resistance in the communist-dominated legislature to further privatization.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $109.5 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,200 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 26% services: 62% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 20.8% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: 22.8 million (end of 1997)
Labor force - by occupation: industry and construction 32%, agriculture and forestry 24%, health, education, and culture 17%, trade and distribution 8%, transport and communication 7%, other 12% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 4.3% officially recorded; a significant number of unregistered or underemployed workers (December 1999)
Budget: revenues: $8.3 billion expenditures: $8.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar)
Industrial production growth rate: 4.3% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 171 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 52% hydro: 5.9% nuclear: 42.1% other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 144.011 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 7 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 4.15 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk
Exports: $11.6 billion (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: ferrous and non-ferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, machinery and transportation equipment, food products
Exports - partners: Russia 20%, EU 17%, China 7%, Turkey 6%, US 4% (1999)
Imports: $11.8 billion (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: energy, machinery and parts, transportation equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners: Russia 48%, EU 23%, US 3% (1999)
Debt - external: $12.6 billion (January 2000 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $637.7 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds
Facility $2.2 billion (1998)
Currency: 1 hryvnia = 100 kopiykas
Exchange rates: hryvnia per US$1 - 5.59 (February 2000), 5.3811 (January 2000), 4.1304 (1999), 2.4495 (1998), 1.8617 (1997), 1.8295 (1996), 1.4731 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Ukraine:Communications
Telephones - active lines: 9.45 million (April 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 236,000 (1998)
Telephone system: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan, running through 2005, focuses on enhancing domestic trunk lines and international connections, as well as developing a mobile cellular system. Domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a telephone system that was outdated, inefficient, and in poor condition; over 3.5 million requests for telephone service could not be met; telephone density is gradually increasing, and improvements are being made to the domestic trunk system; starting from a small foundation, the mobile cellular telephone system is rapidly expanding. International: two new domestic trunk lines are part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system, and three Ukrainian links have been established in the fiber-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL) project, which connects 18 countries; additional international service is offered through the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and by ground 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 repeater stations that relay broadcasts from Russia) (1997)
Televisions: 18.05 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 35 (1999)
@Ukraine:Transportation
Railways: total: 23,350 km broad gauge: 23,350 km 1.524-m gauge (8,600 km electrified)
Highways: total: 176,310 km paved: 170,139 km (including 1,770 km of expressways); note - these roads are considered hard-surfaced, which means that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel-surfaced unpaved: 6,171 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 4,400 km of navigable waterways, including 1,672 km on the
Pryp'yat' and Dnistr (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 4,000 km (1995); petroleum products 4,500 km (1995); natural gas 34,400 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Berdyansk, Illichivsk, Izmail, Kerch, Kherson,
Kyiv, Mariupol, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Reni
Merchant marine: total: 156 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 862,690 GRT/963,550 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 105, container 4, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 14, rail car carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off 5, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 706 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 163 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 55 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 57 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 543 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 476 (1994 est.)
@Ukraine:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Internal
Troops, National Guard, Border Troops
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 12,311,052 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 9,645,925 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 373,595 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $500 million (FY99)
Military spending as a percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY99)
@Ukraine:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: disagreement with Romania regarding the continental shelf of the Black Sea, where there could be substantial gas and oil reserves; agreed in 1997 to a two-year negotiation period, after which either side can take the dispute to the ICJ; has not made any territorial claims in Antarctica (but has kept the option open) and does not acknowledge the claims of any other country.
Illicit drugs: restricted cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, primarily for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West; limited government eradication efforts; used as a transshipment point for opiates and other illegal drugs from Africa, Latin America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; drug-related money laundering is a small but increasing issue.
______________________________________________________________________
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
@United Arab Emirates:Introduction
Background: The Trucial States along the Persian Gulf coast gave the UK control over their defense and foreign affairs through treaties in the 19th century. In 1971, six of these states—Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, and Umm al-Quwain—came together to create the UAE. They were joined in 1972 by Ras Al Khaimah. The UAE's per capita GDP is not far below that of the top Western European countries. Its willingness to share oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy have enabled it to play an important role in regional affairs.
@United Arab Emirates:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to the Gulf of Oman and the Persian
Gulf, located between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 24° N, 54° 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: desert; cooler in the eastern mountains
Terrain: flat, empty coastal plain blending into rolling sand dunes of a vast desert landscape; mountains to the 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% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 50 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: common sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues: shortage of natural freshwater resources being addressed by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: strategic location along the southern routes to
Strait of Hormuz, a crucial transit point for global crude oil
@United Arab Emirates:People
Population: 2,369,153 note: includes 1,576,472 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 359,134; female 345,518) 15-64 years: 68% (male 1,029,898; female 582,783) 65 years and over: 2% (male 35,928; female 15,892) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.61% (estimate for 2000)
Birth rate: 18 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 3.68 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 1.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.26 male(s)/female total population: 1.51 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.17 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.06 years male: 71.64 years female: 76.61 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.29 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Emirian(s) adjective: Emirian
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 older can read and write total population: 79.2% male: 78.9% female: 79.8% (1995 est.)
@United Arab Emirates:Government
Country name: conventional long form: United Arab Emirates conventional short form: none local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah local short form: none former: Trucial States abbreviation: UAE
Data code: TC
Government type: federation with specific powers assigned to the UAE federal government and other powers kept for 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: December 2, 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, December 2, 1971
Constitution: December 2, 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
Legal system: federal court system established in 1971; all emirates except Dubai and Ras al Khaimah have joined 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 December 2, 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since August 6, 1966) and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since October 8, 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai) head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since October 8, 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since November 20, 1990) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC), which consists of the seven emirate rulers; the council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; sets general policies and approves federal legislation, with the Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers holding effective veto power; meets four times a year elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; last election held NA October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); 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: U.S. Supreme Court, justices appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI chancery: Suite 700, 1255 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 955-7999
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch); note - work week is Saturday through Wednesday telephone: (2) 436691, 436692 FAX: (2) 434771 consulate(s) general: Dubai
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red stripe on the side closest to the flagpole.
@United Arab Emirates:Economy
Economy - overview: The UAE has a free-market economy with a high per capita income and a significant annual trade surplus. Its wealth comes primarily from oil and gas production (about 33% of GDP), and the economy's fortunes vary with the prices of these commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has transformed from a poor area of small desert principalities into a modern state with a high standard of living. At current production levels, oil and gas reserves are expected to last for more than 100 years. Despite higher oil revenues in 1999, the government hasn't reversed the economic reforms made during the 1998 oil price drop. It has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure development and is allowing greater private-sector participation in its utilities.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $41.5 billion (estimated for 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (estimated for 1999)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,700 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 52% services: 45% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 1.38 million (1998 est.) note: 75% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 60%, industry 32%, agriculture 8% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $5.5 billion expenditures: $6.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: oil, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat manufacturing, crafts, pearl diving
Industrial production growth rate: 0% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 20.11 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 18.702 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Exports: $34 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners: Japan 30%, South Korea 10%, India 6%, Singapore 4.5%, Oman 3%, Iran (1998)
Imports: $27.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Imports - goods: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners: US 10%, Japan 9%, UK 9%, Germany 6%, South Korea 5%, Italy (1998)
Debt - external: $15.5 billion (1998 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Emirati dirham (Dh) = 100 fils
Exchange rates: Emirati dirhams (Dh) per US$1 - central bank mid-point rate: 3.6725 (from 1998); 3.6711 (1997), 3.6710 (1995-96)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@United Arab Emirates:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 915,223 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1 million (1999)
Telephone system: a modern system made up of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable; main hubs are Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable. International: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 in the Atlantic Ocean and 2 in the 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@United Arab Emirates:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,088 km paved: 1,088 km unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 830 km; natural gas, including natural gas liquids, 870 km
Ports and harbors: Ajman, Al Fujairah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan,
Mina Jabal Ali, Mina Khalid, Mina Rashid, Mina Saqr, Mina Zayed,
Umm al-Quwain
Merchant marine: total: 68 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,107,442 GRT/1,795,235 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 18, chemical tanker 3, container 8, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 27, roll-on/roll-off 7, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 40 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: 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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@United Arab Emirates:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, paramilitary (includes Federal Police Force)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 785,253 note: includes non-nationals (2000 est.)
Military manpower - ready for military service: males aged 15-49: 422,826 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 24,506 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $2.1 billion (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 4.8% (FY99)
@United Arab Emirates:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the location and status of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is not conclusive; the de facto boundary reflects a 1974 agreement. There is no clearly defined boundary with most of Oman, but there is an Administrative Line in the far north. The UAE claims two islands in the Persian Gulf that are occupied by Iran: Lesser Tunb (known as Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by the UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (referred to as Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by the UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran). The UAE also claims an island in the Persian Gulf that is jointly administered with Iran (called Abu Musa in Arabic by the UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran), which Iran has been trying to control unilaterally since 1992, including imposing access restrictions and building up military presence on the island. The UAE has gained significant diplomatic support in the region to protest these Iranian actions.
Illicit drugs: increasing role as a heroin transshipment and money-laundering hub due to its closeness to southwest Asian producing countries and the busy free trade zone in Dubai.
______________________________________________________________________
UNITED KINGDOM
@United Kingdom:Introduction
Background: Great Britain, the leading industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a crucial role in developing parliamentary democracy and advancing literature and science. At its peak, the British Empire covered a quarter of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's power seriously diminished by two World Wars. The latter half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK transforming itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. The UK is currently evaluating how integrated it wants to be with continental Europe. As a member of the EU, it decided to stay outside the EMU for now. Constitutional reform is also a major issue in the UK. In 1999, regional assemblies with varying levels of power were established in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
@United Kingdom:Geography
Location: Western Europe, including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland situated between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 54° N, 2° W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 244,820 sq km land: 241,590 sq km water: 3,230 sq km note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Area - comparative: a bit 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 according to agreed boundaries exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mild; influenced by prevailing southwest winds from the
North Atlantic Current; more than half the days are cloudy
Terrain: mainly rough hills and low mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in the east and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Fenland -4 m highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
Natural resources: coal, oil, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, farmland
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 10% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,080 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants contribute to air pollution; some rivers are polluted by agricultural waste; and coastal waters are contaminated due to large-scale disposal of sewage at sea.
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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: located near essential North Atlantic shipping routes; just 35 km from France and now connected by a tunnel under the English Channel; due to its deeply indented coastline, no place is more than 125 km from tidal waters.
@United Kingdom:People
Population: 59,511,464 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 5,816,313; female 5,519,479) 15-64 years: 65% (male 19,622,152; female 19,228,938) 65 years and over: 16% (male 3,864,612; female 5,459,970) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.25% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 11.76 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 10.38 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 1.07 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2000 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: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.63 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.66 years male: 74.97 years female: 80.49 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.74 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
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 others 2.8%
Religions: Anglican 27 million, Roman Catholic 9 million, Muslim 1 million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 400,000, Hindu 350,000, Jewish 300,000 (1991 est.)
Languages: English, Welsh (around 26% of Wales' population),
Scottish Gaelic (approximately 60,000 speakers in Scotland)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older has completed five or more years of schooling total population: 99% (1978 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@United Kingdom:Government
Country name: conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland conventional short form: United Kingdom abbreviation: UK
Data code: UK
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: London
Administrative divisions: 47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties, 26
districts, 9 regions, and 3 island areas; England - 39 counties, 7
metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford, Berkshire, Buckingham,
Cambridge, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derby, Devon,
Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, Greater London*,
Greater Manchester*, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Hertford,
Humberside, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln,
Merseyside*, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, North Yorkshire,
Nottingham, Oxford, Shropshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire*, Stafford,
Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear*, Warwick, West Midlands*, West Sussex,
West Yorkshire*, Wiltshire; Northern Ireland - 26 districts; Antrim,
Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast,
Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down,
Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Londonderry,
Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh,
Strabane; Scotland - 9 regions, 3 island areas*; Borders, Central,
Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Grampian, Highland, Lothian, Orkney*,
Shetland*, Strathclyde, Tayside, Western Isles*; Wales - 8 counties;
Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan, Powys, South Glamorgan,
West Glamorgan
note: England may now have 35 counties and Wales 9 counties
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 been a unified entity since the 10th century; the union between England and Wales was established under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284; in the Act of Union of 1707, England and Scotland agreed to a permanent union as Great Britain; the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was put into effect in 1801, adopting the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized the 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: Celebration of the Queen's Birthday (second
Saturday in June)
Constitution: not written down; it consists of some statutes, some common law, and practices.
Legal system: common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; British courts and legislation are increasingly subject to review by European Union courts.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 6, 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born November 14, 1948) head of government: Prime Minister Anthony C. L. (Tony) BLAIR (since May 2, 1997) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the prime minister is the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons (if there is no majority party, a prime minister would have a majority coalition or at least a coalition that was not rejected by the majority)
Legislative branch: The bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Lords (the old House of Lords has been disbanded, and the new one is still being formed; the current plan likely includes 500 members, with one-fifth elected and the rest appointed) and the 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 - the newly forming House of Lords may include some elected seats; House of Commons - last held on May 1, 1997 (next to be held by NA May 2002); note - in 1998, elections were held for a Northern Ireland Parliament (due to unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer of power from London to Northern Ireland only occurred at the end of 1999 and was rescinded in February 2000); in 1999, there were elections for a new Scottish Parliament and a new Welsh Assembly. Election results: House of Commons - percentage of vote by party - Labor 45%, Conservative and Unionist 31%, Liberal Democrat 17%, other 7%; seats by party - Labor 418, Conservative and Unionist 165, Liberal Democrat 46, other 30. Note: In 1999, the government ended the right of most hereditary members, except for life members and 92 hereditary members, to sit in the House of Lords; they will continue to sit until final reforms are made.
Judicial branch: The House of Lords, with several Lords of Appeal in Ordinary being appointed by the monarch for life.
Political parties and leaders: Alliance Party (Northern Ireland)
; Conservative and Unionist Party ;
Democratic Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) ; Labour
Party ; Liberal Democrats ;
Scottish National Party ; Sinn Féin (Northern Ireland)
; Social Democratic and Labour Party or SDLP (Northern
Ireland) ; Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [David
TRIMBLE]; Welsh National Party (Plaid Cymru)
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, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA
(associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
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, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Christopher J. R. MEYER chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 588-6500 FAX: (202) 588-7870 consulates general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulates: Dallas, Miami, and Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Philip LADER embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W. 1A1AE mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040 telephone: (171) 499-9000 FAX: (171) 409-1637 consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh
Flag description: blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) outlined in white, layered over the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is on top of the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have inspired several other flags, including those of other Commonwealth countries and their regions, as well as British overseas territories.
@United Kingdom:Economy
Economy - overview: The UK, a major trading power and financial hub, operates mainly on a capitalist economy, one of the four trillion-dollar economies in Western Europe. Over the last twenty years, the government has significantly reduced public ownership and limited the expansion of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with just 1% of the labor force. The UK has substantial coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production represents 10% of GDP, one of the highest percentages among industrial nations. Services, especially banking, insurance, and business services, make up the largest share of GDP, while the industrial sector continues to decline in importance. Economic growth slowed in 1999; a recovery to 3% is expected for 2000, driven by an increase in exports and domestic demand. The BLAIR government has postponed decisions on joining the euro system until after the next election, anticipated in 2001; Chancellor of the Exchequer BROWN has outlined some key economic criteria to assess whether the UK should adopt the common currency.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.29 trillion (est. 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.9% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $21,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.7% industry: 25.3% services: 73% (1998)
Population below poverty line: 17%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 24.7% (1986)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1999)
Labor force: 29.2 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 68.9%, manufacturing and construction 17.5%, government 11.3%, energy 1.2%, agriculture 1.1% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $541 billion expenditures: $507.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $35.1 billion (FY98/99)
Industries: production machinery like 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: -0.3% (1999)
Electricity - production: 343.099 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 68.24% hydro: 1.49% nuclear: 28.48% other: 1.79% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 331.482 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 200 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 12.6 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, oilseeds, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish
Exports: $271 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: manufactured products, fuels, chemicals; food, drinks, tobacco
Exports - partners: EU 58% (Germany 12%, France 10%, Netherlands 8%),
US 13% (1998)
Imports: $305.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; food items
Imports - partners: EU 53% (Germany 13%, France 9%, Netherlands 7%,
Italy 5%), US 14% (1998)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $3.4 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 British pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: British pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995)
Fiscal year: April 1 - March 31
@United Kingdom:Communications
Telephones - active main lines: 29.41 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 13 million (end of 1998)
Telephone system: a technologically advanced domestic and international system domestic: a balanced mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems international: 40 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 in the Atlantic Ocean and 3 in the 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: 78 (plus 869 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 30.5 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 364 (1999)
@United Kingdom:Transportation
Railways: total: 16,878 km broad gauge: 342 km 1.600-m gauge (190 km double track); note - all 1.600-m gauge track, of which 342 km is in common carrier use, and is in Northern Ireland standard gauge: 16,536 km 1.435-m gauge (4,928 km electrified; 12,591 km double or multiple track) (1996)
Highways: total: 371,603 km paved: 371,603 km (including 3,303 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 3,200 km
Pipelines: crude oil (nearly all trivial) 933 km; petroleum products 2,993 km; natural gas 12,800 km
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, Tees, Tyne
Merchant marine: total: 173 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 2,917,708 GRT/3,063,113 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 33, chemical tanker 5, combination ore/oil 1, container 39, liquified gas 2, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 50, roll-on/roll-off 18, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 498 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 357 over 10,000 feet: 10 8,000 to 10,000 feet: 33 5,000 to 8,000 feet: 166 3,000 to 5,000 feet: 93 under 3,000 feet: 55 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 141 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 117 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 12 (1999 est.)
@United Kingdom:Military
Military branches: Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal
Air Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 14,574,955 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - eligible for military service: males ages 15-49: 12,134,272 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $36.884 billion (FY97/98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY97/98)
@United Kingdom:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Northern Ireland issue with Ireland (historic peace agreement signed April 10, 1998); Gibraltar issue with Spain; Argentina claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); Argentina claims South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Mauritius claims the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory); Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Illicit drugs: a gateway for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; a producer and major consumer of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals; a major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin; a money-laundering hub.
______________________________________________________________________
UNITED STATES
@United States:Introduction
Background: The United States became the world's first modern democracy after breaking away from Great Britain in 1776 and adopting a constitution in 1789. Throughout the 19th century, many new states joined the original 13 as the nation expanded across North America and took on several overseas territories. The two major traumatic events in the nation's history were the Civil War from 1861 to 1865 and the Great Depression in the 1930s. Strengthened by victories in World War I and World War II and the conclusion of the Cold War in 1991, the US continues to be the world's most powerful nation. Its economy features steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid technological advancements.
@United States:Geography
Location: North America, located between Canada and Mexico, along the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean.
Geographic coordinates: 38° N, 97° 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: 12,248 km border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and therefore remains part of Cuba
Coastline: 19,924 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mostly mild, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, icy in Alaska, dry in the Great Plains west of the Mississippi River, and very dry in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are occasionally softened in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
Terrain: a wide central plain, mountains to the west, hills and low mountains to the east; rugged mountains and wide river valleys in Alaska; rough, volcanic landscape 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, oil, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 30% other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 207,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquakes around
the Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
coasts; tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast; mudslides in
California; wildfires in the West; flooding; permafrost in northern
Alaska, a major obstacle to development
Environment - current issues: air pollution causing acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest individual source of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels; water pollution from pesticide and fertilizer runoff; very limited natural freshwater resources in many parts of the western US need careful management; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Antarctic Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
Geography - note: the world's third-largest country (after Russia and
Canada)
@United States:People
Population: 275,562,673 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.25% (male 29,956,875; female 28,597,880) 15-64 years: 66.11% (male 90,345,154; female 91,827,471) 65 years and over: 12.64% (male 14,472,865; female 20,362,428) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.91% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 14.2 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.7 deaths per 1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.82 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.12 years male: 74.24 years female: 79.9 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: American(s) adjective: American
Ethnic groups: white 83.5%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Amerindian 0.8% (1992) note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau defines Hispanic as a person of Latin American descent (especially from Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin) living in the US who can 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 large minority)
Literacy: definition: people aged 15 and over who can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1979 est.)
@United States:Government
Country name: conventional long form: United States of America conventional short form: United States abbreviation: US or USA
Data code: US
Government type: federal republic; robust 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 July 18, 1947, until October 1, 1994, the US managed the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently established a new political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US (effective November 3, 1986); Palau entered into a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective October 1, 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective November 3, 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective October 21, 1986)
Independence: July 4, 1776 (from Great Britain)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 4th (1776)
Constitution: September 17, 1787, effective March 4, 1789
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since January 20, 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since January 20, 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since January 20, 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since January 20, 1993); 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 November 5, 1996 (next to be held November 7, 2000) election results: William Jefferson CLINTON reelected president; percent of popular vote - William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 49.2%, Robert DOLE (Republican Party) 40.7%, Ross PEROT (Reform Party) 8.4%, other 1.7%
Legislative branch: The bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, with one-third up for election 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 elected directly by popular vote to serve two-year terms). Elections: Senate - the last election was on November 2, 1998 (the next will be on November 7, 2000); House of Representatives - the last election was on November 2, 1998 (the next will be on November 7, 2000). Election results: Senate - percentage of votes by party - N/A; seats by party - Republican Party 55, Democratic Party 45; House of Representatives - percentage of votes by party - N/A; seats by party - Republican Party 223, Democratic Party 211, independent 1.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the nine justices are appointed for life by the president, with the Senate's approval)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Steve GROSSMAN, national committee chair]; Republican Party [Jim NICHOLSON, national committee chair]; several other groups or parties of minor political significance.
International organization participation: ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM (guest),
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security
Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, 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 left corner with 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, and the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have inspired several other flags, including those of Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico.
@United States:Economy
Economy - overview: The US has the most technologically advanced, diverse, and largest economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $33,900. In this market-driven economy, private individuals and businesses make most of the decisions, while the government primarily purchases necessary goods and services from the private sector. US companies have much more flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan when it comes to expanding operations, laying off excess workers, and developing new products. At the same time, they encounter higher barriers to entering their competitors' home markets compared to the barriers that foreign firms face in US markets. US companies are at or near the forefront of technological innovation, especially in computers and medical, aerospace, and military equipment, although their lead has diminished since the end of World War II. The rapid pace of technology explains the gradual emergence of a "two-tier labor market," where those at the bottom lack the education and professional/technical skills of those at the top and increasingly struggle to secure pay raises, health insurance, and other benefits. Since 1975, nearly all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of earners. From 1994 to 1999, there were solid increases in real output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment below 5%. Long-term challenges include insufficient investment in economic infrastructure, skyrocketing healthcare costs due to an aging population, significant trade deficits, and stagnating family income among lower-income groups. The outlook for 2000 is uncertain due to ongoing economic issues in Japan, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, and many other nations. Domestically, the most serious problem could be the inflated level of stock prices compared to corporate earnings.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.255 trillion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.1% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $33,900 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 18% services: 80% (1999)
Population below the poverty line: 12.7% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 28.5% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1999)
Labor force: 139.4 million (includes unemployed) (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: managerial and professional 30.3%, technical, sales and administrative support 29.2%, services 13.4%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 24.5%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.6% (1999) note: figures exclude the unemployed
Unemployment rate: 4.2% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $1.828 trillion expenditures: $1.703 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Industries: a top industrial power globally, very diverse and tech-savvy; oil, steel, cars, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer products, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (est. 1999)
Electricity - production: 3.62 trillion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 70.34% hydro: 8.96% nuclear: 18.61% other: 2.09% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 3.365 trillion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 12.772 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 39.513 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports: $663 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: capital goods, cars, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products
Exports - partners: Canada 23%, Mexico 12%, Japan 8%, UK 6%, Germany 4%, France 3%, Netherlands 3% (1998)
Imports: $912 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, cars, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food, and drinks
Imports - partners: Canada 19%, Japan 13%, Mexico 10%, China 8%,
Germany 5%, UK 4%, Taiwan 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $862 billion (1995 estimate)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: British pounds per US$ - 0.6092 (January 2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995); Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$ - 1.4489 (January 2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995); French francs (F) per US$ - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994); Italian lire (Lit) per US$ - 1,668.7 (January 1999), 1,763.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994); Japanese yen per US$ - 105.16 (January 2000), 113.91 (1999), 130.91 (1998), 120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995); German deutsche marks (DM) per US$ - 1.69 (January 1999), 1.9692 (1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994); Euro per US$ - 0.98673 (January 1999), 0.93863 (1999) note: France, Italy, and Germany have adopted the euro since 1998.
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@United States:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 178 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 55.312 million (1997)
Telephone system: domestic: a large network of fiber-optic cables, microwave radio relays, coaxial cables, and domestic satellites handles all types of telephone communications; a fast-growing cellular network manages mobile phone traffic across the country international: 24 ocean cable systems in operation; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 in the Atlantic Ocean and 16 in the Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000)
Radio broadcast stations: AM about 5,000, FM about 5,000, shortwave 18 (1998)
Radios: 575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: over 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS; plus about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)
Televisions: 219 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7,600 (1999 est.)
@United States:Transportation
Railways: total: 240,000 km mainline routes (not government-owned) standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)
Highways: total: 6,348,227 km paved: 3,732,757 km (including 88,727 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,615,470 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, not including the
Great Lakes
Pipelines: oil products 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)
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: 386 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 11,634,608 GRT/15,574,117 DWT Ships by type: barge carrier 10, bulk 67, cargo 28, chemical tanker 14, combination bulk 2, container 84, liquefied gas 10, multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 104, roll-on/roll-off 43, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 9 (1999 est.)
Airports: 14,572 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5,174 over 3,047 m: 180 2,438 to 3,047 m: 221 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,310 914 to 1,523 m: 2,448 under 914 m: 1,015 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9,398 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 155 914 to 1,523 m: 1,661 under 914 m: 7,574 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 118 (1999 est.)
@United States:Military
Military branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force note: the Coast Guard usually falls under the Department of Transportation, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 70,502,691 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,056,762 (2000 est.)
Military spending - total amount: $276.7 billion (FY1999 est.)
Military spending - percentage of GDP: 3.2% (FY1999 estimate)
@United States:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island); the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and can only be terminated by mutual agreement or if the US abandons the area; Haiti claims Navassa Island; the 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 country; the Marshall Islands claims Wake Island.
Illicit drugs: user of cocaine imported from Colombia via Mexico and the Caribbean; user of heroin, marijuana, and more recently methamphetamines from Mexico; user of premium Southeast Asian heroin; illegal producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamines; drug money laundering hub
______________________________________________________________________
URUGUAY
@Uruguay:Introduction
Background: A violent Marxist urban guerrilla group, the Tupamaros, started in the late 1960s, which led Uruguay's president to allow military control of his government in 1973. By the end of that year, the rebels had been defeated, but the military continued to strengthen its grip on the government. Civilian rule wasn’t restored until 1985. Uruguay has consistently had one of the highest standards of living in South America; its political and labor conditions are among the most free on the continent.
@Uruguay:Geography
Location: Southern South America, next to the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 33° S, 56° W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km
Area – comparative: somewhat 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: continental shelf: 200-meter depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 200 nautical miles; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond 12 nautical miles
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures are rarely seen.
Terrain: mostly gentle hills and flat plains; rich coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources: farmland, hydropower, small minerals, fisheries
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 77% forests and woodland: 6% other: 10% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,700 sq km (1997 est.)
Natural hazards: seasonal strong winds (the pampero is a cold and occasionally violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; due to the lack of mountains that serve as weather barriers, all areas are especially susceptible to quick changes in weather patterns.
Environment - current issues: water pollution from the meat packing and tanning industries; insufficient solid and hazardous waste disposal.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Uruguay:People
Population: 3,334,074 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 417,288; female 397,125) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,030,201; female 1,057,968) 65 years and over: 13% (male 178,393; female 253,099) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.77% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 17.42 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.06 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.14 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.24 years male: 71.9 years female: 78.75 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, almost nonexistent
Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population goes to church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonbelievers or other 30%
Languages: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (a mix of Portuguese and Spanish on the Brazilian border)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 96.9% female: 97.7% (1995 est.)
@Uruguay:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay conventional short form: Uruguay local long form: República Oriental del Uruguay local short form: Uruguay
Data code: UY
Government type: 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: August 25, 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday: Independence Day, August 25 (1825)
Constitution: November 27, 1966, effective February 1967, suspended June 27, 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum November 30, 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite November 26, 1989 and January 7, 1997
Legal system: based on the Spanish civil law system; accepts mandatory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal and mandatory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jorge BATLLE (since March 1, 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since March 1, 2000); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jorge BATLLE (since March 1, 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since March 1, 2000); note - the president serves as both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval from parliament elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; last election was on October 31, 1999, with a runoff on November 28, 1999 (next election scheduled for 2004) election results: Jorge BATLLE elected president; percent of vote - 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ
Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of the Chamber of Senators or Cámara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Cámara de Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms). elections: Chamber of Senators - last held October 31, 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); Chamber of Representatives - last held October 31, 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: The Supreme Court judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly.
Political parties and leaders: Batlleist faction of the Colorado Party
; Broad Front Coalition ;
Colorado Party ; Herrerista faction of the National
Party ; Herrero Wilsonista faction of the National
Party ; National Party or Blanco ;
New Sector/Space Coalition or Nuevo Espacio ;
Progressive Encounter in the Broad Front or Encuentro Progresista
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA Suarez chancery: 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 331-1313 through 1316 FAX: (202) 331-8142 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher C. ASHBY embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77 FAX: (2) 48 86 11
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper left corner with a yellow sun featuring a human face called the Sun of May and 16 rays that are a mix of triangular and wavy.
@Uruguay:Economy
Economy - overview: Uruguay's economy is known for its export-driven agricultural sector, a skilled workforce, a relatively fair income distribution, and significant social spending. After experiencing an average growth of 5% per year from 1996 to 1998, the economy faced setbacks in 1999 due to decreased demand in Argentina and Brazil, which together make up about half of Uruguay's exports. Even with the intensity of the trade shocks and the resulting recession, Uruguay's financial indicators remained more stable than those of its neighbors, reflecting its strong reputation among investors and its investment-grade sovereign bond rating—one of only two in Latin America. Challenges for the government of incoming President Jorge BATLLE include expanding Uruguay's trade relationships beyond its Mercosur partners and enhancing competitiveness by increasing flexibility in the labor market and lowering public service costs. Growth is expected to bounce back in 2000, potentially reaching around 3%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $28 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -2.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,500 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 28% services: 62% (1999)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 1.38 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 12% (1999)
Budget: revenues: $4.4 billion expenditures: $4.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $500 million (1998 est.)
Industries: food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 9.474 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3.91% hydro: 95.62% nuclear: 0% other: 0.47% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 6.526 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 2.363 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 78 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, rice, barley, corn, sorghum; livestock; fish
Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: meat, rice, leather goods, vehicles, dairy products, wool, electricity
Exports - partners: Mercosur partners 45%, EU 20%, US 7% (1999 est.)
Imports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: cars, electrical equipment, metal products, heavy machinery, crude oil
Imports - partners: MERCOSUR partners 43%, EU 20%, US 11% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $8 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Uruguayan peso (UR$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 11.3393 (1999), 10.4719 (1998), 9.4418 (1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3490 (1995), 5.0439 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Uruguay:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 622,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 40,000 (1995)
Telephone system: some modern facilities domestic: most modern facilities are concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 94, FM 115, shortwave 14 (seven are inactive) (1998)
Radios: 1.97 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 26 (plus ten low-power repeaters for the Montevideo station) (1997)
Televisions: 782,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Uruguay:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,073 km standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge (1997)
Highways: total: 8,983 km paved: 8,085 km unpaved: 898 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river boats
Ports and harbors: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu,
Punta del Este, Colonia, Piriapolis
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 1,807 GRT/2,405 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 65 (1999 est.)
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: 8 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 33 (1999 est.)
@Uruguay:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard,
Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 810,490 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 656,492 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar amount: $172 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY98)
@Uruguay:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute - Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the meeting point of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River
______________________________________________________________________
UZBEKISTAN
@Uzbekistan:Introduction
Background: Russia took control of Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Strong resistance to the Red Army following World War I was eventually crushed, leading to the establishment of a socialist republic in 1925. During the Soviet period, heavy production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain resulted in excessive use of agrochemicals and the depletion of water sources, leaving the land toxic and the Aral Sea and some rivers nearly dry. Since gaining independence in 1991, the country aims to gradually reduce its reliance on agriculture while developing its mineral and oil reserves. Current issues include terrorism from Islamic militant groups based in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, a non-convertible currency, and limitations on human rights and democratic reforms.
@Uzbekistan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates: 41° N, 64° E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 447,400 sq km land: 425,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 note: Uzbekistan includes the southern part of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline
Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked)
Climate: primarily a midlatitude desert with long, hot summers and mild winters; semi-arid grassland in the east.
Terrain: primarily flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; wide, flat areas that are heavily irrigated along the Amu Darya, Sirdaryo (Syr Darya), and Zarafshon rivers; the Fergana Valley to the east is bordered by mountainous regions of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; the shrinking Aral Sea lies to the west.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources: natural gas, oil, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 3% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40,000 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: the Aral Sea is drying up, leading to higher concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are being blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contributing to desertification; water pollution from industrial waste and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides is causing numerous health problems; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: along with Liechtenstein, one of just two doubly landlocked countries in the world.
@Uzbekistan:People
Population: 24,755,519 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 37% (male 4,673,501; female 4,520,471) 15-64 years: 58% (male 7,140,215; female 7,283,143) 65 years and over: 5% (male 452,480; female 685,709) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.6% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 26.18 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 8.02 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 72.13 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.71 years male: 60.09 years female: 67.52 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.09 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Uzbekistani(s) adjective: Uzbekistani
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% male: 99% female: 99% (year-end 1996)
@Uzbekistan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi local short form: none former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: UZ
Government type: republic; effectively authoritarian presidential rule, with limited power outside the executive branch; executive power concentrated in the presidency
Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions: 12 regions (singular - region), 1 autonomous republic* (republic), and 1 city** (city); Andijan Region, Bukhara Region, Fergana Region, Jizzakh Region, Khorezm Region (Urganch), Namangan Region, Navoi Region, Kashkadarya Region (Karakalpakstan), Samarqand Region, Syrdarya Region (Gulistan), Surkhandarya Region (Termiz), Tashkent City**, Tashkent Region note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: August 31, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 1 (1991)
Constitution: new constitution adopted December 8, 1992
Legal system: development of Soviet civil law; still lacks an independent judicial system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since March 24, 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet) head of government: Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since December 21, 1995) and 10 deputy prime ministers cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval from the Supreme Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on January 9, 2000 (next to be held in January 2005); note - extension of President KARIMOV's original term for an additional five years overwhelmingly approved - 99.6% of total vote in favor - by national referendum held on March 26, 1995; prime minister and deputy ministers appointed by the president election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz DZHALALOV 4.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on December 5, 1999 (next to be held in December 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 32, Fidokorlar 19, Fatherland Progress Party 9, Adolat Social Democratic Party 9, MTP 6, local government 98, initiative groups 11, other 66 note: not all seats in the last Supreme Assembly election were contested; all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic
Party; Democratic National
Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP;
Fatherland Progress Party (Vatan Tarakiyoti) or VTP [Anvar YULDASHEV,
chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party)
; Self-Sacrificers Party or
Fidokorlar
Political pressure groups and leaders: Birlik (Unity) Movement
; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad
SOLIH, chairman] was banned on December 9, 1992; Human Rights Society of
Uzbekistan; Independent Human Rights
Society of Uzbekistan
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 887-5300 FAX: (202) 293-6804 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. PRESEL embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115 mailing address: use embassy street address; US Embassy Tashkent, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110 telephone: (71) 120-5450 FAX: (71) 120-6335
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red borders with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper left corner.
@Uzbekistan:Economy
Economy - overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country, with 10% of its land made up of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It was one of the poorest regions of the former Soviet Union, with over 60% of its population living in densely populated rural areas. Uzbekistan is now the world's third-largest cotton exporter and a major producer of gold and natural gas, as well as a significant producer of chemicals and machinery in the region. After gaining independence in December 1991, the government tried to maintain its Soviet-style command economy through subsidies and strict controls on production and pricing. However, due to high inflation rates, the government began reforms in mid-1994, introducing tighter monetary policies, increasing privatization, slightly reducing the state's role in the economy, and enhancing the environment for foreign investors. The state still plays a dominant role in the economy, and the reforms have not yet brought about the necessary structural changes. The IMF suspended Uzbekistan's $185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 due to government actions that made it impossible to meet the Fund's conditions. In response to the negative external conditions caused by the Asian and Russian financial crises, Uzbekistan tightened export and currency controls within its already largely closed economy. Economic policies that deter foreign investment are a major factor in the economy's stagnation. A growing debt burden, ongoing inflation, and a poor business climate raise concerns about growth prospects in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $59.3 billion (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: -1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 27% services: 46% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29% (estimated in 1999)
Labor force: 11.9 million (1998 estimate)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry 20%, services 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5% and an additional 10% underemployed (December 1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $4.4 billion expenditures: $4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (1997 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, machinery manufacturing, metalworking, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1999 estimate)
Electricity - production: 43.47 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 85.2% hydro: 14.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 41.327 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 5.1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 6 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grains; livestock
Exports: $2.9 billion (1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, cars.
Exports - partners: Russia 15%, Switzerland 10%, UK 10%, Belgium 4%,
Kazakhstan 4%, Tajikistan 4% (1998)
Imports: $3.1 billion (1999 est.)
Imports - goods: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; food products
Imports - partners: Russia 16%, South Korea 11%, Germany 8%, US 7%,
Turkey 6%, Kazakhstan 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $3.2 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $276.6 million (1995)
Currency: Uzbekistani som (UKS)
Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1 - 141.4 (January 2000), 111.9 (February 1999), 110.95 (December 1998), 75.8 (September 1997), 41.1 (1996), 30.2 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Uzbekistan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.976 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 26,000 (1998)
Telephone system: old and insufficient; in urgent need of upgrading. domestic: the domestic telephone system is being expanded and technologically improved, especially in Tashkent and Samarkand, through contracts with major firms in developed countries; by 1998, six cellular networks had been launched - 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: connected by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries through leased connections via the Moscow international gateway switch; once the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable is completed, Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian infrastructure for international communications; Inmarsat also offers an international connection, though it's costly; satellite earth stations - NA (1998)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)
Radios: 10.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (plus two repeater stations that relay programs from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan) (1997)
Televisions: 6.4 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Uzbekistan:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)
Highways: total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km (these roads are considered hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel-surfaced) unpaved: 10,363 km (dirt) (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,100 (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Termiz (Amu Darya River)
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Uzbekistan:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,357,625 (2020 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 5,161,926 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 262,289 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $200 million (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2% (FY97)
@Uzbekistan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: restricted illegal cultivation of cannabis and very small amounts of opium poppy, mainly for local use, have nearly been eliminated due to a successful government eradication program; it is increasingly being used as a transit point for illegal drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe, as well as for acetic anhydride heading to Afghanistan.
______________________________________________________________________
VANUATU
@Vanuatu:Introduction
Background: The British and French who settled on the New Hebrides in the 19th century agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which governed the islands until independence in 1980.
@Vanuatu:Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, roughly three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia.
Geographic coordinates: 16°00' S, 167°00' E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 14,760 sq km land: 14,760 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands
Area - comparative: a bit larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,528 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; influenced by southeast trade winds
Terrain: mostly volcanic mountains; 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% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 75% other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic activity causes minor earthquakes.
Environment - current issues: a majority of the population lacks access to clean and reliable drinking water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Vanuatu:People
Population: 189,618 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 37% (male 35,934; female 34,404) 15-64 years: 60% (male 58,155; female 55,156) 65 years and over: 3% (male 3,228; female 2,741) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.74% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 25.93 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 8.52 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 males/females under 15 years: 1.04 males/females 15-64 years: 1.05 males/females 65 years and over: 1.18 males/females total population: 1.05 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.52 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.57 years male: 59.23 years female: 61.98 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.29 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese,
Chinese, 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%
Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as
Bislama or Bichelama)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 53% male: 57% female: 48% (1979 est.)
@Vanuatu:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
Data code: NH
Government type: republic
Capital: Port-Vila
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa,
Tafea, Torba
Independence: July 30, 1980 (from France and the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 30 (1980)
Constitution: 30 July 1980
Legal system: a unified system being created from the former dual French and
British systems
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Father John BANI (since March 25, 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Barak SOPE (since November 25, 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Stanley REGINALD (since November 25, 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, accountable to Parliament elections: president elected by an electoral college made up of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a five-year term; last presidential election held on March 25, 1999 (next to be held in 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition typically becomes prime minister, elected by Parliament from its members; last prime ministerial election held on March 6, 1998 (next to be held in 2002) election results: Father John BANI elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA; Barak SOPE elected prime minister by Parliament with a total of 28 votes; other candidate Edward NATAPEI received 24 votes note: as a result of legislative elections in March 1998, Donald KALPOKAS was elected prime minister and the VP formed a coalition government with the NUP; in November 1999, KALPOKAS resigned due to strong opposition and the threat of a no-confidence vote; Barak SOPE was then elected prime minister and a coalition government was established.
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Elections: last held on March 6, 1998 (next to be held in 2002) Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP 18, UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note - political party associations are fluid; there have been four changes of government since the November 1995 elections. Note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land.
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court's chief justice is appointed by the president after talking with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. Three other justices are appointed by the president based on recommendations from the Judicial Service Commission.
Political parties and leaders: Friend Melanesian Party [Albert
RAVUTIA]; John Frum Movement; Melanesian Progressive Party
or MPP; Na-Griamel Movement; National
United Party or NUP; Tan Union or TU [Vincent
BOULEKONE]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP; Vanuatu
Party or VP; Vanuatu Republican Party [Maxime Carlot
KORMAN]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Vanuatu doesn't have an embassy in the US, but it does have a Permanent Mission to the UN.
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US doesn’t have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is responsible for Vanuatu.
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands, red (top) and green, with a black isosceles triangle on the side where the flag is attached, all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe shaped like a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the attachment side and surround the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow.
@Vanuatu:Economy
Economy - Overview: The economy predominantly relies on subsistence and small-scale agriculture, which supports 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism—attracting around 50,000 visitors in 1997—are also key components of the economy. Mineral resources are minimal, and there are no known oil reserves in the country. A small light industry sector serves the local market. Tax revenue is mainly generated from import duties. Economic growth is challenged by reliance on a limited number of commodity exports, susceptibility to natural disasters, and significant distances from major markets and among the individual islands. The latest natural disaster, a major earthquake in November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote and left thousands without homes.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $245 million (estimated in 1999)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,300 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 13% services: 63% (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% (estimated for 1998)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 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: 32 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 30 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Exports: $33.8 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
Exports - partners: Japan 32%, Germany 14%, Spain 8%, New Caledonia 7%, Australia 2% (1997 est.)
Imports: $76.2 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machines and equipment, food items, fuels
Imports - partners: Japan 52%, Australia 20%, New Caledonia,
Singapore, New Zealand, France, Fiji (1997 est.)
Debt - external: $48 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $45.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 vatu (VT) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1 - 129.76 (December 1999), 129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996), 112.11 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Vanuatu:Communications
Telephones - active lines in use: 2,500 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 121 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 62,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Vanuatu:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Merchant marine: total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,266,634 GRT/1,618,877 DWT ships by type: bulk 27, cargo 24, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, container 1, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 9, vehicle carrier 6 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15 countries among which are ships of Japan 28, India 10, US 10, Greece 3, Hong Kong 3, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and France 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 32 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 17 (1999 est.)
@Vanuatu:Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force
(VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Vanuatu:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of
New Caledonia
______________________________________________________________________
VENEZUELA
@Venezuela:Introduction
Background: Venezuela was one of the three countries that came into being after 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 led by mostly well-meaning military leaders, who supported the oil industry and implemented some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have been in power since 1959. Current concerns include: drug-related conflicts along the Colombian border, rising internal drug consumption, overreliance on the oil industry with its price volatility, and reckless mining activities that threaten the rainforest and indigenous communities.
@Venezuela:Geography
Location: Northern South America, next to the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 8° N, 66° W
Map references: South America, Central America, and the Caribbean
Area: total: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative: just over 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 continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; cooler in the highlands.
Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in the northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources: oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 34% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 square kilometers (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: prone to floods, rockslides, and mudslides; occasional 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
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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note: on major sea and air routes connecting North and South
America
@Venezuela:People
Population: 23,542,649 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 3,967,544; female 3,721,658) 15-64 years: 63% (male 7,406,086; female 7,355,923) 65 years and over: 4% (male 499,102; female 592,336) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.6% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 21.09 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.94 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.17 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.07 years male: 70.05 years female: 76.31 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.51 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous peoples
Religions: about 96% Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant
Languages: Spanish (official), many indigenous dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 91.1% male: 91.8% female: 90.3% (1995 est.)
@Venezuela:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela local short form: Venezuela
Data code: VE
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, Anzoátegui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolívar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales, Distrito Federal, Falcón, Guárico, Lara, Mérida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia. Note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands.
Independence: July 5, 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, July 5, 1811
Constitution: 30 December 1999
Legal system: based on organic laws since July 1999; open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since February 3, 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since February 3, 1999); 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 six-year term; election last held on December 6, 1998 (next to be held on May 28, 2000 under the new constitution) election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of vote - 57% note: government coalition - Patriotic Pole or Polo Patriotico consists of MVR, MAS, and PPT
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional; under the 1999 constitution, the bicameral Congress of the Republic has been replaced by a unicameral National Assembly; the total number of seats in the new National Assembly has not yet been determined, but members will be elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats will be reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela elections: election for deputies to the new National Assembly are scheduled to be held in May 2000 election results: NA; elections to be held in May 2000
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia, judges are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term.
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Action or AD ;
Fifth Republic Movement or MVR ; Homeland for All or PPT
; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS ; National
Convergence or Convergencia ; Radical Cause or La Causa R
; Social Christian Party or COPEI
Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (a labor organization led by the Democratic Action)
International organization participation: CAN, Caricom (observer),
CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo TORO Hardy chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 342-2214 FAX: (202) 342-6820 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Francis MAISTO embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1060 mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037 telephone: (2) 975-6411 FAX: (2) 975-6710
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top), blue, and red, with the coat of arms on the left side of the yellow stripe and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue stripe.
@Venezuela:Economy
Economy - overview: Venezuelan officials estimate the economy contracted by 7.2% in 1999. A steep drop in international oil prices during the first half of the year fueled the recession and pushed the CHAVEZ administration to comply with OPEC-led production cuts in an attempt to boost world oil prices. The petroleum sector dominates the economy, making up about a third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. Higher oil prices in the second half of 1999 eased pressure on the budget and the currency; the bolivar is widely thought to be overvalued by as much as 50%. Despite higher oil prices, the economy remains sluggish, likely due to investor uncertainty regarding President CHAVEZ's reform agenda. The legislation to implement the new constitution won’t be passed until the second half of 2000, after a new legislature is elected. With the president's economic cabinet trying to balance a wide range of opinions, the country's economic reform program has largely stalled. The government is seeking international support to finance reconstruction after massive flooding and landslides in December 1999 caused an estimated $15 billion to $20 billion in damages.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $182.8 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: -7.2% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 63% services: 33% (1997 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 67% (1997 est.)
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 35.6% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1999)
Labor force: 9.9 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 18% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $26.4 billion expenditures: $27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, and motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1995 estimate)
Electricity - production: 70.39 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 25.46% hydro: 74.54% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 65.463 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $20.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: oil, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactured goods (1998)
Exports - partners: US and Puerto Rico 57%, Colombia, Brazil, Japan,
Germany, Netherlands, Italy (1999)
Imports: $11.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, construction materials (1999)
Imports - partners: US 53%, Japan, Colombia, Italy, Germany, France,
Brazil, Canada (1999)
Debt - external: $32 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $35 million, with more assistance expected due to flooding (1999)
Currency: 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 652.333 (January 2000), 605.717 (1999), 547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Venezuela:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 2.6 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2 million (1998)
Telephone system: modern and expanding domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent significant improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national inter-city fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; collaborating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia on 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (1999)
@Venezuela:Transportation
Railways: total: 584 km (248 km privately owned) standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 7,100 km; the Orinoco River and Lake Maracaibo can accommodate oceangoing ships.
Pipelines: crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km
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: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 488,584 GRT/888,764 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 10, combination bulk 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, roll-on/roll-off 7, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 366 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 122 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 17 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 244 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 93 under 914 m: 141 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Venezuela:Military
Military branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales
or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or
Ejército), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Force
(Fuerzas Aéreas or Aviación), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National
Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperación or Guardia Nacional)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,398,169 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 4,612,754 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 244,350 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $934 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY99)
@Venezuela:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo
River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of
Illicit drugs: small-scale opium production for the international drug trade; however, large amounts of cocaine and heroin pass through the country from Colombia headed for the US and Europe; it's a key money-laundering center; there’s an active eradication program mainly focusing on opium; growing indications of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents at the border.
______________________________________________________________________
VIETNAM
@Vietnam:Introduction
Background: France took control of 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 led by Ho Chi Minh, who then took charge of the north. U.S. economic and military aid to South Vietnam increased throughout the 1960s to support the government, but U.S. armed forces were pulled out after a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces captured the south. Rebuilding the economy of the reunited country has been challenging, as aging Communist Party leaders have only reluctantly started the reforms needed for a free market.
@Vietnam:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, next to the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of
Tonkin, and South China Sea, and bordered by China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates: 16° N, 106° E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 329,560 sq km land: 325,360 sq km water: 4,200 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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 nautical miles continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical in the south; monsoonal in the north with a hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and a warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
Terrain: low, flat delta in the south and north; central highlands; hilly and mountainous in the far north and northwest.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m
Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas reserves, forests, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 30% other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 18,600 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with significant flooding
Environment - current issues: logging and slash-and-burn farming practices lead to deforestation and soil damage; water pollution and overfishing endanger marine life populations; groundwater contamination restricts clean water access; increasing urban industrialization and population migration are quickly harming the 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
@Vietnam:People
Population: 78,773,873 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 13,353,828; female 12,516,289) 15-64 years: 62% (male 23,691,412; female 24,951,397) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,696,708; female 2,564,239) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.49% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 21.62 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 6.26 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.13 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.27 years male: 66.84 years female: 71.87 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.53 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural) adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Tai, Meo, Khmer,
Man, Cham
Religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Roman Catholicism, indigenous beliefs,
Islam, Protestantism, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao
Languages: Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French, Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.7% male: 96.5% female: 91.2% (1995 est.)
@Vietnam:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam conventional short form: Vietnam local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam local short form: Viet Nam abbreviation: SRV
Data code: VM
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Hanoi
Administrative divisions: 58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 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 Lac, 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: September 2, 1945 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, September 2, 1945
Constitution: 15 April 1992
Legal system: based on communist legal theory and the French civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since September 24, 1997) and Vice President Nguyen Thi BINH (since NA October 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since September 25, 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since September 29, 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since September 29, 1997), Nguyen Manh CAM (since September 29, 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since September 29, 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister and ratified by the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a five-year term; last election held on September 25, 1997 (next to be held when the National Assembly meets following legislative elections in NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (450 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on July 20, 1997 (next to be held in 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 92%, other 8% (the 8% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to run for election); seats by party - CPV or CPV-approved 450
Judicial branch: The Supreme People's Court, with the chief justice elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly based on the president's recommendation.
Political parties and leaders: only one party - Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV
International organization participation: ACCT, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN,
CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LE VAN BANG chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400 telephone: (202) 861-0737 FAX: (202) 861-0917 consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas B. "Pete" PETERSON embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: (4) 8431500 FAX: (4) 8350484 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Flag description: red with a big yellow five-pointed star in the center
@Vietnam:Economy
Economy - overview: Vietnam is a developing country with a high population density that has had to recover from the impacts of war, the loss of financial support from the former Soviet Bloc, and the challenges of a centrally planned economy. Significant progress was made from 1986 to 1996 as the country moved forward from an extremely low starting point—growth averaged about 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian financial crisis highlighted issues within the Vietnamese economy, but instead of prompting reform, it reinforced the government’s belief that transitioning to a market-oriented economy leads to disaster. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 dropped to 4% in 1998 and increased slightly to an estimated 4.8% in 1999. These figures masked serious challenges that are emerging in economic performance. Many domestic industries, including coal, cement, steel, and paper, have reported large inventories and face tough competition from more efficient foreign producers. Foreign direct investment has plummeted, dropping from $8.3 billion in 1996 to about $1.6 billion in 1999. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities have slowed down the implementation of the structural reforms needed to revitalize the economy and develop more competitive, export-driven industries. The privatization of state enterprises remains stuck in political controversy, while the country’s vibrant private sector lacks both financing and access to markets. Reform of the banking sector—considered one of the riskiest in the world—is progressing slowly, raising concerns that the country will struggle to mobilize enough domestic savings to support growth. Administrative and legal obstacles are also causing costly delays for foreign investors and raising similar doubts about Vietnam's ability to draw in more foreign capital.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $143.1 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.8% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,850 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 33% services: 41% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 37% (1998 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 29% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 38.2 million (1998 est.)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 67%, industry and services 33% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.6 billion expenditures: $6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, clothing, footwear, machinery manufacturing, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper
Industrial production growth rate: 10.3% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 20.62 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 12.95% hydro: 87.05% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 19.177 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish
Exports: $11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil, seafood, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, clothing, shoes
Exports - partners: Japan, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
France, South Korea, US, China
Imports: $11.6 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, oil products, fertilizers, steel products, raw cotton, grains, cement, motorcycles
Imports - partners: Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, Hong Kong,
Taiwan, Thailand, Sweden
Debt - external: $7.3 billion to Western countries; $4.5 billion in CEMA debts mainly to Russia; $9 billion to $18 billion in nonconvertible debt (from former CEMA, Iraq, Iran)
Economic aid - recipient: $2 billion in credits and grants promised by international donors for 1999 and again for 2000
Currency: 1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1 - 14,020 (January 2000), 13,900
(December 1998), 11,100 (December 1996), 11,193 (1995 average), 11,000
(October 1994), 10,800 (November 1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Vietnam:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 775,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 178,000 (1998)
Telephone system: Although Vietnam's telecommunications sector is still behind other countries in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has made significant strides since 1991 to upgrade the system; Vietnam has digitalized all provincial switchboards, and fiber-optic and microwave transmission systems have been extended from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to all provinces. The number of telephone receivers nationwide doubled from 1993 to 1995, but it still lags behind other countries in the region. domestic: NA 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 repeats) (1998)
Televisions: 3.57 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Vietnam:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,652 km standard gauge: 166 km (1.435-m gauge) narrow gauge: 2,249 km (1.000-m gauge) dual gauge: 237 km (NA-m gauges, three rails) (1998)
Highways: total: 93,300 km paved: 23,418 km unpaved: 69,882 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 17,702 km navigable; over 5,149 km are always navigable by vessels with a draft of up to 1.8 m
Pipelines: petroleum products 150 km
Ports and harbors: Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong
Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang
Merchant marine: total: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 616,115 GRT/941,611 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 103, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, container 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 4 (1999 est.)
Airports: 48 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 7 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
@Vietnam:Military
Military branches: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force), Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age: 17 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 21,149,579 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males aged 15-49: 13,335,337 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 949,532 (2000 est.)
Military spending - amount: $650 million (FY98)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY98)
@Vietnam:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the maritime boundary with Cambodia is not defined; involved in a complicated dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; the maritime boundary with Thailand was resolved in August 1997; there is a maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; China occupies the Paracel Islands, which are claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and parts of the boundary with Cambodia are in dispute; an agreement on the land border with China was signed in December 1999, but the details of the alignment have not been made public.
Illicit drugs: minor producer of opium poppy with 2,100 hectares cultivated in 1999, capable of producing 11 metric tons of opium; likely a minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin heading to the US and Europe; increasing opium/heroin addiction; potential small-scale heroin production.
______________________________________________________________________
VIRGIN ISLANDS
@Virgin Islands:Introduction
Background: In the 17th century, the archipelago was split into two territories, one controlled by the English and the other by the Danish. The economy of the islands relied heavily on sugarcane, produced through slave labor, throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US bought the Danish part, which had been experiencing economic decline since slavery was abolished in 1848.
@Virgin Islands:Geography
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 land: 349 sq km water: 3 sq km
Area - comparative: two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 188 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: subtropical, influenced by easterly trade winds, fairly low humidity, minimal seasonal temperature changes; rainy season is from May to November.
Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat 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% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 6% other: 47% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues: shortage of natural freshwater resources
Geography - note: important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping route for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean.
@Virgin Islands:People
Population: 120,917 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27.8% (male 17,258; female 16,359) 15-64 years: 63.72% (male 35,026; female 42,021) 65 years and over: 8.48% (male 4,435; female 5,818) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.07% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 15.96 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 5.36 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 males/females under 15 years: 1.06 males/females 15-64 years: 0.83 males/females 65 years and over: 0.76 males/females total population: 0.88 males/females (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.64 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.11 years male: 74.2 years female: 82.25 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: Black 80%, White 15%, Other 5% Note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, Other 8%
Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy: definition: N/A total population: N/A% male: N/A% female: N/A%
@Virgin Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies
Data code: VQ
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, March 31, 1917 (from Denmark to the US)
Constitution: Updated Organic Act of July 22, 1954
Legal system: based on U.S. laws
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal; note - Indigenous people are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections.
Executive branch: chief of state: President Bill Clinton of the US (since January 20, 1993); Vice President Al Gore (since January 20, 1993) head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley Turnbull (since January 5, 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd Luz James II (since January 5, 1999) cabinet: N/A 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; last election held on November 3, 1998 (next to be held in November 2002) election results: Dr. Charles Wesley Turnbull elected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles W. Turnbull (Democrat) 58.9%, former Governor Roy L. Schneider (ICM) 41.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held November 3, 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 6, Republican Party 2, ICM 2, independents 5 note: the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held November 3, 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000); results - Dr. Donna GREEN (Democrat) 80%, Victor O. FRAZER (ICM) 20%
Judicial branch: US District Court, judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, judges are appointed by the governor.
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party;
Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM); Republican Party
International organization participation: ECLAC (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (part of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (U.S. territory)
Flag description: white, featuring a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms displays a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other, with a shield showing vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel.
@Virgin Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: Tourism is the main economic activity, making up over 70% of GDP and 70% of jobs. The islands typically welcome 2 million visitors each year. The manufacturing sector includes petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is limited, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but expanding part of the economy. One of the largest petroleum refineries in the world is located in Saint Croix. The islands are vulnerable to significant storm damage.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 47,443 (1990 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, oil refining, watch manufacturing, rum production, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.019 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 948 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Exports: $NA
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum products
Exports - partners: US, Puerto Rico
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: crude oil, food, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners: US, Puerto Rico
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US dollars are used
Fiscal year: October 1 - September 30
@Virgin Islands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 58,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,000 (1992)
Telephone system: 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 (1998)
Radios: 107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 68,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Virgin Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 856 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port
Alucroix
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (est. 1999)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Virgin Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the U.S.
@Virgin Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
WAKE ISLAND
@Wake Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates: 19.2833° N, 166.6000° E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 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 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical
Terrain: an atoll of three coral islands built on an underwater volcano; the central lagoon is the former crater, and the 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: important location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing spot for transpacific flights
@Wake Island:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: US military personnel have left the island, but some civilian staff are still there (July 2000 est.)
@Wake Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Island
Data code: WQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; managed from Washington, DC by the Department of the Interior; occasional activities on the island are overseen by the US Army under a US Air Force contract
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Wake Island:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic activity is restricted to offering services to contractors based on the island. All food and manufactured goods have to be imported.
Electricity - production: NA kWh
@Wake Island:Communications
Telephone system: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the
Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: N/A
international: N/A
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM N/A, shortwave N/A note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (1998)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
@Wake Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; two offshore anchorages for large vessels
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Transportation - note: was once a significant commercial aviation hub, now used occasionally by the US military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency landings.
@Wake Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Wake Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by the Marshall Islands
______________________________________________________________________
WALLIS AND FUTUNA
@Wallis and Futuna:Introduction
Background: Though discovered by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the French who established a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the residents of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.
@Wallis and Futuna:Geography
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 land: 274 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 129 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rainfall of 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) mainly due to the ongoing use of wood as the primary fuel source; as a result of cutting down the forests, the hilly landscape of Futuna is especially vulnerable to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources.
Geography - note: both island groups have bordering reefs
@Wallis and Futuna:People
Population: 15,283 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: NA%
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: NA deaths per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born per woman
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 100%
Languages: French, Wallisian (native Polynesian language)
Literacy: definition: ages 15 and up can read and write total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.)
@Wallis and Futuna:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna local short form: Wallis et Futuna
Data code: WF
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 named Wallis, Sigave, Alo
Independence: none (territory of France overseas)
Constitution: September 28, 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since May 17, 1995), represented by High Administrator Christian DORS (since NA) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Soane UHILA (since NA) cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-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
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblée Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held in March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 14, other 6 note: Wallis and Futuna elect 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 in September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held in March 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR 1
Judicial branch: none; justice is usually administered under French law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings oversee customary law, and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu.
Political parties and leaders: Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) ;
Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG ; Rally for the
Republic or RPR ; Taumu'a Lelei ; Union
Populaire Locale or UPL ; Union Pour la Democratie
Francaise or UDF
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 centered 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
@Wallis and Futuna:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy mostly relies on traditional subsistence farming, with around 80% of the workforce making a living from agriculture (like coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mainly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government jobs. Income comes from French government subsidies, fishing rights licenses sold to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expats working in New Caledonia.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1995 estimate)
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% (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: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
Exports: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Exports - commodities: copra, breadfruit, yams, taro roots, handicrafts
Exports - partners: NA
Imports: $13.5 million (c.i.f., estimated 1995)
Imports - goods: food, manufactured products, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing
Imports - partners: France, Australia, New Zealand
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: assistance from France
Currency: 1 Comptoirs Français du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 117.67 (January 2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Wallis and Futuna:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1,125 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone system: domestic: N/A international: N/A
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Wallis and Futuna:Transportation
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: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or more) with a total of 92,060 GRT/45,881 DWT ships by type: passenger 2, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Wallis and Futuna:Military
Military - note: defense is France's responsibility
@Wallis and Futuna:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
WEST BANK
@West Bank:Introduction
Background: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on September 13, 1993, outlines a transitional period not exceeding five years for Palestinian self-governance in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. According to the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Powers and responsibilities were transferred for the Gaza Strip and Jericho under the Israel-PLO Cairo Agreement on May 4, 1994, and in additional areas of the West Bank under the Israel-PLO Interim Agreement on September 28, 1995, the Israel-PLO Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron on January 15, 1997, the Israel-PLO Wye River Memorandum on October 23, 1998, and the Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement on September 4, 1999. The DOP states that Israel will maintain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for the internal security and public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. The permanent status will be determined through direct negotiations, which resumed in September 1999 after a three-year break.
@West Bank:Geography
Location: Middle East, west of Jordan
Geographic coordinates: 32° 00' N, 35° 15' E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 5,860 sq km land: 5,640 sq km water: 220 sq km note: includes the West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mount Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are included only to show the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Area - comparative: a bit 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: mild, temperature and rainfall change with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain: mostly rough, broken highland, some vegetation in the west, but barren in the east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 32% forests and woodland: 1% other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: sufficiency of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
Geography - note: landlocked; highlands are the main recharge area for
Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 231 Israeli settlements and
civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem
(August 1999 est.)
@West Bank:People
Population: 2,020,298 note: additionally, there are around 171,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and about 172,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 463,644; female 440,211) 15-64 years: 52% (male 531,711; female 511,256) 65 years and over: 3% (male 32,107; female 41,369) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.38% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 36.73 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 4.49 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.33 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.08 years male: 70.39 years female: 73.86 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.02 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab and others 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions: Muslim 75% (mostly 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%
@West Bank:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: West Bank
Data code: WE
@West Bank:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic conditions in the West Bank, where economic activity is governed by the Paris Economic Protocol of April 1994 between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, have worsened since the early 1990s. Real per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) dropped by 36.1% between 1992 and 1996 due to a combination of falling overall incomes and rapid population growth. The decline in economic activity was mainly due to Israeli closure policies — the enforcement of widespread border closures in response to security incidents in Israel — which disrupted previously established labor and commodity market connections between Israel and the WBGS. The most serious negative social impact of this downturn has been the rise of chronic unemployment; average unemployment rates in the WBGS during the 1980s were typically below 5%, but by the mid-1990s this figure had climbed to over 20%. Since 1997, Israel's use of comprehensive closures has decreased, and in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to lessen the effects of closures and other security measures on the movement of Palestinian goods and labor. In October 1999, Israel allowed the opening of a safe passage between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip according to the 1995 Interim Agreement. These changes in how economic activity was conducted have sparked a moderate economic recovery in 1998-99.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.6% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,050 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 25% services: 42% (includes Gaza Strip) (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or spending by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (includes Gaza Strip) (1999 estimate)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 13%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12%, construction 8%, other services 54% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 14.5% (includes Gaza Strip) (1998 estimate)
Budget: revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $1.73 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (includes Gaza Strip) (1999 est.)
Industries: typically small family-run businesses that make cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have set up some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial hubs.
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh; note - most electricity is imported from Israel; the East Jerusalem Electric Company purchases 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; meanwhile, some Palestinian municipalities, like Nablus and Jenin, generate their own electricity from small power plants.
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: olives, citrus fruits, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports: $682 million (including the Gaza Strip) (f.o.b., 1998 estimate)
Exports - commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone
Exports - partners: Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip
Imports: $2.5 billion (includes Gaza Strip) (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: food, consumer products, building materials
Imports - partners: Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip
Debt - external: $108 million (includes Gaza Strip) (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $800 million pledged (includes Gaza Strip) (1999)
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 4.2260 (November 1999), 3.8001 (1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - fixed rate of 0.7090 (from 1996), 0.7005 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since January 1, 1992)
@West Bank:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 95,729 (total for West Bank and Gaza
Strip) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA note: The Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL provide communication services in the West Bank.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA; note - most Palestinian households own radios (1999)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA; note - many Palestinian households own televisions (1999)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 8 (1999)
@West Bank:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 4,500 km paved: 2,700 km unpaved: 1,800 km (1997 est.) note: Israelis have built numerous highways to support Jewish settlements
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@West Bank:Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@West Bank:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The West Bank and Gaza Strip are
Israeli-occupied, with the current status subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation
______________________________________________________________________
WESTERN SAHARA
@Western Sahara:Introduction
Background: Morocco basically took control of the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979 after Mauritania withdrew. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front, which challenged Rabat's claim to the area, ended in a ceasefire in 1991; a vote on the final status has been delayed multiple times and is not anticipated to happen until at least 2002.
@Western Sahara:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, next to the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates: 24.5° N, 13.0° W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 266,000 sq km land: 266,000 sq km water: 0 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: dependent on resolving the sovereignty issue
Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is uncommon; cold coastal air currents create fog and heavy dew.
Terrain: mostly flat, low desert with extensive rocky or sandy areas, rising to small mountains in the 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% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: 0% other: 81%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty sirocco winds can happen during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze is present 60% of the time, often significantly reducing visibility.
Environment - current issues: limited water and shortage of farmland
Environment - international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Western Sahara:People
Population: 244,943 (July 2000 est.)
Age distribution: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and older: NA
Population growth rate: 2.29% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 45.07 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 16.11 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -6.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 133.59 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.81 years male: 48.65 years female: 51.33 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.64 children born per woman (2000 est.)
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%
@Western Sahara:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara former: Spanish Sahara
Data code: WI
Government type: legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; the territory is contested by Morocco and the Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 officially declared a government-in-exile for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); the territory was divided between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco taking the northern two-thirds; Mauritania, facing pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its share in August 1979; Morocco then moved to occupy that area shortly after and has since maintained administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was accepted as a member of the OAU in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitored cease-fire was established on September 6, 1991.
Capital: none
Administrative divisions: none (currently controlled by Morocco)
Suffrage: none; a UN-sponsored voter ID campaign hasn't been finished yet.
Executive branch: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none
Diplomatic representation from the US: none
@Western Sahara:Economy
Economy - overview: Western Sahara, a region low in natural resources and facing inadequate rainfall, relies on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the main sources of income for its people. Most of the food for the urban population has to be imported. All trade and economic activities are managed by the Moroccan Government. Income levels and living standards are significantly lower than in Morocco.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per person: buying power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 40%-45% (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: 85 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 79 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, and goats (raised by nomads)
Exports: $NA
Exports - commodities: phosphates 62%
Exports - partners: Morocco claims and manages Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in the overall Moroccan accounts.
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: fuel for the fishing fleet, food products
Imports - partners: Morocco asserts control over and manages Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in the overall Moroccan accounts.
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 10.051 (January 2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Western Sahara:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: around 2,000 (estimated in 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1999)
Telephone system: sparse and limited system domestic: N/A international: connected to 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Western Sahara:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 6,200 km paved: 1,350 km unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est.)
Ports and harbors: Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Airports: 12 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Western Sahara:Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military spending - percent of GDP: NA%
@Western Sahara:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed and managed by Morocco, but sovereignty remains unclear and the UN is working to organize a referendum on the matter; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in place since September 1991.
______________________________________________________________________
WORLD
@World:Geography
Map references: World, Time Zones
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 larger than the US
Land boundaries: the total length of land boundaries in the world is 251,480.24 km (not counting shared boundaries twice).
Coastline: 356,000 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles claimed by most, but can vary continental shelf: 200-meter depth claimed by most or to the depth of exploitation; others claim 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles claimed by most, but can vary exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles claimed by most, but can vary territorial sea: 12 nautical miles claimed by most, but can vary note: boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nautical miles; 43 nations and other landlocked areas 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
Climate: two large regions of polar climates separated by two relatively narrow temperate zones from a broad equatorial band of tropical to subtropical climates.
Terrain: the deepest part of the ocean is the Mariana Trench, which reaches a depth of 10,924 meters in the Pacific Ocean.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)
Natural resources: the quick depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the loss of forests and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and the decline in air and water quality (especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR, and China) create significant long-term challenges that governments and people are just starting to tackle.
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 32% other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,481,250 sq km (1993 estimate)
Natural hazards: extensive regions prone to extreme weather (tropical cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)
Environment - current issues: vast regions experiencing overpopulation, industrial accidents, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of plant life (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), decline in wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion
@World:People
Population: 6,080,671,215 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29.92% (male 932,832,913; female 885,970,165) 15-64 years: 63.17% (male 1,942,402,264; female 1,898,479,062) 65 years and over: 6.91% (male 184,072,470; female 235,017,660) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.3% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 22 births per 1,000 people (2000 est.)
Death rate: 9 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 54 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64 years male: 62 years female: 65 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born per woman (2000 estimate)
@World:Government
Data code: none; there is no FIPS 10-4 country code for the World, so the Factbook uses the "W" data code from DIAM 65-18 "Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features," Data Standard No. 3, March 1984, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency; see the Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes appendix
Administrative divisions: 267 countries, dependent territories, others, and miscellaneous entries
Legal system: all members of the UN (excluding Yugoslavia) plus
Switzerland are parties to the statute that created the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court
@World:Economy
Economy - overview: Growth in global output (gross world product, GWP) rose to 3% in 1999 from 2% in 1998, despite an ongoing recession in Japan, serious financial issues in other East Asian countries, and widespread disruptions in several transition economies, especially Russia. The US economy continued its impressive sustained prosperity, growing at 4.1% in 1999 and accounting for 23% of GWP. Western European economies grew by about 2%, which was not enough to significantly reduce the region's high unemployment; the EU economies produced 20% of GWP. China, the second largest economy in the world, maintained strong growth, representing 12% of GWP. Japan's growth was only 0.3% in 1999, with its share of GWP at 7%. As usual, the 15 successor nations of the USSR and other former Warsaw Pact nations showed widely differing growth rates. Developing nations had varied growth results, with many facing population increases that nullified gains in output. Externally, the nation-state, as a fundamental economic-political institution, is increasingly losing control over international flows of people, goods, money, and technology. Internally, central governments often lose control over resources as separatist regional movements—often based on ethnicity—gain traction, seen in many of the former Soviet Union states, former Yugoslavia, India, and Canada. In Western Europe, governments struggle with the political challenge of reallocating resources from welfare programs to boost investment and strengthen job-seeking incentives. The addition of 80 million people each year to an already crowded planet is worsening issues related to pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Due to their own internal challenges and priorities, industrialized nations allocate insufficient resources to effectively address the needs of poorer regions, which are increasingly becoming marginalized from an economic standpoint. Ongoing financial troubles in East Asia, Russia, and many African countries cast a shadow over immediate global economic prospects. The launch of the euro as the common currency for much of Western Europe in January 1999, while enhancing the potential for an integrated economic powerhouse, brings serious economic risks due to differing income levels and cultural and political differences among the participating countries. (For specific economic developments in each country of the world in 1999, see the individual country entries.)
GDP: GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power parity - $40.7 trillion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): all countries 25%; developed countries typically 1% to 3%; developing countries typically 5% to 60% (1999 est.) note: national inflation rates differ greatly in individual cases, ranging from stable 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% when combining unemployment and underemployment in many developing countries; developed countries usually have unemployment rates of 4%-12% (1999 est.)
Industries: overwhelmed by the rapid advancement of technology, particularly in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medical equipment; most of these innovations are happening in OECD countries; only a few non-OECD countries have managed to adapt quickly to these technological changes; the fast-paced development of new industrial (and agricultural) technologies is worsening already serious environmental issues.
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 12,342.7 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: 12,342.7 billion kWh (1994)
Exports: $5.6 trillion (f.o.b., 1999 estimate)
Exports - commodities: the complete range of industrial and agricultural products and services
Exports - partners: in value, around 75% of exports come from developed countries.
Imports: $5.6 trillion (f.o.b., estimated in 1999)
Imports - commodities: the complete range of industrial and agricultural products and services
Imports - partners: in value, about 75% of imports by developed countries
Debt - external: $2 trillion for developing countries (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: traditional worldwide foreign aid $50 billion (1997 est.)
@World:Communications
Telephones - main lines currently in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: N/A international: N/A
Radio broadcast stations: AM N/A, FM N/A, shortwave N/A
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13,119 (1999)
@World:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,201,337 km includes about 190,000 to 195,000 km of electrified routes, with 147,760 km 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 - the fastest speed in daily service is 300 km/hr, reached by France's Societe Nationale des Chemins-de-Fer Francais (SNCF) Le Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) - Atlantique line broad gauge: 251,153 km standard gauge: 710,754 km narrow gauge: 239,430 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
@World:Military
Military spending - dollar amount: total real spending on arms globally in 1999 stayed roughly at the 1998 level, around three-quarters of a trillion dollars (1999 est.)
Military spending - percent of GDP: about 2% of global gross product (1999 est.)
______________________________________________________________________
YEMEN
@Yemen:Introduction
Background: North Yemen gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had established a protectorate 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 stance. The significant migration of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north fueled two decades of tension between the two states. The two countries were officially unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A secessionist movement in the south in 1994 was quickly put down.
@Yemen:Geography
Location: Middle East, next to the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and
Red Sea, situated between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 15° N, 48° E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 527,970 sq km land: 527,970 sq km water: 0 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)
Area - comparative: a bit more 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: 18 nautical miles in the North; 24 nautical miles in the South continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along the west coast; mild in the western mountains influenced by seasonal monsoons; extremely hot, dry, and harsh desert in the east.
Terrain: a narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in the 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: oil, fish, rock salt, marble, small coal deposits, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, and fertile soil in the west.
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 30% forests and woodland: 4% other: 63% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,600 sq km (estimated in 1993)
Natural hazards: sandstorms and dust storms in summer
Environment - current issues: extremely limited natural fresh water resources; insufficient supplies of drinkable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
@Yemen:People
Population: 17,479,206 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 4,220,621; female 4,076,902) 15-64 years: 49% (male 4,416,139; female 4,224,474) 65 years and over: 4% (male 275,590; female 265,480) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.36% (estimated in 2000)
Birth rate: 43.44 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 9.86 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 estimate)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s) per female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s) per female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s) per female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s) per female total population: 1.04 male(s) per female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 70.28 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 estimate)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.83 years male: 58.1 years female: 61.64 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.05 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni
Ethnic groups: mostly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians,
Europeans
Religions: Muslim, including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), with small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu.
Languages: Arabic
Literacy: definition: age 15 and older can read and write total population: 38% male: 53% female: 26% (1990 est.)
@Yemen:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Yemen conventional short form: Yemen local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah local short form: Al Yaman
Data code: YM
Government type: republic
Capital: Sanaa
Administrative divisions: 17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz note: there may be three new governorates - the capital city of Sanaa, Amran, Dala'a
Independence: On May 22, 1990, the Republic of Yemen was formed by merging the Yemen Arab Republic and the Marxist-led People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen). Previously, North Yemen gained independence from the Ottoman Empire on November 30, 1918, and South Yemen became independent from the UK on November 30, 1967.
National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic, May 22 (1990)
Constitution: May 16, 1991; amended September 29, 1994
Legal system: based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Ali Abdallah SALIH (since May 22, 1990, the former president of North Yemen, took office when North and South Yemen merged); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since October 3, 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Abd al-Karim Ali al-IRYANI (since NA April 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president based on the prime minister's advice elections: president elected through direct, popular vote for a five-year term; last election held on September 23, 1999 (next to take place NA 2004); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote: Ali Abdallah SALIH 96.3%, Najeeb Qahtan AL-SHAABI 3.7%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held April 27, 1997 (next to be held in April 2001) election results: percentage of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - GPC 189, Islah 52, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Baath Party 2, independents 54, election pending 1 note: in May 1997, the president created a consultative council, sometimes called the upper house of Parliament; its 59 members are all appointed by the president
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: there are over 12 political parties active in Yemen, including some of the more prominent ones: General People's Congress (GPC); Islamic Reform Grouping (Islah); National Arab Socialist Baath Party; Nasserite Unionist Party; Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) [Ali Salih MYQBIL]. Note: President Salih's General People's Congress (GPC) won a huge victory in the April 1997 legislative election and no longer governs in coalition with Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-Ahmad's Islamic Reform Grouping (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.
International organization participation: ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU,
CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahhab Abdallah al-HAJRI chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 965-4760 FAX: (202) 337-2017
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara K. BODINE embassy: Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa telephone: (1) 238842 FAX: (1) 251563
Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, and the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white stripe; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white stripe.
@Yemen:Economy
Economy - overview: Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, experienced significant growth in the mid-1990s when it started producing oil, but was negatively impacted by low oil prices in 1998. Yemen has initiated an IMF-supported structural adjustment program aimed at modernizing and streamlining its economy, which has resulted in foreign debt relief and restructuring. With the help of rising oil prices in 1999, Yemen focused on keeping a tight grip on spending and implementing more parts of the IMF program. The high population growth rate of 3.4% and internal political conflicts make the government's job more challenging.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.7 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $750 (est. 1999)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 42% services: 38% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 30.8% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (estimated for 1999)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: most people work in agriculture and herding or as foreign laborers; services, construction, industry, and commerce make up less than half of the labor force.
Unemployment rate: 30% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.8 billion expenditures: $1.95 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 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: NA%
Electricity - production: 2.24 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.083 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grain, fruits, vegetables, qat (a mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton; dairy products, poultry, beef; fish
Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil, cotton, coffee, dried and salted fish
Exports - partners: China 31%, South Korea 25%, Thailand 22%, Japan 5% (1998 est.)
Imports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: food and live animals, machinery and equipment, manufactured goods
Imports - partners: US 9%, UAE 8%, France 8%, Italy 7%, Saudi Arabia 7% (1998 est.)
Debt - external: $4.5 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $176.1 million (1995)
Currency: Yemeni rial (YER) = 100 fils
Exchange rates: Yemeni rials (YER) per US$1 - 159.70 (January 2000), 160.700 (first quarter 1999), 135.882 (1998), 129.281 (1997), 94.157 (1996), 40.839 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Yemen:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 188,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 8,250 (1995)
Telephone system: since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network. domestic: the network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, and tropospheric scatter. international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 in the Indian Ocean and 1 in the 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 (and several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 470,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Yemen:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 67,000 km paved: 7,700 km unpaved: 59,300 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 644 km; petroleum products 32 km
Ports and harbors: Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, As Salif, Mocha,
Nishtun
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,059 GRT/18,563 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 50 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 37 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
@Yemen:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, paramilitary (includes Police)
Military manpower - military age: 14 years old
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,935,924 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - qualified for military service: males ages 15-49: 2,209,412 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age each year: males: 234,375 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $414 million (FY99)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 7.6% (FY99)
@Yemen:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: a significant portion of the border with Saudi Arabia is not clearly defined.
______________________________________________________________________
ZAMBIA
@Zambia:Introduction
Background: The territory of Northern Rhodesia was managed by the South Africa Company from 1891 until the UK took control in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, improvements in mining drove development and immigration. The name changed to Zambia when it gained independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, falling copper prices and a long drought negatively impacted the economy. Elections in 1991 ended one-party rule, but the following election in 1996 experienced clear harassment of opposition parties.
@Zambia:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Angola
Geographic coordinates: 15°00'S, 30°00'E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 752,614 sq km land: 740,724 sq km water: 11,890 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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; adjusted by altitude; rainy season (October to
April)
Terrain: mainly a high plateau with a few 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% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 39% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 460 sq km (estimated 1993)
Natural hazards: tropical storms (November to April)
Environment - current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining area; poaching seriously threatens rhino and elephant populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate water treatment poses risks to human health.
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
@Zambia:People
Population: 9,582,418 note: estimates for this country specifically consider the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to reduced life expectancy, increased infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and shifts in the population distribution by age and sex than what would typically be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,290,559; female 2,270,945) 15-64 years: 50% (male 2,369,317; female 2,413,070) 65 years and over: 2% (male 105,443; female 133,084) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.95% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 41.9 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 22.08 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: -0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 92.38 deaths per 1,000 live births (estimated in 2000)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 37.24 years male: 37.08 years female: 37.41 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.62 children per woman (2000 estimate)
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 around 70 other indigenous languages.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and up can read and write in English total population: 78.2% male: 85.6% female: 71.3% (1995 est.)
@Zambia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Zambia conventional short form: Zambia former: Northern Rhodesia
Data code: ZA
Government type: republic
Capital: Lusaka
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern,
Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence: October 24, 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, October 24 (1964)
Constitution: 2 August 1991
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts exists in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Frederick CHILUBA (since November 2, 1991); Vice President Christon TEMBO (since December 2, 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA (since November 2, 1991); Vice President Christon TEMBO (since December 2, 1997); 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 November 18, 1996 (next to be held in October 2001); vice president appointed by the president election results: Frederick CHILUBA reelected president; percent of vote - Frederick CHILUBA 72.5%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12.6%, Humphrey MULEMBA 7%, Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4.7%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held November 18, 1996 (next to be held in October 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MMD 131, NP 5, Zadeco 2, AZ 2, independents 10
Judicial branch: The Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Akashambatwa
LEWANIKA]; Labor Party or LP; Liberal Progressive
Front or LPF; Movement for Democratic
Process or MDP; Movement for Multiparty Democracy
or MMD; National Party or NP;
United National Independence Party or UNIP; United
Party for National Development or UPND; Zambia
Alliance for Progress or ZAP; Zambia Democratic Congress
or Zadeco
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC,
UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-9717 through 9719 FAX: (202) 332-0826
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David DUNN embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: (1) 250-955, 252-230 FAX: (1) 252-225
Flag description: green with a panel of three vertical stripes of red (on the hoist side), black, and orange beneath a soaring orange eagle on the outer edge of the flag.
@Zambia:Economy
Economy - overview: Even though there have been advancements in privatization and budget reform, Zambia's economy still has a lot of ground to cover. The recent privatization of the large government-owned Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) should significantly enhance Zambia's chances for international debt relief, as the government won't have to absorb the massive losses from that sector anymore. However, inflation and unemployment rates are still quite high.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.5 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1999 estimate)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $880 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20.6% industry: 30.6% services: 48.8% (1998 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 86% (1993 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 31.3% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27.4% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 3.4 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%
Unemployment rate: 25% (1998)
Budget: revenues: $606 million expenditures: $547 million, including capital expenditures of $61 million (1998 est.)
Industries: copper mining and processing, construction, food products, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizers
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1998)
Electricity - production: 8.16 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.49% hydro: 99.51% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - usage: 6.419 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 1.2 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 30 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seeds, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, beef, pork, chicken, milk, eggs, hides; coffee
Exports: $900 million (f.o.b., estimated 1999)
Exports - commodities: copper, cobalt, electricity, tobacco
Exports - partners: Japan, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, South
Africa, US, Malaysia (1997)
Imports: $1.15 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, food, fuel, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer
Imports - partners: South Africa 48%, Saudi Arabia, UK, Zimbabwe (1997)
Debt - external: $6.7 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.99 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 2,661.82 (January 2000), 2,388.02 (1999), 1,862.07 (1998), 1,314.50 (1997), 1,207.90 (1996), 864.12 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Zambia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 77,935 (plus approximately 40,000 fixed phones in wireless local loop connections) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 6,000 (1998)
Telephone system: facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa. domestic: a high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most major towns and cities; several cellular phone services are in operation; Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private companies. international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 in the Indian Ocean and 1 in the Atlantic Ocean).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 1.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 9 (1997)
Televisions: 277,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@Zambia:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,164 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track) note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi, where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not part of Zambia Railways.
Highways: total: 66,781 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 2,250 km, including the Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake
Tanganyika
Pipelines: crude oil 1,724 km
Ports and harbors: Mpulungu
Airports: 112 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 100 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 67 under 914 m: 30 (1999 est.)
@Zambia:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Service, Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,179,563 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,157,479 (2000 est.)
Military spending - total amount: $76 million (FY97)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY97)
@Zambia:Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs: a transit point for methaqualone, heroin, and cocaine headed for Southern Africa and Europe; a regional money-laundering hub.
______________________________________________________________________
ZIMBABWE
@Zimbabwe:Introduction
Background: The UK took over Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company in 1923. A constitution created in 1961 was designed to maintain white control. In 1965, the government declared independence unilaterally, but the UK refused to recognize it and insisted on voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising eventually resulted in free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the country's first prime minister, has been in power as president since 1987 and has dominated the political system since independence.
@Zimbabwe:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, located between South Africa and Zambia
Geographic coordinates: 20° 00' S, 30° 00' E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 390,580 sq km land: 386,670 sq km water: 3,910 sq km
Area - comparative: a bit 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; cooled by elevation; rainy season (November to
March)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with a higher central plateau (high veld); mountains to the east.
Elevation extremes: lowest point: where the Runde and Save rivers meet 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: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 23% other: 57% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,930 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are uncommon.
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.
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
@Zimbabwe:People
Population: 11,342,521 note: estimates for this country specifically account for the impact of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can lead to lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, reduced population and growth rates, and shifts in the distribution of the population by age and sex compared to what might otherwise be anticipated (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.64% (male 2,274,128; female 2,222,277) 15-64 years: 56.82% (male 3,251,860; female 3,192,888) 65 years and over: 3.54% (male 204,028; female 197,340) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.26% (2000 estimate)
Birth rate: 25 births per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Death rate: 22.43 deaths per 1,000 people (2000 estimate)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: there is a small but consistent movement of Zimbabweans into South Africa looking for better-paying jobs.
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: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.25 deaths per 1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 37.78 years male: 39.18 years female: 36.34 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.34 children born per woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Zimbabwean(s) adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic groups: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%), white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%
Religions: syncretic (half Christian, half indigenous beliefs) 50%,
Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and others 1%
Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the
Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), various minor tribal dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 85% male: 90% female: 80% (1995 est.)
@Zimbabwe:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe conventional short form: Zimbabwe former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia
Data code: ZI
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: April 18, 1980 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, April 18 (1980)
Constitution: 21 December 1979
Legal system: a blend of Roman-Dutch and English common law
Suffrage: 18 years old; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since December 31, 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since December 31, 1987) and Joseph MSIKA (since December 23, 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since December 31, 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since December 31, 1987) and Joseph MSIKA (since December 23, 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: president nominated by the House of Assembly for a six-year term (if more than one nomination, an electoral college consisting of members of the House of Assembly elects the president); election last held March 16-17, 1996 (next to be held in March 2002); co-vice presidents appointed by the president election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent of electoral college vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 92.7%, Abel MUZOREWA 4.8%; Ndabaningi SITHOLE 2.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral parliament, called the House of Assembly (150 seats - 120 elected by popular vote for six-year terms, 12 nominated by the president, 10 held by traditional chiefs chosen by their peers, and 8 held by provincial governors) elections: last held on April 8-9, 1995 (next to be held on June 24-25, 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 117, ZANU-NDONGA 2, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or DP [Emmanuel
MAGOCHE]; Forum Party of Zimbabwe; Movement for
Democratic Change or MDC; Popular Democratic
Front or PDF; United Parties;
Zimbabwe African National Union-NDONGA or ZANU-NDONGA [Ndabaningi
SITHOLE]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF
; Zimbabwe Unity Movement or ZUM
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Constitutional
Assembly or NCA
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Simbi Veke MUBAKO chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 332-7100 FAX: (202) 483-9326
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas McDONALD embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare telephone: (4) 794521 FAX: (4) 796488
Flag description: seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green, with a white isosceles triangle bordered in black, with its base on the left side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is layered on top of a red five-pointed star in the middle of the triangle.
@Zimbabwe:Economy
Economy - overview: The government of Zimbabwe is dealing with a range of serious economic issues as it tries to build on previous progress toward a market-oriented economy. Its involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for instance, has already drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. Much-needed support from the IMF is delayed partly because the country hasn’t met its budget goals. Inflation jumped from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to 59% in 1999. The economy is also being steadily undermined by AIDS; Zimbabwe has the highest infection rate in the world. Per capita GDP, which is twice the average of other poorer sub-Saharan countries, is unlikely to rise much in the near future, and Zimbabwe will continue to face challenges in developing its agricultural and mineral resources.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $26.5 billion (1999 estimate)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1999 estimate)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 32% services: 40% (1997 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 60% (1999 estimate)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 46.9% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 59% (1999 estimate)
Labor force: 5 million (estimated in 1997)
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 24%, industry 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 50% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $279 million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: mining (coal, gold, copper, nickel, tin, clay, a variety of metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel, wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, food, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 6.97 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.19% hydro: 21.81% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 8.403 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 1.921 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs
Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., estimated for 1999)
Exports - commodities: tobacco 23%, gold 14%, ferroalloys 7%, cotton 6% (1997 est.)
Exports - partners: South Africa 12%, UK 11%, Germany 8%, Japan 6%, US 6% (1997 est.)
Imports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 39%, other manufactures 18%, chemicals 15%, fuels 10% (1997 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 37%, UK 7%, US 6%, Japan 6%, Germany 5% (1997 est.)
Debt - external: $5 billion (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $437.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1 - 38.1679 (January 2000), 38.3142 (1999), 21.4133 (1998), 11.8906 (1997), 9.9206 (1996), 8.6580 (1995)
Fiscal year: July 1 - June 30
@Zimbabwe:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 212,000 (plus around 20,000 fixed phones using wireless local loop connections) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 70,000 (1999)
Telephone system: this system was once one of the best in Africa, but now it suffers from poor maintenance; there are over 100,000 pending requests for connections despite a similarly large number of installed but unused main lines. Domestic: it consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a significant mobile cellular network; Internet access is available in Harare and is planned for all major towns and some smaller ones. International: there are two 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 10 (1999)
@Zimbabwe:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,759 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,759 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified; 42 km double track) (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 18,338 km paved: 8,692 km unpaved: 9,646 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: the Mazoe and Zambezi rivers are used to transport chrome ore from Harare to Mozambique.
Pipelines: petroleum products 212 km
Ports and harbors: Binga, Kariba
Airports: 459 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 441 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 217 under 914 m: 220 (1999 est.)
@Zimbabwe:Military
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: 2,924,630 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,814,168 (2000 est.)
Military spending - dollar amount: $127 million (FY99/00)
Military spending - percent of GDP: 3.1% (FY99/00)
@Zimbabwe:Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs: major transit hub for African cannabis and
South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines aimed at the
South African and European markets
______________________________________________________________________
@NOTES AND DEFINITIONS
In this edition of The World Factbook, we’ve updated the information and made the following changes. There’s a new 'country profile' for the Southern Ocean. The name Wake Atoll has officially been changed back to Wake Island. We’ve added new entries on Internet Service Providers (ISPs), main telephone lines in use, and mobile cellular phones. The Background entry, which was first introduced in the 1999 edition, is now complete for over 200 countries. The terms and abbreviations used in the Environment-current issues entry are now explained in the Notes and Definitions section of the introductory material.
Abbreviations: This information is included in [1]Appendix A: Abbreviations, which contains all the abbreviations and acronyms used in the Factbook, along with their full forms.
Administrative divisions: This entry typically lists the numbers, official terms, and first-level administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Any reported changes that haven't yet been addressed by BGN are mentioned.
Age structure: This section shows how the population is distributed by age. It includes information categorized by sex and age group (0-14 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over). The age structure of a population impacts a country's major socioeconomic concerns. Countries with young populations (a high percentage under age 15) need to spend more on schools, while those with older populations (a high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in healthcare. The age structure can also help predict possible political issues. For instance, the rapid growth of a young adult population that can't find jobs can lead to unrest.
Agriculture - products: This section lists the major crops and products in order of importance, starting with the most significant.
Airports: This entry provides the total number of airports. The runway(s) can be paved (concrete or asphalt) or unpaved (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel), but must be operational. Not all airports offer refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control facilities.
Airports - with paved runways: This entry provides the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces). For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is counted 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 list. Not all airports have refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control facilities.
Airports - with unpaved runways: This entry lists the total number of airports that have unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces). For airports with multiple runways, only the longest runway is counted, categorized into 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 list. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.
Appendices: This section includes material related to the Factbook organized by topic.
Area: This entry includes three subfields. The total area is the combined total of all land and water areas defined by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the total of all surfaces defined by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the total of all water surfaces defined by international boundaries and/or coastlines, including inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers).
Area - comparative: This section offers a comparison of areas based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared to the entire US or one of the 50 states using area measurements (1990 revised) from the US Bureau of the Census. Smaller entities are compared to 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 section typically emphasizes significant historical events and current issues, and may include a commentary on one or two important future trends.
Birth rate: This entry provides the average annual number of births in a year per 1,000 people in the population at midyear; also referred to as the crude birth rate. The birth rate is generally the main factor in determining the rate of population growth. It is influenced by both the fertility level and the age distribution of the population.
Budget: This entry includes revenue, total spending, and capital spending. These figures are calculated based on the exchange rate, meaning they're not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
Capital: This entry provides the location of the government headquarters.
Climate: This section provides a short overview of the usual weather patterns throughout the year.
Coastline: This entry provides the total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the ocean.
Communications: This category covers the ways we share information and includes entries for telephone, radio, television, and internet service providers.
Communications - note: This entry contains various important communications information that isn't covered elsewhere.
Constitution: This entry includes the dates when it was adopted, revised, and key amendments made.
Country map: Most versions of the Factbook include a color country map. The maps were created using the best information available at the time they were made. Names and/or boundaries may have changed since then.
Country name: This entry includes all the different versions 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), along with the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
Currency: This entry identifies the national method of exchange and its basic subunit.
Data code: This entry provides the official US Government digraph that accurately identifies every land entity without overlap, duplication, or omission. AF, for instance, is the data code for Afghanistan. This two-letter country code is a standardized geopolitical data element issued in the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS) 10-4 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology at the US Department of Commerce and managed by the Office of the Geographer and Global Issues at the US Department of State. The data code is designed to reduce confusion and incompatibility in the collection, processing, and sharing of area-specific data and is especially useful for exchanging data between databases. [2]Appendix F cross-references various country data codes and [3]Appendix G cross-references various hydrographic data codes.
Data codes - country: This information is presented in [4]Appendix F: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes, which includes the US Government-approved Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) codes, and Internet codes for land entities.
Data codes - hydrographic: This information is provided in [5]Appendix G: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes, which includes the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) codes, Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC; now 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: Generally, information available as of January 1, 2000, was used in putting together this edition.
Death rate: This entry provides the average annual number of deaths per 1,000 people in the population at mid-year; it's also referred to as the crude death rate. While the death rate is a rough measure of how many people are dying in a country, it effectively reflects the current impact of mortality on population growth. This measure is greatly influenced by the age distribution, and most countries will eventually see an increase in the overall death rate, even though mortality rates at all ages continue to decline, because decreasing fertility leads to an older population.
Debt - external: This entry shows the total amount of public foreign financial obligations.
Dependency status: This entry outlines the formal relationship between a specific non-independent entity and an independent state.
Dependent areas: This entry includes an alphabetical list of all nonindependent entities that are linked in some way to a specific independent state.
Diplomatic representation: The US government has diplomatic relations with 184 independent countries, including 181 of the 188 UN members (the UN members not included are Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, the former Yugoslavia, and the US itself). Additionally, the US has diplomatic relations with 3 independent states that are not in the UN - the Holy See, Switzerland, and Tuvalu.
Diplomatic representation from the US: This entry includes the head of mission, embassy address, mailing address, phone number, fax number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Diplomatic representation in the US: This entry includes the head of the foreign mission, chancery address, phone number, fax number, locations of consulate generals, consulate locations, locations of honorary consulate generals, and locations of honorary consulates.
Disputes - international: This entry covers a diverse range of situations, from standard bilateral boundary disputes to various unilateral claims. The US Department of State has reviewed information about disputes over international land and maritime boundaries. Other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, like resource disputes, geopolitical issues, or irredentist concerns; however, including them does not mean official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
Economic aid - donor: This entry refers to net official development assistance (ODA) from OECD countries to developing countries and multilateral organizations. ODA is defined as financial assistance that is concessional in nature, primarily aimed at promoting economic development and the welfare of less developed countries (LDCs), and includes a grant component of at least 25%. This entry does not include other official flows (OOF) or private financial flows.
Economic aid - recipient: This entry, which faces significant challenges in terms 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, as well as individual country donors. Formal commitments of aid are accounted for in the data. Grants from private organizations are excluded from the data. Aid comes in various forms, including outright grants and loans. Therefore, this entry represents the difference between new inflows and repayments.
Economy: This category includes entries related to the size, development, and management of productive resources, such as land, labor, and capital.
Economy - overview: This section gives a quick look at the economy, including how market-driven it is, how developed it is economically, the key natural resources available, and the specific areas where it excels. It also highlights significant economic events and policy shifts from the past year, and might mention one or two major macroeconomic trends to watch for in the future.
Electricity - consumption: This section includes the total electricity generated each year plus imports, minus exports, expressed in kilowatt hours. The difference between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is noted as loss in transmission and distribution.
Electricity - exports: This entry shows the total amount of electricity exported in kilowatt hours.
Electricity - imports: This entry shows the total amount of electricity imported in kilowatt hours.
Electricity - production: This section shows the total electricity generated each year, measured in kilowatt hours. The difference between the electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is recorded as losses in transmission and distribution.
Electricity - production by source: This entry shows the percentage share of annual electricity production from each energy source. These include fossil fuels, hydro, nuclear, and others (like solar, geothermal, and wind).
Elevation extremes: This section covers both the highest and lowest points.
Entities: Some of the independent states, dependencies, regions with special sovereignty, and governments included in this publication are not fully independent, and others aren’t officially recognized by the US Government. "Independent state" means a group of people politically organized into a sovereign state with a defined territory. "Dependencies" and "areas of special sovereignty" refer to a broad category of political entities linked in some way to an independent state. "Country" names used in the table of contents or for page headings are typically the short names approved by the US Board on Geographic Names and may include independent states, dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, or other geographic entities. There are a total of 267 separate geographic entities in The World Factbook that can be categorized as follows:
INDEPENDENT STATES
191 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, Myanmar, 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, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, 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, São Tomé and
Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, 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, 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
267 total
Environment - current issues: This section highlights the most urgent and significant environmental challenges. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout this section:
acidification - the decrease in soil and water pH caused by acid precipitation and deposition; this process interrupts nutrient cycles in ecosystems and can be harmful or fatal to freshwater fish and plants that rely on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain).
acid rain is defined as having harmful levels of sulfur dioxide; it is damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile ecosystems. Acidity is measured using the pH scale, where 7 is neutral, values above 7 are alkaline, and anything below 5.6 is considered acid precipitation. Note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in New England.
asbestos is a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral that is commonly used in fireproofing materials and is considered to be highly carcinogenic.
biodiversity - also known as biological diversity; refers to the many species that are diverse in their forms and functions, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem levels; a loss of biodiversity decreases an ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or human-made disruptions.
catchments assemblages used to collect and hold rainwater and runoff; an important water management method in areas with limited freshwater resources, like Gibraltar.
DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a colorless, odorless insecticide that has harmful effects on most animals; its use was banned in the US in 1972.
defoliants are chemicals that make plants lose their leaves artificially; they’re often used in farming for weed control, and they can have harmful effects on human health and the ecosystem.
deforestation the destruction of large areas of forest (e.g., unsustainable logging practices, clearing land for agriculture and grazing, and overusing wood products for fuel) without replanting.
desertification - the expansion of desert-like conditions in dry or semi-dry regions, caused by overgrazing, loss of fertile soils suitable for farming, or climate change.
dredging - generally, the process of making an existing waterway deeper; more specifically, a method used to gather bottom-dwelling marine life (like shellfish) or to harvest coral, which often results in considerable damage to reef and ocean-floor ecosystems.
driftnet fishing is done with a net that extends for miles, typically anchored to a boat and allowed to float with the tide. This often leads to overharvesting and waste of large populations of non-commercial marine species (by-catch) due to its effect of "sweeping the ocean clean."
ecosystems are ecological units made up of complex communities of organisms and their specific environments.
effluents waste materials, like smoke or sewage, that are released into the environment, causing pollution.
endangered species a species that is at risk of extinction either due to direct hunting or loss of habitat.
freshwater - water with low levels of dissolved minerals; sources include lakes, streams, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.
groundwater - water sources located beneath the earth's surface, usually in naturally occurring reservoirs within permeable rock layers; the source for wells and natural springs.
Highlands Water Project is a series of dams built together by Lesotho and South Africa to channel Lesotho's plentiful water supply into a quickly expanding region in South Africa. While it is the largest infrastructure project in southern Africa, it is also the most expensive and controversial. Concerns about the project include accusations that it displaces people from their homes, floods agricultural land, and wastes economic resources.
Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) represents the 125,000 Inuits from Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland in international environmental matters; a panel meets every three years to decide the ICC's focus; the current issues being addressed include long-range transportation of pollutants, sustainable development, and climate change.
metallurgical plants are industries that focus on the science, technology, and processing of metals; these plants produce highly concentrated and toxic waste that can pollute groundwater and air if not disposed of properly.
noxious substances harmful, very damaging 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 made up of ozone gas (O3) that sits about 25 miles above the Earth's surface and absorbs harmful solar ultraviolet radiation that can affect living organisms.
poaching is the illegal killing of animals or fish and is a major concern for endangered or threatened species.
pollution is the contamination of a healthy environment by human-made waste.
potable water: water that is safe to drink and consume.
salination - the process where fresh (drinkable) water turns into salt (undrinkable) water; thus, desalination is the opposite process.
siltation happens when water channels and reservoirs get clogged with silt and mud, a result of deforestation and soil erosion.
slash-and-burn agriculture - a crop rotation method where trees are cut down and burned to clear land for short-term farming; the land is used until it becomes less productive, at which point a new area is chosen and the process starts again; this method is sustainable when population levels are low and there's enough time for natural vegetation to regrow; however, when these conditions aren't met, it can lead to severe environmental damage.
soil degradation damage to the land's productive capacity due to poor farming practices like overusing pesticides and fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy machinery, or topsoil erosion, ultimately leading to a decreased ability to produce crops.
soil erosion - the removal of soil caused by water or wind, made worse by bad farming practices, cutting down trees, overgrazing, and the desert turning into non-arable land.
ultraviolet (UV) radiation - a part 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 connected to rising rates of skin cancer in humans.
waterborne diseases are those in which the bacteria survive in and are transmitted through water; they are always a serious threat in areas with untreated water supplies.
Environment - international agreements: This entry divides country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by their abbreviated names.
Environmental agreements: This information is presented in [6]Appendix D: 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 lists ethnic groups in order from the largest to the smallest and usually includes the percentage of the total population.
Exchange rates: This entry provides the official value of a country's currency at a specific date or over a certain period, expressed in units of local currency per US dollar, and established by international market forces or official decree.
Executive branch: This section covers several subfields. Chief of state refers to the name and title of the figurehead leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial events but may not be involved in the everyday workings of the government. Head of government refers to the name and title of the top administrative leader responsible for managing the daily operations of the government. Cabinet refers to the official name for this group of high-ranking advisors and the process for selecting members. Elections include the details of the election process or how someone comes to power, the date of the last election, and the date of the next election. Election results refer to the percentage of votes each candidate received in the last election. In the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister serves as the head of government. In the US, the president holds both the chief of state and head of government positions.
Exports: This entry shows the total US dollar value of exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis.
Exports - commodities: This entry lists exported products in order of importance, starting with the top ones; it may also include the percentage of total dollar value.
Exports - partners: This entry lists trading partners in order of significance, starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percentage of the total dollar value.
Fiscal year: This entry explains the starting and ending months for a country's 12-month accounting period, which is usually the calendar year but can begin in any month. All yearly references are for the calendar year (CY) unless stated otherwise as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).
Flag description: This entry offers a written description of flags created from actual flags or the best information accessible when the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their territories unless there's an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas don't have flags.
Flag graphic: Most versions of the Factbook include a color flag at the start of the country profile. The flag graphics were created based on actual flags or the best information available at the time they were prepared. Dependencies use the flags of independent states unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed areas and others do not have flags.
GDP: This entry provides the gross domestic product (GDP), which is the total value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a specific year. The GDP dollar estimates in the Factbook are based on purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations. See the note on GDP methodology for more details.
GDP methodology: In the Economy section, GDP dollar estimates for all countries are based on purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations instead of official currency exchange rates. The PPP method uses standardized international dollar price weights, which are applied to the quantities of final goods and services produced in a specific economy. The data from the PPP method provides the best starting point for comparing economic strength and well-being across countries. Dividing a GDP estimate in domestic currency by the corresponding PPP estimate in dollars gives the PPP conversion rate. While PPP estimates for OECD countries are generally reliable, those for developing countries are often rough approximations. Most GDP estimates rely on extrapolations of PPP numbers published by the UN International Comparison Program (UNICP) and by Professors Robert Summers and Alan Heston from the University of Pennsylvania and their colleagues. In contrast, the currency exchange rate method is influenced by various international and domestic financial forces that often have little connection to domestic output. In developing countries with weak currencies, the exchange rate estimate of GDP in dollars is typically only one-fourth to one-half of the PPP estimate. Additionally, exchange rates can fluctuate suddenly by 10% or more due to market forces or official decisions, while real output remains unchanged. For instance, on January 12, 1994, the 14 countries of the African Financial Community (with currencies tied to the French franc) devalued their currencies by 50%. This decision did not reduce the real output of these countries by half. One important caution: the proportion of, say, defense spending as a percentage of GDP in local currency may differ significantly from the proportion when GDP is expressed in PPP terms, such as when estimating the dollar amount of Russian or Japanese military expenditures. Note: the numbers for GDP and other economic data cannot be chained together from successive volumes of the Factbook due to changes in the US dollar measuring standard, revisions of data by statistical agencies, use of new or different information sources, and changes in national statistical methods and practices.
GDP - composition by sector: This entry shows the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to the total GDP.
GDP - per capita: This entry shows GDP based on purchasing power parity divided by the population as of July 1 for the same year.
GDP - real growth rate: This entry shows the annual GDP growth rate adjusted for inflation and presented as a percentage.
Geographic coordinates: This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures to help find 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 other sources.
Geographic names: This information is presented in [7]Appendix H: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names, which shows where different geographic names—such as alternate names, former names, political or geographical parts of larger entities, and the locations of all US Foreign Service posts—can be found in The World Factbook. Spellings are usually, but not always, those approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Alternate names are included in parentheses, while additional information is included in brackets.
Geography: This category includes entries related to the natural environment and the impacts of human activity.
Geography - note: This section contains various important geographic information that isn’t covered elsewhere.
GNP: Gross national product (GNP) is the total value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a specific year, plus the income earned by its citizens living abroad, minus the income earned by foreigners from production within the country. The Factbook, in line with current practice, uses GDP instead of GNP to measure national production. However, users should understand that in some countries, net remittances from citizens working overseas can be significant for national well-being.
Government: This category includes the entries related to the system for adopting and managing public policy.
Government type: This entry provides the basic form of government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).
Government - note: This entry includes various important government information that isn't covered in other sections.
Gross domestic product: see GDP
Gross national product: see GNP
Gross world product: see GWP
GWP: This entry provides the gross world product (GWP), which is the total value of all final goods and services produced globally in a specific year.
Heliports: This entry provides the total number of established helicopter takeoff and landing sites (which may or may not have fuel or other services).
Highways: This entry includes the total length of the highway system as well as the lengths of the paved and unpaved parts.
Household income or consumption by percentage share: Data on household income or consumption come from household surveys, with results adjusted for household size. Countries use different standards and methods to collect and adjust the data. Surveys focused on income usually reflect a more unequal distribution than those based on consumption. The quality of surveys is getting better over time, but it's still important to be cautious when making comparisons between countries.
Illicit drugs: This entry provides information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs that are legally produced and prescribed by doctors, as well as those that are illegally made and sold outside of medical channels.
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which produces hallucinogens with some sedative effects, and includes marijuana (weed, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hash oil.
Coca (mainly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant that's used to make cocaine. Coca shouldn't be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
Cocaine is a stimulant that comes from the leaves of the coca plant.
Depressants (sedatives) are medications that help lower tension and anxiety. They include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (like Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, and phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (such as Librium and Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (like Equanil, Placidyl, and Valmid).
Drugs are any chemical substances that cause physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral changes in a person.
Drug abuse is the use of any legal or illegal chemical substance that leads to physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral issues in a person.
Hallucinogens are drugs that alter your senses, thoughts, self-awareness, and emotions. Some examples of hallucinogens are 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 like psilocybin and psilocyn.
Hashish is the resin that comes from the cannabis or hemp plant
(Cannabis sativa).
Heroin is a semi-synthetic form of morphine.
Mandrax is a brand name for methaqualone, a prescription sedative.
Marijuana is the dried leaves of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
Methaqualone is a prescription depressant, known as mandrax in
Southwest Asia.
Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often cause sleepiness, and include opium, its derivatives, and synthetic alternatives. Natural narcotics consist of opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack) and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine (Demerol, Mepergan), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), and others (Darvon, Lomotil).
Opium is the brown, sticky substance that comes from cutting the unripe seedpod of the opium poppy.
Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source of natural and semisynthetic narcotics.
Poppy straw concentrate is the alkaloid obtained from the fully grown, dried opium poppy.
Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant made from the buds or leaves of Catha edulis that is chewed or consumed as tea.
Quaaludes is the North American slang for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
Stimulants are drugs that ease mild depression, boost 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 shows 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 lists imported products in order of importance, starting with the most significant; it may also include the percentage of total dollar value.
Imports - partners: This entry lists trading partners in order of importance, starting with the most significant; it sometimes includes the percentage of total dollar value.
Independence: For most countries, this entry provides the date when they achieved sovereignty and the nation, empire, or trusteeship they gained independence from. For other countries, the date listed might not signify "independence" in the strictest sense, but rather a significant event in their nationhood, such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, a major change in government, or state succession. Dependent areas will have the notation "none" followed by details about their dependency status. Also see the Terminology note.
Industrial production growth rate: This entry shows the yearly percentage increase in industrial production (which includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).
Industries: This entry lists industries in order, starting with the largest based on the value of their annual output.
Infant mortality rate: This entry shows the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a specific year per 1,000 live births in that same year. This rate is often used as an indicator of the overall health level in a country.
Inflation rate (consumer prices): This entry provides the annual percentage change in consumer prices compared to the previous year's consumer prices.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): This entry provides the number of Internet Service Providers in a country. An ISP is defined as a company that offers access to the Internet.
International disputes: see Disputes - international
International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation the international organizations that the subject country is a member of or participates in some other way.
International organizations: This information is presented in [8]Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups which includes the name, abbreviation, address, telephone, FAX, date established, aim, and members by category.
Introduction: This category includes one entry, Background.
Irrigated land: This entry shows the number of square kilometers of land that is supplied with water artificially.
Judicial branch: This entry includes the name(s) of the highest court(s) and a short description of how members are selected.
Labor force: This entry includes the total number of people in the labor force.
Labor force - by occupation: This entry provides a ranked list of the different parts of the labor force based on occupation.
Land boundaries: This entry includes the total length of all land boundaries and the specific lengths for each of the neighboring border countries.
Land use: This entry shows the percentage shares of total land area for five different types of land use: arable land - land used to grow crops that are replanted after each harvest, like wheat, corn, and rice; permanent crops - land used for crops that aren't replanted after each harvest, like citrus, coffee, and rubber; permanent pastures - land permanently used for grazing herbaceous forage; forests and woodland - land covered by dense or open stands of trees; other - any land type not specifically mentioned above, such as urban areas, roads, deserts, etc.
Languages: This entry lists languages in order of size, starting with the largest, and sometimes includes the percentage of the total population that speaks each language.
Legal system: This entry provides a short overview of the legal system's historical origins, its function within the government, and its recognition of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.
Legislative branch: This section provides details on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), official name, number of seats, and length of term. Elections cover the type of election process or how one comes to power, the date of the last election, and the date of the next election. Election results include the percentage of votes and/or the number of seats each party held in the last election.
Life expectancy at birth: This entry shows the average number of years a group of people born in the same year is expected to live, assuming that mortality rates at each age stay the same in the future. The entry includes the total population as well as the male and female breakdowns. Life expectancy at birth is also a gauge of the overall quality of life in a country and reflects mortality at all ages. It can also be seen as an indicator of the potential return on investment in human capital and is essential for calculating various actuarial measures.
Literacy: This entry provides a definition of literacy along with Census Bureau statistics for the total population, males, and females. There are no universally accepted definitions or standards for literacy. Unless stated otherwise, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write by a certain age. Discussing the specific standards that different countries use to evaluate reading and writing skills is beyond the scope of this Factbook. While literacy data may not perfectly reflect educational outcomes, it is probably the easiest and most valid measure for making international comparisons. Low literacy levels, as well as low education overall, can hinder a country's economic development in today's fast-paced, technology-driven world.
Location: This section outlines the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and nearby bodies of water.
Map references: This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map where you can find a country. The entry on Geographic coordinates might be useful in locating some smaller countries.
Maritime claims: This section includes the following claims: contiguous zone, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, exclusive fishing zone, extended fishing zone, none (typically for a landlocked country), other (specific maritime claims like Libya's Gulf of Sidra Closing Line or North Korea's Military Boundary Line), and territorial sea. The closeness of neighboring countries may limit some national claims from reaching the full extent.
Merchant marine: The merchant marine refers to all ships involved in transporting goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to nonmilitary ships), which means it excludes tugs, fishing boats, offshore oil rigs, etc.; or a classification of merchant ships by nationality or registration. This entry provides information in two categories - total and ships by type. The total includes the total number of ships (1,000 GRT or more), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. Ships by type includes a list of barge carriers, bulk cargo ships, cargo ships, combination bulk carriers, combination ore/oil carriers, container ships, intermodal ships, liquefied gas tankers, livestock carriers, multifunction large-load carriers, oil tankers, passenger ships, passenger-cargo ships, railcar carriers, refrigerated cargo ships, roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, short-sea passenger ships, specialized tankers, tanker tug-barges, and vehicle carriers.
A captive register is a list of ships kept by a territory, possession, or colony mainly for the use of ships owned in the parent country; it's also known as an offshore register, which is the offshore version of an internal register. Ships on a captive register will fly the same flag as the parent country, or a local version of it, but will follow the maritime laws and tax rules of the offshore territory. While a captive register is particularly appealing for ships owned in the parent country, like in the internal register, the ships can also be owned abroad. The captive register functions as a flag of convenience register, but it's not a register of an independent state.
A flag of convenience register is a national registry that allows merchant ships not owned in the flag state to be registered. Major flags of convenience (FOC) attract ships to their registries because of low fees, minimal or no profit taxation, and relaxed crew requirements. True FOC registers have relatively few of the registered ships actually owned in the flag state. Therefore, while almost any flag can be used for ships under certain conditions, an FOC register is one where most of the merchant fleet is owned overseas. It’s also known as an open register.
A flag state is the country where a ship is registered and has legal authority over its operation, whether it's in its home country or overseas. The maritime laws of the flag state decide how a ship is staffed and taxed, and whether a ship owned by a foreign entity can be registered.
An internal register is a list of ships kept as part of a national register. Ships on the internal register fly the national flag and hold that nationality but are governed by a different set of maritime rules than those on the main national register. These differences typically involve lower taxes on profits, the use of foreign crew members, and often ownership outside of the flag state (when it operates as a Flag of Convenience register). The Norwegian International Ship Register and the Danish International Ship Register are the most notable examples of internal registers. Both have played a crucial role in preventing ships from leaving the national flag for flags of convenience and in attracting foreign-owned ships to register under the Norwegian and Danish flags.
A merchant ship is a vessel that transports goods for a fee; it usually refers to any nonmilitary ship, but is specifically limited to commercial vessels only.
A register is the official record of a ship's ownership and nationality filed with the maritime authorities of a country; it also serves as a compilation of the registrations of individual ships. Registering a ship gives it a nationality and means it must follow the laws of the country where it is registered (the flag state), no matter who the actual owner of the ship is.
Military: This category includes the entries related to a country's military organization, personnel, and spending.
Military branches: This entry lists the names of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and other defense or security forces.
Military expenditures - dollar figure: This entry provides the current military spending in US dollars; the figure is calculated by multiplying the estimated defense budget percentage by the gross domestic product (GDP) based on exchange rates, not purchasing power parity (PPP). However, for Russia, military spending estimates have been made using PPP. Dollar amounts for military expenditures should be viewed with caution due to varying price patterns and accounting practices among countries, as well as significant differences in the strength of their currencies.
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: This entry provides the current military spending as an estimated percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).
Military manpower - availability: This entry provides the total number of males and females aged 15-49 and assumes that everyone is eligible to serve.
Military manpower - eligible for service: This entry provides the number of males and females aged 15-49 who are fit for military service. This is a more accurate measure of potential military personnel availability that takes into account the country's health situation and adjusts the maximum potential number to a more realistic estimate of those actually fit to serve.
Military manpower - military age: This entry indicates the minimum age at which a person can volunteer for military service or be required to serve.
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: This entry lists the number of males and females who reach draft age and are eligible to enter the military each year, serving as an indicator of the availability of young adults who can be drafted.
Military - note: This entry contains various important military information that isn't covered elsewhere.
Money figures: All money figures are expressed in current US dollars unless stated otherwise.
National holiday: This entry provides the main national day of celebration - typically independence day.
Nationality: This entry lists the terms used to identify citizens - noun and adjective.
Natural hazards: This section outlines possible natural disasters.
Natural resources: This entry details a country's minerals, oil, hydropower, and other commercially important resources.
Net migration rate: This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of people entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 people (based on midyear population). An increase in the number of people entering the country is called net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an increase in the number of people leaving the country is called net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate shows how migration contributes to the overall population change. High levels of migration can lead to issues like rising unemployment and potential ethnic tension (if people are coming in) or a shrinking workforce, possibly in certain key sectors (if people are leaving).
People: This category includes the entries related to the characteristics of the people and their society.
People - note: This entry includes various important demographic information not found in other sections.
Personal Names - Capitalization: The Factbook capitalizes the last names of individuals to help our users navigate a world filled with different cultures and naming traditions. For example, President SADDAM Husayn of Iraq. Saddam is his first name, and Husayn is his father's name. He can be referred to as President SADDAM Husayn or President SADDAM, but not President Husayn. The need for capitalization, bold type, underlining, italics, or another way to indicate the person's last name is clear in these examples: MAO Zedong, Fidel CASTRO Ruz, William Jefferson CLINTON, and TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah. Once the last name is known, a shorter form can be used confidently as in President Saddam, President Castro, Chairman Mao, President Clinton, or Sultan Tunku Salahuddin. This same capitalization system also applies to leaders with last names that are less commonly used, like Queen ELIZABETH II.
Personal Names - Spelling: The romanization of personal names in the Factbook typically follows the same transliteration system used by the US Board on Geographic Names for spelling place names. However, sometimes a foreign leader specifically indicates a preference for, or the media or official documents consistently use, a romanized spelling that differs from the transliteration based on the US Government standard. In these cases, the Factbook uses the alternative spelling.
Personal Names - Titles: The Factbook capitalizes any valid title (or short form of it) that comes right before a person's name. A title used alone is written in lowercase. Examples: President PUTIN and President CLINTON are heads of state. In Russia, the president is the head of state, and the premier is the head of government, while in the US, the president serves as both the head of state and head of government.
Pipelines: This entry provides the lengths and types of pipelines used for transporting products such as natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.
Political parties and leaders: This section provides a list of important political organizations and their leaders.
Political pressure groups and leaders: This entry includes a list of organizations with leaders engaged in politics but not running for legislative elections.
Population: This entry provides an estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau based on population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys related to the recent past, along with predictions about future trends. The total population gives a general idea of how the country might influence the world and its region. Note: beginning with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly in Africa) have specifically accounted for the growing effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These countries currently include: 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 people living below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results adjusted according to the population size of each group. Definitions of poverty can vary significantly between countries. For instance, wealthy countries typically use more generous poverty standards compared to poorer countries.
Population growth rate: The average annual percentage change in the population, resulting from the difference between births and deaths and the balance of people moving in and out of a country. The rate can be positive or negative. The growth rate helps determine how significant a burden a country might face due to the changing needs of its population for infrastructure (like schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (such as food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be viewed as a threat by neighboring countries.
Ports and harbors: This entry lists the main ports and harbors chosen based on their overall importance to each country. This is determined by assessing several 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.
Radios: This section provides the total number of radio receivers.
Railways: This entry includes the total length of the railway network and its components categorized by gauge: broad, dual, narrow, standard, and others.
Reference maps: This section includes maps of the world, different regions, and maps related to special or current topics.
Religions: This entry lists religions ranked by the number of followers, starting with the largest group, and sometimes includes the percentage of the total population.
Sex ratio: This section shows the number of males for each female across five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and older, and for the overall population. The sex ratio at birth has recently become an indicator of certain types of gender discrimination in some countries. For example, high sex ratios at birth in certain Asian countries are now linked to sex-selective abortion and infanticide driven by a strong preference for sons. This will impact future marriage trends and fertility rates. Eventually, it could lead to unrest among young adult males who can't find partners.
Suffrage: This entry provides the age at which individuals can vote and whether the right to vote is available to everyone or limited.
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 dialing code for calling station to station.
(01 is for calls that aren't 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 phone number.
An international direct dial phone call from another country to the US would go like this:
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 phone number.
Telephone system: This section provides a brief overview of the system, including details about the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout this entry:
Africa ONE - a fiber-optic submarine cable connection that wraps around the continent of Africa.
Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
Autodin - Automatic Digital Network (U.S. Department of Defense).
CB - citizen's band mobile radio communications.
cellular telephone system - the phones in this system are radio transceivers, each device has its own private radio frequency and enough power to connect to the booster station in its area (cell), from which the phone signal is sent to a standard telephone exchange.
Central American Microwave System - a core microwave radio relay system that connects the countries of Central America and Mexico.
coaxial cable - a multichannel communication cable made up of a central conducting wire, which is surrounded by and insulated from a cylindrical conducting shell; many telephone channels can be accessed within the insulated space by using a wide range of carrier frequencies.
Comsat - Communications Satellite Corporation (US).
DSN - Defense Switched Network (previously known as Automatic Voice Network or
Autovon); a fundamental, general-purpose, switched voice network of the Defense
Communications System (U.S. Department of Defense).
Eutelsat - European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Paris).
fiber-optic cable - a multi-channel communication cable that uses a thread of optical glass fibers as its transmission medium, where the signal (voice, video, etc.) is transmitted as coded light pulses.
GSM - a global system for mobile (cellular) communications created by the Groupe Special Mobile of the pan-European standardization organization, Conference Européenne des Postes et Télécommunications (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, emergency, and safety purposes at sea, in the air, and on land.
Intelsat - International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
(Washington, DC).
Intersputnik - International Organization of Space Communications
(Moscow); originally founded in the former Soviet Union and Eastern
European countries, it is now offering its services globally with
ground stations in North America, Africa, and East Asia.
landline - any kind of communication wire or cable that is installed on poles or buried underground.
Marecs - Maritime European Communications Satellite used in the
Inmarsat system on lease from the European Space Agency.
Marisat - satellites of the Comsat Corporation that are part of the
Inmarsat system.
Medarabtel - the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a modern telecommunications network, mainly through microwave radio relay, connecting Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; it was originally launched in Morocco in 1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was called the Middle East Mediterranean Telecommunications Network at that time.
microwave radio relay - transmitting long-distance phone calls and television programs using highly directional radio microwaves that are received and forwarded from one booster station to another along an optical path.
NMT - Nordic Mobile Telephone; an analog cellular phone system that was developed together by the national telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden).
Orbita - a Russian TV service; also the brand name of a packet-switched digital telephone network.
radiotelephone communications - the two-way sending and receiving of sounds via broadcast radio on approved frequencies using telephone handsets.
PanAmSat - PanAmSat Corporation (Greenwich, CT).
satellite communication system - a communication system made up of two or more ground stations and at least one satellite that enables long-distance transmission of voice, data, and television; this system typically acts as a main connection between telephone exchanges; if the ground stations are in the same country, it's considered a domestic system.
satellite earth station - a communication facility with a microwave radio antenna for sending and receiving signals, along with the necessary equipment to communicate with satellites.
satellite link - a radio connection between a satellite and an earth station that allows communication between them, either one-way (downlink 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 are above the commercial broadcast band and are used for long-distance communication.
Solidarity - geosynchronous satellites in Mexico's international telecommunications network in the Western Hemisphere.
Statsionar - Russia's geostationary satellite communications system.
submarine cable - a cable made for use underwater.
TAT - Trans-Atlantic Telephone; a series of high-capacity submarine coaxial telephone cables connecting Europe and North America.
telefax - fax service between subscriber stations using the public switched telephone network or the international Datel network.
telegraph - a communications system created for transmitting unmodulated electric impulses.
telex - a communication service using teletypewriters linked by wire through automatic exchanges.
tropospheric scatter - a type of microwave radio transmission where the troposphere scatters and reflects some of the incoming radio waves back to the earth; strong, highly directional antennas are used to send and receive the microwave signals; dependable over-the-horizon communication is achieved for distances up to 600 miles in one go; extra hops can increase 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 between 300 and 3,000 MHz.
VHF - very high frequency; any radio frequency in the 30 to 300 MHz range.
Telephones - main lines in use: This entry shows the total number of main telephone lines currently in use.
Telephones - mobile cellular: This entry shows the total number of mobile cellular phones in use.
Television - broadcast stations: This entry lists the total number of individual broadcast stations and any repeater stations.
Televisions: This section provides the total number of TV sets.
Terminology: Because the Factbook database is highly structured, some general terms need to be used. For instance, the term Country in the Country name entry refers to a wide range of dependencies, areas with special sovereignty, uninhabited islands, and other entities in addition to traditional countries or independent states. Military is also used as a broad 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, along with other important nationhood dates like the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, or state succession that aren't strictly independence dates. The nature of the dependency status for dependent areas is noted in this same entry.
Terrain: This section includes a short overview of the landscape.
Total fertility rate: This entry provides the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and had children based on a specific fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate is a more straightforward measure of fertility levels than the crude birth rate, as it refers to births per woman. This indicator illustrates the potential for population growth in the country. High rates can also restrict women's labor force participation. A large number of children born to women suggests big family sizes, which may limit the families' ability to feed and educate their children.
Transnational Issues: This category currently includes only two entries - International Disputes and Illicit Drugs - which address contemporary issues that extend beyond national borders.
Transportation: This category includes the entries related to the ways people and goods are moved.
Transportation - note: This entry includes various important transportation information that isn't covered elsewhere.
Unemployment rate: This entry shows the percentage of the labor force that is without jobs. Significant underemployment may be indicated.
United Nations System: This information is presented in [9]Appendix B: United Nations System as a chart, table, or text (depending on the version of the Factbook) that shows the organization of the UN in detail.
Waterways: This section provides the total length and specific names of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland water bodies.
Weights and measures: This information is in [10]Appendix E: Weights and Measures and includes mathematical notations (powers and names), metric relationships (prefix; symbol; length, weight, or capacity; area; volume), and standard conversion factors.
Years: All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as fiscal year (FY). The calendar year is a 12-month accounting period from January 1 to December 31. The fiscal year is a 12-month accounting period that is not from January 1 to December 31.
Note: Information for the US and US territories was gathered from public domain sources and does not reflect estimates from the Intelligence Community.
______________________________________________________________________
@Appendix A: Abbreviations
A
ABEDA Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
ACC Arab Cooperation Council
ACCT Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation; see Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation; changed its name in 1996 to Agency for the French-Speaking Community
ACP Group African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
AfDB African Development Bank
AFESD Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
AG Andean Group; see Andean Community of Nations (CAN)
Air Pollution Agreement on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Regarding the Regulation of
Nitrogen Oxides Emissions or Management of Nitrogen Oxides
Emissions or Their Cross-Border Impact
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Protocol to the 1979
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent
Organic Pollutants
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or
Their Transboundary Fluxes by at Least 30%
Air Pollution - Sulphur 94 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
Air Pollution - Volatile Organic Compounds Protocol to the 1979
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Regarding the
Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their
Transboundary Fluxes
AL Arab League
ALADI Latin American Integration Association; see Latin American
Integration Association (LAIA)
AMF Arab Monetary Fund
AMU Arab Maghreb Union
Ancom Andean Common Market; see Andean Community of Nations (CAN)
Antarctic Environmental Protocol: Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
ANZUS Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty
APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Arabsat Arab Satellite Communications Organization
AsDB Asian Development Bank
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
Autodin Automatic Digital Network
B
BAD African Development Bank; see African Development Bank
(AfDB)
BADEA Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa; see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
BCIE Central American Bank for Economic Integration; see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
BDEAC Banque de Développement des États de l'Afrique Centrale; see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
Benelux Benelux Economic Union
BID Inter-American Development Bank; see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity
BIS Bank for International Settlements
BOAD West African Development Bank; see West African
Development Bank (WADB)
BSEC Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone
C
C Commonwealth
CACM Central American Common Market
CAEU Council of Arab Economic Unity
CAN Andean Community of Nations
Caricom Caribbean Community and Common Market
CB citizen's band mobile radio communications
CBSS Council of the Baltic Sea States
CCC Customs Cooperation Council
CDB Caribbean Development Bank
CE Council of Europe
CEAO West African Economic Community; see West African
Economic Community (CEAO)
CEEAC Community Economic of Central African States; see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
CEI Central European Initiative
CEMA Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; also known as CMEA or
Comecon
CEPGL Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries; see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research; see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
CG Contadora Group
c.i.f. cost, insurance, and freight
CIS Commonwealth of Independent States
CITES see Endangered Species
Climate Change United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate Change - Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
CMEA Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as
Comecon
COCOM Coordinating Committee on Export Controls
Comecon Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as
CMEA
Comsat Communications Satellite Corporation
CP Colombo Plan
CSCE Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe; see Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
CY calendar year
D
DC developed country
Desertification United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in
Countries Facing Severe Drought and/or Desertification,
Especially in Africa
DSN Defense Switched Network
DWT deadweight ton
E
EADB East African Development Bank
EAPC Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
EC European Community; see European Union (EU)
ECA Economic Commission for Africa
ECAFE Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East; see Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
ECE Economic Commission for Europe
ECLA Economic Commission for Latin America; see Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
ECO Economic Cooperation Organization
ECOSOC Economic and Social Council
ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States
ECS European Coal and Steel Community; see European Union (EU)
ECWA Economic Commission for Western Asia; see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
EEC European Economic Community; see European Union (EU)
EFTA European Free Trade Association
EIB European Investment Bank
EMU European Monetary Union
Endangered Species Convention on the International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Entente Council of the Entente
Environmental Modification Convention on the Ban of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques
ESA European Space Agency
ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
ESCWA Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
est. estimate
EU European Union
Euratom European Atomic Energy Community; see European Community (EC)
Eutelsat European Telecommunications Satellite Organization
Ex-Im Export-Import Bank of the United States
F
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
FAX facsimile
f.o.b. free on board
FLS Front Line States
FRG Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany); used for information dated before October 3, 1990, or CY91
FSU former Soviet Union
FY fiscal year
FYROM The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
FZ Franc Zone
G
G-2 Group of 2
G-3 Group of 3
G-5 Group of 5
G-6 Group of 6 (not to be confused with the Big Six)
G-7 Group of 7
G-8 Group of 8
G-9 Group of 9
G-10 Group of 10
G-11 Group of 11
G-15 Group of 15
G-19 Group of 19
G-24 Group of 24
G-30 Group of 30
G-33 Group of 33
G-77 Group of 77
GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade); taken over by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on January 1, 1995.
GCC Gulf Cooperation Council
GDP gross domestic product
GDR German Democratic Republic (East Germany); used for information dated before October 3, 1990, or CY91
GNP gross national product
GRT gross register ton
GWP gross world product
H
Hazardous Wastes Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
HF high-frequency
I
IADB Inter-American Development Bank
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
IBEC International Bank for Economic Cooperation
IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
ICC International Chamber of Commerce
ICEM Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration; see International Organization for Migration (IOM)
ICFTU International Confederation of Free Trade Unions; see World
Confederation of Labor (WCL)
ICJ International Court of Justice (World Court)
ICM Intergovernmental Committee for Migration; see International
Organization for Migration (IOM)
ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross
ICRM International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IDA International Development Association
IDB Islamic Development Bank
IEA International Energy Agency
IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC International Finance Corporation
IFCTU International Federation of Christian Trade Unions
IFRCS International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IGAD Inter-Governmental Authority on Development
IGADD Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development
IHO International Hydrographic Organization
IIB International Investment Bank
ILO International Labor Organization
IMCO Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization; see
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
IMF International Monetary Fund
IMO International Maritime Organization
Inmarsat International Mobile Satellite Organization
InOC Indian Ocean Commission
Intelsat International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
Interpol International Criminal Police Organization
Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications
IOC International Olympic Committee
IOM International Organization for Migration
ISO International Organization for Standardization
ITU International Telecommunication Union
K
kHz kilohertz
km kilometer
kW kilowatt
kWh kilowatt hour
L
LAES Latin American Economic System
LAIA Latin American Integration Association
LAS League of Arab States; see Arab League (AL)
Law of the Sea United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
LDC less developed country
LLDC least developed country
London Convention see Marine Dumping
LORCS League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; see International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
LOS see Law of the Sea
M
m meter
Marecs Maritime European Communications Satellite
Marine Dumping Convention on Preventing Marine Pollution from Dumping Wastes and Other Materials
Marine Life Conservation Convention on Fishing and Conservation of
Living Resources of the
High Seas
MARPOL see Ship Pollution
Medarabtel Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International
Telecommunications Union
Mercosur Southern Cone Common Market; see Southern Cone Common Market
MHz megahertz
MINURSO United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
MINUGUA United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala
MIPONUH United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti
MONUA United Nations Observer Mission in Angola
MONUC United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
N
NA not available
NACC North Atlantic Cooperation Council; see Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council (EAPC)
NAM Nonaligned Movement
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NC Nordic Council
NEA Nuclear Energy Agency
NEGL negligible
NIB Nordic Investment Bank
NIC newly industrializing country; see newly industrializing economy
(NIE)
NIE newly industrializing economy
nm nautical mile
NMT Nordic Mobile Telephone
NSG Nuclear Suppliers Group
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the
Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
NZ New Zealand
O
OAPEC - Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
OAS Organization of American States
OAU Organization of African Unity
ODA official development assistance
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
OIC Organization of Islamic Cooperation
ONUSAL United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador
OOF other official flows
OPANAL Organization for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean; see Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
OPCW Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)
OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Ozone Layer Protection: Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
P
PCA Permanent Court of Arbitration
PDRY People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]; used for information dated before May 22, 1990, or CY91
PFP Partnership for Peace
R
Ramsar see Wetlands
RG Rio Group
S
SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SACU Southern African Customs Union
SADC Southern African Development Community
SADCC Southern African Development Coordination Conference; see Southern African Development Community (SADC)
SELA Latin American Economic System; see Latin American Economic
System (LAES)
SFRY Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; dissolved December 5, 1991
SHF super-high-frequency
Ship Pollution Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
Sparteca South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation
Agreement
SPC South Pacific Commission
SPF South Pacific Forum
sq km square kilometer
sq mi square mile
T
TAT Trans-Atlantic Telephone
Tropical Timber 83 International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber 94 International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
U
UAE United Arab Emirates
UDEAC Central African Customs and Economic Union; see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
UEMOA West African Economic and Monetary Union; see WAEMU
UHF ultra-high-frequency
UK United Kingdom
UN United Nations
UNAMIR United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
UNAMSIL United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
UNAVEM III United Nations Angola Verification Mission III
UNCRO United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia
UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDOF United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
UNDP United Nations Development Program
UNEP United Nations Environment Program
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization
UNFICYP United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities; see UN Population
Fund (UNFPA)
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNIFIL United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
UNIKOM United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission
UNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and Research
UNMIH United Nations Mission in Haiti
UNMIBH United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina
UNMIK United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
UNMOGIP United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
UNMOP United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka
UNMOT United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan
UNMOVIC United Nations Monitoring and Verification Commission
UNOMIG United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
UNOMIL United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia
UNOMOZ United Nations Operation in Mozambique
UNOMSIL United Nations Mission of Observers in Sierra Leone
UNOMUR United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda
UNOSOM II United Nations Operation in Somalia II
UNPREDEP United Nations Preventive Deployment Force
UNPROFOR United Nations Protection Force
UNRISD United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
UNSCOM United Nations Special Commission for the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction; see United Nations Monitoring and Verification Commission (UNMOVIC)
UNSMIH United Nations Support Mission in Haiti
UNTAC United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
UNTAES United Nations Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia,
Baranja, and Western Sirmium
UNTAET United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
UNTSO United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
UNU United Nations University
UPU Universal Postal Union
US United States
USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used for information dated before December 25, 1991
USSR/EE Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Eastern Europe
V
VHF very-high-frequency
VSAT very small aperture terminal
W
WADB West African Development Bank
WAEMU West African Economic and Monetary Union
WCL World Confederation of Labor
WCO World Customs Organization; see Customs Cooperation Council
Wetlands Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially
As Waterfowl Habitat
WEU Western European Union
WFC World Food Council
WFP World Food Program
WFTU World Federation of Trade Unions
Whaling International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
WHO World Health Organization
WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO World Meteorological Organization
WP Warsaw Pact
WTO see WToO for World Tourism Organization or WTrO for World Trade
Organization
WToO World Tourism Organization
WTrO World Trade Organization
Y
YAR
Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen]; used for information dated before May 22, 1990, or CY91
Z
ZC Zangger Committee
______________________________________________________________________
@Appendix B: United Nations System
______________________________________________________________________
@Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups
advanced developing countries another term for less developed countries (LDCs) that are experiencing fast industrial growth; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs) _________________________________________________________________
advanced economies a new term used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the leading group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, transition countries, and developing countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 28 advanced economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note - this group would presumably also include the following seven smaller countries: Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino which are part of the broader group of "developed countries" _________________________________________________
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group) address - Avenue Georges Henri 451, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium telephone - [32] (2) 743 06 00 FAX - [32] (2) 735 55 73 established - 6 June 1975 aim - to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with the EU members - (71) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________
African Development Bank (AfDB) note - also known as Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD) address - 01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire telephone - [225] 20 44 44 FAX - [225] 21 77 53 established - August 4, 1963 aim - to promote economic and social development regional members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe nonregional members - (25) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US _________________________________________________
Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT) see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT) _________________________________________________________________
Agence de la francophonie (ACCT) see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT) _________________________________________________________________
Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT); acronym from Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique _________________________________________________________________
Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT) note - formerly Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation address - 13 Quai Andre-Citroen, F-75015 Paris, France telephone - [33] (1) 44 37 33 00 FAX - [33] (1) 45 79 14 98 established - 20 March 1970 name changed - 1996 aim - to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French-speaking countries members - (41) Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam associate members - (5) Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco, Saint Lucia participating governments - (2) New Brunswick (Canada), Quebec (Canada) _________________________________________________________________
Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) note - acronym from Organismo para la Proscripción de las Armas Nucleares en la América Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL) address - Temistocles 78, Col Polanco, CP 011560, Mexico City 5 DF, Mexico telephone - [52] (5) 280 4923, 280 5064, 280 2715 FAX - [52] (5) 280 2965 established - 14 February 1967 under the Treaty of Tlatelolco effective - 25 April 1969 on the 11th ratification of the treaty aim - to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons members - (32) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________
Andean Community of Nations (CAN) note - previously known as the Andean Group (AG), the Andean Parliament, and most recently as the Andean Common Market (Ancom) address - c/o General Secretariat of the Andean Community, Paseo de la Republica 3895, Casilla 18-1177, Lima 18, Peru telephone - [51] (1) 221 2222 FAX - [51] (1) 221 3329 established - May 26, 1969; current name established October 1, 1992 effective - October 16, 1969 aim - to promote harmonious development through economic integration members - (5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela associate member - (1) Panama _________________________________________________________________
Andean Group (AG) see Andean Community of Nations (CAN) _________________________________________________________________
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA) note - also known as Banque Arabe de Développement Économique en Afrique (BADEA) address - Abdel Rahman El Mahdi Avenue, P. O. Box 2640, Khartoum, Sudan telephone - [249] (11) 770498, 773646, 773709 FAX - [249] (11) 770600 established - February 18, 1974 effective - September 16, 1974 aim - to promote economic development members - (17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization; note - these are all the members of the Arab League excluding Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen _________________________________________________
Arab Cooperation Council (ACC) established - 16 February 1989 aim - to promote economic cooperation and integration, possibly leading to an Arab Common Market members - (4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen _________________________________________________________________
Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) address - P. O. Box 21923, Safat 13080, Kuwait telephone - [965] 4844500 FAX - [965] 4815750, 4815760, 4815770 established - May 16, 1968 aim - to promote economic and social development members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt (suspended from 1979 to 1988), Iraq (suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993), Sudan (suspended 1993), Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________________________
Arab League (AL) note - also known as the League of Arab States (LAS) address - Midan Attahrir, Tahrir Square, P. O. Box 11642, Cairo, Egypt telephone - [20] (2) 750 511 FAX - [20] (2) 740 331 established - March 22, 1945 aim - to promote economic, social, political, and military cooperation members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________________________
Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) address - 27 Avenue Okba Agdal, Rabat, Morocco telephone - [212] (7) 77 26 82, 77 26 76, 77 26 68 FAX - [212] (7) 77 26 93 established - 17 February 1989 aim - to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of northern Africa members - (5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia _________________________________________________________________
Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) address - P.O. Box 2818, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates telephone - [971] (2) 215000, 328500 FAX - [971] (2) 326454 established - April 27, 1976 effective - February 2, 1977 aim - to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs members - (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________________________
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) address - APEC Secretariat, 438 Alexandra Road, 14-00 Alexandra Point, 14th Floor 01/04, Singapore 119958, Singapore telephone - [65] 276 1880 FAX - [65] 276 1775 established - November 7, 1989 aim - to promote trade and investment in the Pacific region members - (21) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Vietnam observers - (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference, South Pacific Forum _________________________________________________________________
Asian Development Bank (AsDB) address - 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong, 0401 METRO Manila, Philippines telephone - [63] (2) 711 3851 FAX - [63] (2) 741 7961, 631 6816 established - December 19, 1966 aim - to promote regional economic cooperation regional members - (41) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam nonregional members - (16) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US _________________________________________________
Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI) see Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) _________________________________________________________________
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) note - the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) consists of 9 ASEAN members, 2 observers, 2 consultative partners, and 8 dialogue partners: Australia, Canada, EU, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, US address - 70 A Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia telephone - [62] (21) 7262991, 7243372 FAX - [62] (21) 7398234, 7243504 established - 8 August 1967 aim - to promote regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia members - (10) Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam observer - (1) Papua New Guinea consultative partners - (2) China, Russia _________________________________________________________________
Australia Group established - 1984 aim - to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons members - (28) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US; note - may now include only 23 countries observer - (1) Singapore _________________________________________________________________
Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS) address - c/o Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bag 8, Queen Victoria Terrace, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia telephone - [61] (6) 261 91 11 FAX - [61] (6) 261 21 51 established - 1 September 1951 effective - 29 April 1952 aim - to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986; Australia and the US continue to hold annual meetings members - (3) Australia, NZ, US _________________________________________________
Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (BCIE) see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) _________________________________________________________________
Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) _________________________________________________________________
Bank for International Settlements (BIS) address - Centralbahnplatz 2, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland telephone - [41] (61) 280 80 80 FAX - [41] (61) 280 91 00, 280 81 00 established - January 20, 1930 effective - March 17, 1930 aim - to foster collaboration among central banks in international financial transactions members - (45) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia (suspended) _________________________________________________________________
Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD) see African Development Bank (AfDB) _________________________________________________________________
Banque Arabe de Développement Économique en Afrique (BADEA) see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA) _________________________________________________________________
Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (BDEAC) see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) _________________________________________________________________
Banque Ouest-Africaine de Développement (BOAD) see West African Development Bank (WADB) _________________________________________________________________
Benelux Economic Union (Benelux) note - acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg address - Rue de la Regence 39, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium telephone - [32] (2) 519 38 11 FAX - [32] (2) 513 42 06 established - February 3, 1958 effective - November 1, 1960 aim - to foster closer economic cooperation and integration members - (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands _________________________________________________________________
Big Seven note - membership is the same as the Group of 7 established - NA 1975 aim - to discuss and coordinate major economic policies members - (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US _________________________________________________________________
Big Six note - not to be confused with the Group of 6 established - NA 1967 aim - to promote economic collaboration members - (6) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK _________________________________________________________________
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC) address - Istinye Cad Musir Fuad Pasa Yalisi Eski Tersame, Istinye 80860, Istanbul, Turkey telephone - [90] (212) 229 6330 FAX - [90] (212) 229 6336 established - June 25, 1992 aim - to improve regional stability through economic cooperation members - (11) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine observers - (7) Austria, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia _________________________________________________________________
Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom) address - Caricom, P. O. Box 10827, Bank of Guyana Building, 3rd floor, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, Guyana telephone - [592] (2) 69281 through 69289 FAX - [592] (2) 66091, 67816, 57341 established - July 4, 1973 effective - August 1, 1973 aim - to promote economic integration and development, especially among less developed countries members - (14) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago associate members - (3) Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands observers - (10) Aruba, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) address - P. O. Box 408, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados telephone - [1] (246) 431 1600 FAX - [1] (246) 426 7269 established - October 18, 1969 effective - January 26, 1970 aim - to promote economic development and cooperation regional members - (20) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela nonregional members - (6) Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, UK _________________________________________________________________
Cartagena Group see Group of 11 _________________________________________________________________
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) note - acronym from Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale address - BP 969, Bangui, Central African Republic telephone - [236] 61 09 22, 61 45 77 FAX - [236] 61 21 35 established - December 8, 1964 effective - January 1, 1966 aim - to promote the creation of a Central African Common Market members - (6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon _________________________________________________________________
Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) note - acronym from Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale address - BDEAC, Place du Gouvernement, BP 1177, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo telephone - [242] 81 18 85 FAX - [242] 81 18 80 established - December 3, 1975 aim - to provide loans for economic development members - (9) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Kuwait _________________________________________________________________
Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) note - acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica address - PO Box 772, Tegucigalpa DC, Honduras telephone - [504] 228 2243 FAX - [504] 228 2185 established - December 13, 1960, signature of Articles of Agreement; May 31, 1961, began operations aim - to promote economic integration and development members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua nonregional members - (4) Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Taiwan _________________________________________________________________
Central American Common Market (CACM) address - c/o SIECA, P.O. Box 1237, 4th Avenue 10-25, Zone 14, Guatemala 01901, Guatemala telephone - [502] (2) 682151, 682152, 682153, 682154 FAX - [502] (2) 681071 established - December 13, 1960, collapsed in 1969, reinstated in 1991 aim - to promote the establishment of a Central American Common Market members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua; note - Panama, while not a member, seeks full regional cooperation _________________________________________________________________
Central European Initiative (CEI) note - evolved from the Quadrilateral Initiative and the Hexagonal Group address - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2EH, UK telephone - [44] (171) 338 6152 FAX - [44] (171) 338 7472 established - 11 November 1989 as the Quadrilateral Initiative, 27 July 1991 became the Hexagonal Initiative, NA 1992 present name adopted aim - to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas members - (16) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine _________________________________________________________________
centrally planned economies a term used mainly for the traditionally communist countries that looked to the former USSR for guidance; most are now moving towards more democratic and market-driven systems; also previously referred to as the Second World or as communist nations; throughout the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, the USSR, Vietnam, and Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________
Colombo Plan (CP) address - Colombo Plan Bureau, P. O. Box 596, 12 Melbourne Avenue, Colombo 4, Sri Lanka telephone - [94] (1) 581813, 581853, 581754 FAX - [94] (1) 581754 established - NA May 1950 proposal was adopted; 1 July 1951 began full operations aim - to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific members - (24) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA _________________________________________________
Commission for Social Development note - formerly Social Commission address - General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division, Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, United Nations, Room S-2950, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 5935 established - June 21, 1946 as the Social Commission, renamed July 29 1966 aim - to address, as part of the Economic and Social Council, social development programs of the UN members - (46) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice address - Center for International Crime Prevention, Vienna International Center, P. O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone - [43] (1) 21345, extension 4272 FAX - [43] (1) 21345 5898, 21345 5841 established - 6 February 1992 aim - to provide guidance, as part of the Economic and Social Council, on crime prevention and criminal justice members - (40) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________
Commission on Human Rights address - c/o Secretariat, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 917 90 00, 907 92 60 FAX - [41] (22) 917 90 11 established - 18 February 1946 aim - to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with human rights programs of UN members - (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________
Commission on Narcotic Drugs address - c/o United Nations Drug Control Programme, Treaty Implementation and Legal Affairs Branch, P. O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone - [43] (1) 213450 FAX - [43] (1) 21345-5885 established - 16 February 1946 aim - Economic and Social Council organization handling UN programs related to illegal drugs members - (53) chosen on a rotating basis from all regions, focusing on producing and processing countries _________________________________________________________________
Commission on Population and Development address - Division for Policy and Coordination and ECOSOC Affairs, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, United Nations, Room 2963, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 5935 established - August 10, 1948 aim - to handle population issues relevant to the UN, as part of the Economic and Social Council members - (47) chosen on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________
Commission on Science and Technology for Development address - General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division, Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 5935 established - July 20, 1992 aim - to encourage international collaboration, as part of the Economic and Social Council, in the area of science and technology members - (33) chosen on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________
Commission on Sustainable Development address - Division for Sustainable Development, United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Room DC2-2274, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 0902 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4260 established - February 12, 1993 aim - to oversee, as part of the Economic and Social Council, the implementation of agreements made at the UN Conference on Environment and Development members - (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________
Commission on the Status of Women address - Division for the Advancement of Women, Department for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, Room DC2-1200, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone - [1] (212) 963 3177 FAX - [1] (212) 963 3463 established - June 21, 1946 aim - to address, as part of the Economic and Social Council, the women's rights objectives of the UN members - (45) chosen on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________
Commonwealth (C) note - also known as Commonwealth of Nations address - c/o Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, UK telephone - [44] (171) 839 3411, 747 6535 FAX - [44] (171) 930 0827, 839 9081 established - 31 December 1931 aim - to promote multinational cooperation and support, as a voluntary association that developed from the British Empire members - (53) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan (suspended), Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe special members - (1) Tuvalu _________________________________________________________________
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) address - Kirov Street 17, 220000 Minsk, Belarus telephone - [375] 223434, 223517 FAX - [375] 261944, 272339 established - December 8, 1991 effective - December 21, 1991 aim - to coordinate relationships among member states and to provide a way for the organized breakup of the USSR members - (12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________
Commonwealth of Nations see Commonwealth (C) _________________________________________________________________
Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEAO) see West African Economic Community (CEAO) _________________________________________________________________
Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (CEEAC) see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) _________________________________________________________________
Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs (CEPGL) see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) _________________________________________________________________
communist countries traditionally refer to the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies modeled after the Soviet Union; most of the original and successor states are no longer communist; see centrally planned economies _________________________________________________
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) see Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) _________________________________________________________________
Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN) see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) _________________________________________________________________
Contadora Group (CG) was formed on January 5, 1983, on the Panamanian island of Contadora to lessen tensions and conflicts in Central America. Its members included Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela. It has since evolved into the Rio Group (RG). _________________________________________________
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf see Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) _________________________________________________________________
Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM) established in 1949 to manage the export of strategic products and technical data from member countries to restricted destinations; members included Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, and US; disbanded on March 31, 1994; COCOM members are now working on a new organization with broader membership that focuses on nonproliferation export controls instead of East-West control of advanced technology. _________________________________________________
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA) note - also known as CMEA or Comecon established January 25, 1949, to promote the development of socialist economies and dissolved January 1, 1991; member countries included Afghanistan (observer), Albania (inactive since the 1961 break with the USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), East Germany, Hungary, Laos (observer), Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua (observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia (associate) _________________________________________________________________
Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) address - International Trade Center Building, 12th Floor, 1191 Cornish El Nile, P. O. Box 1, Mohamad Fareed, Cairo, Egypt telephone - [20] (2) 754252, 755321 FAX - [20] (2) 754090 established - 3 June 1957 effective - 30 May 1964 aim - to promote economic integration among Arab countries members - (11 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________
Council of Europe (CE) address - Palais de l'Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg CEDEX, France telephone - [33] (3) 88 41 20 00 FAX - [33] (3) 88 41 27 81, 88 41 27 82 established - 5 May 1949 effective - 3 August 1949 aim - to promote greater unity and quality of life in Europe members - (41) Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK guests - (3) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina observers - (4) Canada, Israel, Japan, US _________________________________________________________________
Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) address - Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Box 16121, S-10323 Stockholm, Sweden telephone - [46] (8) 405 1000 FAX - [46] (8) 723 1176 established - March 6, 1992 aim - to promote cooperation among the Baltic Sea countries in areas like supporting new democratic institutions, economic development, humanitarian aid, energy and the environment, cultural programs and education, and transportation and communication members - (12) Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden _________________________________________________
Council of the Entente (Entente) address - 01 BP 3734, Corner Avenue Verdier-Rue de Tessieres, Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire telephone - [225] 33 10 01, 33 28 35, 32 10 74 FAX - [225] 33 11 49 established - May 29, 1959 aim - to promote economic, social, and political coordination members - (5) Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo _________________________________________________________________
countries in transition a new term used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the middle group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 28 countries in transition: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - this group is identical to the group traditionally referred to as the "former USSR/Eastern Europe" except for the addition of Mongolia _________________________________________________________________
Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)
note - also known as World Customs Organization (WCO)
address - Rue du Marche 30, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium
telephone - [32] (2) 209 92 11
FAX - [32] (2) 109 92 92
established - December 15, 1950
aim - to promote international cooperation in customs matters
members - (145) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus,
Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
developed countries (DCs) the top tier in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); includes the market-oriented economies of mainly democratic nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European ministates; also known as the First World, high-income countries, the North, industrial countries; generally have a per capita GDP over $10,000, though four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well below $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries report figures exceeding $10,000; the 35 DCs are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "advanced economies," which includes Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan but excludes Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey _________________________________________________________________
developing countries
a new term used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the
lowest group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, transitioning countries, and developing countries; the latest IMF
statistics list the following 126 developing countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and
Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe; note - this category would also likely cover the
additional 46 countries traditionally included in the
broader group of "less developed countries": American
Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands,
Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland
Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar,
Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Jersey, North Korea,
Macau, Isle of Man, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, Nauru, New
Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau,
Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and
Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin
Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara
_________________________________________________________________
East African Development Bank (EADB) address - 4 Nile Avenue, P. O. Box 7128, Kampala, Uganda telephone - [256] (41) 230021, 230825 FAX - [256] (41) 259763 established - June 6, 1967 effective - December 1, 1967 aim - to promote economic development members - (3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda _________________________________________________________________
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) address: United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand telephone: [66] (2) 2881234 FAX: [66] (2) 2881000 established: 28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) aim: to fulfill the commitment of the Economic and Social Council of the UN to promote economic development members: (51) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam associate members: (9) American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands _________________________________________________
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) address - P.O. Box 11-8575, Riad El-Sohl Square, Beirut, Lebanon telephone - [961] (10) 981301 FAX - [961] (10) 981510 established - August 9, 1973, as the Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA) aim - to promote economic development as a regional commission for the UN's Economic and Social Council members - (12 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________________________
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) address - United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 758 2718 established - June 26, 1945 effective - October 24, 1945 aim - to coordinate the economic and social work of the UN; includes five regional commissions (see Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) and 10 functional commissions (see Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Population and Development, Statistical Commission, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development, and Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice) members - (54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) address - P. O. Box 3001-3005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia telephone - [251] (1) 51 72 00 FAX - [251] (1) 51 44 16 established - April 29, 1958 aim - to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe associate members - (2) France, UK _________________________________________________
Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) see Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) _________________________________________________________________
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) address - Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 917 4444 FAX - [41] (22) 917 0505 established - 28 March 1947 aim - to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council members - (55) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________
Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) see Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) _________________________________________________________________
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) address - Edificio Naciones Unidas, Avenida Dag Hammarskjold, Casilla 179 D, Santiago, Chile telephone - [56] (2) 2102000 FAX - [56] (2) 2080252, 2081946 established - February 25, 1948, as the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) aim - to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council members - (41) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela associate members - (7) Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands _________________________________________________________________
Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA) see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) _________________________________________________________________
Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) note - acronym from Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale address - CEEAC, BP 2112, Libreville, Gabon telephone - [241] 73 35 47, 73 35 48, 73 36 77 established - 18 October 1983 treaty adopted aim - to promote regional economic cooperation and establish a Central African Common Market members - (11) Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe _________________________________________________
Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) note - acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs address - IRAZ-CEPGL, BP 91, Gitega, Burundi established - 20 September 1976 aim - to promote regional economic cooperation and integration members - (3) Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda _________________________________________________________________
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) address - 6 King George V Road, PMB 12745, Lagos, Nigeria telephone - [234] (1) 636839, 636841, 636064, 630398 FAX - [234] (1) 636822 established - May 28, 1975 aim - to promote regional economic cooperation members - (16) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo _________________________________________________________________
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) address - No. 1 Goulbou Alley, Kamraniyeh, P. O. Box 14155-6176, Tehran, Iran telephone - [98] (21) 2831731, 2831733 FAX - [98] (21) 2831732 established - 27-29 January 1985 aim - to enhance regional cooperation in trade, transportation, communications, tourism, cultural affairs, and economic development members - (10) Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan associate member - (1) "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" _________________________________________________________________
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) note - started as the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC); an extension of NATO address - c/o NATO, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium telephone - [32] (2) 728 41 11 FAX - [32] (2) 728 45 79 established - November 8, 1991 effective - December 20, 1991 aim - to discuss cooperation on shared political and security issues members - (44) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) address - EBRD Headquarters, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2EH, UK telephone - [44] (171) 338 6000 FAX - [44] (171) 338 6100 established - 8-9 January 1990 (proposals made); 15 April 1991 (bank inaugurated) aim - to help transition seven centrally planned economies in Europe (Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its loans to privatization members - (60) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, EU, European Investment Bank (EIB), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan; note - includes all 25 members of the OECD; also includes the EU as a single entity _________________________________________________
European Community (or European Communities, EC) was established on April 8, 1965, to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ESC), and the European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market), with the goal of creating a fully integrated common market and a future federation of Europe; it merged into the European Union (EU) on February 7, 1992. The member states at the time of the merger were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the UK. _________________________________________________________________
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) address - 9-11 Rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 749 11 11 FAX - [41] (22) 733 92 91 established - January 4, 1960 effective - May 3, 1960 aim - to promote the growth of free trade members - (4) Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland _________________________________________________________________
European Investment Bank (EIB) address - Boulevard Konrad Adenauer 100, L-2950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg telephone - [352] 4379 3122 FAX - [352] 4379 3188, 4379 3189 established - March 25, 1957 effective - January 1, 1958 aim - to promote the economic development of the EU and its predecessors, the EEC and the EC members - (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK _________________________________________________________________
European Monetary Union (EMU) note - a key part of the European Union; also known as the European Economic and Monetary Union address - c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium telephone - [32] (2) 299 11 11 proposed - 1-2 December 1969 at a summit conference of heads of government signed - 7 February 1992 Maastricht Treaty aim - to promote a single market by creating a single currency, the euro; timetable - 2 May 1998: European exchange rates fixed for 1 January 1999; 1 January 1999: all banks and stock exchanges begin using euros; 1 January 2002: the euro goes into circulation; 1 July 2002 local currencies no longer accepted members - (11) Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; note - Denmark, Sweden, and the UK decided not to join, and Greece did not meet all the criteria to take part _________________________________________________
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Européenne pour la Recherche Nucléaire address - CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 767 4101, 767 2141 FAX - [41] (22) 785 0247 established - July 1, 1953 effective - September 29, 1954 aim - to promote nuclear research for peaceful purposes only members - (20) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK observers - (7) EU, Israel, Japan, Russia, Turkey, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), US _________________________________________________________________
European Space Agency (ESA) address - ESA Headquarters, 8-10 Rue Mario Nikis, F-75738 Paris CEDEX 15, France telephone - [33] (1) 53 69 76 54 FAX - [33] (1) 53 69 75 60 established - May 31, 1975 aim - to promote peaceful collaboration in space research and technology members - (14) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK cooperating state - (1) Canada _________________________________________________________________
European Union (EU) note - evolved from the European Community (EC) address - c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium telephone - [32] (2) 299 11 11 FAX - [32] (2) 295 01 38 through 295 01 40 established - February 7, 1992 effective - November 1, 1993 aim - to coordinate policy among the 15 members in three areas: economics, building on the European Economic Community's (EEC) efforts to create a common market and eventually a common currency called the 'euro', which will replace the EU's accounting unit, the ECU; defense, within the framework of a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP); and justice and home affairs, including immigration, drugs, terrorism, and better living and working conditions members - (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK membership applicants - (13) Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey _________________________________________________________________
First World another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs) _________________________________________________________________
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
address - Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy
telephone - [39] (6) 57051
FAX - [39] (6) 5705 3152
established - 16 October 1945
aim - to raise living standards and increase the availability of
agricultural products, as a UN specialized agency
members - (176) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands,
Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, 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, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
former Soviet Union (FSU) a collective term often used to identify as a group the successor nations to the Soviet Union or USSR; this group of 15 countries consists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________
former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE) the middle group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); these countries are in political and economic transition and may well be grouped differently in the near future; this group of 27 countries consists of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; this group is identical to the IMF group "countries in transition" except for the IMF's inclusion of Mongolia.
Four Dragons the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs) that have experienced exceptionally fast economic growth; also known as the Four Tigers; this group consists of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan; these countries are included in the IMF's "advanced economies" group _________________________________________________
Four Tigers another term for the Four Dragons; see Four Dragons _________________________________________________________________
Franc Zone (FZ) note - also known as Conference of Finance Ministers of the Franc Zone address - c/o Banque de France, Service de la Zone Franc, 39 Rue des Croix des Petits Champs, F-75001 Paris, France telephone - [33] (1) 42 92 42 92 FAX - [33] (1) 42 96 04 23 established - NA 1964 aim - to create a monetary union among countries whose currencies are linked to the French franc members - (16) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo; note - France includes metropolitan France, the four overseas departments of France (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion), the two territorial collectivities of France (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon), and the three overseas territories of France (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna) ____________________________________________________
Front Line States (FLS) were created to achieve black majority rule in South Africa; they no longer exist; members included Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. _________________________________________________
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
was established on October 30, 1947, to promote the growth of
international trade on a non-discriminatory basis; it was replaced by the
World Trade Organization (WTO) on January 1, 1995. The members at that time
included Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cameroon,
Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte
d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea,
Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia
(suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
Group of 2 (G-2) informal term that came into use around 1986; to promote bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants, Japan and the US _________________________________________________________________
Group of 3 (G-3) address - c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Grupo de los Tres, Caracas, Venezuela established - NA September 1990 aim - mechanism for policy coordination members - (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________
Group of 5 (G-5) established - September 22, 1985 aim - to coordinate the economic policies of five major non-communist economic powers members - (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US _________________________________________________________________
Group of 6 (G-6) note - also known as Group of Six on Disarmament; not to be confused with the Big Six established - May 22, 1984 aim - to achieve nuclear disarmament members - (6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania _________________________________________________
Group of 7 (G-7) note - membership is the same as the Big Seven established - September 22, 1985 aim - to promote economic cooperation among the seven major noncommunist economic powers members - (7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus Canada and Italy _________________________________________________________________
Group of 8 (G-8) established - NA October 1975 aim - to promote economic collaboration among the developed countries (DCs) that took part in the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC), which was held in several sessions between NA December 1975 and 3 June 1977 members - (9) Canada, EU (as one member), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US _________________________________________________________________
Group of 9 (G-9) established - NA aim - to discuss topics of common interest casually members - (9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________
Group of 10 (G-10) note - also known as the Paris Club; includes the wealthiest members of the IMF who provide most of the funds for loans and act as the informal steering committee; the name continues despite Switzerland joining in April 1984 address - c/o IMF Office in Europe, 64-66 Avenue d'Iena, F-75116 Paris, France telephone - [33] (1) 40 69 30 80 FAX - [33] (1) 47 23 40 89 established - October 1962 aim - to coordinate credit policy members - (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US nonstate participants - (4) BIS, EU, IMF, OECD _________________________________________________________________
Group of 11 (G-11) note - also known as the Cartagena Group established - June 21-22, 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia aim - to provide a forum for the largest debtor nations in Latin America members - (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________
Group of 15 (G-15) note - byproduct of the Nonaligned Movement address - Technical Support Facility, Ch du Champ d'Ancier 17, Case Postale 326, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 798 42 10 FAX - [41] (22) 798 38 49 established - September 1989 aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to serve as the main political body for the Nonaligned Movement members - (15) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Venezuela, former Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________
Group of 19 (G-19) was formed in October 1975 to represent the interests of less developed countries (LDCs) that took part in the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC), which took place over several sessions from December 1975 to June 3, 1977. The member countries included Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, and Zambia. _________________________________________________________________
Group of 24 (G-24) address - c/o European Commission, DGIA General Matters and G-24 Coordination Unit, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium telephone - [32] (2) 299 02 28 FAX - [32] (2) 296 59 59 established - August 1, 1989 aim - to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America within the IMF members - (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yugoslavia
Group of 30 (G-30) address - 1990 M Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20036, US telephone - [1] (202) 331 2472 FAX - [1] (202) 785 9423 established - NA 1978 aim - to discuss and propose solutions to global economic issues members - (30) informal group of 30 top international bankers, economists, financial experts, and business leaders organized by Johannes Witteveen (former managing director of the IMF) _________________________________________________
Group of 33 (G-33) set up in 1987 to tackle international economic issues; members included top economists from 13 countries ________________________________________________________
Group of 77 (G-77)
address - Office of the Chairman, United Nations, Room S-3959, P. O.
Box 20, New York, NY 10017, US
telephone - [1] (212) 963 3816, 963 0192, 963 4777
FAX - [1] (212) 963 3515, 963 1753
established - 15 June 1964; NA October 1967 first
ministerial meeting
aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name
persists despite increased membership
members - (131 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina
Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba,
Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The
Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya,
South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda,
UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
_________________________________________________________________
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) note - also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf address - P. O. Box 7153, Riyadh 11462, Saudi Arabia telephone - [966] (1) 482 7777, extension 1238 FAX - [966] (1) 482 9109 established - May 25, 1981 aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political, and military affairs members - (6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE _________________________________________________________________
Hexagonal Group see Central European Initiative (CEI) _________________________________________________________________
high-income countries another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs; see developed countries (DCs) _________________________________________________________________
Indian Ocean Commission (InOC) address - Q4 Avenue Sir Guy Forget, BP7, Quatre Bornes, Mauritius telephone - [230] 425 9564, 425 1652 FAX - [230] 425 1209 established - December 21, 1982 aim - to organize and promote regional cooperation in all areas, especially economic members - (5) Comoros, France (for Reunion), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles _________________________________________________________________
industrial countries another term for the developed countries; see developed countries (DCs) _________________________________________________________________
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) note - also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) address - 1300 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20577, US telephone - [1] (202) 623 1000 FAX - [1] (202) 623 3096 established - April 8, 1959 effective - December 30, 1959 aim - to promote economic and social development in Latin America members - (46) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) note - previously known as Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) address - P. O. Box 2653, Djibouti, Djibouti telephone - [253] 354050 FAX - [253] 356994, 356284 established - January 15-16, 1986, as the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development revitalized - March 21, 1996, as the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development aim - to promote a social, economic, and scientific community among its members members - (7) Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda _________________________________________________
Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) see Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) _________________________________________________________________
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
address - Wagramerstrasse 5, P. O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
telephone - [43] (1) 26000
FAX - [43] (1) 26007
established - 26 October 1956
effective - 29 July 1957
aim - to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy
members - (129) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC) was founded on October 22, 1963, to encourage economic collaboration and growth. The members included Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, the USSR, and Vietnam. It is now a Russian bank operating under a new charter. _________________________________________________
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
note - also known as the World Bank
address - 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, US
telephone - [1] (202) 477 1234
FAX - [1] (202) 477 6391
established - July 22, 1944
effective - December 27, 1945
aim - to provide loans for economic development; a specialized agency of the UN
members - (181) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, 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, Myanmar, 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, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, 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, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, New Zealand, 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, São Tomé and Príncipe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) address - 38 Cours Albert 1er, F-75008 Paris, France telephone - [33] (1) 49 53 28 28 FAX - [33] (1) 49 53 29 42 established - 1919 aim - to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels members - (62 national councils) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
address - ICAO, 999 University Street, Montreal H3C 5H7, Canada
telephone - [1] (514) 954 8219
FAX - [1] (514) 954 6077
established - December 7, 1944
effective - April 4, 1947
aim - to encourage international collaboration in civil aviation; a UN
specialized agency
members - (185) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, 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, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, 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, 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, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North 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, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
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, eSwatini, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) address - ICRC, 19 Avenue de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 734 60 01 FAX - [41] (22) 733 20 57 established - February 17, 1863 aim - to provide humanitarian aid during war members - (25 individuals) all Swiss nationals _________________________________________________________________
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
address - International Trade Union House, Boulevard Emile Jacqmain
155, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium
telephone - [32] (2) 224 02 11
FAX - [32] (2) 201 58 15, 203 07 56
established - NA December 1949
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (206 affiliated organizations in the following 141
countries) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curacao,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Falkland Islands,
Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Holy
See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,
Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,
Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia,
NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania,
Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and
Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Court of Justice (ICJ) note - also known as the World Court address - Peace Palace, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands telephone - [31] (70) 302 23 23 FAX - [31] (70) 364 99 28 established - February 3, 1946, superseding the Permanent Court of International Justice aim - main judicial body of the UN members - (15 judges) elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council to represent all major legal systems _________________________________________________________________
International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol)
address - BP 6041, F-69411 Lyon CEDEX 06, France
telephone - [33] (4) 72 44 70 00
FAX - [33] (4) 72 44 71 63
established - September 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission; constitution modified on June 13, 1956, and current name adopted
aim - to promote international cooperation among police authorities in fighting crime
members - (177) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
subbureaus - (14) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, Montserrat, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands
_________________________________________________________________
International Development Association (IDA)
address - 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, US
telephone - [1] (202) 477 1234
FAX - [1] (202) 477 6391
established - 26 January 1960
effective - 24 September 1960
aim - UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic
loans for low-income countries
members - (160)
Part I - (26 developed countries) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US
Part II - (134 less developed countries) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Eswatini, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Energy Agency (IEA) address - 9 Rue de la Federation, F-75739 Paris CEDEX 15, France telephone - [33] (1) 40 57 65 00 FAX - [33] (1) 40 57 65 09 established - 15 November 1974 aim - to promote cooperation on energy issues, especially emergency oil sharing and the relationship between oil consumers and oil producers; established by the OECD members - (24) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US observers - (16) Commission of the European Communities, Czech Republic, Iceland, South Korea, Mexico, Poland _________________________________________________________________
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) note - formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS) address - Chemin des Crets 17, CP 372, Petit-Saconnex, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 730 4222 FAX - [41] (22) 733 0395 established - May 5, 1919 aim - to organize, coordinate, and direct international relief efforts; to promote humanitarian activities; to support and foster the development of National Societies; to provide assistance to victims of armed conflicts, refugees, and displaced people; to enhance the resilience of communities through development programs members - (175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, 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, São Tomé and Príncipe, 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, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe associate members - (4) Comoros, Cyprus, Gabon, Tuvalu _________________________________________________________________
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
address - 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20433, US
telephone - [1] (202) 477 1234
FAX - [1] (202) 974 4384, 477 6391
established - May 25, 1955
effective - July 24, 1956
aim - to support private enterprise in international economic
development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate
members - (174) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Myanmar, 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, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, 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, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
address - Via del Serafico 107, I-00142 Rome, Italy
telephone - [39] (6) 54591
FAX - [39] (6) 5043463
established - November 1974
aim - to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency
members - (161)
Category I - (22 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Category II - (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria,
Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
Category III - (127 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India,
Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, North Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,
São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia
(suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) note - name changed from International Hydrographic Bureau on September 22, 1970 address - BP 445, 4 Quai Antoine 1st, Monaco MC 98011, CEDEX, Monaco telephone - [33] (93) 01 81 00 FAX - [33] (93) 10 81 40 established - June 1919 effective - June 1921 aim - to train hydrographic surveyors and nautical cartographers to achieve standardization in nautical charts and electronic chart displays; to provide advice on nautical cartography and hydrography; to advance the sciences in the field of hydrography and the techniques used for descriptive oceanography members - (66) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela membership pending - (7) Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Jamaica, Kuwait, Mauritania, Morocco, Qatar _________________________________________________
International Investment Bank (IIB) established on July 7, 1970, to promote economic development; members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, and Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new charter _________________________________________________________________
International Labor Organization (ILO)
address - International Labor Office, 4 Route des Morillons, CH-1211
Geneva 22, Switzerland
telephone - [41] (22) 799 61 11
FAX - [41] (22) 798 86 85
established - June 28, 1919, created as part of the Treaty of Versailles; April 11, 1919 became operational; December 14, 1946 affiliated with the UN
aim - to address global labor issues; a specialized agency of the UN
members - (173) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, 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, Côte
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, 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, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia
(suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
note - name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative
Organization (IMCO) on May 22, 1982
address - 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, UK
telephone - [44] (171) 735 7611
FAX - [44] (171) 587 3210
established - March 6, 1948 set up as the Inter-Governmental Maritime
Consultative Organization
effective - March 17, 1958
aim - to address international maritime issues; a UN specialized
agency
members - (157) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, 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, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen
associate members - (2) Hong Kong, Macau
_________________________________________________________________
International Maritime Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) see International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) _________________________________________________________________
International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) note - formerly International Maritime Satellite Organization address - 99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX, UK telephone - [44] (171) 728 1000, 728 1100 FAX - [44] (171) 728 1044, 728 1100 established - 3 September 1976 effective - 16 July 1979 aim - to provide worldwide communications for commercial, emergency, and safety applications, at sea, in the air, and on land members - (86) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vietnam _________________________________________________________________
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
address - 700 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20431, US
telephone - [1] (202) 623 7000
FAX - [1] (202) 623 4661, 623 7491, 623 4662
established - July 22, 1944
effective - December 27, 1945
aim - to promote global monetary stability and economic development; a
UN specialized agency
members - (182) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, 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, Myanmar, 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, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, 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, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, 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, Eswatini, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
address - Chateau de Vidy, CH-1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
telephone - +41 (21) 621 61 11
FAX - +41 (21) 621 62 16, 621 63 54
established - June 23, 1894
aim - to promote the Olympic ideals and manage the Olympic Games:
2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia; 2002 Winter Olympics in
Salt Lake City, United States; 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece
National Olympic Committees - (199 and the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra,
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic
of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
North Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Yemen,
Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine
Liberation Organization
_________________________________________________________________
International Organization for Migration (IOM) note - established as the Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants from Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) on November 15, 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for Migration (ICM) in November 1980; current name adopted on November 14, 1989 address - 17 route des Morillons, CP 71, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 717 91 11 FAX - [41] (22) 798 61 50 established - December 5, 1951 aim - to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration members - (69) Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia observers - (47) Afghanistan, Algeria, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Holy See, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) address - CP 56, 1 Rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 749 01 11 FAX - [41] (22) 733 34 30 established - NA February 1947 aim - to promote the development of international standards to facilitate the international exchange of goods and services and foster cooperation in intellectual, scientific, technological, and economic activities members - (88 national standards organizations) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Libya, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe correspondent members - (35) Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Barbados, Bolivia, Brunei, Cote d'Ivoire, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Moldova, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Seychelles, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE subscriber members - (9) Benin, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Namibia, Saint Lucia _________________________________________________________________
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
address - International Conference of the Red Cross, 19 Avenue de la
Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
telephone - [41] (22) 734 60 01
FAX - [41] (22) 733 20 57
established - NA 1928
aim - to promote global humanitarian aid through the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) during wartime, and the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS; formerly
League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or LORCS) during peacetime
National Societies - (175 countries) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea,
South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, 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,
Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
address - Place des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
telephone - [41] (22) 730 6039
FAX - [41] (22) 733 7256, 730 5939
established - 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union;
9 December 1932 adopted the current name
effective - 1 January 1934
affiliated with the UN - 15 November 1947
aim - to address global telecommunications issues; a specialized
agency of the UN
members - (188) 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, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, 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, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Eswatini, 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
(suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat)
address - Intelsat, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC
20008-3098, US
telephone - [1] (202) 944 7500
FAX - [1] (202) 944 7890
established - August 20, 1964, originally as the Telecommunications
Satellite Consortium; name changed to the current one on February 12, 1973
aim - to develop and manage a global commercial telecommunications
satellite system
members - (143) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
nonsignatory users - (42) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus,
Belize, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Cuba, Djibouti,
Eritrea, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, North Korea,
Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, North Macedonia,
Maldives, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Nauru, Niue, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Vanuatu
_________________________________________________________________
Islamic Development Bank (IDB) address - P. O. Box 5925, Jeddah 21432, Saudi Arabia telephone - [966] (2) 6361400 FAX - [966] (2) 6366871 established - 15 December 1973 by declaration of intent effective - 12 August 1974 aim - to promote Islamic economic aid and social development members - (51 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________________________
Latin American Economic System (LAES) note - also known as Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA) address - SELA, Avenida Francisco de Miranda, Torre Europa, Piso 4, Chacaito, Apartado de Correos 17035, Caracas 1010-A, Venezuela telephone - [58] (2) 905 5111 FAX - [58] (2) 951 6953, 951 7246 established - October 17, 1975 aim - to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation members - (28) Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela observers - (21) Andean Promotion Corporation, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, EEC, Guatemala, Honduras, IADB, Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation, Italy, Nicaragua, OAS, Panama, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, UN Development Program, UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean _________________________________________________
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) note - also known as Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI) address - Calle Cebollati 1461, Casilla de Correo 577, 11000 Montevideo, Uruguay telephone - [598] (2) 400 11 21, 409 59 15 FAX - [598] (2) 409 06 49 established - 12 August 1980 effective - 18 March 1981 aim - to promote freer regional trade members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela observers - (21) China, European Commission, Andean Development Corporation, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-American Development Bank, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Italy, Latin American Economic System, Nicaragua, Organization of American States, Panama, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean _________________________________________________________________
League of Arab States (LAS) see Arab League (AL) _________________________________________________________________
League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS) see International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) _________________________________________________________________
least developed countries (LLDCs)
that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) initially identified by the UN General Assembly in 1971 as having no significant economic growth, per capita GDPs usually less than $1,000, and low literacy rates; also known as undeveloped countries; the 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen
less developed countries (LDCs)
the lowest tier in the ranking of developed countries (DCs), former
USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries
(LDCs); primarily nations and dependent regions with low levels of
output, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs are
generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, this group
also includes several countries with high per capita incomes,
areas of advanced technology, and rapid growth rates; encompasses the
advanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons
(Four Tigers), least developed countries (LLDCs), low-income
countries, middle-income countries, newly industrializing economies
(NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped nations, undeveloped
nations; the 172 LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa,
Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French
Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip, Ghana,
Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Isle of Man,
Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte,
Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New
Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern
Mariana Islands, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Qatar,
Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,
Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu,
UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands,
Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe;
note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term
"developing countries" which includes Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and
Turkey but excludes in its recently published statistics American Samoa,
Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas
Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands,
French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland,
Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Isle
of Man, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue,
Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands,
Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon,
Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands,
Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara
_________________________________________________________________
London Suppliers Group see Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) _________________________________________________________________
low-income countries another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs) _________________________________________________________________
Mercado Común del Cono Sur (Mercosur) see Southern Cone Common Market _________________________________________________________________
middle-income countries another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs) _________________________________________________________________
Near Abroad Russian term for the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, where 25 million ethnic Russians reside and in which Moscow has shown a strong interest in national security; the 14 countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________
newly industrializing countries (NICs) former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs) _________________________________________________________________
newly industrializing economies (NIEs) that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) that has experienced particularly rapid industrialization of their economies; formerly known as the newly industrializing countries (NICs); also known as advanced developing countries; usually includes the Four Dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan), and Brazil _________________________________________________________________
Nonaligned Movement (NAM) address - Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations, 333 East 38th Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10016, US telephone - [1] (212) 213 5583 FAX - [1] (212) 692 2498 established - 1-6 September 1961 aim - to establish political and military cooperation separate from the traditional East or West blocs members - (113 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization observers - (16) Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Paraguay, Ukraine, Uruguay guests - (28) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US _________________________________________________________________
Nordic Council (NC) address - Store Strandstraede 18, PB 3043, DK-1021 Copenhagen K, Denmark telephone - [45] 33 96 04 00 FAX - [45] 33 11 18 70 established - March 16, 1952 effective - February 12, 1953 aim - to enhance regional economic, cultural, and environmental cooperation members - (5) Denmark (including the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including the Åland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden observers - (3) the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden _________________________________________________
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) address - Fabianinkatu 34, P. O. Box 249, FIN-00171 Helsinki, Finland telephone - [358] (0) 18001 FAX - [358] (0) 1800210 established - December 4, 1975 effective - June 1, 1976 aim - to promote economic cooperation and development members - (5) Denmark (including the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including the Åland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden _________________________________________________________________
North a common term for the wealthy industrialized countries usually found in the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere; the opposite of the South; see developed countries (DCs) _________________________________________________________________
North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) see Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) _________________________________________________________________
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) address - B-1110 Brussels, Belgium telephone - [32] (2) 707 4111 FAX - [32] (2) 707 4579 established - April 4, 1949 aim - to promote mutual defense and cooperation members - (19) Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US _________________________________________________________________
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) note - also known as OECD Nuclear Energy Agency address - AEN/NEA, Le Seine St. Germain, 12 Boulevard des Iles, F-92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France telephone - [33] (1) 45 24 10 10 FAX - [33] (1) 45 24 11 10 established - 1 February 1958 aim - to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; associated with OECD members - (27) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US _________________________________________________
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) note - also called the London Suppliers Group or the London Group address - c/o Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, Andromeda Tower, 23rd floor, Donau City Strasse 6, A-1220 Vienna, Austria telephone - [43] (1) 260 6300 FAX - [43] (1) 263 6749 established - NA 1974 effective - NA 1975 aim - to create guidelines for the export of nuclear materials, equipment for uranium enrichment, and technical information to countries of proliferation concern and areas of conflict and instability members - (35) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US observer - (1) European Commission (a policy-planning body for the EU) _________________________________________________
Organismo para la Prohibición de las Armas Nucleares en América Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL) see Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) _________________________________________________
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) address - 2 Rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France telephone - [33] (1) 45 24 82 00 FAX - [33] (1) 45 24 85 00, 45 24 81 76, 45 24 18 15 established - December 14, 1960 effective - September 30, 1961 aim - to promote economic cooperation and development members - (29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US special member - (1) EU _________________________________________________
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) note - formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) established July 3, 1975 address - Karntner Ring 5-7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria telephone - [43] (1) 514 36-190 FAX - [43] (1) 514 36-96 established - January 1, 1995 aim - to promote the implementation of human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law; to act as a tool for early warning, conflict prevention, and crisis management; and to provide a framework for conventional arms control and confidence-building measures members - (55) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia (suspended) partners for cooperation - (8) Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, Tunisia _________________________________________________
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
Address - Johan de Wittlaan 32, NL-2517 JR The Hague, Netherlands
Telephone - [31] (70) 416 33 00
FAX - [31] (70) 360 09 44
Established - 29 April 1997
Aim - to enforce the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,
Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their
Destruction; to provide a platform for consultation and collaboration among
the signatories of the Convention
Members - (169) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Belarus, Belgium, 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, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, 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,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, 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, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
Organization of African Unity (OAU) address - P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia telephone - [251] (1) 517700 FAX - [251] (1) 512622, 517844 established - May 25, 1963 aim - to promote unity and cooperation among African states members - (54) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco (temporarily suspended), Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________
Organization of American States (OAS) address - corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006, US telephone - [1] (202) 458 3000 FAX - [1] (202) 458 3967 established - 14 April 1890 as the International Union of American Republics; 30 April 1948 adopted current charter effective - 13 December 1951 aim - to promote regional peace and security as well as economic and social development members - (35) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba (excluded from formal participation since 1962), Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela observers - (45) Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Yemen _________________________________________________
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) address - P. O. Box 20501, Safat 13066, Kuwait telephone - [965] 4844500 FAX - [965] 4815747 established - January 9, 1968 aim - to promote collaboration in the petroleum industry members - (10) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE _________________________________________________________________
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) address - OECS, P. O. Box 179, Morne Fortune, Castries, Saint Lucia telephone - [1] (758) 45 22537, 45 22538 FAX - [1] (758) 45 31628 established - June 18, 1981 effective - July 4, 1981 aim - to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation members - (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines associate members - (2) Anguilla, British Virgin Islands _________________________________________________________________
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) address - Obere Donaustrasse 93, A-1020 Vienna, Austria telephone - [43] (1) 21 11 20 FAX - [43] (1) 216 43 20 established - September 14, 1960 aim - to coordinate oil policies members - (11) Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela _________________________________________________
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) address - 6 km Makkah Al-Mukarramah Road, P. O. Box 178, Jeddah 21411, Saudi Arabia telephone - [966] (2) 680-0800 FAX - [966] (2) 687-6568 established - 22-25 September 1969 aim - to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs members - (52 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization observers - (4) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, Moro National Liberation Front of the Philippines, "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" __________________________________________________
Pacific Community note - formerly known as the South Pacific Commission (SPC) address - BP D5, 98848 Noumea CEDEX, New Caledonia telephone - [687] 26 20 00 FAX - [687] 26 38 18 established - 6 February 1947 effective - 29 July 1948 aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters members - (26) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna _________________________________________________
Paris Club see Group of 10 _________________________________________________________________
Partnership for Peace (PFP) address - NATO Office of Information and Press, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium telephone - [32] (2) 728 44 15 FAX - [32] (2) 728 45 79 established - 10-11 January 1994 aim - to expand and strengthen political and military cooperation across Europe, enhance stability, reduce threats to peace, and foster relationships by encouraging the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment to the democratic principles that support NATO; program under the aegis of NATO members - (27) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
address - Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, NL-2517 KJ The Hague,
Netherlands
telephone - [31] (70) 302 42 42
FAX - [31] (70) 302 41 67
established - July 29, 1899
aim - to facilitate the resolution of international disputes
members - (86) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium,
Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta,
Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,
Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
Population Commission see Commission on Population and Development _________________________________________________________________
Rio Group (RG) note - previously known as Grupo de los Ocho, founded in December 1986 address - Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Edificio AYFRA, Piso 10, Pdte Franco y Ayolas, Asuncion, Paraguay telephone - [595] (21) 448409, 493872 FAX - [595] (21) 450911, 493910 established - NA 1988 aim - to discuss regional Latin American issues members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________
Second World another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states of the USSR and Eastern Europe, with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies _________________________________________________________________
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) see Pacific Community _________________________________________________________________
Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA) see Latin American Economic System (LAES) _________________________________________________________________
Social Commission see Commission for Social Development _________________________________________________________________
socialist countries
in general, countries where the government owns and manages the main resources for production; note - the term is sometimes misused as a synonym for communist countries _________________________________________________
South a common term for the poorer, less industrialized countries typically found south of the developed countries; the opposite of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs) _________________________________________________________________
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) address - P. O. Box 4222, Kathmandu, Nepal telephone - [977] (1) 221785, 226350, 221792, 228029 FAX - [977] (1) 227033, 223991 established - December 8, 1985 aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka _________________________________________________________________
South Pacific Commission (SPC) see Pacific Community (SPC) _________________________________________________________________
South Pacific Forum (SPF) address - c/o Forum Secretariat, Ratu Sukuna Road, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji telephone - [679] 312 600, 303 106 FAX - [679] 301 102, 305 573 established - 5 August 1971 aim - to promote regional cooperation in political matters members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu _________________________________________________________________
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (Sparteca) address - c/o Forum Secretariat, Ratu Sukuna Road GPO Box 856, Suva, Fiji telephone - [679] 312 600, 303 106 FAX - [679] 302 204 established - NA 1981 aim - to correct the unequal trade relationships between Australia and New Zealand and the small island economies in the Pacific region members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu _________________________________________________________________
Southern African Customs Union (SACU) address - Director of Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance, Private Bag 13295, Windhoek, Namibia established - December 11, 1969 aim - to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters members - (5) Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland _________________________________________________________________
Southern African Development Community (SADC) note - evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) address - Private Bag 0095, Gaborone, Botswana telephone - [267] (31) 351863, 351864, 351865 FAX - [267] (31) 372848 established - August 17, 1992 aim - to promote regional economic development and integration members - (14) Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________
Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) or Southern Common Market note - also known as Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (Mercosur) address - Rincon 575 Piso 12, 11000 Montevideo, Uruguay telephone - [598] (2) 9164590 FAX - [598] (2) 9164591 established - 26 March 1991 aim - to increase regional economic cooperation members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay associate member - (2) Bolivia, Chile _________________________________________________________________
Statistical Commission address - Statistics Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, DC-2 Building, Room 2963, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 9851 established - June 21, 1946 aim - to address the development and standardization of national statistics relevant to the UN, as part of the Economic and Social Council's organization members - (24) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________
Third World another term for the less developed countries; the term is becoming outdated; see less developed countries (LDCs) _________________________________________________________________
underdeveloped countries
refers to those developing countries with the potential for above-average economic growth; see developing countries (LDCs) _________________________________________________
undeveloped countries
refers to those extremely poor, less developed countries (LDCs) with little chance for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs) _________________________________________________________________
Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale (UDEAC) see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) _________________________________________________________________
United Nations (UN)
address - United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
established - June 26, 1945
effective - October 24, 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security and to promote
cooperation on economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian
issues
members - (187 excluding Yugoslavia) 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, Myanmar,
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, Côte d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, 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, 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, New Zealand, 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, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia
(suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members are represented
in the General Assembly; Tuvalu will become a member in 2000
observers - (2 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See,
Switzerland, Palestine Liberation Organization
_________________________________________________________________
United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) successor to the original UNAVEM and UNAVEM II; established on December 20, 1988; renewed for the third time on February 8, 1995; aimed to help the parties restore peace and achieve national reconciliation in Angola based on the Peace Accords, the Lusaka Protocol, and relevant Security Council resolutions; established by the UN Security Council; members include Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, Fiji, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Jordan, Mongolia, Mali, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Sweden, Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; disbanded on June 30, 1997 _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) was set up on October 5, 1993, to support and create safe conditions for displaced people and human rights monitors, as well as to help train a new national police force. It was established by the UN Security Council. The member countries included Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Jordan, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The mission ended on March 8, 1996. _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) note - acronym kept from the previous organization UN International Children's Emergency Fund address - UNICEF House, Three United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 326 7000 FAX - [1] (212) 888 7465, 888 7454 established - December 11, 1946 aim - to help develop child health and welfare services members - (36) chosen on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________
United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Office for Special Political Affairs, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879 established - November 28, 1997 aim - to support the professional development of the Haitian National Police; established by the UN Security Council members - (11) Argentina, Benin, Canada, France, India, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, US _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Civilian Police Support Group in Croatia was set up on December 19, 1997, to oversee the Croatian police regarding the return of displaced individuals. The members included Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, and the US. It was disbanded on October 15, 1998. _________________________________________________
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) address - UNCTAD, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34 FAX - [41] (22) 907 00 57, 907 00 43 established - 30 December 1964 aim - to promote international trade members - (188) all UN members plus the Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO) established on March 31, 1995, to separate Croatian and Krajina Serb forces; to monitor the demilitarization of the Prevlaka Peninsula; to maintain a presence on Croatia's international borders; to monitor and report the movement of military personnel, equipment, supplies, and weapons; to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid; to assist refugees and displaced persons; to protect ethnic minorities; and to clear mines; established by the UN Security Council; members included Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US; disbanded in January 1996. _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) address - One United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 906 5788, 906 5000 FAX - [1] (212) 906 5365 established - November 22, 1965 aim - to offer technical support to boost economic and social development members - (36) chosen on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations, Room S-3260E, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879 established - May 31, 1974 aim - to monitor the 1973 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council members - (5) Austria, Canada, Japan, Poland, Slovakia _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
address - 7 place de Fontenoy, F-75352 Paris 07SP, France
telephone - [33] (1) 45 68 10 00
FAX - [33] (1) 45 67 16 90
established - November 16, 1945
effective - November 4, 1946
aim - to promote collaboration in education, science, and culture
members - (186) 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, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic
of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, 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, 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, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, 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, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (4) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Macau,
Netherlands Antilles
_________________________________________________________________
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) address - P. O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya telephone - [254] (2) 230800, 520600, 621234, 623292 FAX - [254] (2) 226890, 623927, 623692 established - December 15, 1972 aim - to promote global collaboration on environmental issues members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________
United Nations General Assembly address - see United Nations established - June 26, 1945 effective - October 24, 1945 aim - to serve as the main discussion body of the UN members - (185) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly _________________________________________________________________
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) address - UNHCR Headquarters, P.O. Box 2500, Depot, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 739 81 11 FAX - [41] (22) 731 95 46 established - December 3, 1949 effective - January 1, 1951 aim - to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee issues members - (53) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela _________________________________________________
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
address - Vienna International Center, P. O. Box 300, A-1400 Vienna,
Austria
telephone - [43] (1) 211 310
FAX - [43] (1) 23 21 56
established - November 17, 1966
effective - January 1, 1967
aim - UN specialized agency that supports industrial development
especially among its members
members - (168) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, 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, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Luxembourg, North Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and
Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,
US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) address - Palais des Nations, Bureau 1070, CH-1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 798-58-50, 798-84-00 FAX - [41] (22) 733-13-83 established - 11 December 1963 adoption of the resolution establishing the Institute effective - 24 March 1965 aim - to help the UN become more effective through training and research members (Board of Trustees) - (19) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Cameroon, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand; note - the UN Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879 established - June 10, 1999 aim - to promote significant autonomy and self-governance in Kosovo; to carry out essential civilian administrative tasks; to assist in rebuilding vital infrastructure and providing humanitarian and disaster relief members - (49) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879 established - March 19, 1978 aim - to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces and help restore Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council members - (9) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Poland _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879 established - April 9, 1991 aim - to observe and monitor the demilitarized zone established between Iraq and Kuwait; established by the UN Security Council members - (33) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) address - P. O. Box 68, Rawalpindi, Pakistan telephone - [92] (51) 564 298 FAX - [92] (51) 567 897, 565 861 established - January 24, 1949 aim - to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan cease-fire; created by the UN Security Council members - (8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879 established - April 29, 1991 aim - to oversee the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council members - (29) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Togo, US, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________
United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 758 2718 established - December 21, 1995 aim - to establish an International Police Task Force (IPTF) to implement the Dayton Peace Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina members - (44) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US _________________________________________________
United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) established on September 23, 1993; its goal was to help implement the agreement to restore power to the civilian government; created by the UN Security Council; transitioned to the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) on June 28, 1996, aiming to help professionalize the Haitian National Police; participating countries included Algeria, Canada, France, India, Mali, Pakistan, Togo, and the US; disbanded on July 31, 1997.
United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) was established in April 1998 to ensure security in the capital while the government implemented necessary reforms to handle its own security. The mission also provided training to civilian police. Member countries included Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, France, Gabon, Mali, Portugal, Senegal, Togo, and Tunisia. It was disbanded on February 15, 2000. _________________________________________________
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963-1234 FAX - [1] (212) 758-2718 established - 22 October 1999 aim - to work with the Government of Sierra Leone and other parties to the Peace Agreement to implement the agreement; to monitor the military and security situation in Sierra Leone; to oversee the disarmament and demobilization of combatants and members of the Civil Defense Forces (CDF); to assist in monitoring compliance with international humanitarian law members - (30) Bangladesh, Bolivia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, The Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand, Tanzania, UK, Uruguay, Zambia _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 758 2718 established - February 1, 1996 aim - to oversee the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula members - (24) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 758 2718 established - 16 December 1994 aim - to monitor and investigate violations of the cease-fire of 17 September 1994 between Tajikistan and the Tajik opposition and to assist in the political negotiation process; established by the UN Security Council members - (13) Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Nigeria, Poland, Ukraine, Uruguay _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Monitoring and Verification Commission (UNMOVIC) note - previously known as the United Nations Special Commission for the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM) address - c/o United Nations, Room S-3120H, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 3018 FAX - [1] (212) 963 3922 established - NA December 1999 aim - to identify, track, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and their production capabilities members - (22) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, UK, US, Venezuela _________________________________________________
United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) was set up on July 1, 1997, to help implement the peace agreement and oversee the normalization of state administration across the national territory. It was established by the UN Security Council, and its member countries included Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Uruguay, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The mission ended on February 26, 1999. _________________________________________________
United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL) created on May 20, 1991, to verify cease-fire agreements and monitor public order until a new National Civil Police was set up; established by the UN Security Council; members included Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and Venezuela; disbanded in April 1995. _________________________________________________
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879 established - August 24, 1993 aim - to verify compliance with the ceasefire agreement, monitor the weapons exclusion zone, and supervise the CIS peacekeeping force for Abkhazia; established by the UN Security Council members - (22) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, South Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) established on September 22, 1993, to help implement the peace agreement; set up by the UN Security Council; members included Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Kenya, Malaysia, and Pakistan; disbanded in September 1997 _________________________________________________
United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR) was set up in 1993 for six months to monitor the Uganda/Rwanda border and ensure that no military support reached Rwanda from across the border. It was established by the UN Security Council, with members from Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Hungary, the Netherlands, Senegal, Slovakia, and Zimbabwe. It was later incorporated into UNAMIR. _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ) was set up on December 16, 1992, to oversee the cease-fire. It was established by the UN Security Council and included members from Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the US, Uruguay, and Zambia. Operations were halted on January 31, 1995.
United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II) was set up on April 24, 1992, to quickly stop hostilities, maintain a cease-fire to encourage a political solution, and provide urgent humanitarian aid. It was established by the UN Security Council, and its members included Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, and Zimbabwe. UN peacekeepers withdrew from Somalia on March 1, 1995, but some UN personnel are still in Somalia doing humanitarian work.
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879 established - 30 November 1999 aim - to connect with the signatories of the cease-fire agreement and to organize the observation of the cease-fire and the withdrawal of troops members - (24) Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Canada, Egypt, France, Ghana, India, Italy, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Nepal, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, UK, Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) address - Chief of Mission, P. O. Box 1642, Nicosia, Cyprus telephone - [357] (2) 359 700 FAX - [357] (2) 359 753 established - 4 March 1964 aim - to act as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; set up by the UN Security Council members - (10) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, UK _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) note - acronym kept from the previous organization UN Fund for Population Activities address - 220 East 42nd Street, 19th Floor, Room DN-1901, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 297 5000 FAX - [1] (212) 557 6416 established - July 1967 aim - to help both developed and developing countries tackle their population issues members - (34) chosen on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________
United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP)
established on March 31, 1995; tasked with monitoring border activity in the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; members included Argentina, Bangladesh,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland,
Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,
Ukraine, and the United States; mandate ended on March 25, 1999
_________________________________________________________________
United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) established on February 28, 1992; to create the necessary conditions for peace and security to negotiate a comprehensive resolution to the "Yugoslav" crisis; established by the UN Security Council; members included Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the UK, and the US; disbanded in December 1995; replaced by the Implementation Force (IFOR), which has been succeeded by the Stabilization Force (SFOR) _________________________________________________
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) address - P. O. Box 700, Vienna International Center, A-1400 Vienna, Austria established - December 8, 1949 aim - to help Palestinian refugees members - (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) address - Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone - [41] (22) 798 84 00, 798 58 50 FAX - [41] (22) 740 07 91 established - NA 1963 aim - to research issues related to economic development during various stages of economic growth members - no country members, but a Board of Directors made up of a chairman appointed by the UN secretary-general and 10 individual members _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Secretariat address - see United Nations established - June 26, 1945 effective - October 24, 1945 aim - to be the main administrative body of the UN; a Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly based on recommendations from the Security Council members - the UN Secretary General and staff _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Security Council address - c/o United Nations, Room S-3520A, New York, NY 10017, US telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 758 2718 established - 26 June 1945 effective - 24 October 1945 aim - to maintain international peace and security permanent members - (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US nonpermanent members - (10) elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly; Argentina (1999-2000), Bangladesh (2000-01), Canada (1999-2000), Jamaica (2000-01), Malaysia (1999-2000), Mali (2000-01), Namibia (1999-2000), Netherlands (1999-2000), Tunisia (2000-01), Ukraine (2000-01) _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) address - c/o Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879 established - October 25, 1999 aim - to provide security throughout East Timor; to set up an effective administration; to ensure the coordination and delivery of humanitarian aid; to support capacity-building for self-government members - (27) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Ghana, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, UK, USA, Uruguay, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) was established on November 12, 1995, with the goal of facilitating and overseeing the Basic Agreement between the government of the Republic of Croatia and the local Serbian community. This would lead to a peaceful integration of the region into the national state of Croatia. The participating members included Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, the UK, and the US. The mission was disbanded on January 15, 1998. A UN Civilian Police Support Group was set up in December 1997 as a follow-up mission to UNTAES. This support group will continue to monitor the Croatian police in the Danube region, especially regarding the return of displaced people. _________________________________________________
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) was created by the UN Security Council on February 28, 1992, to help restore and maintain peace and to oversee free elections. It was disbanded after the UN-supervised elections in May 1993. The member countries included Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, the UK, the US, and Uruguay. _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) address - Government House, P. O. Box 490, Jerusalem 91004, Israel telephone - [972] (2) 673 4223 FAX - [972] (2) 673 5282, 673 4223 extension 400 established - NA June 1948 aim - to monitor the 1948 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; currently supports the timely deployment of reinforcements to other peacekeeping operations in the region as needed; initially set up by the UN Security Council members - (22) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, US _________________________________________________________________
United Nations Trusteeship Council established on June 26, 1945, effective on October 24, 1945, to oversee the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members included China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US; it officially suspended operations on November 1, 1995, after the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a constitutional government in free association with the US; the Trusteeship Council was not dissolved.
United Nations University (UNU) address - 53-70 Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150, Japan telephone - [81] (3) 3499 2811 FAX - [81] (3) 3499 2828 established - December 3, 1973 aim - to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars members - (38 associated institutes in 32 countries) Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela _________________________________________________
United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) established on January 20, 1997; tasked with verifying the compliance of cease-fire agreements; created by the UN Security Council; members included Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the US, Uruguay, and Venezuela; mandate ended in May 1997. _________________________________________________________________
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
Address - Bureau International de l'UPU, Weltpoststrasse 4, CH-3000
Bern 15, Switzerland
Telephone - [41] (31) 350 31 11
FAX - [41] (31) 350 31 10
Established - 9 October 1874, became affiliated with the UN on 15 November 1947
Effective - 1 July 1948
Aim - to promote international postal cooperation; a specialized
UN agency
Members - (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, 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, Myanmar, 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, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, 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, North Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, UK Overseas Territories, Pakistan,
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, São Tomé
and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, 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 (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
Warsaw Pact (WP) established on May 14, 1955, to support mutual defense; members gathered on July 1, 1991, to disband the alliance; member states at the time of disbandment were Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier members included East Germany and Albania. _________________________________________________________________
West African Development Bank (WADB) note - also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Développement (BOAD); is a financial institution of WAEMU address - 68 Avenue de la Libération, BP 1172, Lomé, Togo telephone - [228] 21 59 06, 21 42 44, 21 01 13 FAX - [228] 21 52 67, 21 72 69 established - 14 November 1973 aim - to promote regional economic development and integration regional members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo international/nonregional members - (5) African Development Bank, Belgium, European Investment Bank, France, Germany _________________________________________________________________
West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) note - also known as West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) address - Commission de l'UEMOA, 01 BP 543, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso telephone - [226] 31 88 73 to 76 FAX - [226] 31 88 72 established - August 1, 1994 aim - to enhance the competitiveness of members' economic markets; to create a common market members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo _________________________________________________________________
West African Economic Community (CEAO) note - acronym from Communauté Économique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest established on June 3, 1972, to promote regional economic development; its members were Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal; it was disbanded in 1994 _________________________________________________________________
Western European Union (WEU) address - Rue de la Regence 4, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium telephone - [32] (2) 500 44 11 FAX - [32] (2) 511 32 70 established - 23 October 1954 effective - 6 May 1955 aim - to provide mutual defense and to move toward political unification members - (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK associate members - (6) Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Turkey associate partners - (7) Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia observers - (5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden _________________________________________________________________
World Bank see International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) _________________________________________________________________
World Bank Group includes the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) _________________________________________________________________
World Confederation of Labor (WCL)
address - Rue de Treves 33, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
telephone - [32] (2) 230 62 95
FAX - [32] (2) 230 87 22
established - June 19, 1920, as the International Federation of
Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed October 4, 1968
aim - to promote the labor union movement
members - (99 national organizations) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Bonaire Island, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire,
Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El
Salvador, France, French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada,
Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, UK, US,
Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
World Court see International Court of Justice (ICJ) _________________________________________________________________
World Customs Organization (WCO) see Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) _________________________________________________________________
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
address - Branicka 112, 14701 Prague 4, Czech Republic
telephone - [42] (2) 44 46 21 40, 44 46 20 85, 44 46 29 61
FAX - [42] (2) 44 46 13 78
established - October 3, 1945
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (125 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, The Gambia, Ghana,
Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,
Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, New Caledonia, NZ,
Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Romania, Russia,
Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
_________________________________________________________________
World Food Council (WFC) established on December 17, 1974; to examine global food issues and suggest solutions; ECOSOC organization; had 36 members chosen on a rotating basis from all regions; merged into the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization _________________________________________________________________
World Food Program (WFP) address - Via Cesare Giullio Viola, 68/70 Parco de Medici, I-00148 Rome, Italy telephone - [39] (6) 522821 FAX - [39] (6) 59602348, 52282840 established - November 24, 1961 aim - to provide food assistance to support economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________
World Health Organization (WHO)
address - CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
telephone - [41] (22) 791 21 11, 791 32 23
FAX - [41] (22) 791 07 46
established - July 22, 1946
effective - April 7, 1948
aim - to address health issues globally; a specialized agency of the UN
members - (191) 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, Myanmar, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, 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, 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, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, North 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, Niue, 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, São Tomé
and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, 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 (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau
_________________________________________________________________
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
address - 34 Chemin des Colombettes, Case Postale 18, CH-1211 Geneva
20, Switzerland
telephone - [+41] (22) 338 9111
FAX - [+41] (22) 733 5428
established - July 14, 1967
effective - April 26, 1970
aim - to provide protection for literary, artistic, and scientific
works; a UN specialized agency
members - (171) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, 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, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, 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, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,
US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
address - P.O. Box 2300, 41 Avenue Giuseppe-Motta, CH-1211 Geneva
2, Switzerland
telephone - +41 (22) 730 81 11
FAX - +41 (22) 734 23 26
established - October 11, 1947
effective - April 4, 1951
aim - to promote meteorological collaboration; a specialized agency of the UN
members - (185) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British
Caribbean Territories, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Macau, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New
Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa,
São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________
World Tourism Organization (WToO)
address - Calle Capitan Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain
telephone - [34] (1) 567 81 00
FAX - [34] (1) 571 37 33
established - January 2, 1975
aim - to promote tourism as a way to contribute to economic
development, international understanding, and peace
members - (131) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, North Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (5) Aruba, Flanders, Macau, Madeira Islands,
Netherlands Antilles
observer - (1) Holy See
_________________________________________________________________
World Trade Organization (WTO) Note - succeeded the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Address - Centre William Rappard, 154 Rue de Lausanne, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland Telephone - +41 (22) 739 51 11 Fax - +41 (22) 739 54 58 Established - April 15, 1994 Effective - January 1, 1995 Aim - to provide a way to resolve trade conflicts between members and to conduct negotiations to further lower and/or eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers Members - (136) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe Observers - (6) Azerbaijan, Laos, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan Applicants - (31) Albania, Algeria, Armenia, The Bahamas, Belarus, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Croatia, Equatorial Guinea, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, North Macedonia, Moldova, Nepal, Oman, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Taiwan; Note - some of these countries applied to GATT and are still under consideration for membership in WTO; the following GATT member had not become a member of WTO as of January 1, 1998: Yugoslavia (suspended) _________________________________________________
Zangger Committee (ZC) established - early 1970s aim - to create guidelines for the export control provisions of the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) members - (33) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US _________________________________________________________________
Note: The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) no longer exists. None of the countries that emerged from the former Yugoslavia, including Serbia and Montenegro, have been allowed to participate based solely on the former Yugoslavia's membership in the United Nations General Assembly and Economic and Social Council, along with their subsidiary bodies and various United Nations specialized agencies. However, the United Nations allows the SFRY's seat and nameplate to stay, lets the SFRY mission continue its operations, and continues to fly the former Yugoslavia's flag. For various reasons, many other organizations haven't taken any action regarding the membership of the former Yugoslavia yet. The World Factbook HomeHome still lists Yugoslavia under international organizations where the SFRY seat remains or where no action has been taken yet.
______________________________________________________________________
@Appendix D: Selected International Environmental Agreements
Air Pollution
see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or
Their Transboundary Fluxes
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary
Fluxes by at least 30%
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Regarding the Management of Emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds or Their Transboundary Flow
Antarctic Environmental Protocol
see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Antarctic Treaty
opened for signature - December 1, 1959
entered into force - June 23, 1961
objective - to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes
only (like international cooperation in scientific research); to
delay the question of territorial claims made by some countries and
not recognized by others; to provide an international forum for
managing the region; applies to land and ice shelves south of 60
degrees South latitude
parties - (44) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands,
NZ, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uruguay, Venezuela
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
note - shortened to Hazardous Wastes
opened for signature - March 22, 1989
entered into force - May 5, 1992
objective - to reduce cross-border movement of waste covered by the
Convention to a minimum that aligns with managing these wastes in an
environmentally responsible and efficient way; to reduce the quantity and
toxicity of waste produced and ensure its environmentally safe
management as close to the source of generation as possible; and to
support LDCs in managing the hazardous and other wastes they produce
parties - (134) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EU, Finland,
France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Afghanistan,
Haiti, US
Biodiversity
see Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
note - abbreviated as Biodiversity
opened for signature - June 5, 1992
entered into force - December 29, 1993
objective - to create national strategies for the conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity
parties - (176) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,
Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
North Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, 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, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (11) Afghanistan,
Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Liberia, Libya, Malta, Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE, US,
former Yugoslavia
Climate Change
see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate Change - Kyoto Protocol
see Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High
Seas
note - short form is Marine Life Conservation
opened for signature - April 29, 1958
entered into force - March 20, 1966
objective - to address through international cooperation the issues
related to conserving living resources of the high seas,
acknowledging that due to advancements in modern technology, some
of these resources are at risk of being overexploited
parties - (37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina
Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland,
France, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, former
Yugoslavia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (21) Afghanistan,
Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, NZ,
Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution
opened for signature - November 13, 1979
entered into force - March 16, 1983
objective - to protect the human environment from air pollution and
to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range
transboundary air pollution
parties - (44) Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, former
Yugoslavia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Holy See, San
Marino
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Flora and Fauna (CITES)
note - also known as Endangered Species
opened for signature - March 3, 1973
entered into force - July 1, 1975
objective - to protect certain endangered species from
overexploitation through a system of import/export permits
parties - (152) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, 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, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Ireland,
Kuwait, Lesotho
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) note - shortened to Marine Dumping opened for signature - December 29, 1972 entered into force - August 30, 1975 objective - to manage sea pollution caused by dumping and to promote regional agreements that support the Convention parties - (86) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vanuatu, former Yugoslavia
Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of
Environmental Modification Techniques
note - shortened to Environmental Modification
opened for signature - December 10, 1976
entered into force - October 5, 1978
objective - to prevent the military or any hostile use of
environmental modification techniques to promote world peace
and trust among nations
parties - (66) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, NZ,
Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,
Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tajikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam,
Yemen
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (17) Bolivia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran,
Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal,
Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as
Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
note - abbreviated as Wetlands
opened for signature - February 2, 1971
entered into force - December 21, 1975
objective - to stop the ongoing encroachment on and loss of
wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the essential ecological
functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and
recreational value
parties - (123) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia,
Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kenya, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, former
Yugoslavia, Zambia
Desertification
see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those
Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,
Particularly in Africa
Endangered Species
see Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Environmental Modification
see Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use
of Environmental Modification Techniques
Hazardous Wastes
see Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
note - abbreviated as Whaling
opened for signature - December 2, 1946
entered into force - November 10, 1948
objective - to protect all species of whales from overhunting; to
establish a system of international regulation for whale fishing
to ensure proper conservation and development of whale populations; and to
safeguard the great natural resources
represented by whale populations for future generations
parties - (51) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica,
Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Iceland, India,
Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mauritius, Mexico,
Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Philippines,
Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83
opened for signature - November 18, 1983
entered into force - April 1, 1985; this agreement expired when the
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force
objective - to create an effective framework for collaboration between
tropical timber producers and consumers and to promote the
development of national policies aimed at sustainable use and
conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources
parties - (54) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Myanmar,
Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana,
Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94
opened for signature - January 26, 1994
entered into force - January 1, 1997
objective - to ensure that by the year 2000, exports of tropical timber
come from sustainably managed sources; to create a fund to
help tropical timber producers acquire the resources they need
to achieve this goal
parties - (55) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Myanmar,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire,
Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy,
Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal,
Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and
Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) Ireland
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change
note - abbreviated as Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
opened for signature - March 16, 1998, but not yet in force
objective - to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing
the national programs of developed countries aimed at this goal and by
establishing percentage reduction targets for developed countries
parties - (21) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bolivia, Cyprus, El
Salvador, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Maldives, Federated
States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Niue, Palau, Panama,
Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan
countries that have signed but not yet ratified - (69) Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China,
Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South
Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali,
Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Niger, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,
Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zambia
Law of the Sea
see United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
Marine Dumping
see Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes
and Other Matter (London Convention)
Marine Life Conservation
see Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the
High Seas
Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
note - abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection
opened for signature - September 16, 1987
entered into force - January 1, 1989
objective - to protect the ozone layer by controlling emissions of
substances that harm it
parties - (172) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, 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, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, 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, former Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
Nuclear Test Ban
see Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer
Space, and Under Water
Ozone Layer Protection
See Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL) note - abbreviated as Ship Pollution opened for signature - 17 February 1978 entered into force - 2 October 1983 objective - to protect the marine environment by completely eliminating pollution from oil and other harmful substances and minimizing the accidental release of these substances parties - (109) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Myanmar, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol opened for signature - October 4, 1991 entered into force - January 14, 1998 objective - to ensure comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and the ecosystems that depend on and are related to it; applies to the area covered by the Antarctic Treaty parties - (28) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, UK, US, Uruguay countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (15) Austria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Guatemala, Hungary, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Regarding the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides opened for signature - October 31, 1988 entered into force - February 14, 1991 objective - to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes parties - (26) Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Belgium, Poland
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Regarding the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes
note - shortened as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
opened for signature - November 18, 1991
entered into force - September 29, 1997
objective - to ensure the control and reduction of emissions of
volatile organic compounds to decrease their transboundary
fluxes, thereby protecting human health and the environment from harmful
effects
parties - (18) Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (7) Belgium,
Canada, EU, Greece, Portugal, Ukraine, US
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
opened for signature - June 14, 1994
entered into force - August 5, 1998
objective - to ensure further reductions in sulfur emissions or
transboundary flows
parties - (22) Austria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Belgium,
Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
opened for signature - June 24, 1998, but not yet in force
objective - to control and reduce emissions of
persistent organic pollutants to minimize their transboundary
movement in order to protect human health and the environment from negative
impacts
parties - (2) Canada, Norway
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (34) Armenia,
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova,
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on the Reduction of Sulfur Emissions or Their Transboundary
Fluxes by at Least 30%
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulfur 85
opened for signature - July 8, 1985
entered into force - September 2, 1987
objective - to achieve a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or
transboundary fluxes by 1993
parties - (21) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia,
Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
Ship Pollution
see Protocol of 1978 Related to the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space,
and Under Water
note - abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban
opened for signature - August 5, 1963
entered into force - October 10, 1963
objective - to achieve agreement on complete disarmament
under strict international supervision in line with the goals
of the United Nations; to end the arms race and
remove incentives for producing and testing all types of
weapons, including nuclear weapons.
parties - (122) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burma, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South
Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,
Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, former Yugoslavia,
Zambia.
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (12) Algeria,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali,
Paraguay, Portugal, Somalia, Vietnam.
Tropical Timber 83
see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber 94
see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
note - abbreviated as Law of the Sea
opened for signature - December 10, 1982
entered into force - November 16, 1994
objective - to establish a comprehensive new legal framework for the sea and
oceans; to include regulations concerning environmental standards as well as
enforcement measures dealing with marine pollution
parties - (132) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Myanmar, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea,
Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, North Macedonia,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, former
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (38) Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Republic of the Congo,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iran,
North Korea, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Qatar,
Rwanda, Eswatini, Switzerland, Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries
Facing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Especially in
Africa
note - shortened to Desertification
opened for signature - October 14, 1994
entered into force - December 26, 1996
objective - to fight desertification and lessen the impacts of
drought through national action plans that include long-term
strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership
arrangements
parties - (159) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina
Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa
Rica, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Qatar,
Romania, 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, Solomon Islands,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UK, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (4) Australia,
Croatia, Philippines, US
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Note - abbreviated as Climate Change
Opened for signature - May 9, 1992
Entered into force - March 21, 1994
Objective - to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations
in the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent harmful
human interference with the climate system
Parties - (181) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic
of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, 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, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue,
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, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (4) Afghanistan,
Angola, Belarus, Liberia
Wetlands
see Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As
Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
Whaling
see International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
______________________________________________________________________
@Appendix E: Weights and Measures
Mathematical Notation
Mathematical Power Name 10^18 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 one quintillion 10^15 or 1,000,000,000,000,000 one quadrillion 10^12 or 1,000,000,000,000 one trillion 10^9 or 1,000,000,000 one billion 10^6 or 1,000,000 one million 10^3 or 1,000 one thousand 10^2 or 100 one hundred 10^1 or 10 ten 10^0 or 1 one 10^-1 or 0.1 one-tenth 10^-2 or 0.01 one-hundredth 10^-3 or 0.001 one-thousandth 10^-6 or 0.000001 one-millionth 10^-9 or 0.000000001 one-billionth 10^-12 or 0.000000000001 one-trillionth 10^-15 or 0.000000000000001 one-quadrillionth 10^-18 or 0.000000000000000001 one-quintillionth
Metric Interrelationships
Prefix Symbol Length, weight, or capacity Area Volume exa E 10^18 10^36 10^54 peta P 10^15 10^30 10^45 tera T 10^12 10^24 10^36 giga G 10^9 10^18 10^27 mega M 10^6 10^12 10^18 hectokilo hk 10^5 10^10 10^15 myria ma 10^4 10^8 10^12 kilo k 10^3 10^6 10^9 hecto h 10^2 10^4 10^6 basic unit — 1 meter, 1 gram, 1 liter 1 meter^2 1 meter^3 deci d 10^-1 10^-2 10^-3 centi c 10^-2 10^-4 10^-6 milli m 10^-3 10^-6 10^-9 decimilli dm 10^-4 10^-8 10^-12 centimilli cm 10^-5 10^-10 10^-15 micro u 10^-6 10^-12 10^-18 nano n 10^-9 10^-18 10^-27 pico p 10^-12 10^-24 10^-36 femto f 10^-15 10^-30 10^-45 atto a 10^-18 10^-36 10^-54
Conversion Factors
To Convert From To Multiply By acres ares 40.468 564 224 acres hectares 0.404 685 642 24 acres square feet 43,560 acres square kilometers 0.004 046 856 422 4 acres square meters 4,046.856 422 4 acres square miles (statute) 0.001 562 50 acres square yards 4,840 ares square meters 100 ares square yards 119.599 barrels, US beer gallons 31 barrels, US beer liters 117.347 77 barrels, US petroleum gallons (British) 34.97 barrels, US petroleum gallons (US) 42 barrels, US petroleum liters 158.987 29 barrels, US proof spirits gallons 40 barrels, US proof spirits liters 151.416 47 bushels (US) bushels (British) 0.968 9 bushels (US) cubic feet 1.244 456 bushels (US) cubic inches 2,150.42 bushels (US) cubic meters 0.035 239 07 bushels (US) cubic yards 0.046 090 96 bushels (US) dekaliters 3.523 907 bushels (US) dry pints 64 bushels (US) dry quarts 32 bushels (US) liters 35.239 070 17 bushels (US) pecks 4 cables fathoms 120 cables meters 219.456 cables yards 240 carat milligrams 200 centimeters feet 0.032 808 40 centimeters inches 0.393 700 8 centimeters meters 0.01 centimeters yards 0.010 936 13 centimeters, cubic cubic inches 0.061 023 744 centimeters, square square feet 0.001 076 39 centimeters, square square inches 0.155 000 31 centimeters, square square meters 0.000 1 centimeters, square square yards 0.000 119 599 chains, square surveyor's ares 4.046 86 chains, square surveyor's square feet 4,356 chains, surveyor's feet 66 chains, surveyor's meters 20.116 8 chains, surveyor's rods 4 cords of wood cubic feet 128 cords of wood cubic meters 3.624 556 cords of wood cubic yards 4.740 7 cups liquid ounces (US) 8 cups liters 0.236 588 2 degrees Celsius degrees Fahrenheit multiply by 1.8 and add 32 degrees Fahrenheit degrees Celsius subtract 32 and divide by 1.8 dekaliters bushels 0.283 775 9 dekaliters cubic feet 0.353 146 7 dekaliters cubic inches 610.237 4 dekaliters dry pints 18.161 66 dekaliters dry quarts 9.080 829 8 dekaliters liters 10 dekaliters pecks 1.135 104 drams, avoirdupois avoirdupois ounces 0.062 55 drams, avoirdupois grains 27.344 drams, avoirdupois grams 1.771 845 2 drams, troy grains 60 drams, troy grams 3.887 934 6 drams, troy scruples 3 drams, troy troy ounces 0.125 drams, liquid (US) cubic inches 0.226 drams, liquid (US) liquid drams (British) 1.041 drams, liquid (US) liquid ounces 0.125 drams, liquid (US) milliliters 3.696 69 drams, liquid (US) minims 60 fathoms feet 6 fathoms meters 1.828 8 feet centimeters 30.48 feet inches 12 feet kilometers 0.000 304 8 feet meters 0.304 8 feet statute miles 0.000 189 39 feet yards 0.333 333 3 feet, cubic bushels 0.803 563 95 feet, cubic cubic decimeters 28.316 847 feet, cubic cubic inches 1,728 feet, cubic cubic meters 0.028 316 846 592 feet, cubic cubic yards 0.037 037 04 feet, cubic dry pints 51.428 09 feet, cubic dry quarts 25.714 05 feet, cubic gallons 7.480 519 feet, cubic gills 239.376 6 feet, cubic liquid ounces 957.506 5 feet, cubic liquid pints 59.844 16 feet, cubic liquid quarts 29.922 08 feet, cubic liters 28.316 846 592 feet, cubic pecks 3.214 256 feet, square acres 0.000 022 956 8 feet, square square centimeters 929.030 4 feet, square square decimeters 9.290 304 feet, square square inches 144 feet, square square meters 0.092 903 04 feet, square square yards 0.111 111 1 furlongs feet 660 furlongs inches 7,920 furlongs meters 201.168 furlongs statute miles 0.125 furlongs yards 220 gallons, liquid (US) cubic feet 0.133 680 6 gallons, liquid (US) cubic inches 231 gallons, liquid (US) cubic meters 0.003 785 411 784 gallons, liquid (US) cubic yards 0.004 951 13 gallons, liquid (US) gills (US) 32 gallons, liquid (US) liquid gallons (British) 0.832 67 gallons, liquid (US) liquid ounces 128 gallons, liquid (US) liquid pints 8 gallons, liquid (US) liquid quarts 4 gallons, liquid (US) liters 3.785 411 784 gallons, liquid (US) milliliters 3,785.411 784 gallons, liquid (US) minims 61,440 gills (US) centiliters 11.829 4 gills (US) cubic feet 0.004 177 517 gills (US) cubic inches 7.218 75 gills (US) gallons 0.031 25 gills (US) gills (British) 0.832 67 gills (US) liquid ounces 4 gills (US) liquid pints 0.25 gills (US) liquid quarts 0.125 gills (US) liters 0.118 294 118 25 gills (US) milliliters 118.294 118 25 gills (US) minims 1,920 grains avoirdupois drams 0.036 571 43 grains avoirdupois ounces 0.002 285 71 grains avoirdupois pounds 0.000 142 86 grains grams 0.064 798 91 grains kilograms 0.000 064 798 91 grains milligrams 64.798 910 grains pennyweights 0.042 grains scruples 0.05 grains troy drams 0.016 6 grains troy ounces 0.002 083 33 grains troy pounds 0.000 173 61 grams avoirdupois drams 0.564 383 39 grams avoirdupois ounces 0.035 273 961 grams avoirdupois pounds 0.002 204 622 6 grams grains 15.432 361 grams kilograms 0.001 grams milligrams 1,000 grams troy ounces 0.032 150 746 6 grams troy pounds 0.002 679 23 hands (height of horse) centimeters 10.16 hands (height of horse) inches 4 hectares acres 2.471 053 8 hectares square feet 107,639.1 hectares square kilometers 0.01 hectares square meters 10,000 hectares square miles 0.003 861 02 hectares square yards 11,959.90 hundredweights, long avoirdupois pounds 112 hundredweights, long kilograms 50.802 345 hundredweights, long long tons 0.05 hundredweights, long metric tons 0.050 802 345 hundredweights, long short tons 0.056 hundredweights, short avoirdupois pounds 100 hundredweights, short kilograms 45.359 237 hundredweights, short long tons 0.044 642 86 hundredweights, short metric tons 0.045 359 237 hundredweights, short short tons 0.05 inches centimeters 2.54 inches feet 0.083 333 33 inches meters 0.025 4 inches millimeters 25.4 inches yards 0.027 777 78 inches, cubic bushels 0.000 465 025 inches, cubic cubic centimeters 16.387 064 inches, cubic cubic feet 0.000 578 703 7 inches, cubic cubic meters 0.000 016 387 064 inches, cubic cubic yards 0.000 021 433 47 inches, cubic dry pints 0.029 761 6 inches, cubic dry quarts 0.014 880 8 inches, cubic gallons 0.004 329 0 inches, cubic gills 0.138 528 1 inches, cubic liquid ounces 0.554 112 6 inches, cubic liquid pints 0.034 632 03 inches, cubic liquid quarts 0.017 316 02 inches, cubic liters 0.016 387 064 inches, cubic milliliters 16.387 064 inches, cubic minims (US) 265.974 0 inches, cubic pecks 0.001 860 10 inches, square square centimeters 6.451 600 inches, square square feet 0.006 944 44 inches, square square meters 0.000 645 16 inches, square square yards 0.000 771 605 kilograms avoirdupois drams 564.383 4 kilograms avoirdupois ounces 35.273 962 kilograms avoirdupois pounds 2.204 622 622 kilograms grains 15,432.36 kilograms grams 1,000 kilograms long tons 0.000 984 2 kilograms metric tons 0.001 kilograms short hundredweights 0.022 046 23 kilograms short tons 0.001 102 31 kilograms troy ounces 32.150 75 kilograms troy pounds 2.679 229 kilometers meters 1,000 kilometers statute miles 0.621 371 192 kilometers, square acres 247.105 38 kilometers, square hectares 100 kilometers, square square meters 1,000,000 kilometers, square statute miles 0.386 102 16 knots (nautical mi/hr) kilometers/hour 1.852 knots (nautical mi/hr) statute miles/hour 1.151 leagues, nautical kilometers 5.556 leagues, nautical nautical miles 3 leagues, statute kilometers 4.828 032 leagues, statute statute miles 3 links, square surveyor's square centimeters 404.686 links, square surveyor's square inches 62.726 4 links, surveyor's centimeters 20.116 8 links, surveyor's chains 0.01 links, surveyor's inches 7.92 liters bushels 0.028 377 59 liters cubic feet 0.035 314 67 liters cubic inches 61.023 74 liters cubic meters 0.001 liters cubic yards 0.001 307 95 liters dekaliters 0.1 liters dry pints 1.816 166 liters dry quarts 0.908 082 98 liters gallons 0.264 172 052 liters gills (US) 8.453 506 liters liquid ounces 33.814 02 liters liquid pints 2.113 376 liters liquid quarts 1.056 688 2 liters milliliters 1,000 liters pecks 0.113 510 4 meters centimeters 100 meters feet 3.280 839 895 meters inches 39.370 079 meters kilometers 0.001 meters millimeters 1,000 meters statute miles 0.000 621 371 meters yards 1.093 613 298 meters, cubic bushels 28.377 59 meters, cubic cubic feet 35.314 666 7 meters, cubic cubic inches 61,023.744 meters, cubic cubic yards 1.307 950 619 meters, cubic gallons 264.172 05 meters, cubic liters 1,000 meters, cubic pecks 113.510 4 meters, square acres 0.000 247 105 38 meters, square hectares 0.000 1 meters, square square centimeters 10,000 meters, square square feet 10.763 910 4 meters, square square inches 1,550.003 1 meters, square square yards 1.195 990 046 microns meters 0.000 001 microns inches 0.000 039 4 mils inches 0.001 mils millimeters 0.025 4 miles, nautical kilometers 1.852 0 miles, nautical statute miles 1.150 779 4 miles, statute centimeters 160,934.4 miles, statute feet 5,280 miles, statute furlongs 8 miles, statute inches 63,360 miles, statute kilometers 1.609 344 miles, statute meters 1,609.344 miles, statute rods 320 miles, statute yards 1,760 miles, square nautical square kilometers 3.429 904 miles, square nautical square statute miles 1.325 miles, square statute acres 640 miles, square statute hectares 258.998 811 033 6 miles, square statute sections 1 miles, square statute square kilometers 2.589 988 110 336 miles, square statute square nautical miles 0.755 miles miles, square statute square rods 102,400 milligrams grains 0.015 432 358 35 milliliters cubic inches 0.061 023 744 milliliters gallons 0.000 264 17 milliliters gills (US) 0.008 453 5 milliliters liquid ounces 0.033 814 02 milliliters liquid pints 0.002 113 4 milliliters liquid quarts 0.001 056 7 milliliters liters 0.001 milliliters minims 16.230 73 millimeters inches 0.039 370 078 7 minims (US) cubic inches 0.003 759 77 minims (US) gills (US) 0.000 520 83 minims (US) liquid ounces 0.002 083 33 minims (US) milliliters 0.061 611 52 minims (US) minims (British) 1.041 ounces, avoirdupois avoirdupois drams 16 ounces, avoirdupois avoirdupois pounds 0.062 5 ounces, avoirdupois grains 437.5 ounces, avoirdupois grams 28.349 523 125 ounces, avoirdupois kilograms 0.028 349 523 125 ounces, avoirdupois troy ounces 0.911 458 3 ounces, avoirdupois troy pounds 0.075 954 86 ounces, liquid (US) cubic feet 0.001 044 38 ounces, liquid (US) centiliters 2.957 35 ounces, liquid (US) cubic inches 1.804 687 5 ounces, liquid (US) gallons 0.007 812 5 ounces, liquid (US) gills (US) 0.25 ounces, liquid (US) liquid drams 8 ounces, liquid (US) liquid ounces (British) 1.041 ounces, liquid (US) liquid pints 0.062 5 ounces, liquid (US) liquid quarts 0.031 25 ounces, liquid (US) liters 0.029 573 53 ounces, liquid (US) milliliters 29.573 529 6 ounces, liquid (US) minims 480 ounces, troy avoirdupois drams 17.554 29 ounces, troy avoirdupois ounces 1.097 143 ounces, troy avoirdupois pounds 0.068 571 43 ounces, troy grains 480 ounces, troy grams 31.103 476 8 ounces, troy pennyweights 20 ounces, troy troy drams 8 ounces, troy troy pounds 0.083 333 3 paces (US) centimeters 76.2 paces (US) inches 30 pecks (US) bushels 0.25 pecks (US) cubic feet 0.311 114 pecks (US) cubic inches 537.605 pecks (US) cubic meters 0.008 809 77 pecks (US) cubic yards 0.011 522 74 pecks (US) dekaliters 0.880 976 75 pecks (US) dry pints 16 pecks (US) dry quarts 8 pecks (US) liters 8.809 767 5 pecks (US) pecks (British) 0.968 9 pennyweights grains 24 pennyweights grams 1.555 173 84 pennyweights troy ounces 0.05 pints, dry (US) bushels 0.015 625 pints, dry (US) cubic feet 0.019 444 63 pints, dry (US) cubic inches 33.600 312 5 pints, dry (US) dekaliters 0.055 061 05 pints, dry (US) dry pints (British) 0.968 9 pints, dry (US) dry quarts 0.5 pints, dry (US) liters 0.550 610 47 pints, liquid (US) cubic feet 0.016 710 07 pints, liquid (US) cubic inches 28.875 pints, liquid (US) deciliters 4.731 76 pints, liquid (US) gallons 0.125 pints, liquid (US) gills (US) 4 pints, liquid (US) liquid ounces 16 pints, liquid (US) liquid pints (British) 0.832 67 pints, liquid (US) liquid quarts 0.5 pints, liquid (US) liters 0.473 176 473 pints, liquid (US) milliliters 473.176 473 pints, liquid (US) minims 7,680 points (typographical) inches 0.013 837 points (typographical) millimeters 0.351 459 8 pounds, avoirdupois avoirdupois drams 256 pounds, avoirdupois avoirdupois ounces 16 pounds, avoirdupois grains 7,000 pounds, avoirdupois grams 453.592 37 pounds, avoirdupois kilograms 0.453 592 37 pounds, avoirdupois long tons 0.000 446 428 6 pounds, avoirdupois metric tons 0.000 453 592 37 pounds, avoirdupois quintals 0.004 535 92 pounds, avoirdupois short tons 0.000 5 pounds, avoirdupois troy ounces 14.583 33 pounds, avoirdupois troy pounds 1.215 278 pounds, troy avoirdupois drams 210.651 4 pounds, troy avoirdupois ounces 13.165 71 pounds, troy avoirdupois pounds 0.822 857 1 pounds, troy grains 5,760 pounds, troy grams 373.241 721 6 pounds, troy kilograms 0.373 241 721 6 pounds, troy pennyweights 240 pounds, troy troy ounces 12 quarts, dry (US) bushels 0.031 25 quarts, dry (US) cubic feet 0.038 889 25 quarts, dry (US) cubic inches 67.200 625 quarts, dry (US) dekaliters 0.110 122 1 quarts, dry (US) dry pints 2 quarts, dry (US) dry quarts (British) 0.968 9 quarts, dry (US) liters 1.101 221 quarts, dry (US) pecks 0.125 quarts, dry (US) pints, dry (US) 2 quarts, liquid (US) cubic feet 0.033 420 14 quarts, liquid (US) cubic inches 57.75 quarts, liquid (US) deciliters 9.463 53 quarts, liquid (US) gallons 0.25 quarts, liquid (US) gills (US) 8 quarts, liquid (US) liquid ounces 32 quarts, liquid (US) liquid pints (US) 2 quarts, liquid (US) liquid quarts (British) 0.832 67 quarts, liquid (US) liters 0.946 352 946 quarts, liquid (US) milliliters 946.352 946 quarts, liquid (US) minims 15,360 quintals avoirdupois pounds 220.462 26 quintals kilograms 100 quintals metric tons 0.1 rods feet 16.5 rods meters 5.029 2 rods yards 5.5 rods, square acres 0.006 25 rods, square square meters 25.292 85 rods, square square yards 30.25 scruples grains 20 scruples grams 1.295 978 2 scruples troy drams 0.333 sections (US) square kilometers 2.589 988 1 sections (US) square statute miles 1 spans centimeters 22.86 spans inches 9 steres cubic meters 1 steres cubic yards 1.307 95 tablespoons milliliters 14.786 76 tablespoons teaspoons 3 teaspoons milliliters 4.928 922 teaspoons tablespoons 0.333 333 ton-miles, long metric ton-kilometers 1.635 169 ton-miles, short metric ton-kilometers 1.459 972 tons, gross register cubic feet of permanently enclosed space 100 tons, gross register cubic meters of permanently enclosed space 2.831 684 7 tons, long (deadweight) avoirdupois ounces 35,840 tons, long (deadweight) avoirdupois pounds 2,240 tons, long (deadweight) kilograms 1,016.046 909 8 tons, long (deadweight) long hundredweights 20 tons, long (deadweight) metric tons 1.016 046 908 8 tons, long (deadweight) short hundredweights 22.4 tons, long (deadweight) short tons 1.12 tons, metric avoirdupois pounds 2,204.623 tons, metric kilograms 1,000 tons, metric long hundredweights 19.684 130 3 tons, metric long tons 0.984 206 5 tons, metric quintals 10 tons, metric short hundredweights 22.046 23 tons, metric short tons 1.102 311 3 tons, metric troy ounces 32,150.75 tons, net register cubic feet of permanently enclosed space for cargo and passengers 100 tons, net register cubic meters of permanently enclosed space for cargo and passengers 2.831 684 7 tons, shipping cubic feet of permanently enclosed cargo space 42 tons, shipping cubic meters of permanently enclosed cargo space 1.189 307 574 tons, short avoirdupois pounds 2,000 tons, short kilograms 907.184 74 tons, short long hundredweights 17.857 14 tons, short long tons 0.892 857 1 tons, short metric tons 0.907 184 74 tons, short short hundredweights 20 townships (US) sections 36 townships (US) square kilometers 93.239 572 townships (US) square statute miles 36 miles, square statute acres 640 miles, square statute hectares 258.998 811 033 6 miles, square statute square feet 27,878,400 miles, square statute square meters 2,589,988.110 336 miles, square statute square yards 3,097,600 yards centimeters 91.44 yards feet 3 yards inches 36 yards meters 0.914 4 yards miles 0.000 568 18 yards, cubic bushels 21.696 227 yards, cubic cubic feet 27 yards, cubic cubic inches 46,656 yards, cubic cubic meters 0.764 554 857 984 yards, cubic gallons 201.974 0 yards, cubic liters 764.554 857 984 yards, cubic pecks 86.784 91 yards, square acres 0.000 206 611 6 yards, square hectares 0.000 083 612 736 yards, square square centimeters 8,361.273 6 yards, square square feet 9 yards, square square inches 1,296 yards, square square meters 0.836 127 36 yards, square square miles 0.000 000 322 830 6 _________________________________________________________________
Note: As of now, only three countries—Burma, Liberia, and the US—have not adopted the International System of Units (SI, or metric system) as their official system of weights and measures. Although the metric system has been allowed by law in the US since 1866, its adoption has been slow in replacing the American version of the British Imperial System known as the US Customary System. The US is the only industrialized nation that doesn’t primarily use the metric system in its commercial and standards activities, but there is growing acceptance in science, medicine, government, and many industries.
______________________________________________________________________
@Appendix F: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes
FIPS 10-4: Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions (FIPS PUB 10-4) is managed by the Office of the Geographer and Global Issues (Department of State) and published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Department of Commerce). These two-letter alphabetic codes appear in the Factbook under the Data code section within the Government category. FIPS 10-4 codes are meant for general use across the US Government, particularly in activities related to the mission of the Department of State and national defense programs.
ISO 3166: Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries (ISO 3166) is developed by the International Organization for Standardization. ISO 3166 includes two- and three-letter alphabetic codes and three-digit numeric codes that may be necessary for activities involving data exchange with international organizations that have adopted this standard. With the exception of the numeric codes, ISO 3166 codes have been adopted in the US as FIPS 104-1: American National Standard Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries, Dependencies, and Areas of Special Sovereignty for Information Interchange.
Internet: This is a temporary compilation that generally aligns with the ISO 3166 two-letter alphabetic codes.
Entity FIPS 10-4 ISO 3166 Internet Comment
Afghanistan AF AF AFG 004 AF
Albania AL AL ALB 008 AL
Algeria AG DZ DZA 012 DZ
American Samoa AQ AS ASM 016AS
Andorra AN AD AND 020 AD
Angola AO AO AGO 024 AO
Anguilla AV AI AIA 660 AI
Antarctica AY AQ ATA 010 AQ ISO defines as the territory south of 60
degrees south latitude
Antigua and Barbuda AC AG ATG 028 AG
Argentina AR AR ARG 032 AR
Armenia AM AM ARM 051 AM
Aruba AA AW ABW 533 AW
Ashmore and Cartier Islands AT — — — — ISO includes with Australia
Australia AS AU AUS 036 AU ISO includes Ashmore and Cartier
Austria AU AT AUT 040 AT
Azerbaijan AJ AZ AZE 031 AZ
The Bahamas BF BS BHS 044 BS
Bahrain BA BH BHR 048 BH
Baker Island FQ — — — — ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands
Bangladesh BG BD BGD 050 BD
Barbados BB BB BRB 052 BB
Bassas da India BS — — — — ISO includes with the Miscellaneous
(French) Indian Ocean Islands
Belarus BO BY BLR 112 BY
Belgium BE BE BEL 056 BE
Belize BH BZ BLZ 084 BZ
Benin BN BJ BEN 204 BJ
Bermuda BD BM BMU 060 BM
Bhutan BT BT BTN 064 BT
Bolivia BL BO BOL 068 BO
Bosnia and Herzegovina BK BA BIH 070 BA
Botswana BC BW BWA 072 BW
Bouvet Island BV BV BVT 074 BV
Brazil BR BR BRA 076 BR
British Indian Ocean Territory IO IO IOT 086 IO
British Virgin Islands VI VG VGB 092 VG
Brunei BX BN BRN 096 BN
Bulgaria BU BG BGR 100 BG
Burkina Faso UV BF BFA 854 BF
Burma BM MM MMR 104 MM ISO uses the name Myanmar
Burundi BY BI BDI 108 BI
Cambodia CB KH KHM 116 KH
Cameroon CM CM CMR 120 CM
Canada CA CA CAN 124 CA
Cape Verde CV CV CPV 132 CV
Cayman Islands CJ KY CYM 136 KY
Central African Republic CT CF CAF 140 CF
Chad CD TD TCD 148 TD
Chile CI CL CHL 152 CL
China CH CN CHN 156 CN see also Taiwan
Christmas Island KT CX CXR 162 CX
Clipperton Island IP — — — — ISO includes with French Polynesia
Cocos (Keeling) Islands CK CC CCK 166 CC
Colombia CO CO COL 170 CO
Comoros CN KM COM 174 KM
Congo, Democratic Republic of the CG ZR ZAR 180 ZR formerly Zaire
Congo, Republic of the CF CG COG 178 CG
Cook Islands CW CK COK 184 CK
Coral Sea Islands CR — — — — ISO includes with Australia
Costa Rica CS CR CRI 188 CR
Cote d'Ivoire IV CI CIV 384 CI
Croatia HR HR HRV 191 HR
Cuba CU CU CUB 192 CU
Cyprus CY CY CYP 196 CY
Czech Republic EZ CZ CZE 203 CZ
Denmark DA DK DNK 208 DK
Djibouti DJ DJ DJI 262 DJ
Dominica DO DM DMA 212 DM
Dominican Republic DR DO DOM 214 DO
East Timor - TP TMP 626 TP FIPS includes with Indonesia
Ecuador EC EC ECU 218 EC
Egypt EG EG EGY 818 EG
El Salvador ES SV SLV 222 SV
Equatorial Guinea EK GQ GNQ 226 GQ
Eritrea ER ER ERI 232 ER
Estonia EN EE EST 233 EE
Ethiopia ET ET ETH 231 ET
Europa Island EU — — — — ISO includes with the Miscellaneous
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) FA FK FLK 238 FK
Faroe Islands FO FO FRO 234 FO
Fiji FJ FJ FJI 242 FJ
Finland FI FI FIN 246 FI
France FR FR FRA 250 FR
France, Metropolitan — FX FXX 249 FX ISO limits to the European part
of France, excluding French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern
and Antarctic Lands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia,
Reunion, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna
French Guiana FG GF GUF 254 GF
French Polynesia FP PF PYF 258 PF ISO includes Clipperton Island
French Southern and Antarctic Lands FS TF ATF 260 — FIPS 10-4 does
not include the French-claimed portion of Antarctica (Terre Adelie)
Gabon GB GA GAB 266 GA
The Gambia GA GM GMB 270 GM
Gaza Strip GZ - - - -
Georgia GG GE GEO 268 GE
Germany GM DE DEU 276 DE
Ghana GH GH GHA 288 GH
Gibraltar GI GI GIB 292 GI
Glorioso Islands GO — — — — ISO includes with the Miscellaneous
(French) Indian Ocean Islands
Greece GR GR GRC 300 GR
Greenland GL GL GRL 304 GL
Grenada GJ GD GRD 308 GD
Guadeloupe GP GP GLP 312 GP
Guam GQ GU GUM 316 GU
Guatemala GT GT GTM 320 GT
Guernsey GK — — — — ISO includes with the United Kingdom
Guinea GV GN GIN 324 GN
Guinea-Bissau PU GW GNB 624 GW
Guyana GY GY GUY 328 GY
Haiti HA HT HTI 332 HT
Heard Island and McDonald Islands HM HM HMD 334 HM
Holy See (Vatican City) VT VA VAT 336 VA
Honduras HO HN HND 340 HN
Hong Kong HK HK HKG 344 HK
Howland Island HQ — — — — ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying
Islands
Hungary HU HU HUN 348 HU
Iceland IC IS ISL 352 IS
India IN IN IND 356 IN
Indonesia ID ID IDN 360 ID
Iran IR IR IRN 364 IR
Iraq IZ IQ IRQ 368 IQ
Ireland EI IE IRL 372 IE
Israel IS IL ISR 376 IL
Italy IT IT ITA 380 IT
Jamaica JM JM JAM 388 JM
Jan Mayen JN — — — — ISO includes with Svalbard
Japan JA JP JPN 392 JP
Jarvis Island DQ — — — — ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying
Islands
Jersey JE — — — — ISO includes with the United Kingdom
Johnston Atoll JQ — — — — ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying
Islands
Jordan JO JO JOR 400 JO
Juan de Nova Island JU — — — — ISO includes with the Miscellaneous
(French) Indian Ocean Islands
Kazakhstan KZ KZ KAZ 398 KZ
Kenya KE KE KEN 404 KE
Kingman Reef KQ — — — — ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying
Islands
Kiribati KR KI KIR 296 KI
Korea, North KN KP PRK 408 KP
Korea, South KS KR KOR 410 KR
Kuwait KU KW KWT 414 KW
Kyrgyzstan KG KG KGZ 417 KG
Laos LA LA LAO 418 LA
Latvia LG LV LVA 428 LV
Lebanon LE LB LBN 422 LB
Lesotho LT LS LSO 426 LS
Liberia LI LR LBR 430 LR
Libya LY LY LBY 434 LY
Liechtenstein LS LI LIE 438 LI
Lithuania LH LT LTU 440 LT
Luxembourg LU LU LUX 442 LU
Macau MC MO MAC 446 MO
Macedonia, The Republic of MK MK MKD 807 MK
Madagascar MA MG MDG 450 MG
Malawi MI MW MWI 454 MW
Malaysia MY MY MYS 458 MY
Maldives MV MV MDV 462 MV
Mali ML ML MLI 466 ML
Malta MT MT MLT 470 MT
Man, Isle of IM — — — — ISO includes with the United Kingdom
Marshall Islands RM MH MHL 584 MH
Martinique MB MQ MTQ 474 MQ
Mauritania MR MR MRT 478 MR
Mauritius MP MU MUS 480 MU
Mayotte MF YT MYT 175 YT
Mexico MX MX MEX 484 MX
Micronesia, Federated States of FM FM FSM 583 FM
Midway Islands MQ — — — — ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying
Islands
Miscellaneous (French) — — — — ISO includes Bassas da India,
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island
Moldova MD MD MDA 498 MD
Monaco MN MC MCO 492 MC
Mongolia MG MN MNG 496 MN
Montenegro* MW — — — — see footnote at end of table
Montserrat MH MS MSR 500 MS
Morocco MO MA MAR 504 MA
Mozambique MZ MZ MOZ 508 MZ
Myanmar — — — — — see Burma
Namibia WA NA NAM 516 NA
Nauru NR NR NRU 520 NR
Navassa Island BQ - - - -
Nepal NP NP NPL 524 NP
Netherlands NL NL NLD 528 NL
Netherlands Antilles NT AN ANT 530 AN
New Caledonia NC NC NCL 540 NC
New Zealand NZ NZ NZL 554 NZ
Nicaragua NU NI NIC 558 NI
Niger NG NE NER 562 NE
Nigeria NI NG NGA 566 NG
Niue NE NU NIU 570 NU
Norfolk Island NF NF NFK 574 NF
Northern Mariana Islands CQ MP MNP 580 MP
Norway NO NO NOR 578 NO
Oman MU OM OMN 512 OM
Pakistan PK PK PAK 586 PK
Palau PS PW PLW 585 PW
Palmyra Atoll LQ — — — — ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying
Islands
Panama PM PA PAN 591 PA
Papua New Guinea PP PG PNG 598 PG
Paracel Islands PF - - - -
Paraguay PA PY PRY 600 PY
Peru PE PE PER 604 PE
Philippines RP PH PHL 608 PH
Pitcairn Islands PC PN PCN 612 PN
Poland PL PL POL 616 PL
Portugal PO PT PRT 620 PT
Puerto Rico RQ PR PRI 630 PR
Qatar QA QA QAT 634 QA
Reunion RE RE REU 638 RE
Romania RO RO ROM 642 RO
Russia RS RU RUS 643 RU
Rwanda RW RW RWA 646 RW
Saint Helena SH SH SHN 654 SH
Saint Kitts and Nevis SC KN KNA 659 KN
Saint Lucia ST LC LCA 662 LC
Saint Pierre and Miquelon SB PM SPM 666 PM
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines VC VC VCT 670 VC
Samoa WS WS WSM 882 WS
San Marino SM SM SMR 674 SM
Sao Tome and Principe TP ST STP 678 ST
Saudi Arabia SA SA SAU 682 SA
Senegal SG SN SEN 686 SN
Serbia* SR — — — — see footnote at end of table
Serbia and Montenegro* — — — — — see footnote at end of table
Seychelles SE SC SYC 690 SC
Sierra Leone SL SL SLE 694 SL
Singapore SN SG SGP 702 SG
Slovakia LO SK SVK 703 SK
Slovenia SI SI SVN 705 SI
Solomon Islands BP SB SLB 090 SB
Somalia SO SO SOM 706 SO
South Africa SF ZA ZAF 710 ZA
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands SX GS SGS 239 GS
Spain SP ES ESP 724 ES
Spratly Islands PG — — — —
Sri Lanka CE LK LKA 144 LK
Sudan SU SD SDN 736 SD
Suriname NS SR SUR 740 SR
Svalbard SV SJ SJM 744 SJ ISO includes Jan Mayen
Swaziland WZ SZ SWZ 748 SZ
Sweden SW SE SWE 752 SE
Switzerland SZ CH CHE 756 CH
Syria SY SY SYR 760 SY
Taiwan TW TW TWN 158 TW
Tajikistan TI TJ TJK 762 TJ
Tanzania TZ TZ TZA 834 TZ
Thailand TH TH THA 764 TH
Togo TO TG TGO 768 TG
Tokelau TL TK TKL 772 TK
Tonga TN TO TON 776 TO
Trinidad and Tobago TD TT TTO 780 TT
Tromelin Island TE — — — — ISO includes with the Miscellaneous
(French) Indian Ocean Islands
Tunisia TS TN TUN 788 TN
Turkey TU TR TUR 792 TR
Turkmenistan TX TM TKM 795 TM
Turks and Caicos Islands TK TC TCA 796 TC
Tuvalu TV TV TUV 798 TV
Uganda UG UG UGA 800 UG
Ukraine UP UA UKR 804 UA
United Arab Emirates TC AE ARE 784 AE
United Kingdom UK GB GBR 826 UK/GB ISO includes Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey
United States US US USA 840 US
United States Minor Outlying Islands - UM UMI 581 UM ISO includes Baker
Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef,
Midway Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Wake Island
Uruguay UY UY URY 858 UY
Uzbekistan UZ UZ UZB 860 UZ
Vanuatu NH VU VUT 548 VU
Venezuela VE VE VEN 862 UE
Vietnam VM VN VNM 704 VN
Virgin Islands VQ VI VIR 850 VI
Virgin Islands (UK) - - - - - see British Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands (US) - - - - - see Virgin Islands
Wake Island WQ - - - - ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands
Wallis and Futuna WF WF WLF 876 WF
West Bank WE - - - -
Western Sahara WI EH ESH 732 EH
Western Samoa - - - - - see Samoa
World - - - - - the Factbook uses the W data code from
DIAM 65-18 Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features, Data Standard
No. 3, December 1994, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency
Yemen YM YE YEM 887 YE
Yugoslavia* - YU YUG 891 YU see footnote at end of table
Zaire - - - - - see Democratic Republic of the Congo
Zambia ZA ZM ZWB 894 ZM
Zimbabwe ZI ZW ZWE 716 ZW
_________________________________________________________________
*Serbia and Montenegro have announced the creation of a joint independent state, but this entity hasn't been officially recognized as a state by the US; the US believes that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has broken up and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation.*
______________________________________________________________________
@Appendix G: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes
IHO 23-4th: Limits of Oceans and Seas, Special Publication 23, Draft 4th Edition 1986, published by the International Hydrographic Bureau of the International Hydrographic Organization
IHO 23-3rd: Limits of Oceans and Seas, Special Publication 23, 3rd
Edition 1953, published by the International Hydrographic Organization
ACIC M 49-1: Chart of Limits of Seas and Oceans, revised January 1958,
published by the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC),
United States Air Force; note - ACIC is now part of the National
Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)
DIAM 65-18: Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features, Data
Standard No. 4, Defense Intelligence Agency Manual 65-18, December
1994, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency
The U.S. Government hasn't set a standard for hydrographic codes like the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 10-4 country codes. The names and boundaries of the oceans and seas listed below aren't always directly comparable due to the differing needs and requirements of individual organizations. Even the number of main water bodies can vary from one organization to another. For example, users of the Factbook find the entries for the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean helpful, but none of the following standards fully include those oceans. There's also no option to combine codes or overcodes to group water bodies together. The recently defined Southern Ocean is not included.
Principal Oceans and Seas of the World with Hydrographic Codes by
Institution IHO
23-4th IHO
23-3rd* ACIC
M 49-1 DIAM
65-18
Arctic Ocean 9 17 A 5A
Atlantic Ocean - - - -
North Atlantic Ocean 1 23 B 1A
South Atlantic Ocean 4 32 C 2A
Baltic Sea 2 1 B26 7B
Indian Ocean 5 45 F 6A
Mediterranean Sea 3.1 28 B11 -
Eastern Mediterranean 3.1.2 28 B - 8E
Western Mediterranean 3.1.1 28 A - 8W
Pacific Ocean - - - -
North Pacific Ocean 7 57 D 3A
South Pacific Ocean 8 61 E 4A
South China and Eastern Archipelagic Seas 6 49, 48 D18 plus others 3U
plus others
Oceans and Seas of the World With Hydrographic Codes by Institution
IHO
23-4th IHO
23-3rd* ACIC
M 49-1 DIAM
65-18
ARCTIC OCEAN 9 17 A 5A
East Siberian Sea 9.1 11 A6 5S
Laptev Sea 9.2 10 A5 5P
Kara Sea 9.3 9 A4 5K
Barents Sea 9.4 7 A2 5B
White Sea 9.5 8 A3 5W
North Greenland Sea 9.6 - - -
Norwegian Sea 9.7 6 B30 5N
Iceland Sea 9.8 - - -
Davis Strait 9.9 15 B2 1V
Hudson Strait 9.10 16 A A15 1U
Hudson Bay 9.11 16 A10 1H
Baffin Bay 9.12 14 A A12 1P
Lincoln Sea 9.13 17 A A13 5L
Northwest Passages
(Northwest Passage, Northwestern Passages) 9.14 14 A9 5T
Beaufort Sea 9.15 13 A8 5U
Chukchi Sea 9.16 12 A7 5C
James Bay - - A11 -
Kane Basin - - A14 -
ATLANTIC OCEAN
(see North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean) - - - -
BALTIC SEA 2 1 B26 7B
Gulf of Bothnia 2.1 1 (a) B29 7T
Gulf of Finland 2.2 1 (b) B28 7F
Gulf of Riga 2.3 1 (c) B27 7H
The Sound 2.4 2 - -
The Great Belt 2.5 2 - -
The Little Belt 2.6 2 - -
Kattegat 2.7 2 B25 7K
INDIAN OCEAN 5 45 F 6A
Mozambique Channel 5.1 45 A F1 6Z
Gulf of Suez 5.2 35 F5 6W
Gulf of Aqaba 5.3 36 - 6Q
Red Sea 5.4 37 F4 6E
Gulf of Aden 5.5 38 F3 6D
Persian Gulf
(Gulf of Iran) 5.6 41 F7 6P
Gulf of Oman 5.7 40 F6 6M
Arabian Sea 5.8 39 F2 6R
Laccadive Sea (Lakshadweep Sea) 5.9 42 F9 6L
Gulf of Mannar 5.10 - F8 -
Palk Strait and Palk Bay 5.11 - - -
Bay of Bengal 5.12 43 F10 6B
Andaman Sea (Burma Sea) 5.13 44 F11 6N
Strait of Malacca (Malacca Strait) 5.14 46 (a) F12 6C
Great Australian Bight 5.15 62 F21 6G
Suez Canal - - - 6U
MEDITERRANEAN REGION 3 - - -
Mediterranean Sea 3.1 28 B11 -
Mediterranean Sea, Western Basin 3.1.1 28 A - 8W
Strait of Gibraltar 3.1.1.1 28 (a) B7 8S
Alboran Sea 3.1.1.2 28 (b) - 8Y
Balearic Sea (Balear Sea, Iberian Sea) 3.1.1.3 28 (c) B9 8J
Ligurian Sea (Ligure Sea) 3.1.1.4 28 (d) B10 8L
Tyrrhenian Sea (Tirreno Sea) 3.1.1.5 28 (e) B12 8T
Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Basin 3.1.2 28 B - 8E
Adriatic Sea 3.1.2.1 28 (g) B14 8D
Strait of Sicily (Strait of Sicilia) 3.1.2.2 - - -
Ionian Sea 3.1.2.3 28 (f) B13 8N
Aegean Sea 3.1.2.4 28 (h) B15 8G
Sea of Marmara 3.2 29 B16 8M
Black Sea 3.3 30 B17 8B
Sea of Azov 3.4 31 B18 8Z
Gulf of Lion (Gulf of Lions) - - B8 8X
Aral Sea - - - 8R
Bosporus - - - 8P
Caspian Sea - - - 8C
Dardanelles - - - 8U
NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN 1 23 B 1A
Skagerrak 1.1 3 B24 1S
North Sea 1.2 4 B23 1N
Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland 1.3 18 - 1K
Irish Sea and Saint Georges Channel 1.4 19 B22 1R, 1Q
Bristol Channel 1.5 20 B21 1C
Celtic Sea 1.6 21 A - -
English Channel 1.7 21 B20 1E
Bay of Biscay 1.8 22 B19 1B
Canarias Sea 1.9 - - -
Gulf of Guinea 1.1 34 C4 1G
Caribbean Sea 1.11 27 B6 1X
Gulf of Mexico 1.12 26 B5 1M
Bay of Fundy 1.13 25 B4 1F
Gulf of Saint Lawrence 1.14 24 B3 1T
Labrador Sea 1.15 15 A - 1L
Greenland Sea 1.16 5 A1 5G
Denmark Strait - - B1 1D
Lake Erie - - - 9E
Lake Huron - - - 9H
Lake Michigan - - - 9M
Lake Ontario - - - 9N
Lake Superior - - - 9S
Panama Canal - - - 1J
Saint Lawrence Seaway - - - 9L
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN 7 57 D 3A
Philippine Sea 7.1 56 D26 3P
Taiwan Strait (Formosa Strait) 7.2 - D17 3F
East China Sea (Tung Hai) 7.3 50 D13 3E
Yellow Sea (Huang Hai, Hwang Hai) 7.4 51 D14 3Y
Bo Hai (Bo Sea, Gulf of Chihli) 7.5 - D16 3X
Liaodong Wan (Liaodong Gulf) 7.6 - - -
Inland Sea of Japan (Seto Naikai) 7.7 53 - 3N
Sea of Japan (Japan Sea) 7.8 52 D11 3J
Gulf of Tartary 7.9 - D10 -
Sea of Okhotsk 7.10 54 D8 3Q
Bering Sea 7.11 55 D6 5D
Anadyrskiy Zaliv (Anadyrskiy Gulf) 7.12 - - 5Y
Gulf of Alaska 7.13 58 D4 5F
Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia 7.14 59 D3 5E
Gulf of California 7.15 60 D2 3L
Gulf of Panama 7.16 - D1 -
Amurskiy Liman - - D27 -
Bering Strait - - D7 5R
Bristol Bay - - D5 -
Korea Bay - - D15 3R
Korea Strait - - D12 -
Sakhalinskiy Zaliv - - D28 3B
Zaliv Shelikhova
(Zaliv Shelekhova) - - D9 3K
Luzon Strait - - - 3I
Tatar Strait - - - 3D
PACIFIC OCEAN
(see North Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean)
-
-
-
-
SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN 4 32 C 2A
Rio de la Plata 4.1 33 C1 2R
Drake Passage - - C5 2D
Golfo San Matias - - C2 2M
Golfo San Jorge - - C3 2J
Scotia Sea - - C6 2S
Weddell Sea - - C7 2W
SOUTH CHINA AND EASTERN
ARCHIPELAGIC SEAS 6 49 and 48 D18 plus others 3U plus others
South China Sea (Nan Hai) 6.1 49 D18 3U
Gulf of Tonkin 6.2 - D19 3G
Gulf of Thailand (Gulf of Siam) 6.3 47 D20 3T
Natuna Sea 6.4 - - -
Singapore Strait 6.5 46 (b) - 3Z
Sunda Strait 6.6 - - -
Java Sea (Jawa Sea) 6.7 48 (n) F13 4J
Makassar Strait (Makasar Strait) 6.8 48 (m) E1 4M
Bali Sea 6.9 48 (l) F14 4L
Flores Sea 6.10 48 (j) F16 4F
Sumba Strait 6.11 - - -
Savu Sea (Sawu Sea) 6.12 48 (o) F15 6S
Timor Sea 6.13 48 (i) F19 6T
Joseph Bonaparte Gulf 6.14 - F20 -
Gulf of Carpentaria 6.15 - E4 4P
Arafura Sea 6.16 48 (h) E3 4U
Aru Sea 6.17 - - -
Banda Sea 6.18 48 (g) E2 4B
Teluk Bone (Gulf of Bone, Gulf of Boni) 6.19 48 (k) F17 4E
Ceram Sea (Seram Sea) 6.20 48 (f) D25 4Q
Gulf of Berau 6.21 - - -
Halmahera Sea 6.22 48 (e) D24 3H
Molucca Sea (Molukka Sea, Maluku Sea) 6.23 48 (c) D23 3M
Teluk Tomini (Gulf of Tomini) 6.24 48 (d) F18 3V
Sulawesi Sea 6.25 - - -
Mindanao Sea 6.26 - - -
Sulu Sea 6.27 48 (a) D21 3S
Celebes Sea - 48 (b) D22 3C
SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN 8 61 E 4A
Bismarck Sea 8.1 66 E6 4K
Solomon Sea 8.2 65 E7 4S
Torres Strait 8.3 - E5 -
Coastal Waters of Great Barrier Reefs 8.4 - - -
Coral Sea 8.5 64 E9 4C
Tasman Sea 8.6 63 E10 4T
Bass Strait 8.7 62 A F22 6F
Amundsen Sea - - E12 4D
Bellingshausen Sea - - E13 4G
Cook Strait - - E8 -
Ross Sea - - E11 4R
_________________________________________________________________
@Appendix H: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names
This list shows where different geographic names, including the locations of all United States Foreign Service Posts, alternate names, former names, and political or geographic parts of larger entities, can be found in The World Factbook. The spellings are usually those approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Extra information is included in brackets.
Name Entry in The World Factbook Latitude Longitude
A
Abidjan [US Embassy] Ivory Coast 5 19 N 4 02 W
Abkhazia [region] Georgia 43 00 N 41 00 E
Abu Dhabi [US Embassy] United Arab Emirates 24 28 N 54 22 E
Abu Musa [island] Iran 25 52 N 55 03 E
Abuja [US Embassy Branch Office] Nigeria 9 12 N 7 11 E
Abyssinia Ethiopia 8 00 N 38 00 E
Acapulco Mexico 16 51 N 99 55 W
Accra [US Embassy] Ghana 5 33 N 0 13 W
Adamstown Pitcairn Islands 25 04 S 130 05 W
Adana [US Consulate] Turkey 37 01 N 35 18 E
Addis Ababa [US Embassy] Ethiopia 9 02 N 38 42 E
Adelie Land (Terre Adelie) [claimed by France] Antarctica 66 30 S 139 00 E
Aden Yemen 12 46 N 45 01 E
Aden, Gulf of Indian Ocean 12 30 N 48 00 E
Admiralty Island United States (Alaska) 57 44 N 134 20 W
Admiralty Islands Papua New Guinea 2 10 S 147 00 E
Adriatic Sea Atlantic Ocean 42 30 N 16 00 E
Aegean Islands Greece 38 00 N 25 00 E
Aegean Sea Atlantic Ocean 38 30 N 25 00 E
Afars and Issas, French Territory of the (FTAI) Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 E
Agalega Islands Mauritius 10 25 S 56 40 E
Agana (see Hagatna) Guam 13 28 N 144 45 E
Ajaccio France (Corsica) 41 55 N 8 44 E
Akmola (see Astana) Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E
Aland Islands Finland 60 15 N 20 00 E
Alaska United States 65 00 N 153 00 W
Alaska, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 58 00 N 145 00 W
Aldabra Islands (Groupe d'Aldabra) Seychelles 9 25 S 46 22 E
Alderney [island] Guernsey 49 43 N 2 12 W
Aleutian Islands United States (Alaska) 52 00 N 176 00 W
Alexander Archipelago United States (Alaska) 57 00 N 134 00 W
Alexander Island Antarctica 71 00 S 70 00 W
Alexandria Egypt 31 12 N 29 54 E
Algiers [US Embassy] Algeria 36 47 N 2 03 E
Alhucemas, Penon de Spain 35 13 N 3 53 W
Alma-Ata (see Almaty) Kazakhstan 43 15 N 76 57 E
Almaty [US Embassy] Kazakhstan 43 15 N 76 57 E
Alofi Niue 19 01 S 169 55 E
Alphonse Island Seychelles 7 01 S 52 45 E
Amami Strait Pacific Ocean 28 40 N 129 30 E
Amindivi Islands India 11 30 N 72 30 E
Amirante Isles (Les Amirantes) Seychelles 6 00 S 53 10 E
Amman [US Embassy] Jordan 31 57 N 35 56 E
Amsterdam [US Consulate General] Netherlands 52 22 N 4 54 E
Amsterdam Island (Ile Amsterdam) French Southern and Antarctic Lands
37 52 S 77 32 E
Amundsen Sea Southern Ocean 72 30 S 112 00 W
Amur River China, Russia 52 56 N 141 10 E
Anatolia [region] Turkey 39 00 N 35 00 E
Andaman Islands India 12 00 N 92 45 E
Andaman Sea Indian Ocean 10 00 N 95 00 E
Andorra la Vella Andorra 42 30 N 1 30 E
Andros [island] Greece 37 45 N 24 42 E
Andros Island The Bahamas 24 26 N 77 57 W
Anegada Passage Atlantic Ocean 18 30 N 63 40 W
Angkor Wat [ruins] Cambodia 13 26 N 103 50 E
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Sudan 15 00 N 30 00 E
Anjouan [island] Comoros 12 15 S 44 25 E
Ankara [US Embassy] Turkey 39 56 N 32 52 E
Annobon [island] Equatorial Guinea 1 25 S 5 36 E
Antananarivo [US Embassy] Madagascar 18 52 S 47 30 E
Antigua [island] Antigua and Barbuda 14 34 N 90 44 W
Antipodes Islands New Zealand 49 41 S 178 43 E
Antwerp [European Logistical Support Office] Belgium 51 13 N 4 25 E
Aozou Strip Chad 22 00 N18 00 E
Apia [US Embassy] Samoa 13 50 S 171 44 N
Aqaba, Gulf of Indian Ocean 29 00 N 34 30 E
Aqmola (see Astana) Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E
Arab, Shatt al [river] Iran, Iraq 29 57 N 48 34 E
Arabian Sea Indian Ocean 15 00 N 65 00 E
Arafura Sea Pacific Ocean 9 00 S 133 00 E
Aral Sea Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan 45 00 N 60 00 E
Argun River China, Russia 53 20 N 121 28 E
Ascension Island Saint Helena 7 57 S 14 22 W
Ashgabat [US Embassy] Turkmenistan 37 57 N 58 23 E
Ashkhabad (see Ashgabat) Turkmenistan 37 57 N 58 23 E
Asmara [US Embassy] Eritrea 15 20 N 38 53 E
Asmera (see Asmara) Eritrea 15 20 N 38 53 E
Assumption Island Seychelles 9 46 S 46 34 E
Astana (Akmola) Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E
Asuncion [US Embassy] Paraguay 25 16 S 57 40 W
Asuncion Island Northern Mariana Islands 19 40 N 145 24 E
Atacama [region] Chile 24 30 S 69 15 W
Athens [US Embassy] Greece 37 59 N 23 44 E
Attu Island United States 52 55 N 172 57 E
Auckland [US Consulate General] New Zealand 36 52 S 174 46 E
Auckland Islands New Zealand 51 00 S 166 30 E
Australes, Iles (Iles Tubuai) French Polynesia 23 20 S 151 00 W
Avarua Cook Islands 21 12 S 159 46 W
Axel Heiberg Island Canada 79 30 N 90 00 W
Azad Kashmir Pakistan 34 30 N 74 00 E
Azores [islands] Portugal 38 30 N 28 00 W
Azov, Sea of Atlantic Ocean 49 00 N 36 00 E
B
Bab el Mandeb [strait] Indian Ocean 12 40 N 43 20 E
Babuyan Channel Pacific Ocean 18 44 N 121 40 E
Babuyan Islands Philippines 19 10 N 121 40 E
Baffin Bay Arctic Ocean 73 00 N 66 00 W
Baffin Island Canada 68 00 N 70 00 W
Baghdad [US Embassy temporarily suspended;
US Interests Section located in Poland's embassy in Baghdad]
Iraq 33 21 N44 25 E
Baki (see Baku) Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E
Baku [US Embassy] Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E
Baky (see Baku) Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E
Balabac Strait Pacific Ocean 7 35 N 117 00 E
Balearic Islands Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E
Balearic Sea (Iberian Sea) Atlantic Ocean 40 30 N 2 00 E
Bali [island] Indonesia 8 20 S 115 00 E
Bali Sea Indian Ocean 7 45 S 115 30 E
Balintang Channel Pacific Ocean 19 49 N 121 40 E
Balintang Islands Philippines 19 55 N 122 10 E
Balkan Peninsula Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece,
Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Turkey (European part) 42 00 N 23 00 E
Balleny Islands Antarctica 67 00 S 163 00 E
Balochistan [region] Pakistan 28 00 N 63 00 E
Baltic Sea Atlantic Ocean 57 00 N 19 00 E
Bamako [US Embassy] Mali 12 39 N 8 00 W
Banaba (Ocean Island) Kiribati 0 52 S 169 35 E
Bandar Seri Begawan [US Embassy] Brunei 4 52 S 114 55 E
Banda Sea Pacific Ocean 5 00 S 128 00 E
Bangkok [US Embassy] Thailand 13 45 N 100 31 E
Bangui [US Embassy] Central African Republic 4 22 N 18 35 E
Banjul [US Embassy] The Gambia 13 28 N 16 39 W
Banks Island Australia 10 12 S 142 16 E
Banks Island Canada 75 15 N 121 30 W
Banks Islands (Iles Banks) Vanuatu 14 00 S 167 30 E
Barbuda [island] Antigua and Barbuda 17 38 N 61 48 W
Barcelona [US Consulate General] Spain 41 23 N 2 11 E
Barents Sea Arctic Ocean 74 00 N 36 00 E
Barranquilla Colombia 10 59 N 74 48 W
Bashi Channel Pacific Ocean 22 00 N 121 00 E
Basilan Strait Pacific Ocean 6 49 N 122 05 E
Basque Provinces Spain 43 00 N 2 30 W
Bass Strait Pacific Ocean 39 20 S 145 30 E
Basse-Terre Guadeloupe 16 00 N 61 44 W
Basseterre Saint Kitts and Nevis 17 18 N 62 43 W
Bastia France (Corsica) 42 42 N 9 27 E
Basutoland Lesotho 29 30 S 28 30 E
Batan Islands Philippines 20 30 N 121 50 E
Bavaria (Bayern) Germany 48 30 N 11 30 E
Beagle Channel Atlantic Ocean 54 53 S 68 10 W
Bear Island (see Bjornoya) Svalbard 74 26 N 19 05 E
Beaufort Sea Arctic Ocean 73 00 N 140 00 W
Bechuanaland Botswana 22 00 S 24 00 E
Beijing [US Embassy] China 39 56 N 116 24 E
Beirut [US Embassy] Lebanon 33 53 N 35 30 E
Belau (Palau Islands) Palau 7 30 N 134 30 E
Belem [US Consular Agency] Brazil 1 27 S 48 29 W
Belep Islands (Iles Belep) New Caledonia 19 45 S 163 40 E
Belfast [US Consulate General] United Kingdom 54 35 N 5 55 W
Belgian Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo 0 00 N 25 00 E
Belgrade Serbia and Montenegro 44 50 N 20 30 E
Belize City [US Embassy] Belize 17 30 N 88 12 W
Belle Isle, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 51 35 N 56 30 W
Bellingshausen Sea Southern Ocean 71 00 S 85 00 W
Belmopan Belize 17 15 N 88 46 W
Belorussia Belarus 53 00 N 28 00 E
Bengal, Bay of Indian Ocean 15 00 N 90 00 E
Bering Sea Pacific Ocean 60 00 N 175 00 W
Bering Island Russia 55 00 N 166 30 E
Bering Strait Pacific Ocean 65 30 N 169 00 W
Berkner Island Antarctica 79 30 S 49 30 W
Berlin [US Branch Office] Germany 52 31 N 13 24 E
Berlin, East Germany 52 30 N 13 33 E
Berlin, West Germany 52 30 N 12 20 E
Bern [US Embassy] Switzerland 46 57 N 7 26 E
Bessarabia [region] Romania, Moldova, Ukraine 47 00 N 28 30 E
Bhopal India 23 16 N 77 24 E
Biafra [region] Nigeria 5 30 N 7 30 E
Big Diomede Island Russia 65 46 N 169 06 W
Bijagos, Arquipelago dos Guinea-Bissau 11 25 N 16 20 W
Bikini Atoll Marshall Islands 11 35 N 165 23 E
Bilbao Spain 43 15 N 2 58 W
Bioko [island] Equatorial Guinea 3 30 N 8 42 E
Biscay, Bay of Atlantic Ocean 44 00 N 4 00 W
Bishkek [US Embassy] Kyrgyzstan 42 54 N 74 36 E
Bishop Rock United Kingdom 49 52 N 6 27 W
Bismarck Archipelago Papua New Guinea 5 00 S 150 00 E
Bismarck Sea Pacific Ocean 4 00 S 148 00 E
Bissau [US Embassy] Guinea-Bissau 11 51 N 15 35 W
Bjornoya (Bear Island) Svalbard 74 26 N 19 05 E
Black Forest Germany 48 00 N 8 15 E
Black Rock South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 53 39 S 41 48 W
Black Sea Atlantic Ocean 43 00 N 35 00 E
Bloemfontein South Africa 29 12 S 26 07 E
Boa Vista [island] Cape Verde 16 05 N 22 50 W
Bogota [US Embassy] Colombia 4 36 N 74 05 W
Bohemia [region] Czech Republic 50 00 N 14 30 E
Bombay (see Mumbai) India 18 58 N 72 50 E
Bonaire [island] Netherlands Antilles 12 10 N 68 15 W
Bonifacio, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 41 01 N 14 00 E
Bonin Islands Japan 27 00 N 140 10 E
Bonn [US Embassy] Germany 50 44 N 7 05 E
Bophuthatswana South Africa 26 30 S 25 30 E
Bora-Bora [island] French Polynesia 16 30 S 151 45 W
Bordeaux France 44 50 N 0 34 W
Borneo [island] Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia 0 30 N 114 00 E
Bornholm [island] Denmark 55 10 N 15 00 E
Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina 44 00 N 18 00 E
Bosporus [strait] Atlantic Ocean 41 00 N 29 00 E
Bothnia, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 63 00 N 20 00 E
Bougainville [island] Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 155 00 E
Bougainville Strait Pacific Ocean 6 40 S 156 10 E
Bounty Islands New Zealand 47 43 S 174 00 E
Brasilia [US Embassy] Brazil 15 47 S 47 55 W
Bratislava [US Embassy] Slovakia 48 09 N 17 07 E
Brazzaville [US Embassy] Republic of the Congo 4 16 S 15 17 E
Bridgetown [US Embassy] Barbados 13 06 N 59 37 W
Brisbane Australia 27 28 S 153 02 E
Britain (see Great Britain) United Kingdom 54 00 N 2 00 W
British East Africa Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 1 00 N 38 00 E
British Guiana Guyana 5 00 N 59 00 W
British Honduras Belize 17 15 N 88 45 W
British Solomon Islands Solomon Islands 8 00 S 159 00 E
British Somaliland Somalia 10 00 N 49 00 E
Brussels [US Embassy, US Mission to European Union (USEU),
US Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (USNATO)]
Belgium 50 50 N 4 20 E
Bubiyan [island] Kuwait 29 47 N 48 10 E
Bucharest [US Embassy] Romania 44 26 N 26 06 E
Budapest [US Embassy] Hungary 47 30 N 19 05 E
Buenos Aires [US Embassy] Argentina 34 36 S 58 27 W
Bujumbura [US Embassy] Burundi 3 23 S 29 22 E
Burnt Pine Norfolk Island 29 02 S 167 56 E
Byelorussia Belarus 53 00 N 28 00 E
C
Cabinda [province] Angola 5 33 S 12 12 E
Cabot Strait Atlantic Ocean 47 20 N 59 30 W
Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos Islands 21 56 N 71 58 W
Cairo [US Embassy] Egypt 30 03 N 31 15 E
Calcutta [US Consulate General] India 22 32 N 88 22 E
Calgary [US Consulate General] Canada 51 03 N 114 05 W
California, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 28 00 N 112 00 W
Campbell Island New Zealand 52 33 S 169 09 E
Canal Zone Panama 9 00 N 79 45 W
Canary Islands Spain 28 00 N 15 30 W
Canberra [US Embassy] Australia 35 17 S 149 08 E
Canton (Guangzhou) China 23 06 N 113 16 E
Canton Island (Kanton Island) Kiribati 2 49 S 171 40 W
Cape Town [US Consulate General] South Africa 33 55 S 18 22 E
Caracas [US Embassy] Venezuela 10 30 N 66 56 W
Cargados Carajos Shoals Mauritius 16 25 S 59 38 E
Caroline Islands Federated States of Micronesia, Palau 7 30 N 148 00 E
Caribbean Sea Atlantic Ocean 15 00 N 73 00 W
Carpentaria, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 14 00 S 139 00 E
Casablanca [US Consulate General] Morocco 33 39 N 7 35 W
Castries Saint Lucia 14 01 N 61 00 W
Catalonia [region] Spain 42 00 N 2 00 E
Cato Island Australia 23 15 S 155 32 E
Caucasus [region] Russia 42 00 N 45 00 E
Cayenne French Guiana 4 56 N 52 20 W
Cebu [US Consular Agency] Philippines 10 18 N 123 54 E
Celebes [island] Indonesia 2 00 S 121 00 E
Celebes Sea Pacific Ocean 3 00 N 122 00 E
Celtic Sea Atlantic Ocean 51 00 N 6 30 W
Central African Empire Central African Republic 7 00 N 21 00 E
Ceuta Spain 35 53 N 5 19 W
Ceylon Sri Lanka 7 00 N 81 00 E
Chafarinas, Islas Spain 35 12 N 2 26 W
Chagos Archipelago (Oil Islands) British Indian Ocean Territory
6 00 S 71 30 E
Channel Islands Guernsey, Jersey 49 20 N 2 20 W
Charlotte Amalie Virgin Islands 18 21 N 64 56 W
Chatham Islands New Zealand 44 00 S 176 30 W
Chechnya (Chechnia) Russia 43 15 N 45 40 E
Cheju-do [island] South Korea 33 20 N 126 30 E
Cheju Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 126 30 E
Chengdu [US Consulate General] China 39 39 N 104 04 E
Chennai (Madras) [US Consulate General] India 13 04 N 80 16 E
Chesterfield Islands (Iles Chesterfield) New Caledonia 19 52 S 158 15 E
Chiang Mai [US Consulate General] Thailand 18 47 N 98 59 E
Chihli, Gulf of (see Bo Hai) Pacific Ocean 38 30 N 120 00 E
China, People's Republic of China 35 00 N 105 00 E
China, Republic of Taiwan 23 30 N 105 00 E
Chisinau [US Embassy] Moldova 47 00 N 28 50 E
Choiseul [island] Solomon Islands 7 05 S 121 00 E
Christmas Island [Indian Ocean] Australia 10 25 S 105 39 E
Christmas Island (Kiritimati) [Pacific Ocean] Kiribati 1 52 N 157 20 W
Chukchi Sea Arctic Ocean 69 00 N 171 00 W
Ciskei South Africa 33 00 S 27 00 E
Ciudad Juarez [US Consulate General] Mexico 31 44 N 106 29 W
Cluj-Napoca [US Branch Office] Romania 46 47 N 23 36 E
Cochin China [region] Vietnam 11 00 N 107 00 E
Coco, Isla del Costa Rica 5 32 N 87 04 W
Cocos Islands Cocos (Keeling) Islands 12 30 S 96 50 E
Colombo [US Embassy] Sri Lanka 6 56 N 79 51 E
Colon, Archipielago de (Galapagos Islands) Ecuador 0 00 N 90 30 W
Commander Islands (Komandorskiye Ostrova) Russia 55 00 N 167 00 E
Conakry [US Embassy] Guinea 9 31 N 13 43 W
Congo (Brazzaville) Republic of the Congo 1 00 S 15 00 E
Congo (Leopoldville) Democratic Republic of the Congo 0 00 N 25 00 E
Con Son [Islands] Vietnam 8 43 N 106 36 E
Cook Strait Pacific Ocean 41 15 S 174 30 E
Copenhagen [US Embassy] Denmark 55 40 N 12 35 E
Coral Sea Pacific Ocean 15 00 S 150 00 E
Corfu [island] Greece 39 40 N 19 45 E
Corinth Greece 37 56 N 22 56 E
Corisco [island] Equatorial Guinea 0 55 N 9 19 E
Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz) Nicaragua 12 15 N 83 00 W
Corocoro Island Guyana, Venezuela 3 38 N 66 50 W
Corsica (Corse) [island] France 42 00 N 9 00 E
Corsico [island] Equatorial Guinea 0 55 N 9 19 E
Cosmoledo Group (Atoll de Cosmoledo) Seyhelles 9 43 S 47 35 E
Cotonou [US Embassy] Benin 6 21 N 2 26 E
Courantyne River Guyana, Suriname 5 57 N 57 06 W
Crete [island] Greece 35 15 N 24 45 E
Crimea [region] Ukraine 45 00 N 34 00 E
Crimean Peninsula Ukraine 45 00 N 34 00 E
Crooked Island Passage Atlantic Ocean 22 55 N 74 35 W
Crozet Islands (Iles Crozet) French Southern and Antarctic Lands
46 30 S 51 00 E
Curacao [US Consulate General] Netherlands Antilles 12 11 N 69 00 W
Cyclades [islands] Greece 37 00 N 25 10 E
Czechoslovakia Czech Republic, Slovakia 49 00 N 18 00 E
D
Dahomey Benin 9 30 N 2 15 E
Daito Islands Japan 43 00 N 17 00 E
Dakar [US Embassy] Senegal 14 40 N 17 26 W
Dalmatia [region] Croatia 43 00 N 17 00 E
Daman (Damao) India 20 10 N 73 00 E
Damascus [US Embassy] Syria 33 30 N 36 18 E
Danger Islands (see Pukapuka Atoll) Cook Islands 10 53 S 165 49 W
Danish Straits Atlantic Ocean 58 00 N 11 00 E
Danish West Indies Virgin Islands 18 20 N 64 50 W
Danzig (Gdansk) Poland 54 23 N 18 40 E
Dao Bach Long Vi [island] Vietnam 20 08 N 107 44 E
Dardanelles [strait] Atlantic Ocean 40 15 N 26 25 E
Dar es Salaam [US Embassy] Tanzania 6 48 S 39 17 E
Davis Strait Atlantic Ocean 67 00 N 57 00 W
Dead Sea Israel, Jordan, West Bank 32 30 N 35 30 E
Deception Island Antarctica 62 56 S 60 34 W
Denmark Strait Atlantic Ocean 67 00 N 24 00 W
D'Entrecasteaux Islands Papua New Guinea 9 30 S 150 40 E
Desolation Islands (Isles Kerguelen) French Southern and Antarctic Lands
49 30 S 69 30 E
Devils Island (Ile du Diable) French Guiana 5 17 N 52 35 W
Devon Island Canada 76 00 N 87 00 W
Dhahran [US Consulate General] Saudi Arabia 26 18 N 50 08 E
Dhaka [US Embassy] Bangladesh 23 43 N 90 25 E
Dhofar [region] Oman 17 00 N 54 10 E
Diego Garcia [island] British Indian Ocean Territory 7 20 S 72 25 E
Diego Ramirez [islands] Chile 56 30 S 68 43 W
Diomede Islands Russia [Big Diomede], United States
[Little Diomede] 65 47 N 169 00 W
Diu India 20 42 N 70 59 E
Djibouti [US Embassy] Djibouti 11 30 N 43 15 E
Dnieper [river] (Dnyapro, Dnepr, Dnipro) Belarus, Russia,
Ukraine 46 30 N 32 18 E
Dniester [river] (Nistru, Dnister) Moldova, Ukraine 46 18 N 30 17 E
Dodecanese [islands] Greece 36 00 N 27 05 E
Dodoma Tanzania 6 11 S 35 45 E
Doha [US Embassy] Qatar 25 17 N 51 32 E
Donets Basin Russia, Ukraine 48 15 N 38 30 E
Douala Cameroon 4 03 N 9 42 E
Douglas Man, Isle of 54 09 N 4 28 W
Dover, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 51 00 N 1 30 E
Drake Passage Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean 60 00 S 60 00 W
Dubai [US Consulate General] United Arab Emirates 25 18 N 55 18 E
Dubayy (see Dubai) United Arab Emirates 25 18 N 55 18 E
Dublin [US Embassy] Ireland 53 20 N 6 15 W
Durban [US Consulate General] South Africa 29 55 S 30 56 E
Dushanbe [US Embassy] Tajikistan 38 35 N 68 48 E
Dutch Antilles Netherlands Antilles 52 05 N 4 18 E
Dutch East Indies Indonesia 5 00 S 120 00 E
Dutch Guiana Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W
Dutch West Indies Netherlands Antilles 52 05 N 4 18 E
Dzungarian Gate China, Kazakhstan 45 25 N 82 25 E
E
East China Sea Pacific Ocean 30 00 N 126 00 E
East Frisian Islands Germany 53 44 N 7 25 E
East Germany (German Democratic Republic) Germany 52 00 N 13 00 E
East Korea Strait (Eastern Channel or Tsushima Strait)
Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E
East Pakistan Bangladesh 24 00 N 90 00 E
East Siberian Sea Arctic Ocean 74 00 N 166 00 E
East Timor (Portuguese Timor) Indonesia 9 00 S 126 00 E
Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) Chile 27 07 S 109 22 W
Eastern Channel (East Korea Strait or Tsushima Strait)
Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E
Eastern Samoa American Samoa 14 20 S 170 00 W
Edinburgh [US Consulate General] United Kingdom 55 57 N 3 13 W
Eire Ireland 53 00 N 8 00 W
Elba [island] Italy 42 46 N 10 17 E
Ellef Ringnes Island Canada 78 00 N 103 00 W
Ellesmere Island Canada 81 00 N 80 00 W
Ellice Islands Tuvalu 8 00 S 178 00 E
Elobey, Islas de Equatorial Guinea 0 59 N 9 33 E
Enderbury Island Kiribati 3 08 S 171 05 W
Enewetak Atoll (Eniwetok Atoll) Marshall Islands 11 30 N 162 15 E
England [region] United Kingdom 52 30 N 1 30 W
English Channel Atlantic Ocean 50 20 N 1 00 W
Eniwetok Atoll (see Enewetak Atoll) Marshall Islands 11 30 N 162 15 E
Eolie, Isole Italy 38 30 N 15 00 E
Epirus, Northern Albania, Greece 40 00 N 20 30 E
Espana Spain 40 00 N 4 00 W
Essequibo [region] [claimed by Venezuela] Guyana 6 59 N 58 23 W
Etorofu (Iturup) [island] Russia [de facto] 44 55 N 147 40 E
F
Farquhar Group (Atoll de Farquhar) Seychelles 10 10 S 51 10 E
Fernando de Noronha Brazil 3 51 S 32 25 W
Fernando Po [island] (see Bioko) Equatorial Guinea 3 30 N 8 42 E
Finland, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 60 00 N 27 00 E
Florence [US Consulate General] Italy 43 46 N 11 15 E
Florida, Straits of Atlantic Ocean 25 00 N 79 45 W
former Soviet Union (FSU) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Formosa [island] Taiwan 23 30 N 121 00 E
Formosa Strait (see Taiwan Strait) Pacific Ocean 24 00 N 119 00 E
Fortaleza [US Consular Agency] Brazil 3 43 S 38 30 W
Fort-de-France Martinique 14 36 N 61 05 W
Frankfurt am Main [US Consulate General] Germany 50 07 N 8 40 E
Franz Josef Land [islands] Russia 81 00 N 55 00 E
Freetown [US Embassy] Sierra Leone 8 30 N 13 15 W
French Cameroon Cameroon 6 00 N 12 00 E
French Guinea Guinea 11 00 N 10 00 W
French Indochina Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam 15 00 N 107 00 E
French Morocco Morocco 32 00 N 5 00 W
French Somaliland Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 W
French Sudan Mali 17 00 N 4 00 W
French Territory of the Afars and Issas (FTAI) Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 E
French Togoland Togo 8 00 N 1 10 E
French West Indies Guadeloupe, Martinique 16 30 N 62 00 W
Friendly Islands Tonga 20 00 S 175 00 W
Frisian Islands Denmark, Germany, Netherlands 53 35 N 6 40 E
Frunze (see Bishkek) Kyrgyzstan 42 54 N 74 36 E
Fukuoka [US Consulate] Japan 33 35 N 130 24 E
Funafuti Tuvalu 8 30 S 179 12 E
Fundy, Bay of Atlantic Ocean 45 00 N 66 00 W
Futuna Islands (Hoorn Islands/Iles de Horne)
Wallis and Futuna 14 19 S 178 05 W
G
Gaborone [US Embassy] Botswana 24 45 S 25 55 E
Galapagos Islands (Archipielago de Colon) Ecuador 0 00 N 90 30 W
Galilee [region] Israel 32 54 N 35 20 E
Galleons Passage Atlantic Ocean 11 00 N 60 55 W
Gambier Islands (Iles Gambier) French Polynesia 23 09 S 134 58 W
Gaspar Strait Pacific Ocean 3 00 S 107 00 E
Geneva [US Consular Agency, US Mission to European Office of the UN and
Other International Organizations] Switzerland 46 12 N 6 10 E
Genoa Italy 44 25 N 8 57 E
George Town Malaysia 5 26 N 100 16 E
George Town The Bahamas 23 30 N 75 46 W
George Town Cayman Islands 19 20 N 81 23 W
Georgetown The Gambia 13 30 N 14 47 W
Georgetown [US Embassy] Guyana 6 48 N 58 10 W
German Democratic Republic (East Germany) Germany 52 00 N 13 00 E
German Southwest Africa Namibia 22 00 S 17 00 E
Germany, Federal Republic of Germany 51 00 N 9 00 E
Gibraltar Gibraltar 36 11 N 5 22 W
Gibraltar, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 35 57 N 5 36 W
Gidi Pass Egypt 30 13 N 33 09 E
Gilbert Islands Kiribati 1 25 N 173 00 E
Goa [state] India 14 20 N 74 00 E
Godthab (Nuuk) Greenland 64 11 N 51 44 W
Gold Coast Ghana 8 00 N 2 00 W
Golan Heights [region] Syria 33 00 N 35 45 E
Good Hope, Cape of South Africa 34 24 S 18 30 E
Goteborg Sweden 57 43 N 11 58 E
Gotland [island] Sweden 57 30 N 18 33 E
Gough Island Saint Helena 40 10 S 9 45 W
Grand Banks Atlantic Ocean 47 06 N 55 48 W
Grand Cayman [island] Cayman Islands 19 20 N 81 20 W
Grand Turk Turks and Caicos Islands 21 28 N 71 08 W
Great Australian Bight Indian Ocean 35 00 S 130 00 E
Great Belt (Store Baelt) Atlantic Ocean 55 30 N 11 00 E
Great Bitter Lake Egypt 30 20 N 32 23 E
Great Britain United Kingdom 54 00 N 2 00 W
Great Channel Indian Ocean 6 25 N 94 20 E
Greater Sunda Islands Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia 2 00 S 110 00 E
Green Islands Papua New Guinea 4 30 S 154 10 E
Greenland Sea Arctic Ocean 79 00 N 5 00 W
Grenadines, Northern Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13 15 N 61 12 W
Grenadines, Southern Grenada 12 07 N 61 40 W
Grytviken South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 54 15 S 36 45 W
Guadalajara [US Consulate General] Mexico 20 40 N 103 20 W
Guadalcanal [island] Solomon Islands 9 32 S 160 12 E
Guadalupe, Isla de Mexico 29 11 N 118 17 W
Guangzhou [US Consulate General] China 23 06 N 113 16 E
Guantanamo Bay [US Naval Base] Cuba 20 00 N 75 08 W
Guatemala [US Embassy] Guatemala 14 38 N 90 31 W
Guinea, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 3 00 N 2 30 E
Guayaquil [US Consulate General] Ecuador 2 13 S 79 54 W
H
Ha'apai Group Tonga 19 42 S 174 29 W
Habomai Islands Russia [de facto] 43 30 N 146 10 E
Hadhramaut [region] Yemen 15 00 N 50 00 E
Hagatna (Agana) Guam 13 28 N 144 45 E
Hague, The [US Embassy] Netherlands 52 05 N 4 18 E
Haifa Israel 32 50 N 35 00 E
Haiphong Vietnam 20 52 N 106 41 E
Hainan Dao [island] China 19 00 N 109 30 E
Halifax [US Consulate General] Canada 44 39 N 63 36 W
Halmahera [island] Indonesia 1 00 N 128 00 E
Hamburg [US Consulate General] Germany 53 33 N 9 59 E
Hamilton [US Consulate General] Bermuda 32 17 N 64 46 W
Hanoi [US Embassy] Vietnam 21 02 N 105 51 E
Harare [US Embassy] Zimbabwe 17 50 S 31 03 E
Hatay [province] Turkey 36 30 N 36 15 E
Havana [US post not maintained; representation by US Interests Section
(USINT) of the Swiss Embassy] Cuba 23 08 N 82 22 W
Hawaii United States 20 00 N 157 45 W
Heard Island Heard Island and McDonald Islands 53 06 S 73 30 E
Hejaz [region] Saudi Arabia 24 30 N 38 30 E
Helsinki [US Embassy] Finland 60 10 N 24 58 E
Hermosillo [US Consulate] Mexico 29 04 N 110 58 W
Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 44 00 N 18 00 E
Hispaniola [island] Dominican Republic, Haiti 18 45 N 71 00 W
Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam 10 45 N 106 40 E
Hokkaido [island] Japan 44 00 N 143 00 E
Holland Netherlands 52 30 N 5 45 E
Hong Kong [US Consulate General] Hong Kong 22 15 N 114 10 E
Honiara Solomon Islands 9 26 S 159 57 E
Honshu [island] Japan 36 00 N 138 00 E
Hormuz, Strait of Indian Ocean 26 34 N 56 15 E
Horn, Cape (Cabo de Hornos) Chile 55 59 S 67 16 W
Horne, Iles de Wallis and Futuna 14 19 S 178 05 W
Horn of Africa Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia 8 00 N 48 00 E
Hudson Bay Arctic Ocean 60 00 N 86 00 W
Hudson Strait Arctic Ocean 62 00 N 71 00 W
Hunter Island New Caledonia, Vanuatu 22 24 S 172 06 E
I
Iberian Peninsula Portugal, Spain 40 00 N 5 00 W
Inaccessible Island Saint Helena 37 17 S 12 40 W
Indochina Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam 15 00 N 107 00 E
Inland Sea Japan 34 20 N 133 30 E
Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol) China 42 00 N 113 00 E
Ionian Islands Greece 38 30 N 20 30 E
Ionian Sea Atlantic Ocean 38 30 N 18 00 E
Irian Jaya [province] Indonesia 5 00 S 138 00 E
Irish Sea Atlantic Ocean 53 30 N 5 20 W
Iron Gate Romania, Serbia and Montenegro 44 41 N 22 31 E
Islamabad [US Embassy] Pakistan 33 42 N 73 10 E
Islas Malvinas Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 51 45 S 59 00 W
Istanbul [US Consulate General] Turkey 41 01 N 28 58 E
Istrian Peninsula Croatia, Slovenia 45 00 N 14 00 E
Italian East Africa Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia 8 00 N 38 00 E
Italian Somaliland Somalia 10 00 N 49 00 E
Iturup (see Etorofu) Russia [de facto] 44 55 N 147 40 E
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast 8 00 N 5 00 W
Iwo Jima [island] Japan 24 47 N 141 20 E
J
Jakarta [US Embassy] Indonesia 6 10 S 106 48 E
Jamestown Saint Helena 15 56 S 5 44 W
Jammu India 32 42 N 74 52 E
Jammu and Kashmir [region] India, Pakistan 34 00 N 76 00 E
Japan, Sea of Pacific Ocean 40 00 N 135 00 E
Jars, Plain of Laos 19 27 N 103 10 E
Java [island] Indonesia 7 30 S 110 00 E
Java Sea Pacific Ocean 5 00 S 110 00 E
Jeddah (see Jiddah) Saudi Arabia 21 30 N 39 12 E
Jerusalem [US Consulate General] Israel, West Bank 31 47 N 35 14 E
Jiddah [US Consulate General] Saudi Arabia 21 30 N 39 12 E
Johannesburg [US Consulate General] South Africa 26 15 S 28 00 E
Juan de Fuca, Strait of Pacific Ocean 48 18 N 124 00 W
Juan Fernandez, Isla de Chile 33 00 S 80 00 W
Jubal, Strait of Indian Ocean 27 40 N 33 55 E
Judaea [region] Israel, West Bank 31 35 N 35 00 E
Jutland [region] Denmark 56 00 N 9 15 E
Juventud, Isla de la (Isle of Youth) Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W
K
Kabul [US Embassy now closed] Afghanistan 34 31 N 69 12 E
Kaduna Nigeria 10 33 N 7 27 E
Kailas Range China, India 30 00 N 82 00 E
Kalimantan [region] Indonesia 0 00 N 115 00 E
Kamaran [island] Yemen 15 21 N 42 34 E
Kamchatka Peninsula (Poluostrov Kamchatka) Russia 56 00 N 160 00 E
Kampala [US Embassy] Uganda 0 19 N 32 25 E
Kampuchea Cambodia 13 00 N 105 00 E
Kanton Island Kiribati 2 49 S 171 40 W
Karachi [US Consulate General] Pakistan 24 52 N 67 03 E
Kara Sea Arctic Ocean 76 00 N 80 00 E
Karakoram Pass China, India 35 30 N 77 50 E
Karelian Isthmus Russia 60 25 N 30 00 E
Karimata Strait Pacific Ocean 2 05 S 108 40 E
Kashmir [region] India, Pakistan 34 00 N 76 00 E
Katanga [region] Democratic Republic of the Congo 10 00 S 26 00 E
Kathmandu [US Embassy] Nepal 27 43 N 85 19 E
Kattegat [strait] Atlantic Ocean 57 00 N 11 00 E
Kauai Channel Pacific Ocean 21 45 N 158 50 W
Keeling Islands Cocos (Keeling) Islands 12 30 S 96 50 E
Kerguelen, Iles French Southern and Antarctic Lands 49 30 S 69 30 E
Kermadec Islands New Zealand 29 50 S 178 15 W
Kerulen River China, Mongolia 48 48 N 117 00 E
Khabarovsk Russia 48 27 N 135 06 E
Khanka, Lake China, Russia 45 00 N 132 24 E
Khartoum [US Embassy] Sudan 15 36 N 32 32 E
Khmer Republic Cambodia 13 00 N 105 00 E
Khuriya Muriya Islands (Kuria Muria Islands) Oman 17 30 N 56 00 E
Khyber Pass Afghanistan, Pakistan 34 05 N 71 10 E
Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee Kanal) Atlantic Ocean 53 53 N 9 08 E
Kiev [US Embassy] Ukraine 50 26 N 30 31 E
Kigali [US Embassy] Rwanda 1 57 S 30 04 E
Kingston [US Embassy] Jamaica 18 00 N 76 48 W
Kingston Norfolk Island 29 03 S 167 58 E
Kingstown Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13 09 N 61 14 W
Kinshasa [US Embassy] Democratic Republic of the Congo 4 18 S 15 18 E
Kirghiziya Kyrgyzstan 41 00 N 75 00 E
Kiritimati (Christmas Island) Kiribati 1 52 N 157 20 W
Kishinev (see Chisinau) Moldova 47 00 N 28 50 E
Kithira Strait Atlantic Ocean 36 00 N 23 00 E
Kobe Japan 34 41 N 135 10 E
Kodiak Island United States 57 49 N 152 23 W
Kola Peninsula (Kol'skiy Poluostrov) Russia 67 20 N 37 00 E
Kolonia [US Embassy] Federated States of Micronesia 6 58 N 158 13 E
Korea Bay Pacific Ocean 39 00 N 124 00 E
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of North Korea 40 00 N 127 00 E
Korea, Republic of South Korea 37 00 N 127 30 E
Korea Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E
Koror [US Embassy] Palau 7 20 N 134 29 E
Kosovo [region] Serbia and Montenegro 42 30 N 21 00 E
Kowloon Hong Kong 22 18 N 114 10 E
Kra, Isthmus of Burma, Thailand 10 20 N 99 00 E
Krakatoa [volcano] Indonesia 6 07 S 105 24 E
Krakow [US Consulate General] Poland 50 03 N 19 58 E
Kuala Lumpur [US Embassy] Malaysia 3 10 N 101 42 E
Kunashiri (Kunashir) [island] Russia [de facto] 44 20 N 146 00 E
Kunlun Mountains China 36 00 N 84 00 E
Kuril Islands Russia [de facto] 46 10 N 152 00 E
Kuwait [US Embassy] Kuwait 29 20 N 47 59 E
Kuznetsk Basin Russia 54 00 N 86 00 E
Kwajalein Atoll Marshall Islands 9 05 N 167 20 E
Kyushu [island] Japan 33 00 N 131 00 E
Kyyiv (see Kiev) Ukraine 50 26 N 30 31 E
L
Labrador Canada 54 00 N 62 00 W
Laccadive Islands India 10 00 N 73 00 E
Laccadive Sea Indian Ocean 7 00 N 76 00 E
Lagos [US Embassy] Nigeria 6 27 N 3 24 E
Lahore [US Consulate General] Pakistan 31 35 N 74 18 E
Lakshadweep (Laccadive Islands) India 10 00 N 73 00 E
La Paz [US Embassy] Bolivia 16 30 S 68 09 W
La Perouse Strait Pacific Ocean 45 45 N 142 00 E
Laptev Sea Arctic Ocean 76 00 N 126 00 E
Las Palmas Spain 28 06 N 15 24 W
Lau Group Fiji 18 20 S 178 30 E
Lefkosa (see Nicosia) Cyprus 35 10 N 33 22 E
Leipzig [US Consulate General] Germany 51 19 N 12 20 E
Lemnos [island] Greece 39 54 N 25 21 E
Leningrad (see Saint Petersburg) Russia 59 55 N 30 15 E
Lesser Sunda Islands Indonesia 9 00 S 120 00 E
Lesvos [island] Greece 39 15 N 26 15 E
Leyte [island] Philippines 10 50 N 124 50 E
Liancourt Rocks [claimed by Japan] South Korea 37 15 N 131 50 E
Libreville [US Embassy] Gabon 0 23 N 9 27 E
Ligurian Sea Atlantic Ocean 43 30 N 9 00 E
Lilongwe [US Embassy] Malawi 13 59 S 33 44 E
Lima [US Embassy] Peru 12 03 S 77 03 W
Lincoln Sea Arctic Ocean 83 00 N 56 00 W
Line Islands Jarvis Island, Kingman Reef, Kiribati,
Palmyra Atoll 0 05 N 157 00 W
Lisbon [US Embassy] Portugal 38 43 N 9 08 W
Ljubljana [US Embassy] Slovenia 46 03 N 14 31 E
Lobamba Swaziland 26 27 S 31 12 E
Lombok Strait Indian Ocean 8 30 S 115 50 E
Lome [US Embassy] Togo 6 08 N 1 13 E
London [US Embassy] United Kingdom 51 30 N 0 10 W
Longyearbyen Svalbard 78 13 N 15 33 E
Lord Howe Island Australia 31 30 S 159 00 E
Louisiade Archipelago Papua New Guinea 11 00 S 153 00 E
Loyalty Islands (Iles Loyaute) New Caledonia 21 00 S 167 00 E
Luanda [US Embassy] Angola 8 48 S 13 14 E
Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo 11 40 S 27 28 E
Lusaka [US Embassy] Zambia 15 25 S 28 17 E
Luxembourg [US Embassy] Luxembourg 49 45 N 6 10 E
Luzon [island] Philippines 16 00 N 121 00 E
Luzon Strait Pacific Ocean 20 30 N 121 00 E
Lyakhov Islands Russia 73 45 N 138 00 E
M
Macao Macau 22 10 N 113 33 E
Macedonia The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 41 50 N 22 00 E
Macquarie Island Australia 30 07 S 147 24 E
Maddalena, Isola Italy 41 13 N 09 24 E
Madeira Islands Portugal 32 40 N 16 45 W
Madras (see Chennai) India 13 04 N 80 16 E
Madrid [US Embassy] Spain 40 24 N 3 41 W
Magellan, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 54 00 S 71 00 W
Maghreb Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia 30 00 N 5 00 E
Mahe Island Seychelles 4 41 S 55 30 E
Maiz, Islas del (Corn Islands) Nicaragua 12 15 N 83 00 W
Majorca Island (Isla de Mallorca) Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E
Majuro [US Embassy] Marshall Islands 7 05 N 171 08 E
Makassar Strait Pacific Ocean 2 00 S 117 30 E
Malabo Equatorial Guinea 3 45 N 8 47 E
Malacca, Strait of Indian Ocean 2 30 N 101 20 E
Malagasy Republic Madagascar 20 00 S 47 00 E
Male Maldives 4 10 N 73 31 E
Mallorca (Majorca) Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E
Malpelo, Isla de Colombia 4 00 N 90 30 W
Malta Channel Atlantic Ocean 56 44 N 26 53 E
Malvinas, Islas Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 51 45 S 59 00 W
Mamoutzou Mayotte 12 47 S 45 14 E
Managua [US Embassy] Nicaragua 12 09 N 86 17 W
Manama [US Embassy] Bahrain 26 13 N 50 35 E
Manaus [US Consular Agency] Brazil 3 08 S 60 01 W
Manchukuo China 44 00 N 124 00 E
Manchuria China 44 00 N 124 00 E
Manila [US Embassy] Philippines 14 35 N 121 00 E
Manipa Strait Pacific Ocean 3 20 S 127 23 E
Mannar, Gulf of Indian Ocean 8 30 N 79 00 E
Manua Islands American Samoa 14 13 S 169 35 W
Maputo [US Embassy] Mozambique 25 58 S 32 35 E
Marcus Island (Minami-tori-shima) Japan 24 16 N 154 00 E
Mariana Islands Guam, Northern Mariana Islands 16 00 N 145 30 E
Marion Island South Africa 46 51 S 37 52 E
Marmara, Sea of Atlantic Ocean 40 40 N 28 15 E
Marquesas Islands (Iles Marquises) French Polynesia 9 00 S 139 30 W
Marseille [US Consulate General] France 43 18 N 5 24 E
Martin Vaz, Ilhas Brazil 20 30 S 28 51 W
Mas a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island) Chile 33 38 S 78 52 W
Mascarene Islands Mauritius, Reunion 21 00 S 57 00 E
Maseru [US Embassy] Lesotho 29 28 S 27 30 E
Matamoros [US Consulate] Mexico 25 53 N 97 30 W
Mata-Utu Wallis and Futuna 13 57 S 171 56 W
Matsu [island] Taiwan 26 13 N 119 56 E
Matthew Island New Caledonia, Vanuatu 22 20 S 171 20 E
Mazatlan Mexico 23 13 N 106 25 W
Mbabane [US Embassy] Swaziland 26 18 S 31 06 E
McDonald Islands Heard Island and McDonald Islands 53 06 S 73 30 E
Mecca Saudi Arabia 21 27 N 39 49 E
Medan [US Consulate General] Indonesia 3 35 N 98 40 E
Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean 36 00 N 15 00 E
Melbourne [US Consulate General] Australia 37 49 S 144 58 E
Melilla Spain 35 19 N 2 58 W
Merida [US Consulate] Mexico 20 58 N 89 37 W
Mesopotamia Iraq 33 00 N 44 00 E
Messina, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 38 15 N 15 35 E
Mexico [US Embassy] Mexico 19 24 N 99 09 W
Mexico, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 25 00 N 90 00 W
Middle Congo Republic of the Congo 1 00 S 15 00 E
Milan [US Consulate General] Italy 45 28 N 9 12 E
Minami-tori-shima (Marcus Island) Japan 24 16 N 154 00 E
Mindanao [island] Philippines 8 00 N 125 00 E
Mindoro [island] Philippines 12 50 N 121 05 E
Mindoro Strait Pacific Ocean 12 20 N 120 40 E
Minicoy Island India 8 17 N 73 02 E
Minsk [US Embassy] Belarus 53 54 N 27 34 E
Minorca Island (Isla de Menorca) Spain 40 00 N 4 00 E
Mitla Pass Egypt 30 02 N 32 54 E
Mogadishu Somalia 2 04 N 45 22 E
Moldavia [region] Moldova, Romania 47 00 N 29 00 E
Moluccas (Spice Islands) Indonesia 2 00 S 28 00 E
Mombasa Kenya 4 03 S 39 40 E
Mona Passage Atlantic Ocean 18 30 N 67 45 W
Monaco Monaco 43 44 N 7 25 E
Monrovia [US Embassy] Liberia 6 18 N 10 47 W
Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro 42 30 N 19 00 E
Monterrey Mexico 25 40 N 100 19 W
Montevideo [US Embassy] Uruguay 34 53 S 56 11 W
Montreal [US Consulate General, US Mission to the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO)] Canada 45 31 N 73 34 W
Moravia [region] Czech Republic 49 30 N 17 00 E
Moravian Gate Czech Republic 49 35 N 17 50 E
Moroni Comoros 11 41 S 43 16 E
Mortlock Islands (Nomoi Islands) Federated States of Micronesia
5 30 N 153 40 E
Moscow [US Embassy] Russia 55 45 N 37 35 E
Mount Pinatubo Philippines 15 08 N 120 21 E
Mozambique Channel Indian Ocean 19 00 S 41 00 E
Mumbai [US Consulate General] India 18 58 N 72 50 E
Munich [US Consulate General] Germany 48 09 N 11 35 E
Musandam Peninsula Oman, United Arab Emirates 26 18 N 56 24 E
Muscat [US Embassy] Oman 23 37 N 58 35 E
Muscat and Oman Oman 21 00 N 57 00 E
Myanma, Myanmar Burma 22 00 N 98 00 E
N
Nagorno-Karabakh [region] Azerbaijan 40 00 N 46 40 E
Nagoya [US Consulate] Japan 35 10 N 136 55 E
Naha [US Consulate General] Japan 26 13 N 127 40 E
Nairobi [US Embassy] Kenya 1 17 S 36 49 E
Nampo-shoto [islands] Japan 30 00 N 140 00 E
Naples [US Consulate General] Italy 40 50 N 14 15 E
Nassau [US Embassy] The Bahamas 25 05 N 77 21 W
Natuna Besar Islands Indonesia 3 30 N 102 30 E
Naxcivan [region] Azerbaijan 39 20 N 45 20 E
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